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Microsoft

Microsoft

$MSFT
NASDAQTechnology

436 stories mentioning MicrosoftUpdated 2d ago

Rose with tech stocks in a broad rally; its Xbox studio Compulsion Games is reportedly planning to shut down.

Asia Markets

Update: US Equity Indexes Mixed as Chipmakers Weigh Ahead of Mag-7 Results, Crude Oil Drops Amid Halt in Middle East Strikes

(Updates with index/price moves, macroeconomic data, and company/geopolitical news from the first paragraph.)US equity indexes traded mixed as chipmakers pushed technology lower ahead of Microsoft (MSFT) and Meta Platforms' (META) quarterly results and a pause in strikes between Washington and Iran continued.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1% to 52,747.32, with the S&P 500 up 0.2% to 7,428.78 on Tuesday. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite fell 0.2% to 24,876.91. Energy and technology led the decliners while healthcare, consumer staples, and materials topped the gainers at the close.Microsoft and Meta, part of the so-called Magnificent-7 stocks known for their sway over indexes, are expected to report earnings after the bell on Wednesday.The VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH), with net assets of $77.2 billion, slid 3.5% on Tuesday. Among companies with a market capitalization of more than $200 billion, nine of the 10 worst performers were from the semiconductor and semiconductor equipment and materials industries, according to data compiled by Finviz. The steepest decliner in this category was SK Hynix (SKHY), down 9%.Shares of Corning (GLW), a supplier of cover glass to Apple (AAPL), sank 12%, the second-worst performer on the S&P 500, after the company reported Q2 results and set guidance for the next quarter.In geopolitical news, President Donald Trump said talks with Iran were continuing but again threatened to destroy Iranian bridges and power plants if no deal is made, CNN reported. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, said Tehran was not negotiating with the US but added that "intermediaries may convey messages from the American side to us regarding ongoing developments in the region," Al Jazeera, a Middle East broadcaster, reported.Iran's military said any ships belonging to a country or company that's using frozen Iranian assets will be blocked from transiting the Strait of Hormuz, CNN cited Iranian state media as saying.Iran has rejected Trump's claim that ships damaged by Iran in the Gulf would be compensated from frozen Iranian funds. Iran Revolutionary Guards Corps spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari warned that any vessel taking such money will be banned from transiting the Strait of Hormuz, Al Jazeera reported.Front-month US West Texas Intermediate slumped 4.2% to $79.16 a barrel, and global benchmark North Sea Brent dropped 5% to $83.91 a barrel.US Treasury yields fell, with the 10-year down 3.9 basis points to 4.6% and the two-year lower by 4.6 basis points to 4.28%.In precious metal markets, gold futures fell 1.3% to $4,022.9, and silver futures declined 2.4% to $57.33.In economic news, the Conference Board's measure of consumer confidence decreased to 90.8 in July from 92.2 in June, below the 92.4 expected in a Bloomberg-compiled survey.The Case-Shiller National Home Price Index rose 0.6% in May, after a 0.8% increase in April, before seasonal adjustment. National home prices were up 1.1% year-over-year, up from 0.9% in April.The Dallas Federal Reserve's monthly general business services index rose to 6.6 in July from 2.9 in June, above expectations for a 3.8 reading in a Bloomberg-compiled poll, indicating faster expansion.The Richmond Fed's monthly manufacturing index rose to 5 in July from 4 in June, below expectations for 6 in a Bloomberg-compiled survey.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAPL$GLW$META$MSFT$SKHY$SMH
Wire

Microsoft, Saint-Gobain Collaborate on Digital, AI Solutions for Construction

Microsoft (MSFT) has signed an agreement with Saint-Gobain to provide its digital and artificial intelligence tools to improve the construction materials provider's growth and productivity, Saint-Gobain said Tuesday.The collaboration aims to reduce Saint-Gobain's carbon dioxide emissions and energy consumption across its manufacturing facilities, the company said.The agreement will also explore how Saint-Gobain can help Microsoft improve its data center footprint through integrated solutions for construction speed, safety and resilience, performance certifications and reduced carbon footprint, the company added.Financial details weren't provided.Price: $397.33, Change: $+8.23, Percent Change: +2.12%

$MSFT
Wire

Amazon Poised for Higher Capital Expenditure for 2027 and Beyond, UBS Says

Amazon (AMZN) is poised for higher capital expenditure for 2027 and beyond in light on rising component prices as well as demand, UBS said in a Tuesday research note.UBS said it has also made changes to its estimate for revenue from Amazon Web Services, accounting for Microsoft-backed (MSFT) OpenAI moving its initial use of Trainium chips out of Q4 and into early 2027, which shifts about $3 billion of revenue out of this year.UBS further said it continues to believe that Wall Street is "undermodeling" the backlog and revenue growth prospects for AWS in H2 and even more so in 2027. UBS estimates 36% and 48% AWS revenue growth prospects in 2026 and 2027, compared with Wall Street view of 31% and 30%, respectively.UBS lowered its price target to $305 from $333 and maintained its buy rating on the company's stock.Price: $231.26, Change: $-0.13, Percent Change: -0.06%

$AMZN$MSFT
Wire

Market Chatter: OpenAI, Anthropic Push Trump Administration to Expand AI Models Requiring Government Review

Microsoft-backed (MSFT) OpenAI and Amazon-backed (AMZN) Anthropic have pushed to expand the types of AI models requiring government review under a looming Trump administration framework to include those from competitors like Meta Platforms (META) and SpaceX's (SPCX) SpaceXAI, The Information reported, citing sources.OpenAI and Anthropic didn't immediately reply to requests for comment from.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)Price: $398.97, Change: $+9.86, Percent Change: +2.54%

$AMZN$META$MSFT$SPCX
Wire

OpenAI, Anthropic Push Trump Administration to Expand AI Models Requiring Government Review, The Information Reports

OpenAI, Anthropic Push Trump Administration to Expand AI Models Requiring Government Review, The Information Reports

$AMZN$META$MSFT$SPCX
Meta Partners With BlackRock Over $14 Billion Data Center Project
US Markets

Meta Partners With BlackRock Over $14 Billion Data Center Project

Meta Platforms (META) and asset manager BlackRock (BLK) have teamed up to develop a data center campus in El Paso, Texas, at a cost of roughly $14 billion, the companies said Tuesday.Technology giants are ramping up investments to support their artificial intelligence initiatives. Meta is targeting capital expenditures of $125 billion to $145 billion this year, including for data center buildouts.The Facebook and Instagram parent said Tuesday it will invest more than $10 billion in the El Paso facility.Meta intends to use the entire data center campus under an initial four-year lease agreement, with a maximum lease term of 20 years, according to a joint statement.The partnership "allows us to move faster and at greater scale -- pairing our deep expertise in designing and operating world-class data centers with one of the world's leading infrastructure investors," Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said.BlackRock-managed funds will own an 80% interest in a venture to be formed with Meta, which will take the remaining 20% stake in it."Companies around the world are looking for long-term strategic partners to help develop their most important projects, and BlackRock is built to meet that need," BlackRock CEO Larry Fink said.Meta, along with Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL), Amazon.com (AMZN) and Microsoft (MSFT), are expected to spend $650 billion in capex, compared with $410 billion last year, asset management firm Bridgewater Associates said in February.Some companies have sought financing for their AI initiatives, like CoreWeave (CRWV), which in March announced an $8.5 billion loan facility to expand its AI cloud platform.Meta and BlackRock expect to close the deal in the coming days, with an aim to start capacity deployment in 2028.The announcement comes ahead of Meta's second-quarter results, due out after market close on Wednesday. Shares of Meta were flat intraday Tuesday, while those of BlackRock advanced by 3.2%.Price: $592.89, Change: $-0.98, Percent Change: -0.17%

$AMZN$BLK$CRWV$GOOG$GOOGL$META$MSFT
Sectors

Sector Update: Tech Stocks Fall Pre-Bell Tuesday

Technology stocks were falling pre-bell Tuesday, with the State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK) 1.6% lower and the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) declining by 3.5%.ASML Holding (ASML) shares were down more than 4% after The Information reported that a Chinese state-backed company has started manufacturing certain chipmaking equipment that could impact ASML's market position.Corning (GLW) stock was down more than 16% amid a soft Q3 outlook, with EPS and sales estimates barely meeting analysts' expectations.Microsoft (MSFT) shares were up more than 1% after the company introduced Project Perception, an AI-powered cybersecurity platform designed to detect, assess and respond to cyber threats in real time as attackers increasingly use AI to automate attacks.

$ASML$GLW$MSFT$XLK$XSD
Asia Markets

Update: US Equity Futures Mixed Pre-Bell as Halt in Middle East Hostilities Holds, Semiconductor Stocks Drop

(Updates with economic data, recent oil price movement, world markets' overview and corporate stock movements.)US equity futures were mixed pre-bell Tuesday as the pause in hostilities between the US and Iran appeared to hold, while semiconductor-related stocks once again declined.Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were 0.9% higher, S&P 500 futures were up 0.1%, and Nasdaq futures were 0.7% lower.President Donald Trump said late Monday that the US was having "good talks" with Iran, with a "good chance" that a deal could be made, but warned that US attacks would resume if negotiations failed. Iran's Foreign Ministry said Tuesday it had discussions with Saudi Arabia and Oman regarding maritime passage on the Strait of Hormuz.Traders digested the latest round of earnings, with Coca-Cola (KO) posting higher fiscal Q2 comparable earnings and revenue.Visa (V) is expected to report its fiscal Q3 earnings after the market closes. Analysts polled by FactSet expect earnings of $3.23 per share on revenue of $11.4 billion.Oil prices were lower, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude down 2.2% at $83.96 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 1.8% lower at $81.12 per barrel.The US advance international trade in goods deficit narrowed to $101.46 billion in June from $105.89 billion in May, according to data released by the US Census Bureau.The May S&P Case-Shiller home price index is scheduled for release at 9 am ET. The July consumer confidence index, due at 10 am ET, is projected to rise to 92.4 from 91.2. The Richmond Fed manufacturing index for July is also scheduled to be released at 10 am ET.In other world markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 4% lower, Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 0.4% higher, and China's Shanghai Composite finished 1.2% lower. Meanwhile, the UK's FTSE 100 was up 0.5%, and Germany's DAX index was 0.1% higher in Europe's early afternoon session.In equities, Micron Technology (MU), AMD (AMD), and Intel (INTC) stocks were all down in premarket activity as part of a wider drop in the semiconductor sector. Micron shares fell 6.7%, AMD stock was down 4.3%, and Intel shares were 5.2% lower.On the winning side, Coca-Cola shares rose 4.2% after the company reported better-than expected comparable earnings and net operating revenue for Q2, as well as raised its comparable EPS growth outlook and organic revenue growth outlook for 2026. Microsoft (MSFT) was up 1.8% after the company introduced Project Perception, an AI-powered cybersecurity platform designed to detect, assess and respond to cyber threats in real time as attackers increasingly use AI to automate attacks. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) shares were up 1.9% after the company said it has agreed to commit up to $5.5 billion to settle about 76,000 lawsuits that alleged its talc products caused ovarian cancer, aiming to bring finality to the 15-year litigation.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AMD$INTC$KO$MSFT$MU$V
Asia Markets

Update: US Equity Indexes Mixed as Chipmakers Drop, Pause in Iran Strikes Sinks Crude Oil

(Updates with index/price moves, macroeconomic data and company/geopolitical news from the first paragraph.)US equity indexes traded mixed as concerns over circular investments in the artificial intelligence industry hurt chipmakers and a third consecutive day of pause in Iran strikes sank crude oil.The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.5% to 52,210.08, and the S&P 500 rose less than 0.1% to 7,413.18 on Monday. The Nasdaq Composite fell 0.2% to 24,932.08.Technology was the third-worst performer after energy and utilities. Among companies with a market capitalization of more than $200 billion, seven of the 10 worst performers were from the semiconductor and semiconductor equipment and materials industries.Nvidia (NVDA) has agreed to expand its partnership with South Korean conglomerate SK Group through an artificial intelligence infrastructure initiative valued at more than $500 billion. The deal announced Saturday includes a long-term partnership between Nvidia and SK Hynix (SKHY) that will provide the US technology giant a stable supply of next-generation AI memory. Nvidia's shares dropped 4.4%, the Dow's steepest decliner. The SK Hynix stock plummeted 5.6%.Separately, Nvidia is in talks to provide a roughly $250 billion financial backstop for Microsoft-backed (MSFT) OpenAI as part of a massive data center project in southern Ohio that could cost more than $500 billion, The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday.The VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH), with net assets of $77.2 billion, fell 2.3%.In geopolitical news, the US paused military attacks against Iran over the weekend, while Tehran also refrained from retaliatory action, according to a Commerzbank note. "They asked us very nicely, 'Please stop, let's meet,'" Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, according to CNN. "And that's where we are right now, see what happens. If we don't make a deal, we go back to the same thing."Messages are still being passed between the sides through mediators, and Iran has not forsaken diplomacy, but reports that Iran is requesting negotiations are "fabricated," Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei said on Monday, according to Reuters.Almost all of the 78 vessels that crossed the Strait of Hormuz since Saturday used the route designated by Iran, and none were recorded using the southern route near Oman's coast promoted by the US, CNN cited Mariks, a shipping industry intelligence provider, in its news report.Front-month US West Texas Intermediate sank 8.3% to $81.91 a barrel, and global benchmark North Sea Brent plunged 9.4% to $87.70 a barrel.Most US Treasury yields fell, with the 10-year down three basis points to 4.65% and the two-year lower by 1.1 basis points to 4.32%, as lower crude oil prices bode well for the 2% inflation target.In precious metal markets, gold futures rose 0.3% to $4,083.9, while silver futures edged down 0.2% to $58.80.In economic news, new orders for US durable goods rose by 0.3% in June following a decline of 4.0% in May compared with the expectations for 1.8% in a survey compiled by Bloomberg. Excluding a 0.2% decrease in transportation orders, new orders would have been up 0.6% in June after a 1.8% increase in May. Expectations were for a 0.8% gain.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$MSFT$NVDA$SKHY$SMH
Update: Wall Street Wavers as Oil Slides; Fed Decision, Major Earnings in Focus
US Markets

Update: Wall Street Wavers as Oil Slides; Fed Decision, Major Earnings in Focus

(Updates with market moves at the end of the day.)US stocks ended mixed in what turned out to be a choppy session on Monday as oil prices tumbled, with investors awaiting the Federal Reserve's monetary policy decision and major earnings releases.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.5% to 52,210.08, while the Nasdaq Composite edged down 0.2% to 24,932.08. The S&P 500 settled just above the flatline at 7,413.18. Most sectors were in the green, led by consumer staples, while energy saw the steepest decline.West Texas Intermediate crude oil was down 8% at $82.19 a barrel in Monday late-afternoon trade, while Brent slumped 9.2% to $87.90.US President Donald Trump told Axios on Monday that the US is in "very deep talks" with Iran, though he said military action could resume if diplomacy fails. His remarks came as the US apparently halted strikes against Iran.Oman is conducting talks with Iran, but Qatar, Pakistan and Egypt are also actively involved in the process, Axios reported."While this is the first tangible signal of de-escalation, the reasons behind it are less clear," ING Bank said in a report. "There's little explanation from the US. Also, it hasn't yet led to any meaningful pickup in vessel flows through the Strait of Hormuz."Treasury yields were lower, with the 10-year rate down 3.2 basis points at 4.65% and the two-year rate falling 1.1 basis points to 4.35%.The Federal Open Market Committee kicks off its two-day policy meeting on Tuesday, with a decision on interest rates due the following day. The probability of the central bank leaving its benchmark lending rate unchanged currently stands at 62%, with the remaining odds in favor of a quarter-percentage-point increase, according to the CME FedWatch tool.UBS Securities expects three dissents as a base case, but said it won't be surprised to see two more pushing for a rate hike.Tech giants Microsoft (MSFT), Apple (AAPL), Amazon (AMZN) and Meta Platforms (META) are scheduled to release their latest financial results later this week, along with Visa (V), Mastercard (MA), ExxonMobil (XOM), Coca Cola (KO), Procter & Gamble (PG), Qualcomm (QCOM) and Boeing (BA).In company news, Nvidia (NVDA) has agreed to expand its partnership with South Korean conglomerate SK Group through an artificial intelligence infrastructure initiative expected to be worth more than $500 billion. The deal includes a long-term partnership between Nvidia and SK Hynix (SKHY) that will provide the US technology giant a stable supply of next-generation AI memory.Nvidia's shares dropped 5%, the worst performer on the Dow, while SK Hynix slumped 7.5%.TransDigm Group (TDG) agreed to acquire specialty metal maker Prince & Izant from private equity firm Industrial Growth Partners for about $1.07 billion in cash. TransDigm shares advanced 4%.Gold edged up 0.3% to $4,083.90 per troy ounce, while silver lost 0.2% to $58.80 per ounce.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAPL$AMZN$BA$KO$MA$META$MSFT$NVDA$PG$QCOM$SKHY$TDG$V$XOM
Japan

US Equity Markets Mixed as Oil Slides on Lull in US-Iran Strikes

US equity indexes were mixed Monday as crude oil declined on a lull in US strikes on Iran, while jitters over the AI trade increased.* The US paused military attacks against Iran over the weekend, while Tehran also refrained from retaliatory action, multiple media outlets reported.* New orders for US durable goods rose 0.3% in June following a decline of 4% in May, compared with expectations for an increase of 1.8% in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.* September West Texas Intermediate crude oil tumbled $7.33 to settle at $81.98 per barrel, while September Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen down $9.02 at $87.76.* Salesforce (CRM) shares rose 6.1%, the top gainer on the Dow, after the US Department of Veterans Affairs on Friday awarded the company, through its distribution network, a three-year $1.6 billion agentic enterprise license agreement.* Nvidia (NVDA) agreed to expand its partnership with South Korea's SK Group through an AI infrastructure initiative valued at more than $500 billion that will provide the US company with a stable supply of next-generation AI memory from SK hynix (SKHY). Separately, Nvidia is in talks to provide a $250 billion financial backstop for Microsoft-backed (MSFT) OpenAI as part of a massive data center project in southern Ohio, the Wall Street Journal reported Sunday. Nvidia's shares dropped 5%, the steepest decliner on the Dow.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$CRM$MSFT$NVDA$SKHY
Japan

Update: US Equity Indexes Mixed as Tech Heads Lower While Iran Strikes Remain Halted

(Updates with index/price moves and company/geopolitical news from the first paragraph.)US equity indexes traded mixed as investor concerns grew over circular investments in the artificial intelligence industry and as a pause in strikes on Iran entered its third day.The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.5% to 52,193.5, and the S&P 500 rose 0.1% to 7,419.7 ahead of Monday's close. The Nasdaq Composite slipped less than 0.1% to 24,964.2. Technology was the third-worst performer.Nvidia (NVDA) has agreed to expand its partnership with South Korean conglomerate SK Group through an artificial intelligence infrastructure initiative valued at more than $500 billion. The deal announced Saturday includes a long-term partnership between Nvidia and SK Hynix (SKHY) that will provide the US technology giant a stable supply of next-generation AI memory. Nvidia's shares dropped 4.4%, the Dow's steepest decliner. The SK Hynix stock plummeted 5.6%.Separately, Nvidia is in talks to provide a roughly $250 billion financial backstop for Microsoft-backed (MSFT) OpenAI as part of a massive data center project in southern Ohio that could cost more than $500 billion, The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday.VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH), with net assets of $77.2 billion, fell 2.1%.In geopolitical news, the US paused military attacks against Iran over the weekend, while Tehran also refrained from retaliatory action, according to a Commerzbank note. "They asked us very nicely, 'Please stop, let's meet,'" Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, according to CNN. "And that's where we are right now, see what happens. If we don't make a deal, we go back to the same thing."Iran's Foreign Ministry said there are no current negotiations with the US, CNN reported.Almost all of the 78 vessels that crossed the Strait of Hormuz since Saturday used the route designated by Iran, and none were recorded using the southern route near Oman's coast promoted by the US, CNN cited Marisks, a shipping intelligence group.The front-month US West Texas Intermediate sank 7.8% to $82.39 a barrel, and global benchmark North Sea Brent plunged 8.9% to $88.19 a barrel.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$MSFT$NVDA$SKHY$SMH
Update: Equities Mixed Intraday as Markets Await Fed Decision, More Earnings Reports
US Markets

Update: Equities Mixed Intraday as Markets Await Fed Decision, More Earnings Reports

(Updates with latest market prices and developments.)US stocks were mixed intraday amid a sharp pullback in oil prices, as traders prepared for the Federal Reserve's policy decision and mega-cap earnings reports later in the week.The Nasdaq Composite was down 0.6% at 24,834.6 after midday Monday, while the S&P 500 fell 0.3% to 7,390.2. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.2% to 52,031.4. Among sectors, communication services paced the gainers, while technology saw the steepest decline.West Texas Intermediate crude oil dropped 7.5% to $82.61 a barrel, while Brent slumped 8% to $89.09.US President Donald Trump told Axios on Monday that the US is in "very deep talks" with Iran, though he said military action could resume if diplomacy fails. His remarks came as the US apparently halted strikes against Iran.The US military struck Iran for the 13th straight night on Thursday, with Iran launching its retaliatory attacks across Gulf states. There hasn't been an announcement on fresh US strikes since then.Oman is conducting talks with Iran, but Qatar, Pakistan and Egypt are also actively involved in the process, Axios reported."While this is the first tangible signal of de-escalation, the reasons behind it are less clear," ING Bank said in a report. "There's little explanation from the US. Also, it hasn't yet led to any meaningful pickup in vessel flows through the Strait of Hormuz."Treasury yields were lower intraday, with the 10-year rate down 3.2 basis points at 4.65% and the two-year rate falling 1.3 basis points to 4.32%.The Federal Open Market Committee kicks off its two-day policy meeting on Tuesday, with a decision on interest rates due the following day. The probability of the central bank leaving its benchmark lending rate unchanged currently stands at 62%, with the remaining odds in favor of a quarter-percentage-point increase, according to the CME FedWatch tool."In our view, in the event of a rate hold there are likely to be dissents with the number hinging on the extent to which the statement language shifts in a hawkish direction," Macquarie said Monday in a report.While the firm expects no change to the federal funds rate this week, it continues to project a hike, most likely in December.Tech giants Microsoft (MSFT), Apple (AAPL), Amazon (AMZN) and Meta Platforms (META) are scheduled to release their latest financial results later this week, along with Visa (V), Mastercard (MA), ExxonMobil (XOM), Coca Cola (KO), Procter & Gamble (PG), Qualcomm (QCOM) and Boeing (BA).In company news, Nvidia (NVDA) has agreed to expand its partnership with South Korean conglomerate SK Group through an artificial intelligence infrastructure initiative expected to be worth more than $500 billion. The deal includes a long-term partnership between Nvidia and SK Hynix (SKHY) that will provide the US technology giant a stable supply of next-generation AI memory.Nvidia's shares dropped 5.2% intraday, the worst performer on the Dow, while SK Hynix slumped 9.6%.TransDigm Group (TDG) agreed to acquire specialty metal maker Prince & Izant from private equity firm Industrial Growth Partners for approximately $1.07 billion in cash. TransDigm shares rose 3.4% intraday.Gold edged up 0.2% $4,077.40 per troy ounce, while silver lost 0.2% to $58.77 per ounce.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAPL$AMZN$BA$KO$MA$META$MSFT$NVDA$PG$QCOM$SKHY$TDG$V$XOM
S&P 500 Second-Quarter Earnings Growth Reaches 70%, Oppenheimer Says
Wire

S&P 500 Second-Quarter Earnings Growth Reaches 70%, Oppenheimer Says

S&P 500 companies' second-quarter earnings growth reached 70%, driven by the information technology sector, where profits nearly tripled year on year, Oppenheimer Asset Management said in a report Monday.A total of 133 companies, or 27% of the index constituents, have reported second-quarter results, with profit growth accelerating to 70% year over year from about 52% up until a week ago. Revenue growth slowed to 12.6% from 16%, according to the report.Tech earnings soared 190% annually, followed by communications services companies, which reported 168% profit growth. Technology also had the highest annual revenue increase of 45% among 11 sectors, with financials showing a 17% jump.Prior to the start of the second-quarter reporting season, FactSet-polled consensus estimates projected S&P 500 earnings growth of nearly 24% year over year, Oppenheimer said.Another 169 S&P 500 companies are scheduled to report results this week, including four of the so-called Magnificent 7 companies Microsoft (MSFT), Meta Platforms (META), Apple (AAPL) and Amazon (AMZN).ExxonMobil (XOM), Visa (V), Mastercard (MA), AbbVie (ABBV), Chevron (CVX), Coca-Cola (KO) and Procter & Gamble (PG) also report this week."Looking at current valuations and the current earnings season, more factors appear to be getting better than getting worse," Oppenheimer Asset Management Chief Investment Strategist John Stoltzfus said.Oil prices slid Monday as President Donald Trump said the US and Iran were in talks. However, crude has rallied this month due to the apparent collapse of a preliminary US-Iran peace deal.Escalated tensions between the two nations sent the 10-year Treasury yield to 4.68% last week, the highest level since January 2025, Stoltzfus said.Price: $391.06, Change: $+9.36, Percent Change: +2.45%

$AAPL$ABBV$AMZN$CVX$KO$MA$META$MSFT$PG$V$XOM
Wire

Top Midday Stories: Nvidia Enters Into $500 Billion Partnership With SK Group; AstraZeneca Earnings Top Estimates

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite were down in late-morning trading Monday, as oil prices fell amid a pause in the hostilities between US and Iran over the weekend.In company news, Nvidia (NVDA) has agreed to expand its partnership with South Korean conglomerate SK Group with a more than $500 billion artificial intelligence infrastructure initiative. The deal announced Saturday includes a long-term partnership between Nvidia and SK Hynix (SKHY) that will provide the US technology giant a stable supply of next-generation AI memory. They will also jointly co-develop next-generation AI memory solutions that include high-bandwidth memory chips intended for AI training, AI agents and physical AI applications. Nvidia shares were down 5.1% around midday, while SK Hynix shares were down 8.8%.Further, Nvidia is in talks to provide a roughly $250 billion financial backstop for Microsoft (MSFT)-backed OpenAI as part of a massive data center project in southern Ohio that could cost more than $500 billion, The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter. The guarantees would help OpenAI secure financing to lease a 10-gigawatt campus being developed by SoftBank-owned SB Energy. Nvidia is also discussing financing for up to $350 billion in AI chip purchases, according to the report.AstraZeneca (AZN) reported Q2 core earnings Monday of $2.63 per diluted share, up from $2.17 a year earlier and above the FactSet consensus analyst estimate of $2.49. Q2 revenue was $15.38 billion, up from $14.46 billion a year ago and below the FactSet consensus of $15.43 billion. For 2026, the company continues to expect core EPS to rise by a low double-digit percentage and revenue to grow by a mid-to-high single-digit percentage. Analysts are looking for $10.24 and $63.18 billion, respectively. The company also raised its interim dividend by 3 cents to $1.06 per share. AstraZeneca shares were up 1.2%.United Airlines (UAL) pitched a merger deal to Delta Air Lines (DAL) last year, but the talks fizzled out without a deal after Delta declined to pursue the proposal, The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday, citing sources familiar with the matter. Sources told the news outlet that discussions reached preliminary due diligence, where Delta Air Lines management assessed the potential merger. The proposal came before President Donald Trump's return to office, when companies anticipated a more favorable regulatory backdrop for major mergers, according to the report. United Airlines shares were up 1%, while Delta Air Lines shares were up 1.5%.Baker Hughes (BKR) reported Q2 adjusted earnings Sunday of $0.64 per diluted share, up from $0.63 a year earlier and above the FactSet consensus analyst estimate of $0.49. Q2 revenue was $6.74 billion, down from $6.91 billion a year ago and above the FactSet consensus of $6.51 billion. Baker Hughes also maintained its quarterly dividend at $0.23 per share, payable on Aug. 17 to holders of record on Aug. 7. Further, the company said that its total orders stood at $10.50 billion in Q2, a 49% jump from $7.03 billion a year earlier, as orders under the industrial and energy technology segment doubled. Segment orders in the quarter surged year over year to $7.09 billion from $3.53 billion, led by the gas technology product line. Segment revenue also steadied at $3.29 billion, data showed. Baker Hughes shares were up 5.8%.DeepSeek has suspended its second fundraising round after informing some prospective investors that investment agreements would not be signed as expected, Bloomberg reported Saturday, citing people familiar with the matter. The pause followed viral online posts widely attributed to founder Liang Wenfeng about US-China artificial intelligence competition. Bloomberg could not verify the authenticity of the posts. DeepSeek had been seeking to raise at least 10 billion yuan at a pre-money valuation of at least 480 billion yuan and is preparing for an initial public offering that could be filed as early as this year, according to the report.Price: $196.23, Change: $-10.61, Percent Change: -5.13%

$AZN$BKR$DAL$MSFT$NVDA$SKHY$UAL
Wire

UBS Lowers Microsoft Price Target to $480 From $510, Maintains Buy Rating

Microsoft (MSFT) has an average rating of Buy and mean price target of $555.30, according to analysts polled by FactSet.(covers equity, commodity and economic research from major banks and research firms in North America, Asia and Europe. Research providers may contact us here: https://finwires.com/en/contact)Price: $391.17, Change: $+9.47, Percent Change: +2.48%

$MSFT
Japan

Update: US Equity Futures Rise Pre-Bell as Oil Prices Drop Amid Pause in Middle East Hostilities

US equity futures rose pre-bell Monday as oil prices declined amid a pause in hostilities between the US and Iran over the weekend.Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were 1.1% higher, S&P 500 futures were up 0.8%, and Nasdaq futures were 1.3% higher.The US did not strike any Iranian targets on Saturday or Sunday after 13 consecutive nights of attacks. The US ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, told Fox News that President Donald Trump has halted the attacks for the meantime to allow more time for diplomacy. Iran said it will suspend its own attacks as long as the US does the same, Reuters reported Sunday, citing a senior Iranian official.Traders anticipate another round of earnings this week, kicked off by AstraZeneca (AZN), which posted higher Q2 core earnings and revenue.Microsoft (MSFT), Meta Platforms (META), Apple (AAPL), Amazon.com (AMZN), Lam Research (LRCX), and Arm (ARM) are set to release their financial results this week. Anticipated earnings also include Seagate Technology (STX), Qualcomm (QCOM), Procter & Gamble (PG), Visa (V), and Mastercard (MA).Traders also look forward to the Federal Reserve's policy session and rate statement, slated for Wednesday.Oil prices were lower, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude down 5.2% at $86.94 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 6% lower at $83.97 per barrel.Durable goods new orders rose 0.3% in June after a 4.0% decline in the prior month, compared with expectations for a 1.8% increase in a survey compiled by Bloomberg. The Dallas Fed manufacturing survey for July will be released at 10:30 am ET.In other world markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 0.5% higher, Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 1% higher, and China's Shanghai Composite finished 1.2% higher. Meanwhile, the UK's FTSE 100 was up 0.4%, and Germany's DAX index was 1.6% higher in Europe's early afternoon session.In equities, energy-related stocks were on the downswing due to the drop in oil prices. Exxon Mobil (XOM) shares fell 3.4%, Chevron (CVX) stocks were down 2.7%, and Shell (SHEL) shares were 2.3% lower.On the winning side, Broadcom (AVGO) stock was up 2.1% after the company and Samsung Electronics said they signed a memorandum of understanding to expand their strategic collaboration across memory and foundry technologies to support next-generation artificial intelligence infrastructure. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) shares rose 2.2% after a Korea Times report cited the Ministry of Science and ICT as saying that the company partnered with South Korea to establish an artificial intelligence research facility and expand computing infrastructure. Toyota Motor (TM) stock was up 1.6% after the company said it signed a binding agreement with Volvo Group and Daimler Truck to acquire a one-third stake in fuel-cell joint venture Cellcentric.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAPL$AMD$AMZN$ARM$AVGO$AZN$CVX$LRCX$MA$META$MSFT$PG$QCOM$SHEL$STX$TM$V$XOM
Stocks Rise Pre-Bell as US, Iran Pause Strikes; Fed Policy Decision, Inflation Report on Deck
US Markets

Stocks Rise Pre-Bell as US, Iran Pause Strikes; Fed Policy Decision, Inflation Report on Deck

The benchmark US stock measures were pointing higher before the opening bell Monday after the US and Iran halted strikes over the weekend, while traders gear up for a busy week that includes a major policy decision by the Federal Reserve, a key inflation report and earnings.The S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.8% each in premarket activity, while the Nasdaq increased 1.4%. The S&P 500 and the Dow finished Friday's trading session in the green, while the Nasdaq closed lower.After 13 consecutive nights of strikes against Iran, no US attacks against Tehran were officially announced over the weekend. Iran said it will also halt its attacks as long as the US does the same, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Sunday.West Texas Intermediate crude oil dropped 6.4% to $83.56 a barrel before the open, while Brent fell 8% to $89.06.The US ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz reportedly told Fox News on Sunday that President Donald Trump has paused strikes against Iran to give talks "some space."Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said technical talks with Oman on the Strait of Hormuz continued over the weekend, CNBC reported.Meanwhile, Iran summoned Ukraine's charge d'affaires in Tehran on Sunday over an attack on an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea, calling it a "hostile and criminal act," according to a separate CNBC report.The Fed's monetary policy committee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, with a decision on interest rates due the following day. The probability the central bank will leave its benchmark lending rate unchanged currently stands at 69%, with the remaining odds in favor of a quarter-percentage-point increase, according to the CME FedWatch tool.Traders also await the personal income and outlays report for June later in the week. The report includes the personal consumption expenditure core price index, the Fed's preferred inflation metric.Treasury yields were down in premarket action, with the two-year rate retreating 2.6 basis points to 4.31% and the 10-year rate off 3.8 basis points to 5.12%.Monday's economic calendar has the durable goods orders report for last month at 8:30 am ET, followed by the Dallas Fed manufacturing survey for July at 10:30 am.Tech giants Microsoft (MSFT), Apple (AAPL), Amazon (AMZN) and Meta Platforms (META) are scheduled to release their latest financial results later this week, along with Visa (V), Mastercard (MA), ExxonMobil (XOM), Coca Cola (KO), Procter & Gamble (PG), Qualcomm (QCOM) and Boeing (BA).Shares of Forte Biosciences (FBRX) jumped 39% pre-bell after it agreed to be acquired by Belgian-Dutch immunology firm argenx (ARGX) in a deal worth roughly $2.2 billion. AstraZeneca's (AZN) US-listed stock gained 1.4% after the company reported its latest quarterly results.Gold inclined 0.7% to $4,098 per troy ounce, while bitcoin advanced 1.1% to $65,350.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAPL$AMZN$ARGX$AZN$BA$FBRX$KO$MA$META$MSFT$PG$QCOM$V$XOM
Japan

US Equity Futures Rise Pre-Bell as Oil Prices Drop Amid Pause in Middle East Hostilities

US equity futures rose pre-bell Monday as oil prices declined amid a pause in hostilities between the US and Iran over the weekend.Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were 1.1% higher, S&P 500 futures were up 0.9%, and Nasdaq futures were 1.4% higher.The US did not strike any Iranian targets on Saturday or Sunday after 13 consecutive nights of attacks. The US ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, told Fox News that President Donald Trump has halted the attacks for the meantime to allow more time for diplomacy. Iran said it will suspend its own attacks as long as the US does the same, Reuters reported Sunday, citing a senior Iranian official.Traders anticipate another round of earnings this week, kicked off by AstraZeneca (AZN), which posted higher Q2 core earnings and revenue.Microsoft (MSFT), Meta Platforms (META), Apple (AAPL), Amazon.com (AMZN), Lam Research (LRCX), and Arm (ARM) are set to release their financial results this week. Anticipated earnings also include Seagate Technology (STX), Qualcomm (QCOM), Procter & Gamble (PG), Visa (V), and Mastercard (MA).Traders also look forward to the Federal Reserve's policy session and rate statement, slated for Wednesday.Oil prices were lower, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude down 6.5% at $85.74 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 6.8% lower at $83.23 per barrel.The June durable goods orders report is expected to show a 1.8% increase after a decline of 4.5% in the prior month, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg. The Dallas Fed manufacturing survey for July will be released at 10:30 am ET.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAPL$AMZN$ARM$AZN$LRCX$MA$META$MSFT$PG$QCOM$STX$V
Asia Markets

US Equity Investors to Focus on Mag-7 Earnings, Fed Policy Statements This Week as Halted Iran Strikes Make Way for Diplomacy

US equity investors will focus on big-tech earnings, inflation, and the Federal Reserve policy meeting this week amid a pause in Middle East hostilities.* Four Magnificent-7 giants will be key among quarterly results due this week. Results from Microsoft (MSFT), Meta Platforms (META), Apple (AAPL), and Amazon.com (AMZN) will be closely monitored as investors look for more evidence justifying AI-related capital expenditure reportedly exceeding $800 billion this year. Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) and Tesla's (TSLA) shares slumped last week after the duo announced negative free cash flows.* Over a quarter of S&P 500 constituents have reported Q2 financial results through Friday, according to a Sunday note from DA Davidson. Earnings have increased by almost 69% year-over-year, ahead of the consensus of more than 23% as of June 30. "Most of this outperformance is being skewed by a handful of semiconductor stocks that have reported large Y/Y figures, as well as GOOGL, which reported huge growth driven primarily from investment gains in SpaceX and Anthropic," per the note.* In addition to the Fed's July policy meeting and Chair Kevin Warsh's press conference, investors will focus on macroeconomic data due this week, including the personal consumption expenditures price index, or PCE, the advance read on Q2 gross domestic product, durable goods orders, and the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment and inflation expectation prints.* US and Iran strikes have paused after nearly two weeks of nightly bombing by the American military and Iranian attacks on US allies, CNN reported Monday. Mike Waltz, the US ambassador to the United Nations, said in interviews Sunday that President Donald Trump is giving talks "some space" to develop after diplomatic efforts ramped up over the past few days.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAPL$AMZN$GOOG$GOOGL$META$MSFT$TSLA

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