AP Business Digest

Here are the AP's top business stories that have moved or are planned to move today. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit AP Newsroom's Coverage Plan.

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UPCOMING

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GREENLAND WHAT NOW?

DESCRIPTION: Lisa Sólrun Christiansen gets up at 4 a.m. most days and gets to work knitting thick wool sweaters coveted by buyers around the world for their warmth and colorful patterns celebrating Greenland's traditional Inuit culture. Her morning routine includes a quick check of the news, but these days the ritual shatters her peace because of all the stories about U.S. President Donald Trump's designs on her homeland. She says, "I get overwhelmed.'' The daughter of Inuit and Danish parents, Christiansen, 57, cherishes Greenland. It is a source of immense family pride that her father, an artist and teacher, designed the red-and-white Greenlandic flag.

UPCOMING: By 03/25/2025 1:00 p.m. EDT, Video, Text, Photo, DigitalPlans

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US-DELAWARE-INCORPORATION CAPITAL

FORMATS: Text, Photo

1. WITH: US-DELAWARE-INCORPORATION CAPITAL

2. DESCRIPTION: The Delaware House is expected to vote Tuesday on legislation that backers say is designed to protect the state's status as the corporate capital of the world, amid fallout from criticism by billionaire Elon Musk. Opponents say the fast-tracked bill will benefit billionaires and corporate insiders and hurt stockholders.

3. UPCOMING: By 03/25/2025 5:00 p.m. EDT

4. WITH: US-DELAWARE-INCORPORATION CAPITAL-BY THE NUMBERS

5. DESCRIPTION: A by-the-numbers look at Delaware's status as the go-to state for business incorporation.

6. UPCOMING: By 03/25/2025 5:00 p.m. EDT

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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US-PHILANTHROPY-HAWAII-FIREWISE-COMMUNITIES

After Lahaina fire, Hawaii residents address their risk by becoming 'Firewise'

SUMMARY: Since the 2023 Maui fires that destroyed Lahaina, communities across Hawaii have sought ways to protect themselves from more destructive fires wrought by decades of climate change, urban development, and detrimental land use policies. Experts say that even with so many factors out of communities' control, they can vastly improve their resilience -- by transforming their own neighborhoods. Dozens of Hawaii neighborhoods have joined Firewise USA, a national nonprofit program that helps residents assess their risk and make plans to mitigate it.

WORDS: 1251 - MOVED: 03/25/2025 10:21 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f0fbef8b12b11c262c23f505f07d4933&mediaType=text

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AMERICA'S INFRASTRUCTURE-GRADES

US infrastructure improved with Biden-era spending but there's a long way to go

SUMMARY: The American Society of Civil Engineers said that the state of U.S. infrastructure had improved, though just a little. The report card released every four years gives the country a C grade. That may be mediocre, but it is better than the string of D's and rare C- issued previously. The report credits the better scores to infrastructure spending during the Biden administration. It also said that infrastructure needs to be resilient to stronger storms driven by climate change. But if robust investment isn't maintained or increased, recent gains could be lost, increasing costs long-term.

WORDS: 972 - MOVED: 03/25/2025 10:18 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:365edbaa0118b4f6af360f7b908a1d9e&mediaType=text

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US-CONSUMER CONFIDENCE

US consumer confidence tumbles for the 4th consecutive month to a 12-year low

SUMMARY: U.S. consumer confidence fell for the fourth straight month as Americans' anxiety about future expectations declined to a 12-year low amid rising concern over tariffs and inflation. The Conference Board reported Tuesday that its consumer confidence index fell 7.2 points in March to 92.9. Analysts were expecting a decline to a reading of 94.5. The Conference Board's report Tuesday said that the measure of Americans' short-term expectations for income, business and the job market fell 9.6 points to 65.2. That's the lowest reading in 12 years. The Conference Board says a reading under 80 can signal a potential recession in the near future.

WORDS: 181 - MOVED: 03/25/2025 10:14 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:bd6ece8784efff205e2ab922bcb86958&mediaType=text

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ML--ISRAEL-POLITICS

Israeli legislators pass budget in a move that shores up Netanyahu's government

SUMMARY: Israel's parliament has passed a state budget, a move that shores up Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition even as the embattled leader faces mounting public pressure over the war in Gaza and the hostage crisis. The budget vote on Tuesday was seen as a key test for Netanyahu's coalition, which is made up of ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox parties that had demanded and largely received hefty allocations for their constituents in exchange for supporting the funding package. Failure to pass a budget by March 31 would have triggered early elections, potentially threatening Netanyahu's nearly unbroken 15-year rule.

WORDS: 529 - MOVED: 03/25/2025 10:04 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:26f903240c220e0921532da1636721c6&mediaType=text

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TESLA-EUROPE SALES

Tesla sales fall by 49% in Europe even as the electric vehicle market grows

SUMMARY: European sales of Tesla electric vehicles tumbled 49% in the first two months of the year even as overall sales of EVs grew. New sales figures were released Tuesday by the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association. There have been complaints about an aging lineup of vehicles from Tesla and also a significant backlash against CEO Elon Musk and his affiliation with the Trump administration in the U.S. In Europe, Musk's endorsement of Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany party in last month's national election drew broad condemnation. Yet Tesla sales are falling globally. The company posted its first annual sales drop in more than a dozen years in January.

WORDS: 331 - MOVED: 03/25/2025 9:47 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:b6f5da15be491d16e3020598e3ddf861&mediaType=text

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FINANCIAL MARKETS

Stock market today: Wall Street drifts ahead of report on US consumer confidence

SUMMARY: Wall Street is holding steadier after roaring the day before on hopes that President Donald Trump's tariffs may not be as sweeping as earlier feared. The S&P 500 added 0.1% in early Tuesday trading after jumping 1.8% on Monday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 58 points, and the Nasdaq composite edged up by 0.1%. The prior day's rally came with hopes that Trump may take a more targeted approach with tariffs coming on April 2, but all the dizzying talk about it has already soured confidence among U.S. businesses and consumers. The latest reading on consumer confidence will arrive later in the morning.

WORDS: 558 - MOVED: 03/25/2025 9:46 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:56a3f6e7e8e7fd533884db5d47cbb991&mediaType=text

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SIGNAL APP-EXPLAINER

What is Signal?

SUMMARY: A magazine journalist's account of being added to a group chat of U.S. national security officials coordinating plans for airstrikes has raised questions about how highly sensitive information is supposed to be handled. Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg detailed a discussion that happened over the Signal messaging app hours before the strikes. The National Security Council has since said the text chain "appears to be authentic." Signal is an app that can be used for direct messaging and group chats as well as phone and video calls. It uses end-to-end encryption and touts the privacy of its service. Experts agree it is more secure than conventional texting. But it could be hacked.

WORDS: 669 - MOVED: 03/25/2025 9:35 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:32699da142c5209b845e57f690df4925&mediaType=text

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US-WAYMO-ROBOTAXIS

Waymo plans to bring its driverless taxis to Washington in 2026

SUMMARY: Waymo on Tuesday added Washington D.C. to its pioneering robotaxi service's steadily expanding list of U.S. markets, although passengers will have to wait until next year until they can take a riderless ride around the nation's capital city. For now, Waymo's robotaxis will continue to map Washington's streets and corridors with a safety driver sitting behind the wheel to take control of the vehicle if something goes wrong -- a precaution required under the regulations currently in force in the District of Columbia. Waymo's robotaxis currently provide 200,000 paid weekly trips in Phoenix, Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area and Austin, Texas.

WORDS: 428 - MOVED: 03/25/2025 7:03 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:599b6323af61bad08e2ad6f27fca1102&mediaType=text

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AS--SOUTH KOREA-OBIT-SAMSUNG EXECUTIVE

Han Jong-Hee, who elevated Samsung's television business, dies

SUMMARY: Samsung Electronics says the executive credited with elevating its television business has died. Han Jong-Hee was one of Samsung's co-chief executives and oversaw the consumer electronics and mobile devices businesses. He died Tuesday at a hospital following a heart attack. He was 63. Han joined Samsung in 1988 and spent most of his career in TV-related divisions, during which the company became the world's leading TV manufacturer. The company had separate CEOs for its two major business divisions, the other being computer chips, which are all under the broader leadership of chairman Lee Jae-yong. Samsung says Jun Young Hyun, the semiconductor chief executive, will take over Han's duties as the company's sole CEO.

WORDS: 170 - MOVED: 03/25/2025 5:23 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:78b9b6e469f863751ebb7b4b0354f155&mediaType=text

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CHINA-BYD

Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD reports 2024 revenue over $100B, topping Tesla's sales

SUMMARY: Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD has reported its revenue soared to a record $107 billion last year as its sales of battery electric and hybrid vehicles jumped 40%. The report late Monday coincided with BYD's launch of its Qin L EV sedan, the company's latest challenge to Tesla at just over half the price. Tesla's 2024 revenue was nearly $97.7 billion. BYD's net profit last year was about $5.6 billion, up 34% from the year before. Last week, BYD announced it was rolling out a super fast EV charging system that it says is nearly as quick as a fill up at the pumps. BYD's Hong Kong-traded shares fell 3.2% on Tuesday, despite its upbeat earnings report.

WORDS: 246 - MOVED: 03/25/2025 5:03 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ed166ad35a8a9d6425b85512da8e12c9&mediaType=text

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AF--SOUTH AFRICA-MUSK-WHITES

South Africa president says persecution of whites a 'false narrative' as Musk repeats genocide claim

SUMMARY: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa says the claim that white people are being persecuted in his country is a "completely false narrative." It's his latest attempt to push back against allegations made by U.S. President Donald Trump, Elon Musk and some white minority groups in South Africa. South African-born Musk repeated a claim this weekend in a social media post that some of the country's political figures are "actively promoting white genocide." Ramaphosa said Monday "we should challenge the completely false narrative that our country is a place in which people of a certain race or culture are being targeted for persecution."

WORDS: 743 - MOVED: 03/25/2025 4:54 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:fdef8e9d4d2186227f75b817d8e1d7eb&mediaType=text

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