FIRST ON FOX: For millions of Americans, retirement feels less like a milestone and more like a moving target — and a new BlackRock survey finds many are open to doing things differently.

About 30% of voters say they have no funds stashed away for post-work years and about 63% say they have less than $150,000 saved. Given that backdrop, about 34% say they have difficulty immediately paying an unexpected bill for $500.

Even so, most voters say they’re open to letting retirement plans invest in more than just stocks and bonds if it could help their savings grow. Respondents said they would consider options that include private companies not traded on the stock exchange, real estate, and infrastructure projects such as data centers, energy and transportation.

TWO-THIRDS OF AMERICANS BACK TRUMP’S $1,000 BABY SAVINGS PLAN PROPOSAL, NEW SURVEY FINDS

About one in three Americans do not have any retirement savings, according to a BlackRock survey. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg/Getty Images)

“People see the capital markets working and people want to have more access to the capital markets, and that’s critical,” Nick Nefouse, BlackRock’s global head of retirement solutions, told Fox News Digital. “Capital markets have done very well in the United States, not just in the last 10 years, but the last 150 years. The more people we can get into the capital market, the more wealth we’re going to generate across generations,” Nefouse added.

TRUMP EXPECTED TO REVEAL MORE ABOUT ‘TRUMP ACCOUNTS’ FOR NEWBORNS — HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW

Support extends beyond retirement plans. The survey also finds broad backing for Trump Accounts, a government-backed, tax-advantaged savings account for newborns. The BlackRock survey shows that 71% of voters across the political spectrum support the concept. Support is strongest among younger generations, signaling growing interest in policies that help Americans build wealth earlier in life.

Treasury estimates that a fully funded account would earn as much as $1.9 million by age 28. (Tim Clayton/Corbis/Getty Images)

When asked about the popularity of Trump Accounts, Nefouse said the strong backing reflects a broader belief in long-term investing and early wealth-building.

“I think this [Trump Account] really brings Americans together across party lines. You’re talking about having people with better education and more money when they’re younger to hopefully build into these accounts as they’re older,” he said.

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Trump Accounts are expected to become available in mid-2026. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)

Trump Accounts are designed to function much like traditional long-term investment vehicles, but with rules specifically intended to protect young savers. To kick-start the nest egg, the federal government will deposit an initial $1,000 into each new account. 

The program is scheduled to become available in mid-2026, with initial contributions occurring after July 4, 2026. Parents of babies born in 2025 through 2028 may open an account by completing IRS Form 4547 or by enrolling via the online portal at TrumpAccounts.gov.

Lloyds Banking Group has announced plans to close a further 95 High Street branches, as the UK’s largest banking group continues to scale back its physical network in response to falling in-branch usage.

The closures will affect 53 Lloyds Bank sites, 31 Halifax branches and 11 Bank of Scotland locations between May this year and March 2027.

The latest move comes in addition to an existing programme that will see 49 branches close by October. Once all announced closures are complete, Lloyds Banking Group will operate 610 branches nationwide.

A spokesperson for the group said: “Customers want the freedom to bank in the way that works for them, and we offer more choice and ways to manage money than ever before.” The bank said more than 21 million customers now use its mobile app as their primary method of banking.

The decision reflects a wider industry trend, as digital banking adoption accelerates and footfall in physical branches declines. Increasing numbers of services, from account management to mortgage consultations, are now offered online or remotely.

The announcement follows a similar move by Santander UK, which recently confirmed it would close 44 more branches, putting nearly 300 jobs at risk.

In contrast, the UK’s largest building society, Nationwide Building Society, has pledged to keep all 696 of its branches open until at least 2030, although it has reduced its estate in the past.

Banking hubs, shared spaces where multiple banks provide in-person services, are being rolled out in some areas, but the pace of openings remains slower than the rate of branch closures.

The closures span towns and cities across England, Wales and Scotland, including sites in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, London, Manchester, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Swansea, among others.

Critics of branch closures argue that vulnerable and elderly customers risk being excluded as services move online. Banks, however, maintain that they are adapting to customer demand and investing heavily in digital infrastructure.

With more than 21 million customers now primarily banking via smartphone, Lloyds’ latest decision underscores the structural shift reshaping the UK’s retail banking landscape, and the continuing retreat of traditional High Street branches.

Full list of closures

Lloyds Bank – Aberdare
Lloyds Bank – Altrincham
Lloyds Bank – Birkenhead
Lloyds Bank – Birmingham, Blackheath
Lloyds Bank – Birmingham, Bordesley Green
Lloyds Bank – Birmingham, Highters Heath
Lloyds Bank – Birmingham, Upper Kingstanding
Lloyds Bank – Bournemouth
Lloyds Bank – Bristol, Fishponds
Lloyds Bank – Cardiff, Victoria Park
Lloyds Bank – City of London, Cheapside
Lloyds Bank – Clevedon
Lloyds Bank – Coalville
Lloyds Bank – Crowborough
Lloyds Bank – Daventry
Lloyds Bank – Didcot
Lloyds Bank – Ebbw vale
Lloyds Bank – Golders Green
Lloyds Bank – Heswall
Lloyds Bank – Hinckley
Lloyds Bank – Hoddesdon
Lloyds Bank – Honiton
Lloyds Bank – Horncastle
Lloyds Bank – Hull, Hessle Road
Lloyds Bank – Hull, Ings Road
Lloyds Bank – Kingswinford
Lloyds Bank – Lancaster
Lloyds Bank – Llangefni
Lloyds Bank – London, Camberwell
Lloyds Bank – London, Fitzrovia
Lloyds Bank – London, London Bridge
Lloyds Bank – London, Streatham
Lloyds Bank – London, Victoria
Lloyds Bank – London, West End
Lloyds Bank – Lymington
Lloyds Bank – Moreton-in-Marsh
Lloyds Bank – Newmarket (Suffolk)
Lloyds Bank – Norwich, Aylsham Road
Lloyds Bank – Reading, Woodley
Lloyds Bank – Redhill
Lloyds Bank – Ringwood
Lloyds Bank – Sevenoaks
Lloyds Bank – Southam
Lloyds Bank – Staines-upon-Thames
Lloyds Bank – Stoke-on-Trent, Longton
Lloyds Bank – Street (Somerset)
Lloyds Bank – Swansea, Winch Wen
Lloyds Bank – Tewkesbury
Lloyds Bank – Uttoxeter
Lloyds Bank – Wareham
Lloyds Bank – Wednesbury
Lloyds Bank – West Byfleet
Lloyds Bank – Wolverhampton, Tettenhall
Halifax – Ashington
Halifax – Ashton-under-Lyne
Halifax – Billingham
Halifax – Bognor Regis
Halifax – Bridgend
Halifax – Cardiff, Roath
Halifax – Chichester
Halifax – Chorley
Halifax – Croydon
Halifax – Cwmbran
Halifax – Doncaster, Armthorpe
Halifax – Ellesmere Port
Halifax – Goole
Halifax – Greenford
Halifax – Halesowen
Halifax – Horsham
Halifax – Leeds, Bramley
Halifax – Liverpool, Hunts Cross Shopping Park
Halifax – London, Hammersmith
Halifax – London, Pentonville
Halifax – London, Surrey Docks
Halifax – Manchester, Didsbury
Halifax – Mexborough
Halifax – Nottingham, Beeston
Halifax – Nottingham, West Bridgford
Halifax – Shipley
Halifax – Skelmersdale
Halifax – Southgate
Halifax – Sutton Coldfield
Halifax – Thornaby-on-Tees
Halifax – Torquay, Lymington Road
Bank of Scotland – Aberdeen, Bridge Of Don
Bank of Scotland – Balivanich
Bank of Scotland – Blairgowrie
Bank of Scotland – Broughty Ferry
Bank of Scotland – Glasgow, Baillieston
Bank of Scotland – Haddington
Bank of Scotland – Kelso
Bank of Scotland – Lochgilphead
Bank of Scotland – Penicuik, John Street
Bank of Scotland – Rutherglen
Bank of Scotland – Stonehaven

Amy Ingham

Amy is a newly qualified journalist specialising in business journalism at Business Matters with responsibility for news content for what is now the UK’s largest print and online source of current business news.

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Q4: 2026-02-11 Earnings Summary

EPS of $0.14 beats by $0.00

 | Revenue of $128.82M (18.13% Y/Y) beats by $2.75M

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Kraft Heinz is pumping the brakes on plans to break up the company, with its new CEO saying the food giant’s challenges are “fixable and within our control” as it shifts focus toward reigniting profitable growth through a $600 million investment push.

In a note in the company’s routine fourth quarter report, CEO Steve Cahillane said that instead of splitting up, the company will double down on rebuilding growth — backing that up with a massive investment in the brand’s marketing, sales and research and development.

“When I decided to join Kraft Heinz, I knew that this was an exciting opportunity to contemporize iconic brands, better serve consumers and customers, and build meaningful shareholder value,” Cahillane said in the press release.

“Since joining the company, I have seen that the opportunity is larger than expected and that many of our challenges are fixable and within our control,” he continued. “My number one priority is returning the business to profitable growth, which will require ensuring all resources are fully focused on the execution of our operating plan.”

MCDONALD’S PLANS MASSIVE OVERHAUL WITH MAJOR CHANGES TO RESTAURANTS AND MENUS

“As a result, we believe it is prudent to pause work related to the separation and we will no longer incur related dis-synergies this year.”

Kraft Heinz announced that it would be pausing plans to separate the company on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Kraft Heinz announced in September that its board of directors approved a plan to split it into two independent, publicly traded companies through a tax-free spinoff. The aim was to create two more focused organizations with less complexity that would be able to maximize their brands and boost profitability.

Cahillane was slated to lead the business it is calling Global Taste Elevation, overseeing brands like Heinz, Philadelphia and Kraft Mac & Cheese. The other company, called North American Grocery, would oversee its portfolio of grocery staples like Oscar Mayer, Kraft Singles and Lunchables.

As of December, the official names of the new companies were not yet determined, and the company also had not announced who would lead its North American grocery business.

In the fourth-quarter report, Kraft Heinz also announced its commitment of $600 million to marketing, sales, research and development, product improvements and select pricing initiatives across 2026. Cahillane said Kraft’s strong balance sheet and $3.7 billion in free cash flow gives it the financial flexibility to fund this push while still generating excess cash.

“We are confident in the opportunity ahead and believe this investment will accelerate our return to profitable growth,” he said.

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While leadership is optimistic, Kraft’s 2025 numbers showed clear strain — full-year net sales were down 3.5% to $24.9 billion, organic sales were down 3.4%, volume was down 4.1%, and adjusted operating income was down 11.5%.

Kraft’s biggest pressure points were in coffee, cold cuts, frozen meals, bacon and select condiments, as inflation in commodity and manufacturing costs outpaced efficiency efforts. The company reported an operating loss of $4.7 billion last year, largely driven by “non-cash impairment charges.”

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FOX Business’ Daniella Genovese contributed to this report.

Paramount has enhanced its

hostile offer to acquire all of Warner Bros. Discovery

WBD

0.68%

increase; green up pointing triangle, including agreeing to pay the $2.8 billion termination fee Warner would owe its chosen suitor, Netflix

NFLX -3.15%

decrease; red down pointing triangle, should that deal collapse.

In a regulatory filing, Paramount also said it was adding a “ticking fee” of 25 cents per share, which it would pay to Warner shareholders for each quarter its deal hasn’t closed, starting in January 2027.