Global Business Headlines

Microsoft stock jumps after earnings beat strong cloud business

Asia-Pacific Markets Mixed as Australia’s Third-Quarter Inflation Figures Impact Investor Sentiment

Asia-Pacific markets displayed mixed reactions as Australia’s third-quarter inflation figures were released. These figures are anticipated to provide crucial insights into the monetary policy decisions of the Reserve Bank of Australia during its upcoming meeting on November 3. Despite the third quarter’s inflation rate of 5.4%, slightly exceeding the expected 5.3%, the rate was lower than the 6% recorded in the second quarter.

Notably, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index surged 2.3%, buoyed by robust performances in technology and consumer cyclical stocks. Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 in Australia experienced a 0.29% decline following the release of the CPI data, reversing gains observed on Tuesday. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 1.15%, with the Topix climbing 1.06%. Conversely, South Korea’s Kospi slipped 0.38%, while the Kosdaq fell 0.54%.

Deutsche Bank Reports Slightly Beating Expectations with Third-Quarter Net Profit Despite Year-on-Year Fall

Deutsche Bank announced a third-quarter net profit of 1.031 billion euros ($1.06 billion), slightly surpassing the anticipated figures, despite an 8% decrease compared to the previous year. Analysts had forecasted a quarterly net profit attributable to shareholders of 997 million euros. Notably, the net profit saw a 35% increase compared to the prior quarter, despite the year-on-year dip.

Microsoft’s Strong Performance: Revenue Soars 13%, Shares Surge After Reporting Better-Than-Expected Results

Microsoft’s revenue reached $56.5 billion, marking a 13% increase from the previous year and exceeding estimates by $2 billion. Profits stood at $2.99 a share, well ahead of the consensus of $2.65 a share. Of significant note, the company’s Azure cloud business experienced exceptional growth of 28% during the quarter, surpassing the company’s forecast for growth, with Microsoft Cloud revenue reaching $31.8 billion. As a result, Microsoft shares witnessed a 3.5% surge in late trading following the report.

Alphabet’s Stock Declines in After-Hours Trading Despite Surpassing Expectations

Alphabet faced a decline in its stock value during after-hours trading, despite reporting stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings. While the earnings beat market expectations, the company’s cloud computing business fell slightly below Wall Street estimates.

Alphabet reported revenue of $76.7 billion for the September quarter, representing an 11% increase from a year ago and surpassing the Wall Street consensus forecast of $76 billion. Earnings per share were recorded at $1.55, nine cents higher than the consensus at $1.46 a share.

Snap’s Revenue Beats Expectations, Warns of Potential Impact From the Ongoing Middle East Conflict

Snap reported better-than-expected revenue for the September quarter; however, the company’s shares declined following concerns over the potential impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The third-quarter report indicated a loss of 23 cents per share, slightly lower than the anticipated 24-cent loss. Revenue was reported at $1.19 billion, exceeding analysts’ expectations of $1.11 billion, while daily active users were 406 million, slightly higher than the estimated 405.8 million.

Texas Instruments Reports Earnings Below Analysts’ Expectations and Offers Weak Guidance

Texas Instruments reported earnings per share of $1.85 for the September quarter, slightly below the consensus estimate of $1.82. The company’s revenue stood at $4.53 billion, falling short of analysts’ expectations of $4.6 billion. Additionally, Texas Instruments provided a relatively weak revenue forecast range of $3.93 billion to $4.27 billion for the current quarter, below the consensus of $4.5 billion.

Apple’s Decision to Widen Repair Documentation and Tools Brings Opportunities for Non-Apple technicians.

The White House and Apple jointly announced the expansion of repair part availability and documentation for iPhone, Mac, and iPad, allowing easier repair access for non-Apple technicians.

Apple’s Vice President Brian Naumann emphasized the company’s commitment to honor California’s new repair provisions nationwide, asserting that the move would benefit consumers and businesses alike.

Notably, the decision highlights a significant shift towards broader access to repair facilities beyond Apple service centers, fostering the growth of independent repair shops and encouraging self-repair.

Dutch Lawmakers Challenge the Netherlands’ Trade Minister Over US Imposition of New Rules on ASML Holding

Several Dutch lawmakers raised concerns during a parliamentary debate about the unilateral imposition of new rules by the United States regulating the export of a chipmaking machine manufactured by ASML Holding.

Trade Minister Liesje Schreinemacher, while addressing the concerns, stated that the Cabinet did not oppose the new US regulations affecting Europe’s largest tech firm. However, she emphasized the need to address such issues through a more unified European approach.

The Internet Watch Foundation’s Report Raises Concerns About the Misuse of AI by Paedophiles

A recent report released by The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has revealed disturbing trends of paedophiles utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to create inappropriate images. The report highlights instances where images of celebrities, including well-known female singers, are reimagined as children and circulated among predators.

Moreover, the report exposes the manipulation of images of child actors to make them appear sexual. The IWF aims to raise awareness about the dangers of paedophiles utilizing AI systems to create inappropriate imagery, underscoring the need for increased vigilance and regulation.

California Orders GM Cruise to Remove Driverless Cars Citing Safety Concerns

California’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) issued an order to General Motors’ Cruise unit to remove its driverless cars from state roads, citing significant safety concerns. The DMV suspended Cruise’s autonomous vehicle deployment and driverless testing permit, temporarily halting the company’s efforts to conduct tests without safety drivers. This order marks a significant setback for GM Cruise’s autonomous vehicle program and raises critical questions about the safety of autonomous driving technologies.

Kokusai Electric’s Shares Jump 15% in Tokyo’s Biggest Initial Public Offering in Five years.

Shares in chip equipment maker Kokusai Electric surged by 15% during the company’s debut on Wednesday, marking Tokyo’s most significant initial public offering in five years. The company, which was acquired by US private equity firm KKR in 2017 as part of Hitachi’s divestment of non-core businesses, successfully raised ¥108 billion ($720 million) following the IPO.

The shares opened at ¥2,116, with investors displaying significant enthusiasm, flooding the market with buy orders within the first 26 minutes of trading. Kokusai’s successful debut highlights a broader recovery in Japan’s IPO market, with the Topix trading near a 33-year high.

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon Urges Caution in Locking in Economic Outlooks

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon warned about the dangers of rigidly adhering to a specific economic outlook, emphasizing the need for flexibility and preparedness for various scenarios. Dimon highlighted the recent track record of central banks, particularly citing the Federal Reserve’s inaccuracies over the past eight months. Speaking at the Future Investment Initiative summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Dimon urged caution in relying