FINWIRES · TerminalLIVE
FINWIRES
Microsoft

Microsoft

$MSFT
NASDAQTechnology

280 stories mentioning MicrosoftUpdated just now

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

US Markets

Equity Markets Mostly Rise Intraday as Apple Helps Lift Tech

US benchmark equity indexes were mostly higher intraday as a post-earnings rally in Apple (AAPL) shares helped lift the technology sector, while oil prices fell.The Nasdaq Composite was up 1.2% at 25,183.1 after midday Friday, while the S&P 500 rose 0.6% to 7,252.5. Both benchmarks hit new closing highs in the previous session. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was little changed at 49,661.6 intraday Friday.Among sectors, tech paced the gainers with a 1.7% jump, while energy saw the biggest drop.Apple shares were up 4%, the best performer on the Dow. Late Thursday, the tech giant logged fiscal second-quarter results above Wall Street's estimates as iPhone revenue came in stronger than expected.Apple's fiscal third-quarter revenue guidance was well above the Street's estimates despite supply constraints for Mac models that will likely continue for several months, Wedbush Securities said in a note.Several other big tech names were also advancing intraday, with Oracle (ORCL) up 7.4%, among the biggest gainers on the S&P 500. Shares of Intel (INTC), Salesforce (CRM), Microsoft (MSFT), Amazon.com (AMZN), Cisco Systems (CSCO), and IBM (IBM) were also higher.In other company news, Exxon Mobil (XOM) and Chevron (CVX) reported year-over-year declines in their first-quarter earnings amid supply disruptions due to the Middle East war, though the figures came in ahead of the Street's estimates. Exxon shares were down 1.2% intraday, while Chevron lost 1.5%, the second-worst performer on the Dow.West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell 3.1% to $101.82 per barrel, while Brent crude was down 2.1% at $108.04.US President Donald Trump said he is displeased with a new peace offer from Iran, noting that Tehran "wants to make a deal, but I'm not satisfied with it," CNBC reported Friday.Israeli strikes against the Habbouch town in southern Lebanon have killed six people, CNN reported, citing Lebanon's health ministry.US Treasury yields were lower intraday, with the 10-year rate down 1.4 basis points at 4.38% and the two-year rate losing one basis point to 3.88%.In economic news, the US manufacturing sector saw continued growth in April, though inflationary pressures intensified amid disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict, separate surveys by the Institute for Supply Management and S&P Global (SPGI) showed."The prices-paid index's steep climb to multiyear highs -- alongside the conspicuous slowdown in supplier deliveries -- signals mounting supply-chain stress and inflationary pressures driven by surging energy prices and war-related disruptions," TD Economics said in a note. "These resurgent price pressures are keeping the Federal Reserve on alert, supporting expectations that any additional monetary policy easing is unlikely in the near term."Three Fed officials who wanted language changes in the April monetary policy statement said Friday that risks to inflation and employment didn't warrant an inclusion of the so-called easing bias.On Wednesday, regional presidents Beth Hammack of Cleveland, Neel Kashkari of Minneapolis and Lorie Logan of Dallas supported the Fed's decision to keep its benchmark lending rate steady, but opposed including an easing bias in the Federal Open Market Committee statement.Gold rose 0.4% to $4,647 per troy ounce, while silver climbed 3% to $76.23 per ounce.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAPL$AMZN$CRM$CSCO$CVX$IBM$INTC$MSFT$ORCL$SPGI$XOM
Commodities

Chevron Tops Q1 Earnings Estimates on Strong Production, Refining Results, TPH Says

Chevron (CVX) reported stronger-than-expected Q1 earnings, driven by solid performance in both its oil production and refining businesses, alongside disciplined spending and higher cash returns to shareholders, TPH Energy Research analyst Jeoffrey Lambujon said in a Friday note.The company posted adjusted earnings of $1.41 per share, well above analyst expectations of $0.87 to $0.92.The upstream segment, which covers oil and gas production, delivered $4.14 billion in adjusted earnings, beating forecasts and accounting for over half of the overall earnings surprise. Results were led by international operations.Production totaled 3.86 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, broadly in line with expectations.Downstream operations, which include refining and fuels, posted a smaller loss of $470 million, also better than expected, helped by stronger US refining results. That segment accounted for roughly 40% of the total earnings beat.Capital spending came in at $4.06 billion, below analyst estimates, reflecting tighter project execution and cost control. Operating cash flow before working capital changes was $7.14 billion, slightly below some forecasts but supported by a $1 billion inflow from equity affiliate loan activity tied to the Tengizchevroil project, a joint venture project at Kazakhstan's Tengiz oil field.After adjustments, free cash flow totaled $4.13 billion for the quarter.The company returned $6.0 billion to shareholders during the period, including $2.5 billion in share buybacks and about $3.5 billion in dividends. The dividend policy remains unchanged at $1.78 per share following a roughly 4% increase announced earlier this year.Chevron kept its full-year 2026 guidance steady, with capital spending expected between $18 billion and $19 billion and production forecast at 3.98 to 4.10 million barrels of oil equivalent per day. Management said cost-reduction efforts remain on track.Looking ahead, the company highlighted continued operational momentum into the second quarter, supported by high utilization across key assets, including projects in Australia LNG, the Eastern Mediterranean, and Kazakhstan.Chevron also pointed to progress in heavy oil operations in Venezuela and a recently expanded agreement related to power infrastructure development with Microsoft (MSFT).Price: $190.69, Change: $-2.63, Percent Change: -1.36%

$CVX$MSFT
Wire

Top Midday Stories: Apple Tops Fiscal Q2 EPS, Revenue Estimates, Raises Dividend; Pentagon Strikes Deals With 7 AI Companies

All three major US stock indexes were up in late-morning trading Friday, as The Street looks to close out a tumultuous week of trading on a high note.In company news, Apple (AAPL) reported fiscal Q2 earnings late Thursday of $2.01 per diluted share, up from $1.65 a year earlier and above the FactSet consensus of $1.95. Fiscal Q2 revenue was $111.18 billion, up from $95.36 billion a year ago and above the FactSet consensus of $109.46 billion. Apple's board raised its quarterly dividend by a cent to $0.27 per share, payable May 14 to stockholders of record as of May 11. The board also authorized an additional program to repurchase up to $100 billion of common shares. Apple shares were up 4.5% around midday.The US Department of Defense said Friday it has entered into agreements with seven of the largest artificial intelligence companies to deploy their AI capabilities on its classified networks. The Pentagon said it reached deals with Alphabet's (GOOG, GOOGL) Google, Nvidia (NVDA), Microsoft (MSFT), Amazon's (AMZN) Amazon Web Services, SpaceX, OpenAI and Reflection. Alphabet's Class C and Class A shares were down 0.1% and up 0.1%, respectively. Shares of Nvidia, Microsoft and Amazon were down 0.3%, up 1.7% and up 1.7%, respectively.Exxon Mobil (XOM) reported Q1 adjusted earnings Friday of $1.16 per diluted share, down from $1.76 a year earlier but above the FactSet consensus of $0.98. First-quarter revenue and other income was $85.14 billion, up from $83.13 billion a year ago and above the FactSet consensus estimate of $81.13 billion. Exxon Mobil shares were down 0.8%.Chevron (CVX) reported Q1 adjusted earnings Friday of $1.41 per diluted share, down from $2.18 a year earlier but above the FactSet consensus of $0.97. First-quarter revenue and other income was $48.61 billion, up from $47.61 billion a year ago but below the FactSet consensus of $51.86 billion. Chevron shares were down 1.2%.SanDisk (SNDK) reported fiscal Q3 adjusted earnings late Thursday of $23.41 per diluted share, up from a loss of $0.30 a year earlier and above the FactSet consensus of $14.62. Fiscal Q3 revenue was $5.95 billion, up from $1.70 billion a year ago and above the FactSet consensus of $4.72 billion. For fiscal Q4, the company said it expects adjusted EPS of $30 to $33 on revenue of $7.75 billion to $8.25 billion. Analysts polled by FactSet expect $23.38 and $6.62 billion, respectively. SanDisk shares were down 0.5%.Price: $284.89, Change: $+13.54, Percent Change: +4.99%

$AAPL$AMZN$CVX$GOOG$GOOGL$MSFT$NVDA$SNDK$XOM
US Markets

S&P 500, Nasdaq Notch New Peaks, Log Best Month Since 2020

The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite hit new closing highs on Thursday, with the two equity indexes recording their biggest monthly gains since 2020.The S&P 500 rose 1% to 7,209, while the Nasdaq climbed 0.9% to 24,892.3, both logging record closing highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 1.6% to 49,652.1. Barring technology, all sectors were in the green, led by communication services' 4% jump.This month, the Nasdaq jumped 15.3%, logging its best monthly performance since April 2020. The S&P 500 gained 10.4%, the biggest monthly gain since November 2020. The Dow climbed 7.1%.In company news, Alphabet's (GOOG, GOOGL) first-quarter results exceeded Wall Street's estimates late Wednesday as revenue for Google's cloud and services businesses climbed. Alphabet increased its 2026 capital expenditure guidance to up to $190 billion. Shares climbed 10%.Caterpillar (CAT) surged 9.9%, the best performer on the Dow. The heavy equipment manufacturer raised its full-year sales outlook as its first-quarter results exceeded market expectations.Eli Lilly (LLY) lifted its full-year outlook, while the drugmaker reported first-quarter results above market estimates. The stock advanced 9.8%.Meta Platforms (META) shares plunged 8.6%, among the steepest declines on the S&P 500. The Facebook parent late Wednesday raised its full-year capital expenditure guidance mainly due to higher component pricing.Microsoft (MSFT) shares declined 3.9%, the second-worst performer on the Dow, as the tech giant said late Wednesday its capital expenditure will be about $190 billion in 2026. The company's aggressive capital expenditure will likely keep free cash flow under pressure in the near term, Truist Securities said in a note.Brent crude fell 3.3% at $114.09 per barrel, having topped $126 earlier in the day. West Texas Intermediate fell 1.8% to $105.01.On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve kept its benchmark lending rate steady, saying the Iran war is fueling uncertainty around the US economic outlook.The most recent policy statement had an implied easing bias, but that could soon be removed amid a growing divide among policymakers over the direction of interest rates, Stifel said in a note Thursday.US Treasury yields were lower, with the 10-year rate down 2.4 basis points at 4.41% and the two-year rate falling 7.8 basis points to 3.89%.US economic growth fell short of Wall Street's expectations in the first quarter as spending slowed amid inflationary pressures that economists said will likely keep consumers under pressure."The core of the economy remained solid in (the first quarter), driven by the (artificial intelligence) buildout and the tax cuts beginning to feed through," Oxford Economics Chief US Economist Michael Pearce said in remarks emailed to. "Those factors will continue to drive growth over the rest of the year, but the jump in energy prices will take some of the shine off what would otherwise have been a strong year for the economy."Separate official data showed that US inflation, as measured by the personal consumption expenditure price index, accelerated in March to the fastest pace since mid-2022 as the Middle East conflict sent energy prices soaring."Inflationary pressures continued to percolate," Ksenia Bushmeneva, economist at TD Economics, said in a report. "The situation around the energy crisis remains uncertain and gas prices are likely to remain elevated for some time."Gold rose 1.6% at $4,635 per troy ounce, while silver advanced 2.9% to $74.18 per ounce.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$CAT$GOOG$GOOGL$LLY$META$MSFT
International

US Equity Indexes Jump as Tech Earnings, Q1 Economic Growth Help Trigger Broad-Based Rally

US equity indexes rose in a broad-based rally as the impact of artificial intelligence showed in corporate earnings, and a preliminary Q1 economic growth estimate helped investors put ongoing geopolitical tensions on the back burner.The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 1.6% to 49,652.14, with the S&P 500 up 1% to 7,209.01 and the Nasdaq Composite higher by 0.9% to 24,892.31 on Thursday. Communication services, industrials, and utilities led the gainers, while technology emerged as the sole decliner.Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) shares jumped 10%, among the leaders on the Nasdaq, after the company late Wednesday reported Q1 earnings and revenue above market expectations. Qualcomm's (QCOM) shares soared 15%, among the top performers on the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq, after the firm posted better-than-expected fiscal Q2 adjusted earnings and sales. Caterpillar (CAT) raised its full-year sales growth outlook as Q1 results exceeded consensus. Its shares soared 9.9%, the Dow's leader.Meta Platforms' (META) shares sank 8.6%, among the worst performers on the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq, after the company overnight raised its forecast for 2026 capital expenditures, overshadowing its Q1 earnings and revenue beat.Microsoft (MSFT) said Wednesday that it expects capital expenditures of $190 billion for the 2026 calendar year, including roughly $25 billion from higher component pricing. Shares were down 3.9%, among the steepest decliners on the Nasdaq and the Dow.In economic news, gross domestic product rose by 2.0% annualized in Q1 following a 0.5% gain in Q4, according to an advance estimate of economic growth, slower than the 2.3% increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.Non-residential investment was "very strong overall, driven by investment in information processing equipment, software, and R&D, overwhelming declines in both residential and non-residential structures," Thomas Simons, Jefferies Chief US Economist, said in a note. "The impact of AI infrastructure investment is clearly evident in the data, driving growth beyond the strength of the consumer."The personal consumption expenditures price index increased by 0.7% in March, as expected, lifting the year-over-year rate to 3.5% from 2.8%. The price index increased by 0.4% month-over-month in February. The core PCE price index increased by 0.3%, as forecast, following a 0.4% gain in February. The year-over-year rate accelerated to 3.2%, in line with expectations, from 3.0% in the previous month.Initial jobless claims fell to 189,000 in the week ended April 25 from an upwardly revised 215,000 in the previous week, compared with expectations for an increase to 212,000 in a survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg. The four-week moving average declined by 3,500 to 207,500.In geopolitics, US President Donald Trump will hear about updated military options for Iran from Pentagon officials on Thursday, as a possible way of forcing Tehran into an agreement, CNN reported. Trump's current strategy is to inflict economic pain on Iran.Iran's new supreme leader gave a rare statement Thursday, vowing not to give up the country's nuclear or missile technologies and signaling Tehran would keep control of the Strait of Hormuz, Bloomberg reported. Iran will "guard" its "advanced technologies" like it does its own borders, Mojtaba Khamenei was cited as saying in a written statement. It will "secure the Persian Gulf region and dismantle the hostile enemy's exploitation of this waterway," he added, referring to the strait.Nevertheless, West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures fell 1.4% to $105.41, and Brent crude futures dropped 3.4% to $114.01.Most US Treasury yields declined, with the 10-year down 3.8 basis points to 4.38%, and the two-year slumped 5.9 basis points to 3.87%.In precious metals, gold futures climbed 1.5% to $4,629.3, and silver futures jumped 3.1% to $73.81.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$CAT$GOOG$GOOGL$META$MSFT$QCOM
US Markets

Microsoft's Aggressive Capex Plans Could Keep Free Cash Flow Under Pressure, Truist Says

Microsoft's (MSFT) aggressive capital expenditure plans to take advantage of the strong demand for artificial intelligence will likely keep free cash flow under pressure in the near term, Truist Securities said in a note.The tech giant is looking to invest about $190 billion in capex in 2026, including $25 billion from the impact of higher component pricing, Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood said on an earnings conference call late Wednesday. The company is confident about the return on its planned investments amid "higher demand signals" and growing product usage, Hood said."Capex remains a central focus, with Microsoft continuing to invest aggressively to meet AI-driven demand," Truist Managing Director Terry Tillman said in a note to clients. "The capex story is less about overspending and more about pulling forward investment to support structurally durable demand, although free cash flow will likely remain under pressure in the near term as this buildout continues."The brokerage lowered its price target on the Microsoft stock to $575 from $675 and maintained its buy rating."While we believe Microsoft's fundamentals continue to improve, we believe the stock is unlikely to fully escape broader valuation pressure, and therefore reflect a more balanced risk/reward at current levels," Tillman said.The company's shares were down 3.7% in Thursday late-afternoon trade. The stock has lost roughly 16% in value so far in 2026."Even with these additional investments and continued efforts to bring (graphics processing unit), (central processing unit), and storage capacity online faster, we expect to remain constrained at least through 2026," Hood told analysts. "Despite these constraints, and the continued need to balance incoming supply, we expect Azure growth to show modest acceleration in the second half of the calendar year, compared with the first half."Microsoft's fiscal third-quarter results topped Wall Street's views. The results surpassed expectations across revenue, operating income, and per-share earnings, reflecting "strong execution" and rising demand for the Microsoft Cloud, Hood said in a statement late Wednesday. Azure is the company's cloud-computing platform.For the ongoing quarter, Microsoft expects revenue of $86.7 billion to $87.8 billion, implying annual growth of 13% to 15%.Late Wednesday, Facebook and Instagram parent Meta Platforms (META) raised its full-year capex guidance to between $125 billion and $145 billion from its previous outlook range of $115 billion to $135 billion mainly due to higher component pricing.Price: $406.97, Change: $-17.49, Percent Change: -4.12%

$META$MSFT
Sectors

Sector Update: Tech Stocks Higher Late Afternoon

Tech stocks rose late Thursday afternoon, with the State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) gaining 0.3% and the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) advancing 4.5%.The Philadelphia Semiconductor index climbed 2%.In sector news, Anthropic is considering a new funding round that could value the company at more than $900 billion, potentially surpassing OpenAI as the world's most valuable AI startup, Bloomberg reported.In corporate news, Qualcomm's (QCOM) shares jumped 15% in Thursday trading, a day after the company posted better-than-expected fiscal Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue.Meta Platforms (META) fell past 7% after the company overnight raised its forecast for 2026 capital expenditures, overshadowing its Q1 earnings and revenue beat.Alphabet's (GOOGL) shares climbed 9% after the company overnight reported higher Q1 earnings and revenue that topped market expectations.Microsoft (MSFT) said Wednesday that it expects capital expenditures of $190 billion for the 2026 calendar year, including roughly $25 billion from higher component pricing. Its shares fell 3.8%.

$GOOGL$META$MSFT$QCOM
Wire

Market Chatter: Musk Testifies He Had No Contract for Early OpenAI Funding

Elon Musk testified that he never had a written agreement governing the terms of his early donations to Microsoft (MSFT)-backed OpenAI, telling a federal court that he relied on the company's nonprofit charter rather than a formal contract, Bloomberg reported Thursday.Musk is suing OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, alleging the company abandoned its original nonprofit mission and pivoted toward profit in partnership with Microsoft. OpenAI denies the claims and says Musk's lawsuit is intended to undercut a competitor as his own AI startup, xAI, grows.Under questioning, Musk said he did not have representatives prepare documents outlining conditions for the funds he committed when OpenAI launched in 2015, the report said. At the time, the nonprofit said Musk had pledged up to $1 billion in phased donations, and Musk now says he has contributed $38 million "in strict monetary terms," according to the report.OpenAI did not immediately respond to a request 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: $404.90, Change: $-19.56, Percent Change: -4.61%

$MSFT
Wire

HSBC Cuts Microsoft Price Target to $571 From $593

Microsoft (MSFT) has an average rating of Buy and mean price target of $562.51, 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://www..com/contact-us)Price: $403.97, Change: $-20.50, Percent Change: -4.83%

$MSFT
US Markets

Equities Rise Intraday as Traders Track Earnings Reports; Oil Prices Pull Back

US benchmark equity indexes were higher intraday as investors digested the latest batch of corporate results, while oil prices turned lower.The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 1.5% at 49,601.7 after midday Thursday, while the S&P 500 rose 0.7% to 7,187.1. The Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.5% to 24,800.9. Barring technology, all sectors were in the green, led by communication services' 3.5% jump.In company news, Caterpillar (CAT) shares surged 10% intraday, the best performer on the Dow and among the biggest gainers on the S&P 500. The heavy equipment manufacturer raised its full-year sales outlook as its first-quarter results exceeded market expectations.Eli Lilly (LLY) lifted its full-year outlook, while the drugmaker reported first-quarter results above market estimates. The stock was up 10%.Meta Platforms (META) shares plunged 9.2%, among the steepest declines on the S&P 500, as the Facebook parent raised its full-year capital expenditure guidance mainly due to higher component pricing.Microsoft (MSFT) shares were down 5.8%, the worst performer on the Dow, as the tech giant said its capital expenditures will be about $190 billion in 2026, while its fiscal third-quarter results topped market estimates.iPhone maker Apple (AAPL) is scheduled to release its quarterly earnings after the markets close.Oil prices pulled back after surging in the previous session, with Brent crude down 3.5% at $113.94 per barrel, having topped $126 earlier in the day. West Texas Intermediate fell 2.5% to $104.22.In economic news, US economic growth fell short of Wall Street's expectations in the first quarter as spending slowed amid inflationary pressures that economists said will likely keep consumers under pressure."The core of the economy remained solid in (the first quarter), driven by the (artificial intelligence) buildout and the tax cuts beginning to feed through," Oxford Economics Chief US Economist Michael Pearce said in remarks emailed to. "Those factors will continue to drive growth over the rest of the year, but the jump in energy prices will take some of the shine off what would otherwise have been a strong year for the economy."US inflation, as measured by the personal consumption expenditure price index, accelerated in March to the fastest pace since mid-2022 as the Middle East conflict sent energy prices soaring."Inflationary pressures continued to percolate," Ksenia Bushmeneva, economist at TD Economics, said in a report. "The situation around the energy crisis remains uncertain and gas prices are likely to remain elevated for some time."On Wednesday, the Fed kept its benchmark lending rate steady, saying the Iran war is fueling uncertainty around the US economic outlook.US Treasury yields were lower intraday, with the 10-year rate down 3.8 basis points at 4.40% and the two-year rate falling 6.9 basis points to 3.90%.Gold rose 1.3% at $4,620 per troy ounce, while silver advanced 2% to $73.51 per ounce.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAPL$CAT$LLY$META$MSFT
Wire

Microsoft Posts Solid Fiscal Q3 Results, But Bearish Case Focuses on High Capital Expenditures, Oppenheimer Says

Microsoft's (MSFT) fiscal Q3 results were solid, but bearish investors are focused on the company's capital expenditure guidance exceeding net income, which implies poor returns on capital spending, Oppenheimer said in a Thursday note.The downside case against the company highlights declining margins across Intelligent Cloud, the note said. The bears will highlight that overall gross margin is also under pressure due to Microsoft embedding lower-margin artificial intelligence features across its products, according to the note.The upside case for Microsoft focuses on Azure revenue growth accelerating in fiscal Q3 and Q4, even with harder year-ago comparisons, Oppenheimer noted. The bulls will highlight that the Microsoft 365 segment is also continuing growth amid AI disruption, while AI-related business is increasing in the triple-digits, according to the note.Oppenheimer maintained the company's stock rating at outperform with a price target of $515.Price: $400.70, Change: $-23.76, Percent Change: -5.60%

$MSFT
International

US Equity Indexes Rise as Communication Services Tops Sectors Amid Iran's Retaliation Warning Shots

US equity indexes rose after midday Thursday as investors weighed mega-cap corporate earnings and a warning from Iran's new supreme leader that Tehran won't give up its nuclear stockpile.The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 1.4% to 49,552.2, with the S&P 500 up 0.5% to 7,170.3. The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.1% to 24,700.5. All sectors except technology and consumer discretionary rose. Communication services, industrials, and health care led the gainers.Alphabet's (GOOG, GOOGL) shares jumped 7%, among the leaders on the Nasdaq, after the company overnight reported higher Q1 earnings and revenue that topped market expectations. Qualcomm's (QCOM) shares soared 14%, the top performer on the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq, after the company posted better-than-expected fiscal Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue late Wednesday. Caterpillar (CAT) raised its full-year sales growth outlook as Q1 results exceeded market expectations. Its shares soared 8.7%, the Dow's leader.Meta Platforms' (META) shares sank 9%, among the worst performers on the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq, after the company overnight raised its forecast for 2026 capital expenditures, overshadowing its Q1 earnings and revenue beat. Microsoft (MSFT) said Wednesday that it expects capital expenditures of $190 billion for the 2026 calendar year, including roughly $25 billion from higher component pricing. Shares were down 4.6%, among the steepest decliners on the Nasdaq and the Dow.Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump will hear about updated military options for Iran from Pentagon officials on Thursday, as a possible way of forcing Tehran into an agreement, CNN reported. Trump's current strategy is to inflict economic pain on Iran.Iran's new supreme leader gave a rare statement Thursday, vowing not to give up the country's nuclear or missile technologies and signaling Tehran would keep control of the Strait of Hormuz, Bloomberg reported. Iran will "guard" its "advanced technologies" like it does its own borders, Mojtaba Khamenei was cited as saying in a written statement. It will "secure the Persian Gulf region and dismantle the hostile enemy's exploitation of this waterway," he added, referring to the strait.West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures fell 2.2% to $104.49, and Brent crude futures dropped 3.3% to $114.09.In precious metals, gold futures climbed 1.3% to $4,621.5, and silver futures jumped 2.1% to $73.07.Most US Treasury yields dropped, with the 10-year down 1.8 basis points to 4.4% and the two-year slumped 4.3 basis points to 3.89%.In economic news, the personal consumption expenditures price index increased by 0.7% in March, as expected, lifting the year-over-year rate to 3.5% from 2.8%. The price index increased by 0.4% month-over-month in February. The core PCE price index increased by 0.3%, as expected, following a 0.4% gain in February. The year-over-year rate accelerated to 3.2% from 3.0% in the previous month.US economic growth, measured by gross domestic product, rose by 2.0% in Q1 after a 0.5% gain in Q4, slower than a 2.3% increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.US initial jobless claims fell to 189,000 in the week ended April 25 from an upwardly revised 215,000 in the previous week, compared with expectations for an increase to 212,000 in a survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg. The four-week moving average declined by 3,500 to 207,500.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$CAT$GOOG$GOOGL$META$MSFT$QCOM
Sectors

Sector Update: Tech Stocks Mixed Thursday Afternoon

Tech stocks were mixed Thursday afternoon, with the State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) decreasing 0.4% and the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) rising 3.7%.The Philadelphia Semiconductor index rose 1.6%.In sector news, Anthropic is considering a new funding round that could value the company at more than $900 billion, potentially surpassing OpenAI as the world's most valuable AI startup, Bloomberg reported.In corporate news, Meta Platforms (META) fell past 9% after the company overnight raised its forecast for 2026 capital expenditures, overshadowing its Q1 earnings and revenue beat.Alphabet's (GOOGL) shares jumped 9.5% after the company overnight reported higher Q1 earnings and revenue that topped market expectations.Microsoft (MSFT) reported fiscal Q3 adjusted EPS late Wednesday of $4.27, up from $3.54 a year ago. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expected $4.05. Its shares fell past 5%.

$GOOGL$META$MSFT
Wire

Microsoft Cements AI Leadership With Azure, Capex, Wedbush Says

Microsoft (MSFT) is cementing its AI leadership with Azure acceleration and capital expenditure guide after its Q3 results beat all key metrics, Wedbush said in a note Thursday."This was another standout quarter," the report said, pointing to triple-digit AI annual recurring revenue growth and accelerating Azure trajectory into the end of FY26.The note also said any knee-jerk reactions to the elevatedcapex framework represent "strong" buying opportunities.The company guided Q4 capex to over $40 billion, well above the $31.9 billion in Q3, and provided a CY26 capex framework of about $190 billion as it plans to double its global data center footprint within two years to meet demand, the report said.Wedbush kept its outperform rating and $575 price target.Price: $400.54, Change: $-23.93, Percent Change: -5.64%

$MSFT
Wire

Market Chatter: OpenAI, Meta Targeted in AI Child Protection Bill Backed by Senate Panel

Microsoft-backed (MSFT) OpenAI, Meta Platforms (META) and other artificial intelligence companies face a proposed legislation backed by a Senate committee that would require the companies to stop minors from using chatbots amid growing concerns about harm to children and teenagers, Bloomberg reported Thursday.The bill would mandate strict age verification and prohibit AI companions for minors, as well as ban sexually explicit content and any chatbot messages that encourage self-harm, the report added.Meta and Microsoft didn't immediately reply to' request for comments.(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: $400.03, Change: $-24.43, Percent Change: -5.76%

$META$MSFT
Wire

OpenAI, Meta Targeted as Senate Panel Backs AI Child Protection Bill, Bloomberg Reports

OpenAI, Meta Targeted as Senate Panel Backs AI Child Protection Bill, Bloomberg Reports

$META$MSFT
Wire

New Street Research Lowers Microsoft Price Target to $600 From $675, Maintains Buy Rating

Microsoft (MSFT) has an average rating of Buy and mean price target of $562.51, according to analysts polled by FactSet.Price: $403.13, Change: $-21.33, Percent Change: -5.03%

$MSFT
Asia Markets

Big Tech Earnings, Fed Rate Decision Lift US Equity Futures Pre-Bell

US equity futures were higher pre-bell Thursday as traders absorbed the latest round of financial results, including those of big tech, amid the Federal Open Market Committee maintaining its target rate.Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were 0.6% higher, S&P 500 futures were up 0.5%, and Nasdaq futures were 0.7% higher.Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL), Amazon (AMZN), and Meta Platforms (META) all reported higher earnings and revenue for Q1, while Microsoft (MSFT) posted an increase in fiscal Q3 adjusted earnings and revenue. Apple (AAPL) is expected to publish its fiscal Q2 financial results after-market.The Federal Open Market Committee maintained the target range for its federal funds rate at 3.50% to 3.75%, as expected, but the level of dissent was reportedly the highest since 1992, with four officials dissenting.Oil prices were lower, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude down 0.7% at $109.72 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 1.2% lower at $106.61 per barrel.In other world markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 1.1% lower, Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 1.3% lower, and China's Shanghai Composite finished 0.1% higher. Meanwhile, the UK's FTSE 100 was up 1.4%, and Germany's DAX index was 0.9% higher in Europe's early afternoon session.The March core personal consumption expenditures price index, the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge, released at 8:30 am ET, gained 0.3%, lower than 0.4% in the prior month and meeting estimates compiled by Bloomberg.Initial jobless claims declined to 189,000 in the week ended April 25 from an upwardly revised 215,000 level in the previous week, compared with expectations for a decrease to 212,000. Q1 GDP growth was recorded at a 2.0% annual rate, compared with expectations for 2.3%.In equities, Alphabet and Amazon shares rose 7.3% and 3.4%, respectively, after the companies reported their Q1 financial results. Eli Lilly (LLY) stock was up 6.1% after the company posted Q1 non-GAAP earnings and revenue that surpassed analysts' consensus and boosted its full-year 2026 guidance.On the losing side, Meta Platforms shares were 8.4% lower, a day after the company said it raised its 2026 capital expenses outlook and reported a decline in its daily active users on a quarter-over-quarter basis. Stellantis (STLA) stock was down 2.6% after the company reported Q1 net revenue that fell short of analysts' estimates. Microsoft shares were down 0.9% despite the company posting a fiscal Q3 adjusted earnings and revenue beat.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAPL$AMZN$GOOG$GOOGL$LLY$META$MSFT$STLA
Japan

Big Tech Earnings, Fed Rate Decision Nudge US Equity Futures Higher Pre-Bell

US equity futures were higher pre-bell Thursday as traders absorbed the latest round of financial results, including those of big tech, amid the Federal Open Market Committee maintaining its target rate.Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were 0.6% higher, S&P 500 futures were up 0.4%, and Nasdaq futures were 0.5% lower.Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL), Amazon (AMZN), and Meta Platforms (META) all reported higher earnings and revenue for Q1, while Microsoft (MSFT) posted an increase in fiscal Q3 adjusted earnings and revenue. Apple (AAPL) is expected to publish its fiscal Q2 financial results after-market.The Federal Open Market Committee maintained the target range for its federal funds rate at 3.50% to 3.75%, as expected, but the level of dissent was reportedly the highest since 1992, with four officials dissenting.Oil prices were lower, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude down 1.5% at $108.81 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 2.4% lower at $104.30 per barrel.The March core personal consumption expenditures price index, the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge, scheduled for release at 8:30 am ET, is expected to increase 0.3%, compared with the prior month's gain of 0.4%, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg.Initial jobless claims are projected to have declined to 212,000 in the week ended April 25 from 214,000 in the prior week. The advance estimate for Q1 GDP is seen coming in at 2.3%, up from 0.5% in the previous quarter.

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

Stocks Mostly Up Pre-Bell as Traders Digest Big Tech Earnings, Await Key Inflation Report

US equity markets were mostly pointing higher before the opening bell Thursday as investors digest the latest financial results from some of the biggest technology companies and await a key inflation report.The S&P 500 rose 0.1% and the Nasdaq added 0.2% in premarket activity, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.2%. The indexes finished the previous trading session mixed.Shares of Meta Platforms (META) fell 8.8% pre-bell after the Facebook parent lifted its full-year capital expenditure guidance mainly due to higher component pricing, even though it reported stronger-than-expected first-quarter results. Microsoft (MSFT) decreased 1.8% as the tech giant said its capital expenditures will be about $190 billion in 2026, while its fiscal third-quarter results topped market estimates."It's crystal clear to us that the (artificial intelligence) revolution is accelerating at a warp speed pace with 2026 being an inflection point year for AI with hyperscalers now investing over $700 billion in (capital expenditures) in (2026) to capitalize on the opportunities in the space," Wedbush Securities said in a Thursday client note.Alphabet's (GOOG, GOOGL) class A and C shares climbed more than 6% each amid upbeat first-quarter results. Amazon (AMZN) inclined 2.5% as the e-commerce giant issued a strong second-quarter revenue outlook.iPhone maker Apple (AAPL) is scheduled to release its quarterly earnings after the markets close. Eli Lilly (LLY), Mastercard (MA), Caterpillar (CAT), Merck (MRK), Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) and Hershey (HSY) are slated to announce their results before the bell, among others.The personal income and outlays report for March is due to be released at 8:30 am ET. The report includes the personal consumption expenditure core price index, the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation metric.The central bank's Federal Open Market Committee left its benchmark interest rate unchanged on Wednesday as policymakers saw the Middle East conflict fueling uncertainty around the US economic outlook. In a post-meeting press conference, Jerome Powell said he will stay on as a Fed governor for an indefinite period after his term as Fed chief expires on May 15.The US Senate Banking Committee on Wednesday voted to advance Kevin Warsh's nomination as Fed chair to the Republican-controlled Senate.Treasury yields were down in premarket action, with the two-year rate retreating 3.2 basis points to 3.9% and the 10-year rate off 1.8 basis points to 4.4%.President Donald Trump is expected to receive a briefing on fresh potential military options against Iran on Thursday, Axios reported, citing two sources with knowledge. Trump recently told the news outlet that he will maintain the US naval blockade of Iranian ports until Tehran agrees to a nuclear deal.West Texas Intermediate crude oil slipped 0.2% to $106.62 a barrel before the open, while Brent decreased 1.6% to $116.20.Thursday's economic calendar also has the initial estimate report for the first-quarter gross domestic product at 8:30 am, along with the weekly jobless claims bulletin. The Chicago purchasing managers' index for April posts at 9:45 am.Gold rose 1.8% to $4,642 per troy ounce, while bitcoin moved 0.7% higher to $75,974.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAPL$AMZN$CAT$GOOG$GOOGL$HSY$LLY$MA$META$MRK$MSFT$RCL

Showing 161-180 of 280

Track with the FINWIRES app suite

FolioX
FolioX
Track Microsoft in your portfolio
WheelAI
WheelAI
Analyze Microsoft options with the wheel strategy
StockInsider
StockInsider
See market sentiment on Microsoft