Chinese AI model developers face a revenue gap due to open-source licensing, prompting suggestions for commercial licensing to tap into growing global adoption, especially among SMEs.
UPS reported Q2 earnings of $1.76 per share (adjusted), beating expectations, and raised its 2026 outlook to $91.2 billion in revenue and $7.22 in adjusted EPS. Despite this, shares fell 6% as the company forecast flat domestic Q3 revenue due to seasonal decline and post-Amazon operational adjustments.
X Corp. and the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) have settled a multiyear lawsuit over allegations of an illegal boycott by advertisers due to brand safety concerns on X after Elon Musk's 2022 takeover.
Cambricon aims for 13.5B yuan in 2026 revenue and 40.5B yuan by 2027, with a 20-fold increase from previous plans; grants 5M restricted shares to over 85% of its 1,107 employees.
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) reports a 35.2% drop in Q2 net profit to 37 billion won due to delayed revenue recognition from aircraft orders, despite a 41% increase in sales to 1.16 trillion won.
Microsoft's Q4 revenue exceeded expectations at $90.01 billion, driven by 18% year-over-year growth, leading to an 8% surge in shares after hours. Strong Azure performance and a $3.2 billion AI investment gain contributed to the beat.
PayPal reports Q2 earnings of $1.26 per share, below estimates, with revenue up to $8.68 billion. Strategy focuses on stablecoins, AI-driven payments, and expanded payment network capabilities.
Chinese battery giant CATL reported record second-quarter revenue of 147.79 billion yuan and net profit of 22.5 billion yuan, up 56.92% and 36.5% year-on-year respectively. However, these figures slightly missed market estimates, attributed to weakening EV demand in China. The company also announced a plan to buy back up to 40 billion yuan in shares.
Volkswagen reported a 9.5% drop in Q2 operating profit and cut its annual revenue forecast by up to 3% due to a significant sales slump in China. The German carmaker is implementing a cost-cutting program, including plans to axe up to 100,000 jobs globally, facing union opposition.
Intel reported better-than-expected second-quarter results, achieving its fastest revenue growth since 2011, driven by strong demand for AI infrastructure and its data center business. The chipmaker issued optimistic guidance, though its stock saw volatility.
IBM's market value plunged after CEO Arvind Krishna reported delayed Q2 software deals and a mainframe sales drop. Krishna asserts these are deferrals, not losses, with a third already closed. IBM also launched Lightwell, a $5B AI security initiative targeting enterprise vulnerabilities.
Jeff Bezos reportedly pushed Prime Video executives to overhaul the streaming service, codenamed "Lighthouse," by placing artificial intelligence at its core. This initiative aims to showcase Amazon's AI investments to over 200 million subscribers, potentially altering traditional revenue streams for media companies.
Google reported Q2 2026 revenue of $119.8 billion, exceeding expectations, but recorded negative free cash flow for the first time due to massive AI capital expenditures. This led to a stock drop, as investors question the scale of AI spending amidst delayed product releases and researcher resignations.
Intel exceeded Q2 earnings and revenue expectations, reporting its fastest revenue growth since 2011, driven by AI infrastructure demand and server processor sales. The company also issued optimistic Q3 guidance, despite a recent stock slump.
US Democrats, led by Reps. Khanna, Suozzi, and Dingell, introduced a bill to create an Industrial Bank for American Manufacturing. Funded by up to $15bn annually from China tariffs, it aims to revitalize domestic manufacturing, particularly in de-industrialized areas, supporting small and medium-sized businesses.
Alphabet's AI spending plans and Tesla's earnings miss pressure stock futures, while oil prices rise on Iran tensions. ServiceNow and Honeywell show strength, but IBM and Dover face challenges. Eli Lilly plans a 2027 filing for a new obesity drug.
MMK Group reported a net loss of 19.1 bln rubles ($244.3 mln) in H1 2026, down from a profit a year prior, as revenue fell 10% due to lower selling prices. Q2 2026 saw revenue increase by 18.8% quarter-on-quarter due to seasonal demand recovery.
Portugal's Football Federation (FPF) faces a significant commercial and visibility crisis once Cristiano Ronaldo retires from international football, a marketing expert warns. The FPF risks losing millions in revenue and global attention if it fails to prepare for life after its greatest-ever player, who has been the driving force behind its commercial success for over two decades.
Shares of European defense companies Thales, Indra Group, and Dassault Aviation jumped significantly after reporting robust half-year revenues and swelling order books, driven by increased defense spending amid geopolitical uncertainty and NATO targets.
French energy company TotalEnergies saw its liquefied natural gas (LNG) sales volume increase by 9% in the first half of the year, reaching 23.1 million metric tons. However, revenue from these sales declined by 9% to $2.125 billion, with Q2 sales significantly lower than Q1.
Alphabet reported record Q2 revenue of $119.8 billion, a 24% increase, driven by strong AI product adoption across Search, YouTube, and Google Cloud. The Gemini app reached 950 million users, and Search AI Mode surpassed 1 billion monthly users, showcasing AI's central role in Google's business.
Alphabet reported double-digit revenue growth and beat Wall Street's Q2 expectations, marking its 12th consecutive quarter of gains. The tech giant increased its capital expenditure forecast to $200bn, driven by massive AI investments, while facing intense competition from rivals like OpenAI and Anthropic.
Tesla reported Q2 financial results with total revenues up 26% to $28.2 billion, but operating expenses surged 47%, causing profit margins to drop to 1.4% and net income to fall 5%. Heavy spending on AI and robotaxis contributed to negative free cash flow.
Tesla reported a Q2 net income of $1.11 billion, down from last year, as increased R&D spending cut into profits despite a 26% revenue surge to $28.24 billion and a 25% increase in vehicle deliveries, which beat analyst forecasts.
