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.

US retailers are about to see if Black Friday benefits from a holiday halo effect

SUMMARY: Black Friday bargains no longer tempt people to leave Thanksgiving tables for midnight mall runs. But the annual sales event still brings more shoppers into stores than any day of the year. This year's traditional kickoff to the holiday shopping season comes as consumer confidence in the U.S. economy fell this month in the aftermath of the federal government shutdown, weak hiring and stubborn inflation. Many retail executives have reported customers becoming more selective with their purchases while at the same time remaining willing to splash out for important occasions like the winter holidays, Analysts and mall executives reported solid sales heading into Black Friday week.

WORDS: 835 - MOVED: 11/28/2025 1:32 a.m. EST

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US stocks point higher after index futures trading was halted by technical issue

SUMMARY: Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500 and Nasdaq resumed trading with slight gains after being halted for hours due to a technical issue at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Futures in individual stocks were not impacted by the issues at CME. Coinbase Global rose 2.7% in premarket trading as bitcoin stayed above $91,000. Tech stocks posted gains, with Google parent Alphabet rising 1%. Wall Street is trying to avoid its first monthly loss since April. The market is operating on an abbreviated schedule Friday after being closed for the Thanksgiving holiday. Stock trading closes at 1 p.m. ET.

WORDS: 474 - MOVED: 11/28/2025 12:44 a.m. EST

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Armani fashion group appoints new board to guide company after designer's death

SUMMARY: Italy's fashion house Armani has appointed a new board to guide the company following the death of its founder Giorgio Armani earlier this year. The board consists of eight members, including former Armani executive John Hooks and former Gucci CEO Marco Bizzarri. Other members include Chairman Pantaleo Dell'Orco and CEO Giuseppe Marsocci. Armani's niece Silvana and nephew Andrea Camerana are also on the board. The group appointed Marsocci as CEO after Armani's death in September. Dell'Orco said the board's composition represents the best guarantee for continuing Armani's legacy and values.

WORDS: 233 - MOVED: 11/28/2025 7:00 a.m. EST

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Fleet of UPS planes grounded after deadly crash expected to miss peak delivery season

SUMMARY: UPS Airlines says a fleet of planes grounded after a deadly crash is expected to miss the peak holiday season due to inspections and possible repairs. An internal memo said Wednesday the airline predicts it will be several months before its McDonnell Douglas MD-11 fleet returns to service as it works to meet Federal Aviation Administration guidelines. The process was previously expected to take weeks. UPS intends to rely on contingency plans to deliver for customers throughout the peak season. Boeing took over as the manufacturer of MD-11s in 1997 and is working to help operators meet FAA requirements. An MD-11 plane crashed Nov. 4 in Louisville, Kentucky, killing 14 people.

WORDS: 302 - MOVED: 11/27/2025 5:34 p.m. EST

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Black Friday arrives with solid momentum despite tariffs and economic uncertainty

SUMMARY: Black Friday may no longer be the retail bacchanalia of years past, but the event still has enough enthusiasts to make it the biggest single shopping day in the U.S.. This year's traditional kickoff to the holiday shopping season comes as companies navigate an uncertain economic environment. Many have absorbed some of the costs from the Trump administration's tariffs on imported goods and pulled back on hiring instead of raising prices for customers. Consumer confidence in the economy fell this month. Shoppers nonetheless have remained willing to spend, at least judging by the solid quarterly sales reports from major retailers. But many retail executives also say customers are focusing on deals and being selective.

WORDS: 839 - MOVED: 11/27/2025 12:45 a.m. EST

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Black Friday: What time do stores open?

SUMMARY: Black Friday has become something of an anachronism in the e-commerce era. The day after Thanksgiving marks the official start of the holiday shopping season, but retailers already have spent weeks flooding their websites and customers' email inboxes with early Black Friday offers. While sales trends have been shifting, the best bargains may still be had from Black Friday through Cyber Monday. A number of stores that were closed on Thanksgiving reopen early Friday as companies work to kick the holiday shopping season into high gear.

WORDS: 381 - MOVED: 11/27/2025 12:32 p.m. EST

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What's open on Thanksgiving? Not much, as many stores rest -- or prepare -- ahead of Black Friday

SUMMARY: With Thanksgiving and the formal launch of the holiday shopping season, Americans will again take to the road for holiday gatherings before knocking off items on their Christmas gift lists. Most national grocery store chains are open on Thursday for last-minute needs, although many close early. Major U.S. retailers are closed on Thanksgiving Day, either giving workers the day off or preparing for Black Friday. Many will open early on the day after Thanksgiving, which is typically the biggest shopping day of the year. Black Friday has lost some of its frantic energy as customers increasingly shop for gifts online.

WORDS: 544 - MOVED: 11/26/2025 9:05 a.m. EST

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