Micron and Qualcomm reported significant gains driven by AI demand, with Micron's gross margin topping major tech companies. Meanwhile, Middle East tensions led to oil price declines as tankers exited the Strait of Hormuz, and Europe experienced a record-breaking heatwave causing widespread disruption.
Indian companies are achieving record profits, nearing 6% of GDP, but capital expenditure remains stagnant at 3.6-3.7%. This lack of investment in new assets leads to fewer jobs and exacerbates inequality, contrasting sharply with China's investment-driven growth. Leaders face a critical choice between continued scarcity or pursuing mass affluence.
Chow Tai Fook's shares rose 15% after reporting a record $1.15 billion profit, up 50% YoY, driven by higher gold prices and strong demand for design-led jewelry, with upbeat 2027 guidance.
Inditex reported record profitability for Q1 2026, with net profit up 5.4% to €1.375 billion. Revenue grew 5.8% to €8.750 billion, driven by strong collections and an integrated business model. The company plans €2.3 billion in investments for the fiscal year.
Spain's beer market is experiencing a decline in consumption, with per capita intake falling to 52.8 liters in 2024. Despite this, major brewers like Mahou San Miguel, Damm, Heineken, and Hijos de Rivera reported record combined profits of €593 million, driven by diversification and premiumization strategies.
Samsung Electronics employees in South Korea are set to receive substantial bonuses, averaging hundreds of thousands of euros, following a new collective agreement. The deal includes a 6.2% wage increase and a 10.5% profit share, averting a potential strike that could have impacted the national economy and global supply chains.
Japan's largest banks, including MUFG, SMFG, and Mizuho, reported record annual profits driven by higher lending margins and strong corporate demand. However, analysts predict growth will moderate due to rising credit costs, geopolitical risks, and easing global interest rates.
Vodafone Idea (VI) reported a record net profit of Rs 51,986 crore in the March quarter, its first profit in six years, driven by a one-time accounting gain from government AGR relief. Promoter Aditya Birla Group committed to a Rs 4,730 crore capital infusion.
While the world’s largest memory-chip makers are reaping record profits from the artificial intelligence boom, traders in Shenzhen’s Huaqiangbei electronics market are being left to deal with the fallout of a speculative frenzy that has sharply reversed, wiping out much of the value of their inventories since late 2025. “The market surge last year became so frantic that everyone from shoemakers to fishmongers piled into memory-chip speculation,” a trader surnamed Liu said from his cramped stall...
Thousands of Samsung Electronics workers protested Thursday at the company's chip complex in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, demanding higher bonuses and transparent compensation. The union, representing about 74,000 workers, rejected management's stock bonus proposal and called for removing caps on performance bonuses. The protest coincides with Samsung forecasting a record first-quarter operating profit of 57.2 trillion won, driven by AI-driven memory chip demand. The union has threatened an 18-day strike starting May 21, estimating it would cost the company over 1 trillion won per day.
South Korea's economy posted its fastest quarterly growth in 5 1/2 years at 1.7% in Q1, driven by semiconductor exports. SK hynix reported record net profit of 40.34 trillion won, up 397.6% on AI chip demand. President Lee Jae Myung met Vietnam's PM to discuss bilateral cooperation. The KOSPI opened at a record high approaching 6,500 points. The data regulator fined matchmaking firm Duo 1.2 billion won over a data leak affecting 430,000 members.
SEOUL, April 23 (Yonhap) -- SK hynix Inc. said Thursday its revenue and profits ...
SK Hynix reported record Q1 2026 results with revenue of 52.58 trillion won and operating profit of 37.61 trillion won, as AI-driven demand for high-bandwidth memory chips continues to surge. Revenue nearly tripled year-over-year, surpassing 50 trillion won for the first time, while operating margin reached an all-time high of 72%. The company dominates the HBM market with 57% share, though Samsung reclaimed the top spot in overall DRAM revenue in Q4 2025.
