BUSINESS

As Trump’s Iran deadline looms, the physical oil market is flashing something far more serious than currently reflected in futures contracts.

Iran’s government is reportedly reviewing Pakistan’s request for a two-week ceasefire positively, according to an Axios report.

Hedge-fund founder points out that the conflict between Israel, the U.S. and Iran isn’t happening in a vacuum.

Slowing down the reporting cycle is a common-sense move that protects companies from short-termism — and investors from their own worst impulses.

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Why we love this dealSpending time outside during springtime can help you relax, offers a great option for spending time with friends, and allows you to just sit and fully enjoy the beautiful weather. Having the appropriate furniture to fit your needs is important, especially if you want to lounge outside for a long time, or want to have something that offers the ability to lie out while also functioning as a normal chair. The Costway Rattan Patio Lounge Chair offers both lounging and sitting, as it features a retractable foot rest. Originally $220 at Target, this beautiful wood and rattan lounge chair is selling for just $110, saving shoppers a whopping $110.Costway Rattan Patio Lounge Chair, $110 (was $220) at Target

Courtesy of Target

Shop at TargetWhy do shoppers love it?This chair is made for you. It offers a bit of stretch that forms to your body as you sit, providing both support and comfort. Additionally, the acacia wood frame is weather-resistant, and doesn’t deform easily. The rattan is breathable and waterproof, offering an easy outdoor piece that can be hosed off when dirty, and dries quickly, though it’s suggested to keep it out of prolonged rain. The whole chair can support up to 360 pounds, and offers a wide, stable design to prevent tipping. The backrest and rounded seat design offer a comfortable lounging posture, and the foldable and retractable design can save space when not in use. The foot rest slides up under the seat, allowing it to be pushed out of the way without taking up more space. The design folds nearly flat, allowing you to prop it up against the wall or slide it in a backyard shed.Related: Target is selling a $146 lounge chair with four adjustable reclining positions for 52% offIt not only provides a space-saving design and a comfortable option for lounging outdoors, but the Acacian wood and rattan style fits into any garden or patio area. Since it weighs less than 25 pounds, it can be easily moved to use by the pool, on the front porch, in the garden, and more, making it a great option to move around the yard to follow the shade. The full lounger measures 24 inches wide, 51.5 inches long, and 32.5 inches tall, with a seat width of 20.5 inches. The pros and cons of this dealProsMaterial: The Acacia wood and polyurethane rattan offer a nice-looking, weather-resistant patio option.Space-saving design: The footrest fits under the chair, and the chair itself can fold up for storage. High weight capacity: The 360-pound weight capacity and wide base offer a sturdy and solid option.Cons The back does not recline: This chair offers a comfortable upright position, but does not offer a full laid back position. Care: Although it’s weather-resistant, the company suggests to not keep the chair out in prolonged rain.”This is probably the best recliner I have ever bought,” one reviewer said. “The workmanship is beautiful, the colors match well, and the price is reasonable and the comfort is high. I love this recliner.”Another shopper said, “We bought these chairs for our pool. They’re elegant and comfortable. The manufacturers are also very professional and easy to work with. I highly recommend buying this company’s products. They are comfortable, sturdy, and look good around our pool.”Shop more dealsCostway 2-Piece Rattan Folding Lounge Chair with Matching Table, $127 (was $310) at TargetCoatsway 3-Seat Canopy Porch Swing, $108 (was $290) at TargetCostway 2-Set Patio Chaise, $146 (was $292) at TargetWhether you need an additional chair for when friends visit, or you want something to lounge in after work to help relieve the stress of the day, the Costway Rattan Patio Lounge Chair is a comfortable, easy-to-use, and durable option for any yard. The foldable and retractable design saves space when not in use, and makes it easy to move around the yard when needed. Shoppers can save 50% off on this lounge chair, paying just $110 at Target.

If you deposit money every month and watch your balance grow, the assumption is that you are building something solid for the years ahead.But a closer look reveals something uncomfortable that millions of responsible savers are choosing to ignore completely today. Your savings account balance may be growing in dollars, yet your purchasing power might be shrinking.U.S. Bank published a financial education guide that identifies the core tension between saving and investing with unusual clarity.Savings accounts are losing ground to inflation every single yearThe national average savings account interest rate is 0.39% APY as of March 2026, according to FDIC data. Even the best high-yield savings accounts top out at around 4%-4.5% APY in the current rate environment across most platforms. The annual inflation rate held steady at 2.4% in February 2026, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in its latest CPI release.If your savings account earns 0.39% and inflation runs at 2.4%, you are losing roughly 2% of your purchasing power each year. Over a decade, that erosion compounds into a significant gap between what your balance says it can buy and what it can buy for you.“Both strategies involve accumulating money for future use, but their level of risk is not equal,” the U.S. Bank guide states directly. Your savings look stable on paper, but the dollars inside them buy less with each passing month.U.S. Bank breaks down where saving ends and investing should beginThe U.S. Bank guide draws a clear line between what savings does well and where it falls short for your long-term financial goals. Understanding when to save and when to invest is a core foundation for both new and seasoned investors.Saving works best when your financial goal falls within a five-year window or shorter, the guide explains. Vacations, emergency funds, and home down payments are ideal targets for savings accounts because you need quick access.More Personal Finance:Retirees following 4% rule are leaving thousands on the tableFidelity says a $500 policy could protect your entire net worthFidelity’s 4 Roth strategies could save your family a fortune in taxesInvesting, on the other hand, targets goals that sit further out on your financial timeline, like retirement or a child’s education. The S&P 500 has delivered an average annual return of roughly 10% since 1957, according to historical data tracked by The Motley Fool.Adjusted for inflation, the long-run average annual return since 1957 falls to approximately 6% to 7%, according to Trade That Swing’s historical S&P 500 data. Compare that to the 0.39% national savings average, and the opportunity cost becomes impossible for you to ignore.

Saving protects your money in the short term, but investing is what builds real long-term wealth and keeps you ahead of inflation.wee dezign/Shutterstock

Compound growth does the heavy lifting your savings account never willU.S. Bank’s guide highlights compound growth as the defining advantage that separates investing from saving over long time horizons. Compound growth occurs when your investment earnings generate additional earnings, creating a snowball effect over decades.Here is a straightforward example of what that difference looks like over 20 years of consistent monthly contributions from your paycheck.Savings vs. investing: a 20-year comparison$500/month in a savings account at 0.39% APY: Your balance reaches roughly $123,500 after 20 years, with just $3,500 in total interest earned over that period.$500/month invested in an S&P 500 index fund at 10% average annual return: Your balance grows to approximately $379,700, with more than $259,000 coming from compound growth alone.The gap: You would leave more than $256,000 on the table by saving rather than investing those same dollars over the exact same period.Those numbers are not guarantees, and past performance does not predict future results in any market or economic environment. But the historical pattern shows that time in the market, not timing the market, is the most reliable path to building wealth.Your emergency fund still belongs in a savings accountSaving is not the enemy here, and U.S. Bank is clear that savings accounts serve a critical function in every well-built financial plan.More than a third (37%) of adults would not be able to cover a $400 emergency expense with cash or its equivalent, according to the Federal Reserve’s Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2024. Only 55% of adults reported having three months of expenses set aside in an emergency savings fund.“Saving is generally considered a good approach if your financial goal can be reached in five years or less, such as planning for a vacation or buying a house,” U.S. Bank said. “The money you put into a savings account is more liquid than the money you put into investments.”You need a savings buffer before you start investing, and most financial planners recommend three to six months of household expenses. That money should stay liquid, accessible, and protected by FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor per institution.Where your savings still serve you bestEmergency expenses: Car repairs, medical bills, and job-loss coverage should remain in savings, where you can access them immediately without penalties.Short-term goals: If you plan to buy a home, take a trip, or make a major purchase within five years, a high-yield savings account protects your principal.Psychological stability: Knowing you have a financial cushion reduces stress and keeps you from pulling investments out early during any market downturns.The key is recognizing that savings accounts are a financial safety net, not a wealth-building tool for your long-term needs.The biggest mistake is treating saving and investing as the same strategyU.S. Bank’s guide frames the saving-versus-investing decision not as a choice between two options but as a coordination problem you need to solve. You need both, but you need them working on different jobs inside your financial life.“Fortunately, you can do both at the same time, which means you don’t have to choose one or the other,” according to the U.S. Bank guide. The mistake is not saving too much; the mistake is saving money that should be invested.If you are putting $1,000 a month into a savings account while your 401(k) sits unfunded, you are making a costly trade-off every month. Employer matches alone can represent an immediate 50% to 100% return on your contributed dollars, depending on your company’s matching formula.How to start splitting your money between both strategiesStep one: Build your emergency fund in a high-yield savings account to cover three to six months of essential expenses at a competitive rate.Step two: Contribute enough to your employer-sponsored 401(k) to capture the full company match, because that is free money you should never leave behind.Step three: Open a Roth IRA or traditional IRA if you do not have access to an employer plan, or if you want additional tax-advantaged savings. The IRS raised the IRA contribution limit to $7,500 for 2026.Step four: Direct any remaining savings beyond your emergency fund into a diversified investment portfolio built for your specific retirement timeline and risk profile.You do not need to be a stock-picking expert to start investing, and a low-cost S&P 500 index fund is one of the simplest entry points available today, Fidelity says.Why waiting to invest costs you more than any market downturnThe biggest risk for long-term savers is not a market crash; it is the years of potential compound growth you sacrifice by keeping everything parked in cash.The S&P 500 has delivered negative annual returns in only six of the past 30 years, and in 13 of those years, it generated returns above 20%, according to the Motley Fool’s analysis of historical S&P 500 data. Markets recover from downturns, but lost time in the market is gone forever for your portfolio.“The longer your money is invested, the more potential it has to grow and earn compound growth,” according to the U.S. Bank guide. Every year you delay investing is a year your money sits earning a fraction of what it could produce for you.Situations where this decision matters mostYou are in your 20s or 30s: You have decades for your investments to ride out market volatility and benefit from compounding returns.You received a raise or bonus: Directing new income toward investments instead of savings accelerates your long-term wealth accumulation significantly over time.You already have a fully funded emergency savings account: Every dollar above your emergency threshold is a candidate for investment, not additional idle savings.You are saving for retirement without using tax-advantaged accounts: A 401(k) or IRA reduces your taxable income while your money grows tax-deferred or tax-free for you.What you should do this week to stop losing ground to inflationIf you recognize yourself in this article, the good news is that the fix does not require a financial advisor or a complicated plan to start.Start by reviewing your current savings balance and asking one question: How much of this money exceeds your three-to-six-month emergency fund target? Any amount above that threshold is money that could be working harder for you in the investment market.Your financial action checklist for this monthCheck your savings rate: If your account earns less than 4% APY, consider moving your emergency fund to a high-yield savings account with a competitive rate today.Review your employer’s retirement plan: Confirm whether your company offers a 401(k) match and ensure you are contributing enough to capture every matching dollar available to you.Open a brokerage or IRA account: Platforms including Fidelity, Vanguard, and Charles Schwab offer low-cost index funds with no minimum investment requirements for many accounts.Automate your investment contributions: Set up recurring transfers so investing is as automatic as your monthly savings deposits.Related: US banks close 100s more banks on top of 1000s already closed

AI agents run on file systems using standard tools to navigate directories and read file paths. The challenge, however, is that there is a lot of enterprise data in object storage systems, notably Amazon S3. Object stores serve data through API calls, not file paths. Bridging that gap has required a separate file system layer alongside S3, duplicated data and sync pipelines to keep both aligned.The rise of agentic AI makes that challenge even harder, and it was affecting Amazon’s own ability to get things done. Engineering teams at AWS using tools like Kiro and Claude Code kept running into the same problem: Agents defaulted to local file tools, but the data was in S3. Downloading it locally worked until the agent’s context window compacted and the session state was lost.Amazon’s answer is S3 Files, which mounts any S3 bucket directly into an agent’s local environment with a single command. The data stays in S3, with no migration required. Under the hood, AWS connects its Elastic File System (EFS) technology to S3 to deliver full file system semantics, not a workaround. S3 Files is available now in most AWS Regions.”By making data in S3 immediately available, as if it’s part of the local file system, we found that we had a really big acceleration with the ability of things like Kiro and Claude Code to be able to work with that data,” Andy Warfield, VP and distinguished engineer at AWS, told VentureBeat.The difference between file and object storage and why it mattersS3 was built for durability, scale and API-based access at the object level. Those properties made it the default storage layer for enterprise data. But they also created a fundamental incompatibility with the file-based tools that developers and agents depend on.

“S3 is not a file system, and it doesn’t have file semantics on a whole bunch of fronts,” Warfield said. “You can’t do a move, an atomic move of an object, and there aren’t actually directories in S3.”Previous attempts to bridge that gap relied on FUSE (Filesystems in USErspace), a software layer that lets developers mount a custom file system in user space without changing the underlying storage. Tools like AWS’s own Mount Point, Google’s gcsfuse and Microsoft’s blobfuse2 all used FUSE-based drivers to make their respective object stores look like a file system. Warfield noted that the problem is that those object stores still weren’t file systems. Those drivers either faked file behavior by stuffing extra metadata into buckets, which broke the object API view, or they refused file operations that the object store couldn’t support.S3 Files takes a different architecture entirely. AWS is connecting its EFS (Elastic File System) technology directly to S3, presenting a full native file system layer while keeping S3 as the system of record. Both the file system API and the S3 object API remain accessible simultaneously against the same data.How S3 Files accelerates agentic AI
Before S3 Files, an agent working with object data had to be explicitly instructed to download files before using tools. That created a session state problem. As agents compacted their context windows, the record of what had been downloaded locally was often lost.”I would find myself having to remind the agent that the data was available locally,” Warfield said.Warfield walked through the before-and-after for a common agent task involving log analysis. He explained that a developer was using Kiro or Claude Code to work with log data, in the object only case they would need to tell the agent where the log files are located and to go and download them. Whereas if the logs are immediately mountable on the local file system, the developer can simply identify that the logs are at a specific path, and the agent immediately has access to go through them.For multi-agent pipelines, multiple agents can access the same mounted bucket simultaneously. AWS says thousands of compute resources can connect to a single S3 file system at the same time, with aggregate read throughput reaching multiple terabytes per second — figures VentureBeat was not able to independently verify.Shared state across agents works through standard file system conventions: subdirectories, notes files and shared project directories that any agent in the pipeline can read and write. Warfield described AWS engineering teams using this pattern internally, with agents logging investigation notes and task summaries into shared project directories.For teams building RAG pipelines on top of shared agent content, S3 Vectors — launched at AWS re:Invent in December 2024 — layers on top for similarity search and retrieval-augmented generation against that same data.What analysts say: this is not just a better FUSEAWS is positioning S3 Files against FUSE-based file access from Azure Blob NFS and Google Cloud Storage FUSE. For AI workloads, the meaningful distinction is not primarily performance.”S3 Files eliminates the data shuffle between object and file storage, turning S3 into a shared, low-latency working space without copying data,” Jeff Vogel, analyst at Gartner, told VentureBeat. “The file system becomes a view, not another dataset.”With FUSE-based approaches, each agent maintains its own local view of the data. When multiple agents work simultaneously, those views can potentially fall out of sync.”It eliminates an entire class of failure modes including unexplained training/inference failures caused by stale metadata, which are notoriously difficult to debug,” Vogel said. “FUSE-based solutions externalize complexity and issues to the user.”The agent-level implications go further still. The architectural argument matters less than what it unlocks in practice.”For agentic AI, which thinks in terms of files, paths, and local scripts, this is the missing link,” Dave McCarthy, analyst at IDC, told VentureBeat. “It allows an AI agent to treat an exabyte-scale bucket as its own local hard drive, enabling a level of autonomous operational speed that was previously bottled up by API overhead associated with approaches like FUSE.”Beyond the agent workflow, McCarthy sees S3 Files as a broader inflection point for how enterprises use their data.”The launch of S3 Files isn’t just S3 with a new interface; it’s the removal of the final friction point between massive data lakes and autonomous AI,” he said. “By converging file and object access with S3, they are opening the door to more use cases with less reworking.”What this means for enterprisesFor enterprise teams that have been maintaining a separate file system alongside S3 to support file-based applications or agent workloads, that architecture is now unnecessary.For enterprise teams consolidating AI infrastructure on S3, the practical shift is concrete: S3 stops being the destination for agent output and becomes the environment where agent work happens.”All of these API changes that you’re seeing out of the storage teams come from firsthand work and customer experience using agents to work with data,” Warfield said. “We’re really singularly focused on removing any friction and making those interactions go as well as they can.”

Costco has built a loyal customer base by doing a lot of things right.It’s not a secret that Costco excels in the area of pricing. Its bulk discounts are some of the best in all of retail. And at a time when grocery prices are up 2.4% on an annual basis, according to the most recent Consumer Price Index, that’s key.Costco’s food court is another big hit with members. It’s hard to match some of the deals you’ll find there, from the $1.50 hot dog and soda combo to the giant pizza you can pre-order for just $9.95.But there’s one part of the experience that has long tested shoppers’ patience — checkout.Anyone who regularly shops at Costco knows the routine. You fill a cart (often a large one) and then brace yourself for a long, slow-moving line. Unlike traditional grocery stores with dozens of registers or competitors that have shifted heavily into mobile scanning (ahem, Sam’s Club), Costco has historically relied on a more manual checkout process. But when you’ve spent the past hour roaming a warehouse club store trying to load up on groceries and supplies, the last thing you want is another bottleneck.As one Reddit user put it, “Costco absolutely is a nightmare to check out.”Thankfully, though, the company is taking steps to change that.Costco takes major step to address checkout woesCostco is testing a new system designed to dramatically speed up checkout. And early results suggest it could be a game-changer.Costco is piloting automated pay stations that can complete transactions in under 10 seconds, the New York Post reported. The key innovation is what happens before customers even reach the register.Instead of unloading items onto a conveyor belt, employees scan products while shoppers wait in line. By the time a member reaches the front, everything is already logged in the system, which means they only need to scan their membership card and pay.Related: Dollar Tree CEO shares upbeat pricing newsCostco CEO Ron Vachris highlighted the focus on checkout during the company’s most recent earnings call. “In the warehouses, we are achieving meaningful improvements in the speed of checkout and employee productivity, both as a result of our mobile wallet enhancements, pharmacy pay ahead, and the rollout of employee pre-scan technology,” he said.”We are also piloting automated pay stations that will allow members to pay for their pre-scan orders seamlessly with an average transaction time of around eight seconds,” Vachris added. “Early results show this is improving the flow of traffic, and we have received great member feedback.”

Costco has made a major move to address long customer waits at checkout.Shutterstock

Costco is making a key investment that could pay offCostco’s push to improve checkout isn’t just about convenience. Rather, it’s a strategic investment in the company’s core business model.Unlike many retailers, Costco makes a significant portion of its profits from membership fees rather than merchandise markups. That means keeping members happy is crucial.More Retail:Costco sees major shift in member behaviorRetail chain shuts all locations as legal changes hit industryCostco makes major investment in online shopping for membersLululemon struggles to reverse concerning customer behaviorT-Mobile launches free offer for customers after major lossDuring its most recent earnings call, Costco reported $1.36 billion in membership fee income. It also boasted renewal rates of 92.1% in both the U.S. and Canada.Fixing checkout may seem like a small operational tweak, but it addresses one of the most visible friction points in members’ shopping experience. A faster exit can meaningfully improve how customers feel about their visit – and whether they want to come back.The change could also improve Costco’s bottom line in ways unrelated to member retention. Faster checkout could also lead to more sales during peak hours. And if members get out the door quicker, they may be more apt to make a pit stop at the food court. The result? Added revenue. For a company that famously sticks to what works, investing in new checkout technology shows a recognition that even a highly successful model can benefit from tweaks. And if Costco can finally solve its checkout problem, it may remove the last major frustration standing between a good shopping trip and a great one.Maurie Backman owns shares of Costco.Related: Costco sees shift in member behavior

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Why we love this dealCounters are notorious for getting cluttered quickly, especially if they’re in a small kitchen. If a storage cabinet or kitchen island is out of the question, you’re going to have to get creative with your storage solutions. For smaller items, like spices and jars, a magnetic spice rack is a massive space-saver that can add extra storage to various kitchen surfaces.The Tinana 4-Piece Magnetic Spice Rack Organizer Set has a drill-free design with easy installation that’s a dream for small spaces, especially if you’re a renter. It’s currently on sale at Walmart for $17, which is 41% off its regular price of $29.Tinana 4-Piece Magnetic Spice Rack Organizer Set, $17 (was $29) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at WalmartWhy do shoppers love it?Getting your kitchen organized isn’t always easy, but there are storage solutions that can make it so much easier. With a magnetic design, this spice rack organizer set is perfect for attaching to refrigerator doors, but can also be used on an oven or microwave. The shelves also have solid front panels, giving it a sleek and uniform look in comparison to mesh walls.This spice rack organizer set comes with four shelves — two medium and two large. The medium shelves measure 10.6 inches long by 3.34 inches wide by 2.95 inches high and the large shelves measure 11.6 inches long by 3.74 inches wide by 2.95 inches high. Each rack can hold up to 11 pounds each, giving it an impressive total weight capacity of 44 pounds. And with “strong and sturdy” magnets, they won’t slide or fall down. The organizer isn’t just great for kitchens, either. You can use the racks on any iron surface. They’re a great fit for laundry rooms, where you can attach them to a washing machine to hold small laundry essentials. They can also be used in a home office or on a filing cabinet.Due to the nature of the magnetic design, the organizers offer a drill-free way to add storage to your space. That makes it a great option for renters who want their security deposit back, or if you have limited wall space for a wall-mounted rack.Related: Walmart is selling a scalloped 3-piece quilt set for just $19 in 14 colorsDetails to knowLarge rack dimensions: 11.6 inches long by 3.74 inches wide by 2.95 inches high.Medium rack dimensions: 10.6 inches long by 3.34 inches wide by 2.95 inches high.Weight capacity: Up to 11 pounds per rack.Best used for: Refrigerators, microwaves, washing machines, or any iron door.One shopper called it a “huge space-saver,” saying it makes “more space on your countertops or in a drawer or on a shelf or even in your cupboards…I keep mine on my refrigerator so I have more space on the counter to mix or whatever.”Shop more dealsSongmics 2-Pack of Cabinet Organizers Shelves, $20 (was $30) at WalmartTinana 6-Piece Magnetic Spice Rack Set, $22 (was $43) at WalmartTaimasi 6-Pack Moveable Fridge Spice Shelves, $21 (was $30) at WalmartThe Tinana 4-Piece Magnetic Spice Rack Organizer Set is a strong and sturdy way to create more storage in kitchens and other small spaces. And it’s on sale for just $17 during a limited-time Walmart Flash deal.