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1. Oil prices drop amid peace talks
Oil prices were down sharply Wednesday after President Donald Trump claimed "great progress" in peace talks with Iran, CNN reports. Prices fell to near $100, a more than 8% drop.
There is some skepticism, however, about whether the dip will last and if a peace deal is truly imminent.
“I am skeptical about an agreement for sure. We’ve been down this road before and it’s fallen apart,” said Bob Yawger, director of futures trading at Mizuho Securities.
2. Marriott boosts 2026 outlook
In reporting its first-quarter results Wednesday, executives with Marriott International announced an increase in full-year expectations for revenue per available room growth due to a stronger-than-expected first quarter.
The company now projects growth between 2% and 3%, compared to earlier projections of 1.5% to 2.5%.
Luxury hotels continue to be the biggest driver of performance for the company, with luxury RevPAR in the U.S. and Canada up 6.8% in the first quarter.
3. Push to end quarterly reporting advances
Officials with the Securities and Exchange Commission have proposed a rule that would eliminate quarterly reporting requirements for public companies, instead allowing them to just file semiannual reports, according to CNBC.
“The rigidity of the SEC’s rules has prevented companies and their investors from determining for themselves the interim reporting frequency that best serves their business needs,” SEC Chairman Paul Atkins said in a statement.
The change now goes to a 60-day public comment period before a vote by the commission.
4. Signs indicate job market improvement
New data from the U.S. Labor Department indicates the job market across the country is improving after a period some have deemed a "hiring recession," but economists worry the ongoing war in Iran could hurt the newfound recovery, CNBC reports.
"The hiring rate among employers jumped to 3.5% in March 2026 — the fastest pace of hiring in two years and up from 3.1% in February, according to data published Tuesday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics," the news outlet notes.
5. American Express travel platform set to go private in $6.3 billion deal
Long Lake Management plans to take American Express Global Business Travel private in a $6.3 billion, all-cash deal, the Wall Street Journal reports. The $9.50 a share offer came in 60% higher than the company's May 1 stock price.
The company's biggest shareholders currently are American Express, Expedia Group, Qatar Investment Authority and BlackRock.