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Nearly one in four American workers with employer-sponsored health insurance say they are stuck in jobs they want to leave because they fear losing coverage.

About 24% of U.S. workers with job-based insurance – roughly 23 million adults – are experiencing “job lock,” up sharply from 16% in 2021, according to a report from the West Health-Gallup Center on Healthcare in America.

The survey defines job lock as remaining in a job despite wanting to leave due to concerns about losing health insurance.

Nearly one in four American workers with employer-sponsored health insurance say they are stuck in jobs they want to leave because they fear losing coverage. (iStock)

“Job lock is on the rise in America,” the report noted. “Nearly a quarter of U.S. employees report staying in a job they want to leave to keep their health insurance, a powerful constraint on worker mobility, productivity, entrepreneurship and wage growth.”

The surge comes as soaring healthcare costs squeeze household budgets. 

About half of Americans said they struggle to consistently pay for needed medical care or prescriptions, while 51% are worried about affording healthcare over the next year — the highest level in five years, as noted in the report.

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The survey defines job lock as remaining in a job despite wanting to leave due to concerns about losing health insurance. (iStock)

Workers under greater financial strain were far more likely to report feeling trapped.

Among those with medical debt, 44% reported job lock, more than double the 21% rate among those without medical debt.

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Workers under greater financial strain were far more likely to report feeling trapped. (iStock)

Nearly half of respondents who cited healthcare costs as a “major financial burden” reported job lock. The rate rose to 53% among those experiencing “a lot of stress” over medical expenses, the report noted.

Chronic health problems also made workers more likely to stay at their jobs. 

About 29% of those with at least one chronic condition reported job lock, compared with 17% of those without one.

That rate grew to 41% among people with three or more diagnoses.

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Chronic health problems also made workers more likely to stay at their jobs. (iStock)

Women were also more likely than men to remain in unwanted jobs for health benefits, at 30% compared with 20%, according to the report.

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The findings were based on a national survey of 5,660 adults conducted from Oct. 27 to Dec. 22, 2025. The analysis focused on 2,322 employed adults with employer-sponsored insurance.

“The effects extend beyond morale – reducing labor market efficiency, upward mobility and quality of life,” as noted in the report. “With coverage tied to employment, a growing share of American workers report making career decisions based on insurance rather than opportunity.”

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Marvel Studios formally introduced the principal cast of its long-awaited X-Men film and locked in a theatrical release date of May 5, 2028, during Disney’s D23 event on Friday.

Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige presented the ensemble on stage at the Honda Center. Sadie Sink will play Jean Grey, Kit Connor is Cyclops, Christopher Abbott portrays Professor Charles Xavier, Samara Weaving takes on Emma Frost, Inde Navarrette stars as Rogue and Maya Boyd is Storm. Adam Driver joins as Nathaniel Milbury, the identity associated with the villain Mister Sinister.

Driver appeared via video from Pinewood Studios rather than in person. In the message he referenced long-running discussions with Feige about joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe. “Kevin and I have been talking for years about me joining the MCU,” Driver said. “Now I feel like we’ve found the perfect film, at the perfect time, with characters I care deeply about.”

He briefly joked about playing Magneto before correcting himself and confirming the role of Nathaniel Milbury. Additional remarks captured in coverage of the presentation included: “When Kevin told me to show up for X-Men, I assumed he meant on set. So instead of being there in California, I’m here at Pinewood on this very lonely soundstage. … So I’m very excited to be playing Mag…. Nope. Even better. Nathaniel Milbury. So I’ll be right here, waiting for everybody to show up.”

Feige noted that several of the actors had only just met backstage before walking out together. Sink’s casting as Jean Grey had already been established through her appearance in the recent Spider-Man film Brand New Day. Connor’s role as Cyclops and Weaving’s as Emma Frost had been reported in the days leading up to the event and were confirmed on stage.

Jake Schreier, who previously directed Thunderbolts*, is helming the project. Lee Sung Jin, creator of the series Beef, and Joanna Calo, a writer and co-showrunner associated with The Bear and a collaborator on Thunderbolts*, are among the writers developing the screenplay. Michael Lesslie had earlier been attached to an earlier draft.

The announcement marks a significant step in integrating the X-Men into the main MCU timeline following Disney’s 2019 acquisition of 20th Century Fox and its Marvel film library. Previous live-action versions of the characters appeared in a series of Fox films that began with X-Men in 2000 and featured actors including Patrick Stewart and James McAvoy as Professor X, Ian McKellen and Michael Fassbender as Magneto, Halle Berry as Storm, and Famke Janssen and Sophie Turner as Jean Grey. Stewart is set to appear again as Professor X in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for December.

The new film is positioned to arrive after Avengers: Secret Wars, which is expected to conclude the current Multiverse Saga. Marvel has indicated the X-Men project will emphasize character-driven storytelling and the interpersonal dynamics that defined classic comic runs, particularly the work of writer Chris Claremont. Schreier and the writing team have spoken in earlier interviews about focusing on personal stakes and the experience of feeling different or marginalized, themes long associated with the mutant characters.

Abbott, known for roles in Girls, Poor Things and the upcoming East of Eden series, steps into the role of the telepathic founder and leader of the X-Men. Boyd, who has Broadway credits including & Juliet, takes on Storm, the weather-controlling mutant previously played by Berry. Navarrette, who gained attention in the recent series Obsession, will portray Rogue, whose power involves absorbing the abilities and memories of others through touch. Connor, recognized from Heartstopper, becomes the optic-blast-wielding field leader Cyclops. Weaving, of Ready or Not, plays the diamond-skinned telepath Emma Frost. Sink continues as the powerful telepath and telekinetic Jean Grey after her introduction in Brand New Day.

Driver’s casting as Mister Sinister brings a classic X-Men antagonist into the MCU for the first time in a major live-action capacity. The character, a geneticist and long-running foe of the team, has appeared in comics for decades under various aliases, including Nathaniel Essex and Nathaniel Milbury.

Casting for the film had been underway for months, with final rounds of testing reported after the Fourth of July holiday. The process drew widespread attention as Marvel assembled a new generation of actors for the property that once ranked among Fox’s most consistent performers at the box office.

The May 5, 2028, date places the movie nearly two decades after the MCU’s launch with Iron Man in 2008. It also positions the film as an early entry in whatever phase follows the Multiverse Saga. Additional casting and story details have not been disclosed. Filming has not yet begun, though Sink has indicated in recent interviews that production on the X-Men project is expected in the near term.

The D23 presentation drew strong reactions from attendees and online audiences following the formal unveiling. The combination of established names such as Driver and Sink with newer faces including Navarrette and Boyd reflects Marvel’s approach of blending recognizable talent with emerging performers for the mutant team.

Further announcements regarding supporting roles, additional mutants or connections to existing MCU storylines are expected in the coming months as development continues under Schreier and the writing team. The film remains untitled beyond its X-Men branding at this stage.

Marvel Studios is owned by The Walt Disney Company. The D23 event continues through the weekend in Anaheim with additional presentations on other Disney properties.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are settling into married life with a strong sense of gratitude, according to a source close to the couple who spoke with People magazine, as the pair gradually returns to public view following their wedding last month.

Swift and Kelce were married July 3 at New York’s Madison Square Garden in front of more than 1,000 guests, capping a relationship that began publicly in 2023 and led to their engagement in August 2025. The couple spent much of their first month as husband and wife largely out of the public eye before slowly stepping back into view in recent weeks.

According to the source who spoke with People, both Swift and Kelce feel deeply appreciative of where they currently find themselves in life, describing the pair as excited to begin this new chapter of their relationship together. The insider said their bond has taken on added significance since the ceremony, and that the couple remains focused on their respective careers and creative pursuits while continuing to find genuine joy in the life they have built together.

Kelce broke his own public silence on the wedding for the first time August 12, during a press conference at the Kansas City Chiefs’ training camp. Asked about the ceremony more than a month after it took place, Kelce did not hold back his enthusiasm. “The wedding was the best night of my life,” Kelce told reporters, thanking everyone who traveled to celebrate with the couple and describing the evening as a “crazy night” filled with celebration.

Kelce also reflected on the personal significance of getting married inside Madison Square Garden, a venue he described as holding deep meaning given its status within professional sports. He recalled having told himself for years that he would eventually attend a Knicks playoff game at the arena, only to have Swift make it to a game during this year’s NBA Finals while he remained tied up at Chiefs minicamp. Getting the chance to be married inside what he called the sport’s most storied venue, he said, made the occasion feel like the fulfillment of a childhood dream. Kelce also offered a lighter aside about the venue, joking that the air conditioning inside the arena was one of the best parts of the entire night.

Swift, for her part, has not publicly commented on the wedding itself. She has, however, spoken warmly about Kelce in the past, including during an October 2025 appearance on “The Tonight Show,” where she told host Jimmy Fallon that Kelce was the favorite person she had ever met, and that the idea of getting to spend every day with him felt like everything she could want.

Vogue reported that wedding planner Mark Seed organized the July 3 ceremony, which drew an estimated 1,100 guests and reportedly followed a “secret garden” theme, a detail that aligned with the setting Kelce chose for his marriage proposal to Swift the previous summer. Sources previously told NBC News that both Swift and Kelce wore white and that each wrote their own vows for the ceremony. Kelce’s sister-in-law, Kylie Kelce, has also shared some details from the event, saying that his brother, former NFL center Jason Kelce, was moved to tears during the ceremony, possibly more than Kylie herself cried at her own wedding.

Since the wedding, Swift has made limited public appearances. She was photographed in London in August debuting a notably different hairstyle, one of her first widely noted public appearances since the ceremony. Beyond that, neither Swift nor Kelce has released any joint statement or given a joint interview addressing their new life as a married couple, leaving most public detail about their post-wedding life to come through separate individual appearances and secondhand accounts from people close to them.

At the same Chiefs press conference where he addressed the wedding, Kelce also made clear his attention has already shifted back toward football as he enters his 14th NFL season. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid separately dismissed any suggestion that the offseason wedding and surrounding attention had affected Kelce’s preparation, telling reporters the veteran tight end remains as focused, fit and driven as ever heading into training camp.

With Swift continuing her music career and Kelce returning to preseason preparation with the Chiefs, the couple appears to be settling into a routine that balances their individual professional demands with the new chapter they’ve entered as a married couple, even as both have largely kept the more personal details of their post-wedding life private for now.

CoreWeave Inc. shares closed at $105.26 on Aug. 14, 2026, after a volatile week that followed the company’s second-quarter results, leaving investors and analysts divided on whether the artificial intelligence infrastructure provider remains a buy or has become overextended.

The Livingston, New Jersey-based company reported revenue of $2.58 billion for the three months ended June 30, more than double the $1.21 billion recorded a year earlier and slightly above Wall Street expectations. Adjusted operating income reached $128 million, while the net loss widened to $626 million, or $1.14 per share, largely because of higher interest expenses tied to aggressive expansion financing. Management raised full-year 2026 revenue guidance to a range of $12.4 billion to $13.2 billion and projected adjusted operating income between $960 million and $1.15 billion.

Revenue backlog stood at approximately $104 billion at the end of the second quarter. The company said more than $25 billion in additional net new customer commitments were secured in the early weeks of the third quarter. Active power capacity continued to ramp, with the firm highlighting strong demand from AI laboratories, hyperscalers and enterprise customers.

In its earnings release, CoreWeave stated: “CoreWeave is built on the conviction that AI is foundational to every industry and that realizing its full potential requires a purpose-built platform. This quarter reinforced that conviction.”

Wall Street’s reaction has been broadly constructive though not unanimous. Across major tracking services, the consensus rating sits at Buy or Moderate Buy / Outperform. Roughly two dozen to three dozen analysts cover the stock. The majority assign Buy or equivalent ratings, with a smaller group recommending Hold and a handful issuing Sell or Underperform ratings. The average 12-month price target clusters between roughly $137 and $143, implying potential upside of about 30% to 36% from the mid-August closing level. Individual targets range widely, from lows near $39–$74 to highs of $250–$303.

Recent actions have skewed positive. Citigroup maintained a Buy rating and lifted its target to $159. Truist Securities raised its target to $155 while keeping a Buy. Piper Sandler reiterated an Overweight rating and moved its target to $153. Wells Fargo, Cantor Fitzgerald, Rosenblatt Securities and others also raised or reaffirmed constructive views with elevated targets. Some firms, including Barclays, maintained Equal-Weight or Hold ratings with more modest targets near the current share price. A minority of analysts remain cautious, citing valuation, debt levels and execution risks.

CoreWeave went public in 2025 and has positioned itself as a specialized provider of GPU-accelerated cloud infrastructure optimized for AI training and inference workloads. Its growth has tracked the broader surge in generative AI spending. Capital expenditures remain elevated; second-quarter outlays reached $9.4 billion, and full-year guidance was lifted to a range of $35 billion to $39 billion as the company races to add power capacity and data-center footprint. Management has indicated plans to reach at least 8 gigawatts of power by 2030.

The balance sheet reflects the cost of that expansion. Interest expense more than doubled year over year in the second quarter to $640 million. Debt facilities, including recently arranged delayed-draw term loans, support the buildout but weigh on near-term profitability. Adjusted EBITDA margins remained robust near 59%, yet GAAP losses persist and the path to consistent positive net income is still measured in years rather than quarters, according to company projections and analyst models that see meaningful earnings scale later in the decade.

Supporters of the stock point to the size and quality of the contracted backlog, the diversification of customers beyond the largest AI labs, early signs of pricing power and the sequential improvement in adjusted operating income. They note that more than three-quarters of projected 2027 annualized revenue is already under contract in some estimates, providing visibility rare among high-growth technology companies. Year-to-date through mid-August the shares had gained nearly 47%.

Skeptics focus on the capital intensity of the business, the risk that AI infrastructure spending could moderate, competition from hyperscale cloud providers and the potential for interest rates or financing conditions to pressure margins. Valuation multiples remain elevated relative to traditional software or infrastructure peers when measured against current earnings, though they compress significantly when compared with longer-term revenue and free-cash-flow forecasts. Insider selling through planned programs has also drawn occasional comment.

The third-quarter outlook calls for revenue of $3.4 billion to $3.6 billion. Management has described the current period as an inflection in which scale begins to translate more clearly into operating leverage. Whether that trajectory materializes on schedule will likely determine the next major re-rating of the shares.

As of mid-August 2026 the debate remains open. A clear majority of covering analysts rate CoreWeave a buy and project meaningful upside over the coming year, citing durable AI demand and a substantial contracted backlog. A smaller group urges caution or recommends selling, emphasizing the risks of heavy leverage, elevated capital spending and valuation. The stock’s performance for the remainder of 2026 will hinge on execution against the raised guidance, further backlog conversion and the broader health of enterprise and research AI budgets.

Investors evaluating the name must weigh the company’s demonstrated ability to capture AI infrastructure demand against the financial and operational challenges of scaling a capital-intensive platform at this speed. The latest quarterly results and analyst target revisions have reinforced the bullish case for many, yet the wide dispersion of price targets underscores that outcomes remain highly sensitive to delivery on the multiyear growth plan.

Sensex fell around 71 points to close at 78,009, while Nifty 50 lost 30 points to end the session at 24,366. Broader markets slipped into the deep red, with Nifty Smallcap 100 and Nifty Midcap 100 indices falling around 0.7% each.

Analyst Sudeep Shah, Vice President and Head of Technical & Derivatives Research at SBI Securities, interacted with ETMarkets regarding the outlook for the Nifty Bank, options data as well as an index strategy for the upcoming week. The following are the edited excerpts from his chat:

Q) Nifty and Sensex struggled for direction this week. Will consolidation continue this week as Q1 is almost over?

A) Since the beginning of August, the benchmark index Nifty has been trading in a narrow range of 500 points. More importantly, the index’s daily trading range has contracted significantly. The daily ATR currently stands at 192 points, its lowest level since the first week of January 2026, highlighting the sharp decline in volatility. But the bigger question is: where is the momentum going once the opening move fades?
In most trading sessions since the start of August, Nifty has witnessed momentum during the first hour, followed by consolidation within a narrow range. This lack of sustained momentum has made intraday and short-term trading increasingly challenging. The broader indices, Nifty Midcap 100 and Nifty Smallcap 100, have also been trading in a narrow range over the last few sessions. With the broader market also losing momentum, the technical setup of Nifty becomes even more important.

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Nifty is currently oscillating around its 20-day and 200-day EMAs. The prolonged consolidation has resulted in both moving averages flattening out. The daily RSI is hovering near 52 and remains in a falling mode, indicating that the upside momentum is gradually losing steam. Meanwhile, the daily ADX stands at 11.88 and is also declining, pointing towards a lack of strength in either direction. The loss of momentum and fading trend strength suggest that the next breakout could be pivotal in shaping the market’s near-term direction.
Going ahead, the 50-day EMA zone of 24,200–24,150 will act as an important support for the index. On the upside, the 24,550–24,600 zone will remain a crucial hurdle. A decisive breakout from either side of this range could provide the directional trigger the market has been waiting for. Until then, the market may continue to test the patience of traders and investors.Coming to Sensex, after registering a high of 79,143 on August 04, the Sensex has gradually drifted lower, though the pace of the decline has been accompanied by a sharp contraction in daily trading ranges. The index’s Average True Range (ATR) has fallen to 657 points, its lowest level since the first week of January 2026, indicating a significant reduction in market volatility.

Despite the recent softness, the broader trend remains constructive as the index continues to trade above its 20-day, 50-day, and 100-day EMA levels. However, momentum indicators suggest some loss of upside strength.

The daily RSI has moved into a sideways zone and remains below its 9-day average, reflecting waning bullish momentum. Additionally, the ADX is currently at 10.98, highlighting the absence of a strong directional trend and signaling a lack of conviction from both bulls and bears.

Going forward, the 50-day EMA zone of 77,400-77,300 is expected to act as a key support area for the index. On the upside, the 200-day EMA zone of 78,600-78,700 remains a critical hurdle. A sustained move beyond either of these levels could trigger the next meaningful directional trend in the market.

Q) What is the view on Bank Nifty? Within Bank Nifty also, would you prefer Private or PSU Banks?

A) Bank Nifty continues to remain in a consolidation phase, having traded within a broad 58,706-56,023 range over the past nine weeks. The range has narrowed further over the last three weeks, with the index witnessing subdued volatility and forming a series of small-bodied candles, reflecting indecisiveness among market participants.

The prolonged sideways movement has led to flattening of key moving averages, while momentum indicators remain muted. The daily RSI continues to oscillate in a neutral zone, and the ADX has slipped to 8.99, its lowest level since March 2019, indicating a lack of strong directional strength. As a result, we believe Bank Nifty is likely to remain range-bound until a decisive breakout emerges.

From a levels perspective, 58000-58100 remains an important hurdle, while the 57200-57100 zone is expected to provide crucial support. A sustained move beyond either of these levels could trigger the next trending move in the index.

Within the banking space, we currently prefer PSU Banks over Private Banks. PSU Banks continue to exhibit stronger relative strength and favourable price structure, indicating continued outperformance potential. In contrast, Private Banks have largely been consolidating with bearish bias and are currently showing relatively weaker momentum compared to their PSU counterparts. Therefore, from a tactical and relative strength perspective, PSU Banks remain our preferred segment within the banking space.

Q) What is the options market telling you right now that the cash market isn’t? Are you seeing meaningful Call writing or Put writing around key Nifty strikes? Any indications displayed by India VIX or PCR?

A) Since hitting a high of 24,774 on 3rd August, Nifty has been gradually drifting lower. However, volatility has remained subdued, with India VIX largely confined to a narrow 10.10–12.90 range during this period, reflecting an environment of extremely low volatility.

A closer look at the last three sessions suggests that bulls continue to defend lower levels. Although Nifty slipped below the 24,320–24,300 zone, which coincides with the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement of the previous up move, buying at lower levels helped the Index recover and close above 24,300. Nifty has also sustained above its 20-day EMA for the last three sessions, indicating resilience at lower levels.

Options activity further strengthens this view. The 24,300 strike has witnessed significant Put writing, almost three times that of Call writing, making it an important support zone. The same trend is visible at 24,200 and 24,100, where Put writing is nearly 6 times and 16 times higher than Call writing, respectively. Such aggressive Put writing at lower strikes indicates a strong base and suggests limited downside unless Put writers start exiting their positions.

On the upside, the 24,500 strike has seen strong Call writing, nearly three times higher than Put writing, making it an important immediate resistance. A decisive breakout above 24,500, accompanied by short covering, could trigger a swift pullback in the near term.

Overall, the options data does not indicate any significant buildup of bearish positions on the downside, based on the 14th August closing data. The OI PCR had declined from 1.19 at the start of August to 0.75 on 12th August, but has since improved to 0.88 over the last two sessions.

Improving PCR, strong Put writing at lower levels, the bulls’ ability to defend lower levels and Nifty sustaining above its 20-day EMA collectively suggest that the pullback could be around the corner.

Q) Which sector currently looks the strongest & the weakest on the charts?

A) Technically, Nifty India Defence, Consumer Durables, Auto, PSU Banks, and Chemicals are well placed to sustain their relative outperformance in the near term.

Conversely, Nifty CPSE, PSE, Oil & Gas, FMCG, and Cement are likely to remain laggards and continue underperforming the broader market.

Q) Which stocks are looking good on the charts for next week?

A) Based on the current technical setup, Mazagon Dock, HAL, 360 ONE, Ujjivan SFB, Elgi Equipments, Honasa Consumer, Neogen Chemicals, and Glaxo are looking constructive on the charts for the coming week.

Q) What’s your strategy on Tata Motors PV, Tata Motors, Honasa, and Lenskart Solutions?

A) Tata Motors PV stock was consolidating in a Rs 353–334 range since 3rd August. The stock broke down from this range and closed near the lower end. On the weekly timeframe, the 20-week EMA has acted as a stiff resistance over the last two weeks. The Rs 355–360 zone is likely to act as an immediate resistance, with the stock expected to remain under pressure as long as it trades below this zone.

Tata Motors broke out of the Rs 447–398 consolidation range on the weekly timeframe last week, followed by a strong follow-through move this week. The stock continues to trade above key moving averages, while the rising ADX indicates strengthening bullish momentum. The Rs 445–440 zone is likely to act as an immediate support, with the stock likely to extend its up move as long as it holds above this zone.

Honasa had been consolidating in the Rs 491–437 range for the last four weeks. The stock closed above the upper end of the consolidation range this week, supported by a healthy rise in volumes. The RSI has rebounded from the 60 mark and moved higher, indicating renewed bullish momentum. The Rs 475–470 zone is likely to act as an immediate support, with the stock expected to extend its up move as long as it sustains above this zone.

Lenskart hit an all-time high of Rs 627 this week after breaking past its previous resistance zone of Rs 560–580 and closing higher. The stock has also closed above the upper Bollinger Band on the weekly timeframe, a phenomenon often observed during the early stages of strong trends. The Rs 565–560 zone is likely to act as a strong support, with the stock expected to extend its up move as long as it sustains above this zone.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of Economic Times)