Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) – Meta Platforms
disclosed details on Wednesday about its upcoming generation of
internal AI accelerator chip, named Artemis, aiming to lessen its
dependence on Nvidia’s AI chips and energy costs. The MTIA chip
delivers thrice the performance of its preceding generation.
Furthermore, Instagram intends to trial features to blur messages
containing nudity, aiming to safeguard teenagers and prevent scams.
Under scrutiny for mental health issues, the company will employ
machine learning to analyze images directly on the devices of users
under 18, with plans to introduce encryption and anti-scam
technology. In other news, companies reliant on advertising on
Facebook and Instagram are encountering significant challenges. The
costs have escalated, outcomes are uncertain, and sales have
plummeted, without a formal explanation from Meta Platforms. This
is prompting marketers to seek alternatives.
Costco (NASDAQ:COST) – Costco’s sales increased
by 9.4% up to April 7, fueled by e-commerce. The total sales hit
$23.5 billion, with a 28.3% surge in online sales. The quarterly
dividends rose to $1.16 per share, reflecting an increase of nearly
14%. Analysts estimate that the company could sell up to $200
million in gold and silver per month, but Costco made no mention of
these sales in its latest monthly report.
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) – The U.S. Department of
Justice’s lawsuit against Apple, accusing it of monopolizing the
smartphone market, has been transferred to District Judge Julien
Neals, after another judge recused himself due to potential
conflicts of interest. Apple denied the charges, describing the
lawsuit as a threat to its competitive principles. In other news,
employees at Apple’s store in Short Hills, New Jersey, sought union
representation, following a national trend of unionization. Apple
stated it offers competitive compensation and benefits, while
previous instances of unionization were observed.
Foxconn (USOTC:FXCOF) – Foxconn, a supplier to
Apple, plans to implement a rotating CEO system to promote future
talent and strengthen corporate governance, according to Reuters.
This unusual global measure could foster teamwork and prevent
leadership concentration, driving the next generation of
talents.
Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) – Amazon Web Services, the
global leader in cloud services, was ordered by a federal jury in
Illinois to pay $525 million to Kove for patent infringement in
data storage technology. AWS plans to appeal, while Kove emphasizes
the importance of protecting the intellectual property of startups
against tech giants. In other news, Amazon.com will no longer pay
developers to create apps for Alexa, removing a crucial aspect of
its strategy to build a thriving app store for its voice-activated
digital assistant. The company expressed gratitude to developers
and highlighted the continuation of monetization through in-app
purchases.
Adobe (NASDAQ:ADBE) – Adobe is expanding its AI
capabilities to video, acquiring videos from its creative network
for up to $120 each. The payment for submission averages about
$2.62 per minute of video submitted, though it can reach about
$7.25 per minute, according to Bloomberg. This follows OpenAI
demonstrating similar technology. The company aims to train its AI
to generate video content, seeking to compete with new
advancements.
Paramount Global (NASDAQ:PARA) – Four board
members of Paramount Global, including former executives from
Spotify (NYSE:SPOT) and Sony
Entertainment (NYSE:SONY), are set to resign soon as the
company discusses a merger with Skydance Media, according to the
Wall Street Journal.
Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) – Vietnam ordered Netflix
to stop advertising and distributing its games in the country by
April 25, due to the lack of a gaming service license. The
streaming platform was instructed to adhere to local online gaming
regulations.
Roblox (NYSE:RBLX) – Roblox, a gaming platform,
is looking to increase its revenues through video ads. For this, it
hired PubMatic, a company specializing in advertising technology.
These video ads will be incorporated into games, allowing the
creators of these games to share the revenue generated from the
ads. Well-known brands such as Adidas, Nike, and Lamborghini are
seizing this opportunity to engage with players within Roblox’s
virtual world.
Uber Technologies (NYSE:UBER) – Uber
Technologies announced on Wednesday an increase in safety features
for passengers worldwide, including the option for encrypted audio
recordings and PIN verification during rides, aimed at nighttime
safety, especially for women. These features are already available
in the USA, Canada, and Latin America.
Nike (NYSE:NKE) – Nike is set to launch new
kits for Olympic teams, reinforcing its position as an athletic
performance brand. Following weak sales, the Paris Games offer a
chance to showcase high-performance products, including running
shoes like the Alphafly 3, amid increasing competition.
Macy’s (NYSE:M) – Macy’s completed a board
election process, accepting two nominees from Arkhouse Management.
They continue to discuss a revised acquisition offer with Arkhouse
and Brigade Capital Management.
Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) – Starbucks is
investing in quieter spaces in its stores to improve communication
and customer experience, with acoustic treatments like ceiling
baffles. This change is part of its global expansion, including
adding more stores and focusing on drive-thrus and operational
efficiency.
Rent the Runway (NASDAQ:RENT) – Rent the Runway
reported a net loss of $24.8 million, or $7.02 per share, for the
fourth quarter, compared to $26.2 million, or $8.07 per share, in
the same quarter last year. Revenue increased by 0.5% year over
year, to $75.8 million. The total number of subscribers rose by 1%
to 173,247, while the most engaged active subscribers decreased by
1% to 125,954. Rent the Runway expects to achieve cash flow
breakeven this year, despite forecasting sales growth below
expectations. In Thursday’s pre-market, shares were up 37%.
General Electric (NYSE:GE) – John Slattery, the
commercial director of GE Aerospace, will leave his position in
June, remaining as an advisor. Slattery previously led Embraer and
joined GE in 2020. Succeeded by Larry Culp in 2022, he focused on
strategy after GE split into three companies, concluding his long
tenure at GE.
US Steel (NYSE:X) – The U.S. Department of
Justice launched an antitrust investigation into the $14.1 billion
acquisition of US Steel by Nippon Steel. The deal faces legislative
scrutiny and national security concerns, with President Biden
advocating for keeping US Steel as an American company.
UBS Group AG (NYSE:UBS) – The Swiss government
plans to impose stricter capital requirements on UBS and other
systemically important banks, in response to the Credit Suisse
collapse. The aim is to prevent similar crises. Although the
proposed measures seek to enhance stability, the precise impact and
implementation remain uncertain. The bank hopes to influence the
political process for less stringent terms.
Barclays (NYSE:BCS) – Barclays revised its
projection for the U.S. Federal Reserve, now anticipating a single
25 basis-point cut in 2024, after positive CPI data. The company
expects rates between 5.00% and 5.25% at the end of 2024 and
between 4.00% and 4.25% by the end of 2025.
Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) – Goldman Sachs
upgraded its annual economic growth forecasts for China for the
first quarter and the entire year of 2024, driven by the country’s
industrial robustness. The annual GDP forecast for China was raised
to 5.0%, while the first-quarter forecast was also adjusted to
5.0%.
KKR and Company (NYSE:KKR) – On Wednesday, KKR
outlined a strategy to expand access to alternative investments for
wealthy investors. The K series offers direct access to areas like
private equity and real estate. The company seeks partnerships with
financial advisors and asset platforms to facilitate this
expansion.
AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) – AstraZeneca plans to
increase its annual dividend by 7% by 2024, maintaining its
progressive dividend policy. Meanwhile, shareholders will vote on a
potential increase in CEO Pascal Soriot’s pay package. Analysts
consider this move an attempt to balance diverging interests.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:REGN) – The
U.S. Department of Justice accused Regeneron Pharmaceuticals of
manipulating Medicare drug prices by concealing payments intended
to subsidize purchases of Eylea. The expensive FDA-approved drug
has generated over $25 billion in Medicare expenses.
Regeneron denies the charges.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX) – Vertex
Pharmaceuticals agreed to acquire Alpine Immune
Sciences (NASDAQ:ALPN) for approximately $4.9 billion in
cash, targeting autoimmune kidney disease treatment. The deal,
valuing each Alpine share at $65, represents a 67% premium. The
transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2024.
Alpine shares were up 36.12% in Thursday’s pre-market. Vera
Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VERA), whose main drug in development
shares similarities with Alpine Immune’s, saw a 13.4% increase.
Ford Motor (NYSE:F) – The U.S. National
Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced an investigation into
a fatal accident involving a Ford Mustang Mach-E and two cars on
the I-95 highway in Philadelphia on March 3. The NTSB previously
investigated a similar incident in San Antonio, Texas, involving
the Mustang Mach-E.
Toyota Motor (NYSE:TM) – Toyota is injecting
$300 million into its venture capital arm to support
climate-focused startups and frontier technologies like carbon
capture, AI, and space commercialization. This expansion raises
Toyota Ventures’ assets under management to over $800 million. Jim
Adler, managing partner at Toyota Ventures, emphasizes the
importance of taking risks to keep pace with changing global
dynamics and highlights past successes, such as the investment in
Joby Aviation Inc. The new funds will be evenly split between
Toyota Ventures’ second climate fund and its second deep tech fund,
focusing on large-scale scientific startups. Additionally, mid-size
SUVs maintain a strong presence in the U.S., with ample space and
seating for up to eight people. Toyota is preparing to revitalize
its 4Runner, while competitors like Hyundai and Jeep advance.
Challenges include intense competition and shifting consumer
preferences.
Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV) – A Southwest
Airlines Boeing 737-800 lost an engine cover during takeoff in
Denver due to maintenance issues. The NTSB did not open a formal
investigation as Southwest is addressing the issue. The FAA is
investigating, while Boeing directed inquiries to the airline.
Carnival (NYSE:CCL) – Carnival is selling its
Miami headquarters, planning to profit from real estate it has
owned for decades. The company intends to downsize to about 300,000
square feet of office space in the Miami area and remain in its
current Doral headquarters for two years while exploring options
for new facilities. The sale reflects a broader trend of
reevaluating post-pandemic office space needs.
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