On a trip to India during Diwali last autumn, Starbucks International CEO Brady Brewer tried a saffron tiramisu, as well as a spicy sandwich with chicken tikka at one of the American coffee-store giant’s local stores. “That saffron tiramisu I had in India? I thought, ‘Why aren’t we offering this everywhere in the world? It’s beautiful and it tastes amazing,'” Brewer marveled in an interview with Fortune ahead of Starbucks’ investor day in New York on Thursday. In the Netherlands, it’s the stroopwafel that gives Starbucks stores some couleur locale, while in Japan, the macha tea loaf does the trick. “Local cultures expect their food to be local and something familiar,” said Brewer. “But for coffee, they expect it to be our global product.” Continuing to strike that balance will be central to Starbucks’ long-term goal of ultimately doubling its presence outside North America to some 40,000 stores. Read more: https://bit.ly/4bsb9Fm

It was eight weeks after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents had begun searching the streets of Minneapolis for immigrants, triggering protests and clashes, when the state’s business community finally issued a statement: On Jan. 25 the CEOs of 60 eminent companies via the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce called for “an immediate deescalation of tensions.” Here’s how those CEOs’ statement was received: It was called “milquetoast,” “hollow,” and “meek,” by commenters on social media. All of which raises a question: Is “speaking up” really worth it for business leaders? Read more: https://bit.ly/4keBGYP

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday held interest rates steady at 3.50% to 3.75%, attempting to project an image of stability as the U.S. financial landscape splits into two jarring realities: a stock market at record heights and a currency under pressure. The decision, widely expected by 97% of investors, arrived just as the S&P 500 crossed the psychological 7,000-point threshold for the first time in history. But the euphoria in equities—“AMERICA IS BACK!!!” President Donald Trump cried on Truth Social—was matched by a move in the opposite direction for the greenback. The U.S. dollar index (DXY) has shed more than 10% of its value over the past year, sliding further after Trump signaled late Tuesday a multi-year low for the currency was “great.” The U.S. dollar index  rebounded slightly on Wednesday as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on CNBC “the U.S. always has a strong dollar policy.” Read more: https://bit.ly/49OYOcY

The Walt Disney Company has appointed Josh D’Amaro as its next chief executive officer, elevating the veteran parks and experiences executive to the top job at one of the world’s most influential entertainment companies. D’Amaro, 54, has been serving as chairman of Disney’s theme parks and experiences division, the unit that generates the majority of the company’s operating income through its parks, cruises, and consumer products. He will succeed longtime CEO Bob Iger, who returned to the role in 2022 after previously leading Disney from 2005 to 2020. The move caps a multiyear succession process closely watched by Wall Street, Hollywood, and fans of the company around the world. Read more: https://bit.ly/4afPaz3