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Christopher Agbaje, a Nigerian citizen, has been convicted for his role in a fraudulent scheme involving nearly $200,000 against a law firm in North Dakota, USA. The case, prosecuted by the US Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota, revealed that Agbaje and his associates falsely posed as a business owner in a legal dispute with a Bismarck company, leading to the fraudulent activity.

The fraud, which occurred between November and December 2020, involved a deceptive Citibank check for $198,850 that was deposited into the law firm’s account. Following the deposit, the firm was directed to transfer $198,336.68 to Agbaje’s associate. To obscure the trail, a fak3 $180,000 international transfer was initiated. When the scheme was uncovered, Agbaje allegedly advised his partner to continue the deception as law enforcement investigated the matter.

Extradited from the UK to North Dakota in February 2024, Agbaje faced multiple charges. While he was acquitted of some, he was found guilty of Money Laundering, Aiding and Abetting Wire Fra¥d, and Aiding and Abetting Mail Fra¥d. On September 11, 2024, he was sentenced to 142 months in prison and ordered to pay $188,935.74 in restitution to the law firm.

US Attorney Mac Schneider emphasized the importance of this case, stating, “This sentence sends a clear message that international fraudsters will be held accountable, no matter where they are.”

FBI Special Agent in Charge, Alvin M. Winston Sr., added, “This case demonstrates the commitment to pursuing justice, regardless of the complexity or global reach of the fra¥d

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Boeing (BA) shares are dropping in premarket trading as members of its biggest union launch a strike; Adobe (ADBE) shares are tumbling on the software maker's disappointing current-quarter outlook; Oracle (ORCL) is gaining on upbeat sales guidance; gold (GOLD) prices are hitting new highs; and private-equity giant Blackstone (BX) reportedly is considering a sale of visa outsourcing firm VFS Global. U.S. stock futures are edging higher after major indexes rallied Thursday. Here's what investors need to know today.

Boeing (BA) shares are falling about 4% in premarket trading after its biggest union overwhelmingly rejected a tentative deal that would have given a 25% pay hike over four years and launched a strike, the latest setback for the troubled plane maker. More than 30,000 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) walked out, hurting airplane assembly at Boeing's factories in the Pacific Northwest and California.

Adobe (ADBE) shares are tumbling 8% in premarket trading after the digital multimedia software maker issued a disappointing current-quarter outlook that offset better-than-expected third-quarter results. While the San Jose, Calif.-based firm’s shares are up 28% in the past three months, they are in the red for the year as enterprise customers hold back on spending on premium software products amid high interest rates and an uncertain economic outlook. 

Oracle (ORCL) shares are surging 6% in premarket trading after a senior executive reportedly told analysts its annual revenue will rise to at least $104 billion in fiscal 2029. reported that Executive Vice President Doug Kehring announced the projection, which comes just days after the software maker posted Wall Street-beating quarterly results, and also said the company raised its sales outlook for fiscal 2026 to at least $66 billion from a prior target of $65 billion, ahead of the $64.8 billion consensus estimate of analysts polled by Visible Alpha.

Gold (GOLD) prices are hitting new highs as the possibility of an aggressive interest-rate cut by the Federal Reserve at its meeting next week resurfaces. Lower interest rates make the precious metal more attractive relative to other assets, and the 2-year Treasury yield is falling 5 basis points as reported that the debate by the central bank's officials on whether to cut by 25 basis points or 50 is a close call. The precious metal, currently at $2,594 per ounce, has been rising this year as investors seek a safe haven amid geopolitical tensions and as Chinese investors flock to gold.

Private-equity giant Blackstone (BX) reportedly is mulling options for VFS Global, including a sale of its majority stake in the visa outsourcing and technology services firm. According to , a sale of the Dubai- and Zurich-headquartered unit could value VFS at around $7 billion, and Blackstone has held preliminary talks with its advisers to evaluate a full or partial sale. Blackstone shares are little changed in premarket trading.

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Troops of the Nigerian Army have successfully neutralized Halilu Buzu, a notorious terrorist kingpin on the security forces’ wanted list, along with several of his fighters in Mayanchi village, Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The Nigerian Army announced the operation in a statement shared on its official X handle on Friday. According to the statement, Buzu and his fighters met their end on Thursday, September 12, 2024, during a confrontation with the troops.

The troops had strategically laid an ambush at one of the terrorist leader’s known crossing points in Mayanchi. Despite fierce resistance from the terrorists, they ultimately succumbed to the superior firepower of the soldiers.

Following the encounter, troops recovered a significant cache of weapons, including two Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) guns, three PKT guns, five AK-47 rifles, 479 rounds of PKT ammunition, 366 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 182 rounds of Machine Gun1 ammunition, one RPG bomb, 29 AK-47 magazines, and 30 motorcycles. Additionally, two android phones and two Yeekee phones were seized.

The statement further noted that the troops destroyed the terrorists’ camp and are currently conducting further operations in the area to ensure continued security.

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GE Vernova (GEV) closed at a record high Thursday after the recent General Electric spin-off reaffirmed its full-year financial guidance. 

The energy company said Thursday at a Morgan Stanley investing conference that it expects revenue on the higher end of its previously disclosed $34 billion to $35 billion range, driven by strength in its power and electrification segments. Its offshore wind segment, which it projects to post a loss of $300 million in the third quarter, should be profitable by the fourth quarter. 

Shares of GE Vernova climbed 2.9%, reversing an early-session decline, to close at $215.27.

The company began trading in April after General Electric spun off its energy division from the aerospace division, with the entities becoming GE Vernova and GE Aerospace (GE), respectively. GE Vernova's shares are up more than 50% since their trading debut. 

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Major U.S. equities indexes headed higher after the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) report showed a cooldown in wholesale inflation in August, the latest data point that could tip the scales toward an interest-rate cut when the Federal Reserve meets next week.

The S&P 500 added 0.8% on Thursday, extending a winning streak for the benchmark index that dates back to the beginning of the week. The Nasdaq was up 1%, while the Dow added 0.6%.

Shares of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) led the S&P 500 higher, soaring 10% after the entertainment giant renewed its distribution deal with Charter Communications (CHTR), the country's largest pay TV provider. Under the terms of the new deal, inked by the two companies a year before the expiration of their existing agreement, Charter will increase the fees it pays to carry certain Warner Bros. Discovery TV channels, while fees for TNT will remain stable, despite the network's loss of its NBA broadcasting rights.

Kroger (KR) shares surged 7.2% after the country's largest supermarket chain reported better-than-expected adjusted profit for the second quarter. Kroger's CEO expressed confidence in the company's position as it aims to complete its acquisition of Albertsons grocery stores, even as federal regulators take measures to block the deal.

Shares of Axon Enterprise (AXON), maker of the Taser and other law enforcement equipment, gained 6.3% as JMP Securities boosted its price target on the stock. Analysts highlighted the growth trajectory of Axon's Taser 10 and Body Camera 4, as well as its software tools. Axon also has drawn attention for its Draft One software, which uses artificial intelligence (AI) technology to generate an initial incident report using audio recorded by officers' body cameras.

Moderna (MRNA) shares lost more than any other S&P 500 constituent, plunging 12% as the biotechnology firm said it would cut its research and development pipeline. As part of the cost-cutting measure, Moderna will suspend or end development of certain products while focusing on later-stage trials.

Shares of solar technology firm Enphase Energy (ENPH) slipped 4.3%. Thursday's losses gave back a portion of the gains notched after Tuesday's presidential debate. Vice President Kamala Harris' performance was seen as lifting the outlook for green energy policies, helping drive a rally for industry stocks.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), a federal agency that oversees the banking industry, issued an enforcement action order on Thursday against financial giant Wells Fargo (WFC). The regulatory action is related to the bank's anti-money laundering (AML) and financial crimes risk management practices. Wells Fargo shares dropped 4%.

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