Investing.com -- A U.S. consumer protection agency has accused Walmart Inc. and financial technology partner Branch Messenger Inc. of opening costly bank accounts without approval for delivery drivers. The allegations were raised on Monday by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). According to the CFPB, Walmart and Branch Messenger required delivery drivers to receive their payments through these expensive accounts. As a result of these claims, the consumer protection agency filed a lawsuit against both companies in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. CFPB Director Rohit Chopra stated that Walmart made false promises, unlawfully opened accounts, and exploited more than one million delivery drivers. At the time the news was published, neither Walmart nor Branch Messenger had responded to the allegations or requests for comment.

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Investing.com -- The suspect in the murder of UnitedHealth Group CEO Brian Thompson, Luigi Mangione, pleaded not guilty to murder charges in New York State on Monday. Among the charges is a count describing him as a terrorist.

The 26-year-old Mangione was brought into the courtroom on the 13th floor of the New York State Supreme Court in lower Manhattan with two court officers and followed by about half a dozen other officers. Handcuffed and shackled, Mangione wore a maroon sweater over a white collared shirt.

When asked how he responded to the 11-count indictment, including three counts of murder, Mangione leaned into the microphone and said "not guilty." If found guilty, he could face life in prison without the possibility of parole.

This was Mangione's second court appearance in New York following his arrest at a McDonald's restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania. He was captured five days after the murder of Thompson, which occurred outside a hotel in midtown Manhattan hosting his company's investor conference on April 12, 2024.

In addition to the state charges, Mangione is also facing a four-count federal indictment accusing him of stalking and killing Thompson. He has not yet responded to those charges. U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine Parker ordered Mangione to remain detained regarding these charges at a hearing set for December 19, 2024.

During Mangione's court appearance, more than twenty people were present in the spectator section of the courtroom.

BBVA announced on Monday that it has received approval from Mexico's competition authority Cofece to take indirect control of the shares of Sabadell's Mexican units. This authorization is a critical step in the Spanish banking giant's efforts to acquire Sabadell, which has been characterized as a hostile takeover bid.

BBVA is seeking various regulatory approvals to advance its offer for Sabadell in Mexico, which it views as its primary market and is responsible for nearly half of its profits. The Mexican authority's decision reflected a belief that the transaction is unlikely to significantly affect "competitive processes and free economic activity."

The approval from Cofece signifies progress for BBVA in a process closely scrutinized by regulatory bodies. In Spain, the initial bid amount of 12.28 billion euros ($13 billion) that BBVA proposed for Sabadell has come under a longer antitrust review by the country's competition authority, as announced last month.

Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban expressed his skeptical stance towards meme coins during a YouTube interview on Monday, highlighting the risks associated with such volatile digital assets. Known for his technology investments and as the owner of the NBA team Dallas Mavericks, Cuban underscored the inherent instability of these cryptocurrencies.

Cuban's comments came in the wake of the dramatic rise and fall of the HAWK coin, which was a meme cryptocurrency that approached a market value of $500 million before dropping by $28 million in a single day. This coin was associated with 22-year-old Haliey Welch, who went viral through a street interview and earned the nickname "hawk-tuah."

DEX Screener, a platform that tracks token data, confirmed the sharp fluctuations in HAWK's value. While sharing his thoughts on the situation, Cuban expressed sympathy for Welch, acknowledging that she might not fully comprehend the situation but was influenced by those around her.

"I am not a fan of meme coins," Cuban stated, criticizing the speculative nature of such investments. He likened trading meme coins to a "musical chairs game with money," where the outcome is uncertain, and not everyone can profit.

Despite the negative outcome for HAWK, Cuban noted that he held no ill will towards Welch. He acknowledged the difficult situation he found himself in and expressed his belief that he would overcome this experience, concluding with, "what’s done is done."

Investing.com -- The toy industry is facing declining sales for the second consecutive year, while Lego's success paints a hopeful picture. Many toy companies are struggling to maintain the sales growth seen during the pandemic, while the Denmark-based firm Lego is experiencing rapid growth. The company's revenue increased by 13% in the first half of the year, allowing it to gain market share.

Eric Handler, managing director of Roth MKM, noted that Lego's success has driven the industry's growth this year. Having come close to bankruptcy in the early 2000s, Lego transformed its business and diversified its customer base. This strategy has enabled it to increase sales even in inflationary market conditions. The company has reported positive annual revenue growth for the past six years.

Lego's growth strategy includes elements such as licensing agreements, targeting both adults and children, expanding into digital gaming, collaborating with studios and publishing services to provide Lego content, and setting up production facilities near distribution centers to optimize its supply chain.

The company's successful products include emphasized "passion points" or kits appealing to a broad consumer range. Among these are fans of franchises like Star Wars and Harry Potter, car enthusiasts, and animal lovers.

James Zahn, editor-in-chief of The Toy Book, praised Lego's ability to challenge industry trends. According to Zahn, when other companies struggle, Lego often succeeds. He attributed Lego's agility during inflationary periods, disruptions in the entertainment sector, and potential tariff increases to its ability to stay “ahead of the curve.” Zahn stated that Lego appears to be two to three steps ahead of its competitors.