Table of Contents

• Target

• Story

Top Stories Today

Economy & Finance

Target

Target raised its full-year profit forecast after reporting its first quarterly comparable sales increase in over a year, driven by price cuts that attracted more shoppers. The company's strategy, similar to that of Walmart, reflects a cautious but still resilient U.S. consumer market. Target's shares surged 16% as it benefited from increased store traffic and strong sales, particularly in groceries and everyday essentials. The company remains cautious, expecting growth to be on the lower end of its forecasted range.

Technology

Story

Story, a San Francisco-based startup, raised $80 million in funding to develop a blockchain platform aimed at protecting creators' intellectual property from being used without permission by AI companies like OpenAI. The funding round, led by Andreessen Horowitz, values the company at $2.25 billion. Story’s blockchain allows creators to embed licensing and royalty terms into smart contracts, enabling easier management of their IP and eliminating the need for intermediaries. The company plans to use the funds to expand its infrastructure and attract more developers to its platform.

Thanks for reading, subscribe to The Standard Lens for more.