Fortune

Intuit closed fiscal 2026 with $20 billion in annual revenue and reported Q4 revenue of $4.354 billion, exceeding analyst expectations. Despite these strong results and growth in its "Big Bets," the company faced a sharp stock decline after issuing fiscal 2027 guidance that was below Wall Street's estimate. Intuit framed this downward revision as a strategic reset to prioritize rebuilding customer acquisition.

As of August 26, 2026, Brent oil sits at $87.41 per barrel, reflecting a decrease of $2.80 from the previous day and an increase of roughly $20 compared to this time last year. Oil prices are influenced primarily by global supply and demand, with factors like economic slowdowns or conflict causing sharp movements. The U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve exists to ensure energy security during emergencies.

Following a discussion by Palantir CEO Alex Karp on CNBC about data ownership, the article argues that standard agreements like OpenAI's are insufficient regarding intermediate reasoning tokens. While these contracts protect 'Input' and 'Output,' they fail to address the valuable 'digital scratchpad' of facts and conclusions generated by modern reasoning models during the process. This gap raises serious questions about who legally owns this unbilled data.

OpenAI hired Dali Rajic as its new CRO to play a key part in preparations for an anticipated IPO in 2027. This hiring follows a period of organizational flux and previous executive changes, including the departure of Denise Dresser from the role. Rajic, who previously worked at Wiz, is recognized for his disciplined and successful leadership skills, which will be vital as OpenAI races toward public markets.

A deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz has been reported, but Trump's involvement is currently unknown. Other notable topics mentioned include Bill Gates warning that the world is unprepared for AI risks, and analysis noting that U.S. national debt growth and increased AI productivity are not materializing.

Mark Cuban proposed addressing wealth inequality by making employers choose between higher taxes or providing all staff members with company stock. While Congress would need to pass a law for this mandate, other avenues like Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPS) are gaining popularity and tax incentives. Another suggested remedy is 'Trump Accounts,' which aim to democratize access to compounding returns through federal money.

Retail trading activity in Dubai has seen significant growth, driven by market fluctuations related to gold and oil prices and pronouncements from Donald Trump. In the first half of 2026, the Dubai Financial Market’s trading value soared 40% year-on-year to $32.5 billion, while Abu Dhabi's exchange recorded $46.6 billion in trades.

Following Nike's announcement in September 2024, Elliott Hill returned to replace John Donahoe as CEO, generating initial excitement and causing shares to rise on Wall Street. Although Hill has achieved some early progress, including wholesale growth, nearly two years later, the turnaround is viewed by experts as a 'long, hard slog.' Persistent overall weakness means that Nike's stock remains significantly below its previous peaks.

North Carolina teachers routinely fund classroom needs using their own money, spending an average of $1,632 annually. To ease this financial burden, Exponential Scholars announced a donation of $2.25 million to cover every open project on the DonorsChoose website. This funding will benefit over 3,200 classroom projects across more than 1,000 schools in North Carolina.

In a new essay, Bill Gates cautioned that Artificial Intelligence could be either the greatest equalizer or the worst source of injustice, noting that world leaders and communities are not adequately preparing for its arrival. He highlighted three major risks associated with AI: the disappearance of entry-level jobs for Gen Z, empowerment of criminals through deepfakes and disinformation, and potential issues with child development.

New research from SmartAsset estimates that an average single parent needs about $80,000 to support a stay-at-home spouse raising one child in the U.S. While some states like West Virginia require under $71,000 annually, Hawaii is significantly more expensive, needing over $102,000. The article notes that achieving the full American Dream—including buying a home and funding college tuition—is calculated to cost $4.4 million.

Corporate America has recently seen a retreat from social impact policies and diversity programs due to intense political and regulatory pressure. The author suggests this 'anti-woke retreat' is nearing its limits, leading toward a new corporate model that will be more legally disciplined and connected to business strategy. Data shows that proposals supporting ESG actions averaged significantly higher shareholder support compared to anti-DEI or anti-ESG proposals.

Deloitte estimates that a burgeoning moon-based economy could generate between $343 billion and $566 billion in upside through 2050, with potential reaching over $1.1 trillion in highly bullish scenarios. The report highlights that technological advances, such as Helium-3 extraction and AI data centers built to orbit the moon’s surface, are key drivers for this growth. Multiple sectors, including startups, defense firms, Prada, and Oakley, are entering the emerging lunar economy.

The American Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which has an authorized capacity of 714 million barrels spread across caverns in Texas and Louisiana, currently holds approximately 293 million barrels. Operating near the 300-million-barrel threshold is hazardous, as federal law dictates a statutory stop at 252.4 million barrels. Crossing this legal limit transforms the reserve from an economic buffer into a restricted emergency asset.

Private equity faces a 'zombie company problem,' with PitchBook estimating about $860 billion in zombified net asset value across U.S. PE funds that are over seven years old. This issue is driven by the accumulation of companies, including over 4,500 firms held for five or more years, which theoretically should have been exited. The problem emerged during the zero-interest-rate-policy (ZIRP) era when cheap debt fueled a buyout boom.

Opposition to AI data centers has become a prominent issue during midterm races across states like Ohio and Wyoming, focusing on community risks such as water consumption and infrastructure costs. Addressing this failure of the existing 'bargain,' the article suggests implementing a Capacity Expansion Bargain: companies would pay for their projects' full costs—such as bringing new power to the grid—in exchange for governments honoring clear tax and permitting terms.

The article discusses a U.S.-Canada trade war dispute where Trump stated Canada was ‘the worst,’ to which Canada’s top trade envoy reportedly told him to ‘kiss my ass.’ Additionally, it mentions collapsing trade talks for Canada and details various market updates including Bitcoin, Nvidia stock, OnlyFans' financials, and Jeff Bezos' interest in the Indian Creek Country Club.

Trivago reported strong revenue growth in its second quarter, reaching $196.4 million. CEO Johannes Thomas plans to leverage AI for transformation, shifting away from downsizing by building systems like a "role evolution agent." He advises other CEOs to dedicate time to rethinking their work through AI investment.

The rapid $3 trillion global AI boom presents immediate challenges, particularly concerning its large, rapidly evolving financing ecosystem whose vulnerabilities are poorly understood. The article warns that policymakers should not treat all buildout pressure as an inflation problem requiring higher interest rates, as overly restrictive monetary policy can stunt necessary investment and innovation. Ignoring the financial architecture of this boom could inflict permanent damage on American productivity and competitiveness.

New research found that productivity dips over summer months because both workers and corporate management take time off. While 85% of managers suspect employees fake excuses like sick days or Wi-Fi outages, half of senior managers admit they utilize these same tactics. Ultimately, researchers suggest the trend of taking extended leave through medical or secret vacationing stems not from laziness but from workers feeling anxious about asking for a break honestly.