Lattice Materials, a Bozeman company that manufactures custom silicon and germanium crystals for defense, aerospace and semiconductor customers, broke ground Wednesday on a new 80,000-square-foot facility that will more than… Read More
Featured Posts in Business
Markets Post Best Week Since November as Iran Ceasefire Fuels Relief Rally
U.S. stocks logged their strongest weekly performance since November, as a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire between the United States and Iran triggered a sweeping relief rally that unwound much of the damage… Read More
Third Point Abandons CoStar Campaign, Dumps Entire Stake
Daniel Loeb’s hedge fund Third Point has walked away from its activist campaign against CoStar Group, selling its entire position in the real estate data company after concluding that its… Read More
Financial services jobs boom in Montana
Montana’s financial and professional services sector has emerged as the leading driver of state economic production, according to a new analysis from the Department of Labor and Industry released as… Read More
All Posts In Business
Bozeman Semiconductor Manufacturer Breaks Ground on 80,000-Square-Foot Expansion
Lattice Materials, a Bozeman company that manufactures custom silicon and germanium crystals for defense, aerospace and semiconductor customers, broke ground Wednesday on a new 80,000-square-foot facility that will more than… Read More
Markets Post Best Week Since November as Iran Ceasefire Fuels Relief Rally
U.S. stocks logged their strongest weekly performance since November, as a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire between the United States and Iran triggered a sweeping relief rally that unwound much of the damage… Read More
Judge Extends Freeze on Nexstar-Tegna Merger
A federal judge on Friday extended an emergency order keeping Nexstar Media Group and Tegna operating as separate companies for another week, as he weighs whether to issue a longer… Read More
Glass Lewis Backs Warner Bros.-Paramount Merger
Proxy advisory firm Glass Lewis has recommended that Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders vote in favor of the company’s $110 billion merger with Paramount Skydance, adding influential institutional support to the… Read More
Third Point Abandons CoStar Campaign, Dumps Entire Stake
Daniel Loeb’s hedge fund Third Point has walked away from its activist campaign against CoStar Group, selling its entire position in the real estate data company after concluding that its… Read More
Hi-Country Snack Foods pauses production
Hi-Country Snack Foods, a nearly 50-year-old Montana jerky maker and one of the largest employers in the small mountain community of Lincoln, has paused production — a development that raises… Read More
Financial services jobs boom in Montana
Montana’s financial and professional services sector has emerged as the leading driver of state economic production, according to a new analysis from the Department of Labor and Industry released as… Read More
Shareholders approve NorthWestern Energy, Black Hills merger
Shareholders of both NorthWestern Energy and Black Hills Corp. have voted to approve a proposed all-stock merger that would combine the two regional utilities into a new company called Bright… Read More
Bank of America to Pay $72.5 Million to Settle Epstein Victims Lawsuit
Bank of America has agreed to pay $72.5 million to settle a federal class-action lawsuit accusing the bank of helping facilitate Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking operation — becoming the latest… Read More
Bozeman-Based Texbase Launches New Solution for CPSC eFiling
Bozeman-based Texbase Inc. has announced the release of a new platform capability designed to streamline product compliance reporting for consumer brands and retailers. The new feature, Texbase for eFiling, allows… Read More
Microsoft Takes Over Texas AI Data Center Expansion After OpenAI Pulls Back
Microsoft is taking over a major AI data center expansion project in Abilene, Texas, after OpenAI decided not to move forward with the additional buildout, signaling a continued shift as… Read More
Montana Knife Company Opens New Missoula Facility
Montana Knife Company has opened a new 51,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Missoula, marking a major expansion for the fast-growing knife maker and underscoring its commitment to American-based production and job… Read More
Small Business Confidence Edges Lower
America’s small business owners pulled back slightly on their optimism in February, according to the latest data from the National Federation of Independent Business, with the group’s Small Business Optimism… Read More
FSOC Proposes New Guidance for Nonbank Financial Company Designations
The Financial Stability Oversight Council voted unanimously this week to release proposed interpretive guidance for public comment on how it designates nonbank financial companies as potential threats to U.S. financial… Read More
Fed and Central Banks Flag Energy Shock Risks to Inflation and Growth
Federal Reserve Vice Chair Philip Jefferson issued a stark warning this week about the economic risks posed by surging energy prices, telling audiences that a sustained rise in oil and… Read More
U.S. Appeals Court Overturns $16 Billion Judgment in Argentina YPF Case
A federal appeals court has overturned a $16.1 billion judgment against Argentina tied to the nationalization of energy company YPF, delivering a major legal victory for the South American country… Read More
Public Invited to Weigh In on Montana Workforce Strategy Overhaul
State officials are inviting public input on a proposed overhaul of Montana’s workforce development strategy, aimed at better aligning education, job training, and industry needs across the state. The Montana… Read More
Stocks End Week Mixed as Tech Strength Offsets Broader Market Weakness
U.S. stocks closed the week with mixed results, as gains in large-cap technology companies helped offset broader weakness across financials, energy, and industrial sectors. The S&P 500 finished little changed… Read More
Micron Stock Tumbles More Than 20% Despite Record Earnings
It has been one of the most jarring weeks in recent memory for Micron Technology (Nasdaq: MU) shareholders — a story of blockbuster results overshadowed by a perfect storm of… Read More
Energy Stocks Surge as Rest of Market Stumbles
While Wall Street has been gripped by a broad selloff in 2026, one corner of the market has been quietly — and in some cases loudly — thriving. Energy stocks… Read More
Constellation Energy Has a Complicated Week
It has been a week of mixed signals for Constellation Energy (Nasdaq: CEG), the nation’s largest nuclear power operator. A string of setbacks — regulatory delays, a major asset sale,… Read More
First Interstate, FHLB Des Moines Award $700,000 to South Dakota Nonprofits
First Interstate and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines are providing $700,000 in combined support to 34 nonprofit organizations across South Dakota, expanding funding for groups working on… Read More
Jury Finds Musk Liable for Misleading Twitter Investors in 2022 Takeover Fight
A federal jury in San Francisco found Elon Musk liable for misleading Twitter investors during his 2022 bid to buy the company, concluding that some of his public statements improperly… Read More
Microsoft, OpenAI Alliance Faces New Strain
The high-stakes partnership between Microsoft and OpenAI is showing fresh signs of strain after reports that Microsoft is weighing legal action over a massive cloud agreement between OpenAI and Amazon…. Read More
Micron Tops Expectations, but Shares Slip as Spending Plans Take Center Stage
Micron Technology posted strong quarterly results this week, driven by booming demand for AI-related memory chips, but the company’s stock slipped as investors focused on sharply higher capital spending plans… Read More
Oil Shock Jolts Global Economy
A sharp jump in oil prices emerged as one of the biggest business stories of the week, rattling financial markets and renewing fears that higher energy costs could fuel inflation,… Read More
Stocks Fall for Fourth Straight Week as Oil, Inflation Fears Weigh on Wall Street
U.S. stocks fell again this week, extending Wall Street’s losing streak to four straight weeks as rising oil prices, stubborn inflation concerns and fading hopes for near-term Federal Reserve rate… Read More
Super Micro Shares Plunge After Co-Founder Indicted in AI Chip Smuggling Case
Super Micro Computer shares plunged 33% Friday after federal prosecutors charged company co-founder Wally Liaw and two others in a scheme to illegally divert advanced Nvidia-powered servers to China, intensifying… Read More
Stocks Fall for the Week as Investors Weigh Economic Signals
U.S. stocks closed lower this week as investors grappled with renewed uncertainty around interest rates, economic growth, and upcoming corporate earnings. The broad market benchmark, the S&P 500, posted a… Read More
Paramount Skydance Seals $110B Deal for Warner Bros. Discovery After Netflix Bows Out
Paramount Skydance has agreed to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery in a blockbuster $110 billion deal, bringing an end to a high-profile bidding war after Netflix withdrew from negotiations with the… Read More
Knudsen Secures $29.5M Settlement with Vanguard in Coal Market Lawsuit
Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced a landmark settlement agreement with The Vanguard Group, Inc. this week, resolving allegations that the asset manager conspired to artificially constrict the coal market through… Read More
Energy Stocks Lag as Oil Prices Ease
Energy markets faced renewed pressure this week as crude prices softened amid mixed signals on global demand and steady U.S. production. Benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude drifted lower, weighing on… Read More
Fed Officials Signal Patience on Rate Cuts
Officials at the Federal Reserve this week reinforced a cautious, data-dependent stance on interest rates, tempering investor expectations for rapid easing despite cooling inflation. In public remarks following the latest… Read More
Stockman Bank Donates $15,000 to Support Student Field Trips to Heritage Center
The Montana Historical Society received a $15,000 donation from Stockman Bank during the grand opening of the bank’s newest Helena branch on Feb. 12. The gift will support the Montana… Read More
Banks Navigate Slower Loan Growth as Rate Outlook Shifts
U.S. regional banks are entering the new quarter facing a more complicated interest-rate environment, as moderating inflation and growing expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts reshape lending dynamics and profitability… Read More
Stocks Edge Higher as Inflation Data Lifts Rate-Cut Hopes
U.S. stocks closed the week modestly higher, buoyed by a softer-than-expected inflation report that reinforced investor bets the Federal Reserve could begin cutting interest rates later this year. The S&P… Read More
Canada looks to shift auto industry away from U.S.
(The Center Square) – Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney wants his nation’s auto industry to look far beyond its usual American market with investments in electric vehicles and other trade… Read More
Governor Gianforte announces members of Licensing Reform Task Force
Governor Greg Gianforte announced the membership of the Licensing Reform Task Force, fulfilling his commitment to streamline state government and make it easier for Montanans to enter the workforce. Established… Read More
Department of War Launches LYNX Platform to Expand Business Participation in Defense Markets
The Department of War (DoW) Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) today announced the launch of LYNX, a new digital platform designed to help businesses enter, navigate, and compete more… Read More
Governor Gianforte announces members of Licensing Reform Task Force
Governor Greg Gianforte announced the membership of the Licensing Reform Task Force, fulfilling his commitment to streamline state government and make it easier for Montanans to enter the workforce. Established… Read More
War Department Invites 25 Vendors to Compete in Phase I of Drone Dominance Program
The War Department announced today that 25 vendors have been selected to compete in Phase I of the Drone Dominance Program (DDP), a sweeping acquisition reform initiative aimed at rapidly… Read More
Montana Unemployment Holds at 3.4%
Montana’s unemployment rate rose slightly to 3.4 percent in December, extending the state’s streak of over four consecutive years with unemployment at or below that level, according to the Montana… Read More
Antitrust Suit Targets Union Pacific Over Rural Rail Access
Thirteen farmers from Kansas and Colorado, along with Weskan Grain and Colorado Pacific Railroad (CXR), filed an antitrust lawsuit Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas… Read More
New Construction Sector Analysis Highlights Record Growth
Montana’s construction industry continues to surge, driving economic growth, creating thousands of high-paying jobs, and fueling demand for skilled workers across the state, according to a new analysis released by… Read More
Montana CSI Holds Public Hearing on BCBSMT Cybersecurity Breach
The Montana Office of the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance (CSI) held a public administrative hearing on January 22, 2026, to examine a cybersecurity breach involving Health Care Service Corporation,… Read More
Wall Street Ends Week Lower After a Tumultuous Trading Session
Wall Street closed out a turbulent week on a cautious note, with major indexes posting modest losses amid a swirl of geopolitical headlines and mixed corporate earnings. The S&P 500… Read More
Mitsubishi buys Louisiana, Texas shale gas assets for $7.5B
(The Center Square) – The second largest natural gas producer in northwest Louisiana and east Texas has sold its assets to Japanese conglomerate Mitsubishi. Aethon, a Dallas-based company that operates… Read More
Montana State University Extension to host winter ag series in southeastern Montana Jan. 19-23
Montana State University Extension will host a winter ag series in southeastern Montana from Jan. 19-23. The Southeast Montana MSU Extension Winter Ag Series includes events in Baker, Broadus, Circle,… Read More
