Oil Prices Stabilize at Start of 2026 as OPEC+ Policy and Geopolitical Risks Shape Market Outlook 
Aktis Oncology Prices Upsized IPO at $18, Raising $318 Million in Major Biotech Debut 
Trump Delays Tariff Increases on Furniture and Cabinets for One More Year 
Oil Prices Slip Slightly as Markets Weigh Geopolitical Risks and Supply Glut Concerns 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Tech and Financial Stocks Weigh on Markets Amid Thin Holiday Trading 
Asian Markets Slip as Precious Metals Cool, Geopolitical Tensions Weigh on Sentiment 
Trump Weighs Blocking Exxon Investment as Venezuela Deemed “Uninvestable” 
Federal Reserve Begins Treasury Bill Purchases to Stabilize Reserves and Money Markets 
Stellantis to End Plug-In Hybrid Sales in the U.S. as Demand Shifts Toward Traditional Hybrids 
xAI Cash Burn Highlights the High Cost of Competing in Generative AI 
OpenAI Sets $50 Billion Stock Grant Pool, Boosting Employee Equity and Valuation Outlook 
USDA $12 Billion Farm Aid Program Draws Mixed Reactions from Row Crop Farmers 
FTC Blocks Edwards Lifesciences’ JenaValve Acquisition in Major Antitrust Ruling 
Citi Forecasts a Volatile but Ongoing Bull Market for S&P 500 in 2026 
Chevron Seeks Expanded U.S. License to Boost Venezuelan Oil Exports Amid Sanctions Talks 
Boeing 737 MAX 10 Advances in FAA Testing as Certification Delays Continue 
FCC Approves Expansion of SpaceX Starlink Network With 7,500 New Satellites 
Lotte Foods revealed that it will be making some changes in the workplace. It will be replacing all its company cars and shift to using electric vehicles.
Why Lotte is switching to EVs
Lotte Foods said that the EVs will be mostly used for the company’s sales activities, and it made the decision in an effort to help lower carbon dioxide emissions on the planet. The Korea Herald reported that the Seoul-based food manufacturing firm will be buying a total of 380 Chevrolet Bolt EV units and distribute them to its sales employees who travel for business, at an average of more than 20,000 kilometers per year.
The car distribution will take place in May and in June. Now, with the shift, the company is also making some preparations such as the installation of 90 electric vehicle chargers in its 12 regional offices.
Lotte Foods is hoping that this effort will help reduce around 2,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year. The company also said that the new EVs will also make it more comfortable for its employees, who do sales work, to drive long hours.
“Electric cars are quieter, so it is less tiring to drive, and it feels good that (the EVs) are environmentally friendly as well,” the company said in a statement. “It is meaningful in that we are expanding our environmentally friendly policies to sales, going beyond manufacturing products.”
Lotte GRS in Vietnam
At any rate, while the company is trying to improve its business in S. Korea, its restaurant franchise business affiliate, Lotte GRS or Lotte Global Restaurant Service in Vietnam is not doing well. It is facing issues due to delays in the import of equipment to its facility that is being built there.
The facility’s construction has been stopped altogether as the COVID-19 is making it difficult to proceed. "It is true that Lotte GRS is leaving the Indonesian market but we are continuing with our franchise and food retail businesses in Vietnam," The Korea Times quoted an official as saying.
Finally, it was said that Lotte GRS launched Lotte F&G Vietnam along with Lotte Foods in 2020 but at this point, its sales have been declining. Lotte planned to expand its food material business in Southeast Asia but COVID-19 closed down the borders and this led to Lotte GRS’ decision to suspend its global business scheme.
