North America:

  • General Motors announced over $5 billion in charges due to the depreciation of investments in Chinese joint ventures and restructuring efforts.
  • Okta's shares surged 14% following an upward revision of its annual profit and revenue forecasts.
  • Pure Storage's stock soared after exceeding third-quarter expectations and raising its annual revenue outlook.
  • Marvell Technology and Salesforce both experienced increase in their stock prices after surpassing third-quarter forecasts and revising their revenue projections upwards.
  • Amazon has launched a suite of AI foundation models called Amazon Nova to enhance text, image, and video processing, while expanding its AI capabilities through partnerships and new
  • features in Amazon Web Services, amidst facing a lawsuit by the DC Attorney General for alleged delivery exclusions.
  • Salesforce's fiscal third-quarter results exceeded expectations with increased revenue and EPS, driven by strong sales in subscription, support, and AI tools, leading to an upward revision of their full-year revenue and EPS forecasts.
  • BlackRock is acquiring private credit firm HPS Investment Partners for $12 billion in an all-stock deal, amidst a backdrop of declining financial sector stocks and pressure on US energy regulators to clarify large fund firms' corporate ownership roles, while also anticipating AI to boost US stocks by 2025 despite concerns over US debt.
  • Microsoft is embroiled in a UK lawsuit over alleged overcharging for cloud services amid broader tech sector movements, including a surge in AI-driven stock values and organizational shifts in AI companies, while maintaining its quarterly dividend and implementing Windows 11 on ATMs.
  • UnitedHealth Group projects its 2025 revenue to be between $450 billion and $455 billion and adjusted net earnings per share between $29.50 and $30, slightly above consensus, despite anticipating higher medical costs and amidst the unexpected death of CEO Brian Thompson, who was shot and killed in New York City.
  • Intel's CEO Pat Gelsinger has retired with no clear successor, though the company is considering Marvell Technology CEO Matt Murphy for the role, amidst escalating US-China trade tensions affecting the chip industry and fluctuating stock performances, including a decline in midday trading but a rise in tech stocks by late afternoon.
  • Foot Locker reported lower-than-expected Q3 earnings and revenue, leading to a downward revision of its 2024 EPS outlook and an 18% drop in stock price, despite plans to expand Nike-backed basketball sections in 100 stores by 2026.
  • General Motors anticipates over $5 billion in impairment charges and writedowns from its China operations and joint venture with SAIC Motor, alongside reporting equity losses and selling a stake in the Ultium Cells plant, amidst expanding their EV charging network with EVgo.
  • Campbell's Co. reported a decrease in adjusted EPS and a miss in Q1 revenue estimates, while naming insider Mick Beekhuizen as CEO and reaffirming its FY 2025 growth guidance.

Europe and Asia:

  • Rio Tinto, a global mining leader, is expanding through increased capital expenditures, strategic joint ventures like the Winu copper-gold project with Sumitomo Metal Mining, and innovative low-carbon projects, while facing pressure from Palliser Capital to unify its dual-listed structure to enhance shareholder value.
  • Stellantis, amidst CEO Carlos Tavares' ousting due to board conflicts, denies reports of appointing Apple's Luca Maestri as the new CEO, while expressing confidence in their 2025 dividend prospects and discussing potential buybacks.
  • Amid financial struggles and labor disputes at Volkswagen, heightened by competitive pressures and high labor costs, the German government supports Northvolt's battery factory construction, while the auto industry seeks improved conditions for electric mobility growth.
  • TotalEnergies has acquired the VSB Group for approximately 1.57 billion euros, while also selling 50% of its solar projects in Texas for 800 million dollars, and Apollo Funds has purchased a 50% stake in a Texas energy storage portfolio.
  • UniCredit is expanding its partnership with Blackstone to offer private equity funds to wealthy clients, extending its wealth management services, and is involved in various significant financial activities including leading a bank pool for a major loan and considering a substantial acquisition offer for Banco BPM, potentially influenced by external factors like government intervention and decisions from other major banks.
  • Barclays has agreed to pay $19.5 million to settle a U.S. securities fraud lawsuit related to improper debt sales, while Revolut's CEO Nik Storonsky criticizes the UK's listing environment as irrational due to illiquidity and high costs, amidst concerns of an overheating real estate market in Singapore.
  • Pernod Ricard's internal investigation revealed that top executives in its Indian unit colluded with retailers, violating excise policies and contradicting previous public denials.
  • Nokia and Kyndryl have expanded their partnership to enhance data center networking solutions, including equipping Ooredoo Oman with a nationwide network to support data centers and AI-driven applications.
  • AB Hexagon is poised for strong performance with Björn Rosengren set to become CEO in 2026, succeeding Ola Rollén, while Volvo Cars reports a 5% increase in global sales for November.
  • AstraZeneca has named Iskra Reic as the new Executive Vice President for international business, based in Shanghai, replacing Leon Wang who is currently under investigation in China.
  • BYD faces anticipated challenges entering the South Korean market despite a 51% surge in China's new energy passenger vehicle sales in November.
  • Seven & i Holdings Co. is planning a $60 billion management buyout that includes spinning off its North American convenience stores and gas station business, as well as incorporating an IPO.
  • Bank of China Limited China's major banks are poised to meet upcoming global financial safety standards by 2025 and 2028, while Nauru negotiates with Australia and China for economic and migration agreements amidst a struggle for influence in the Pacific.
  • Bharti Airtel has signed a multi-billion dollar deal with Ericsson to extend their partnership in providing 4G and 5G RAN products and solutions for multiple years.
  • Saudi Arabian Oil (Saudi Aramco), Linde, and SLB have signed a shareholders' agreement to construct one of the world's largest carbon capture and storage hubs in Jubail, Saudi Arabia.
  • ANZ Group Holdings is being investigated by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission for alleged illegal trading in government bonds and providing inaccurate bond turnover data, alongside facing other accusations of misconduct.
  • Exxon Mobil is contemplating the sale of its Singapore gas stations in an effort to generate approximately $1 billion.