U.S. Markets

China’s Tencent is backing the developers of blockbuster videogames such as “Pokémon Unite” and “League of Legends.” But Beijing’s crackdown on the industry at home, including when minors can play online games, could affect the company’s global videogame empire. Photo composite: Sharon Shi

If you’re picking just a couple of stocks for your whole portfolio, you’re not investing—you’re trading. WSJ’s Telis Demos explains the benefits of diversifying your investment portfolio. Photo: Storyblocks

U.S. financial markets so far have been largely unfazed amid the ongoing crisis in Kabul.

With more films being released direct to streaming services, stars like Scarlett Johansson are asking for a bigger cut of the at-home, early access profits for movies like Marvel’s “Black Widow.” Here’s a look at how streaming is changing film distribution in Hollywood and what that could mean for how actors get paid.

Crude prices fell sharply on Monday, extending losses from late last week partly due to concerns about the spread of the delta variant of coronavirus. Crude for September delivery fell $2.84, or 4.2%, to $65.43 a barrel. Brent oil fell $2.76, or 3.9%, to $67.93 a barrel. U.S. oil futures booked the sharpest weekly slump in 9 months on Friday as the dollar rallied on the back of strong jobs data. Spreading cases of the delta variant have also sparked concerns of a growth slowdown, which would impact oil demand. Goldman Sachs slashed its China third-quarter growth forecast, which lowered its annual view, due to more cases of COVID-19.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has stopped processing registrations for U.S. initial public offerings or the sale of other securities by Chinese companies to give it time to craft new guidelines for investors to help them understand the risk of a regulatory crackdown by Beijing, Reuters reported Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. Chinese companies have raised a record of $12.8 billion in the year to date, Reuters reported, citing data from Refinitiv. But the flow of deals has slowed this month after Chinese regulators banned ride-sharing giant Didi from signing up new users days after its U.S. IPO. Since then, the regulator has also make moves to rein in tech and private education companies. SEC commissioner Allison Lee said on Tuesday that Chinese companies listed on U.S. stock exchanges must disclose to investors the risks of the Chinese government interfering in their businesses as part of their regular reporting obligations.

Shipping bottlenecks and commodities costs are helping drive inflation in the U.S. WSJ visits a patio-furniture factory in China to see why refurbishing your backyard could be pricier this year. Photo: Patrick Fok

Amazon founder and former CEO Jeff Bezos successfully completed the first manned mission of Blue Origin’s New Shepard spacecraft. In this video, WSJ looks back at the remarkable career of the world’s richest man. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images