New Unity fees are ‘critical to the foundation of the company,’ exec tells videogame developers

New Unity fees are ‘critical to the foundation of the company,’ exec tells videogame developers

Unity Software Inc. updated its new fee structure and apologized to game developers Friday, with the game-engine and game-ad-monetization company announcing a revenue-sharing/engagement option that will go into effect in 2024. Meanwhile, the executive responsible took to a game developer’s YouTube stream to explain the changes and apologize further. In a fireside chat not affiliated…

Twitter and Threads users are are spending less time on those services

Twitter and Threads users are are spending less time on those services

Elon Musk’s threat to charge all X members to use the service could hasten what is already turning into an exodus of users. People are spending less time on the service formerly known as Twitter, as well as on its new rival, Meta Platforms Inc.’s META, +2.39% Threads. X had an average of 21 million…

Opinion: By buying Splunk, Cisco is closer to becoming a software company

Opinion: By buying Splunk, Cisco is closer to becoming a software company

With Cisco Systems Inc.’s pending acquisition of Splunk Inc., the networking giant is making another major step toward becoming a software company. On Thursday, Cisco CSCO said it was buying Splunk SPLK in a deal valued at about $28 billion, or $157 a share in cash, for the cloud-security company. The match had been speculated…

Toshiba to go private after shareholders back takeover proposal

Toshiba to go private after shareholders back takeover proposal

Toshiba Corp. JP:6502 said Thursday that a tender offer to take the company private ended successfully. The Japanese industrial giant in March agreed to a takeover proposal made by a consortium led by Tokyo-based private-equity firm Japan Industrial Partners that valued the company at about 2 trillion yen ($13.48 billion). Toshiba said about…

Opinion: Instacart shares slump to their IPO price as investors have second thoughts

Opinion: Instacart shares slump to their IPO price as investors have second thoughts

Shares of Instacart, the online grocery-delivery service, slumped to their initial public offering price on Wednesday, as investors appeared to have second thoughts, in a setback for the newly energized IPO market. In after-hours trading Wednesday, Instacart CART, known formally as Maplebear Inc., fell slightly below its original offering price of $30 a share, closing…

What’s coming to Hulu in October 2023 — and what’s leaving

What’s coming to Hulu in October 2023 — and what’s leaving

Hulu is stocking up for Halloween this October, with a ton of spooky shows and movies on tap. That includes Season 2 of FX’s spinoff anthology “American Horror Stories” (Oct. 26); the Stephen King thrillers “Rose Red” (Oct. 1) and “The Boogeyman” (Oct. 5); the Starz horror series “Ash vs. Evil Dead” (Oct. 1); the…

Opinion: Some men may obsess about the Roman Empire. But what about the rest of us?

Opinion: Some men may obsess about the Roman Empire. But what about the rest of us?

When it comes to stuff I obsess about, here’s a short list: Why can’t I get a decent piece of pizza in New York City anymore? (I blame the dollar-slice industry.)  Which Andrew Lloyd Webber musical is his crowning achievement? (I’ve become convinced it’s “Evita,” not “Phantom of the Opera” or “Cats.”) And…

I’m 50 and went from being homeless to owning a home. Where do I invest $50,000?

I’m 50 and went from being homeless to owning a home. Where do I invest $50,000?

Dear Quentin, I have a question that might appear like a simple one, especially for all the advanced money-management folks out there and for people with more money than I have. I am 50, have very little savings, and I would like to invest $50,000. What is a good type of account to start with?…

Instacart stock opens with a bang, in another sign of life for cautious IPO market

Instacart stock opens with a bang, in another sign of life for cautious IPO market

The grocery-delivery app Instacart, known officially as Maplebear Inc., debuted on Wall Street with a bang Tuesday, opening 40% above where its initial public offering priced before easing later on — potentially paving the way for more IPOs after a two-year dry spell. Shares finished the day up 12% from its $30 IPO price, at…

Opinion: FTX whistleblower was unusual. Most witnesses are too afraid to speak up.

Opinion: FTX whistleblower was unusual. Most witnesses are too afraid to speak up.

“ Organizations bear the responsibility to foster an environment of transparency for their whistleblower programs to succeed. ” In the years leading up to the eventual collapse of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX, insiders blew the whistle about the company’s severe governance and regulatory issues. The flouting of internal control requirements and commingling of client funds…

Best business and economics programs: rankings show 7 schools tied for top spot

Best business and economics programs: rankings show 7 schools tied for top spot

U.S. News released its “Best Colleges” report on Monday, a much-anticipated annual list that ranks undergraduate colleges in the U.S., as well as some specific programs, such as business and finance studies. And, for the first time, the list for 2024 also ranks undergraduate economics degree programs. So which school has the best undergrad programs…

Rocket Lab’s stock dives after latest launch ends in failure

Rocket Lab’s stock dives after latest launch ends in failure

Shares of Rocket Lab USA Inc. dove Tuesday toward their ninth loss in 10 sessions after the spacecraft and rocket builder’s latest space-flight launch ended in failure. “Following liftoff from Launch Complex 1, the rocket successfully completed a first stage burn and stage separation as planned, before an issue was experienced at around T+ 2…

This hot sector is producing returns like Nvidia’s — and it’s not AI related

This hot sector is producing returns like Nvidia’s — and it’s not AI related

The International Energy Agency last week said demand for all three major fossil fuels will peak this decade. Even beyond a crass “go woke, go broke,” many investors just don’t agree, and the replacement sources have their own issues. Surging costs have put key U.S. offshore wind projects in jeopardy, as a writedown from Ørsted…

Instacart IPO: 5 things to know about the grocery-delivery app

Instacart IPO: 5 things to know about the grocery-delivery app

Grocery-delivery app Instacart hopes to capitalize on what its chief executive calls a “massive digital transformation” in the way people shop at supermarkets, but it faces steep competition and an uncertain demand environment. The company filed for an initial public offering late last month, and its debut on Tuesday is set to hit markets even…

PayPal and Dropbox stocks fall after downgrades, GM shares inch higher, and more stocks on the move

PayPal and Dropbox stocks fall after downgrades, GM shares inch higher, and more stocks on the move

Here are some of the most notable stock movers ahead of Monday’s Wall Street open. Stock gainers: MariaDB PLC shares MRDB, -1.36% jumped 9% in premarket trading on Monday after venture capital group Runa Capital said Friday it had offered to buy the system software group for 56 cents a share in cash, representing a…

Do you know your credit card’s interest rate? Here’s how much a few percentage points can cost you over time.

Do you know your credit card’s interest rate? Here’s how much a few percentage points can cost you over time.

The Federal Reserve has been on an inflation reduction campaign for about 19 months, influencing higher interest rates across the economy. The interest rate that could be affecting the greatest share of households is costly, and one they might have overlooked. Ask someone what their mortgage rate is and they’ll probably be able to tell…

Apple’s iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 13: Is the upgrade worth it?

Apple’s iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 13: Is the upgrade worth it?

Hello and welcome to Financial Face-off, a MarketWatch column where we help you weigh a financial decision. Our columnist will give her verdict. Tell us whether you think she’s right in the comments. And please share your suggestions for future Financial Face-off columns by emailing our columnist at [email protected].  Fall is almost here, but if…

Opinion: For better gains in tech stocks from here, look beyond the ‘Magnificent Seven’

Opinion: For better gains in tech stocks from here, look beyond the ‘Magnificent Seven’

The so-called Magnificent Seven stocks have been leading the U.S. market this year, but now they look richly valued by many key measures — and they’re crowded trades. One in five funds have more than 40% of their holdings in the Magnificent Seven, says Bank of America. “Upside risk may be capped,” says B. of…