This week’s business headlines reflected a market still finding its footing in a post-pandemic, tech-driven, politically charged economy. The themes were clear: Companies are refining strategies to capture new audiences, governments are making moves with high economic stakes, and consumer behavior is forcing industries to adapt.

In finance, the credit-card-rewards arms race saw a surprising twist—while premium travel cards have leaned on hefty fees and luxury perks, one player is going in the opposite direction, offering big benefits at no annual cost. Meanwhile, the housing market showed early signs of strain in certain U.S. hot spots, with negative equity creeping up in Florida and Texas.

The corporate world saw significant leadership changes and some unsettling labor trends. Layoff numbers for 2025 have already surpassed all of last year, driven by a mix of government spending cuts, tariffs, and AI-driven restructuring. Consumer industries faced their own disruptions—from tipping declines in restaurants to public backlash over a beauty brand’s ad campaign.

Here are the 10 biggest business stories of........

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