Business & Markets — September 19, 2026

Russia seizes Nestle and Auchan operations. The Kremlin placed the local businesses of Nestle and Auchan under temporary administration, a procedure that has previously led to forced sales of Western assets.

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Diesel nears $6 per gallon nationwide. Diesel prices are approaching $6 per gallon in nearly all 50 states as wartime fuel pressures mount, threatening higher costs across the grocery supply chain.

Forbes framed the consumer impact through an analyst who said "every grocery run just got more expensive," pointing to diesel's role in moving goods to store shelves. The report noted the price pressure is tied to wartime fuel conditions and spans nearly every state, suggesting few regions would be insulated as transport costs work their way through to retail prices.

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Major Wendy's franchisee files for bankruptcy. One of Wendy's largest franchisees, operating 314 stores, filed for bankruptcy as the chain contends with declining sales and a shrinking U.S. store footprint.

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Warren Buffett steps down as Berkshire chairman. Buffett formally stepped down as chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, the $1 trillion conglomerate he led for more than six decades. His son Howard Buffett takes the role.

AP characterized the move as the next step in a leadership transition already underway at the company, making the announcement a formal milestone rather than an abrupt shift. With his son assuming the chairmanship, the handover represents a concrete stage in a long-running succession process at the conglomerate, closing out an era of leadership that spanned more than 60 years.

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