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Stocks held close to their records on Wall Street, while oil prices were relatively steady.
The S&P 500 slipped 0.2% Wednesday from the all-time high it set a day earlier. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.5%, and the Nasdaq composite lost 0.8%. SpaceX sank after increasing its spending on artificial intelligence. The Walt Disney Co. rose after reporting results that beat analysts' forecasts, helped by "Toy Story 5."
Rising temperatures could delay more flights
American Airlines recently offered compensation to customers who voluntarily gave up their seats after temperatures reached 114 degrees Fahrenheit in Las Vegas. Aviation experts say air becomes thinner when it's extremely hot, and that makes it harder for airplanes to take off safely.
An AP analysis found Phoenix and Las Vegas are experiencing more days with temperatures reaching at least 110 degrees than they did decades ago. Heat-related challenges also can affect airports with shorter runways or at higher elevations when the weather isn't that severe.
Appeals court says suit raises questions
A federal appeals court has signaled that it might not allow a lawsuit brought by New England fishing businesses and industry groups against a California aquarium to proceed because of the case's potential impact on free speech.
The plaintiffs sued the Monterey Bay Aquarium for defamation after the aquarium's Seafood Watch conservation program placed American and Canadian lobster on its do-not-eat list in 2022. The Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is deciding whether the lawsuit can proceed. An appellate judge said during oral arguments late last month that the case doesn't strike him as a defamation claim.
Disney's strong quarter driven by 'Toy Story 5'
Disney's solid third quarter was driven by a $1 billion box office haul from "Toy Story 5" and the draw of its U.S. theme parks that helped to offset continued weakness from international tourism.
Disney also announced a global short-form content sharing deal with TikTok on Wednesday. The agreement will bring Disney-focused fan-created content from TikTok to the Disney+ app. Shares climbed more than 3% before the market opened.
SpaceX reports small loss in first quarter
SpaceX reported a smaller loss than Wall Street expected along with a surge in revenue in its first quarterly report as a public company as it sharply boosted spending, particularly on artificial intelligence.
The company run by Elon Musk posted a loss of $541 million, or 9 cents per share, in the three months through June, less than half what financial analysts had forecast. Musk will field questions from investors and financial analysts later Tuesday on a conference call. Stock in the rocket, satellite and AI company has fallen by roughly half since its June peak following a massive initial public offering that briefly made Musk the world's first trillionaire.
US job openings slip to 7.4 million
U.S. job openings fell slightly in June, but the labor market continued to show resilience in the face of an economic shock from the fighting in Iran.
The Labor Department said that employers posted 7.36 million vacancies in June, down from 7.54 million in May. The numbers were in line with economists' expectations. Layoffs were little-changed at 1.8 million, and the number of people quitting their jobs -- a sign of confidence in their prospects -- rose slightly. The U.S. job market has remained sturdy despite a surge in energy prices caused by the Iran war, rebounding from a 2025 slump.