The tech sector is buzzing with AI advancements and spending, as evidenced by record revenues from Apple and Meta, significant AI-driven profit boosts for SanDisk and Western Digital, and massive investments in AI infrastructure by Microsoft and Tesla despite some investor concerns and even a Google engineer's conviction for stealing AI secrets.

• California Jury Convicts Ex-Google Engineer of Stealing AI Secrets — The New York Times Business -
• Sandisk Profit, Revenue Jump on AI Demand — Wall Street Journal -
• Apple posts record $144bn in revenue after blockbuster iPhone sales — Financial Times -

• FirstFT: China iPhone sales power Apple’s ‘remarkable’ $144bn quarter — Financial Times -
• Western Digital Second-Quarter Profit Rises as AI Boosts Demand — Wall Street Journal -
• Microsoft sheds $360bn in market value as AI spending spooks investors — Financial Times -
• Opinion | The New Bipolar World of AI — Wall Street Journal -
• Tesla Profit Slumps, but Investors May Not Care — The New York Times Business -
• Microsoft Continues to Spend Big on A.I. While Profit Jumps 60% — The New York Times Business -
• Apple buys Israeli start-up Q.AI for close to $2bn in race to build AI devices — Financial Times -
• Call Screening Is Aggravating the Rich and Powerful — Wall Street Journal -
• Labour’s gamble to turn AI threat into opportunity — Financial Times -
• Waymo Robotaxi Hits Child Near Elementary School, Prompting NHTSA Investigation — Wall Street Journal -
• SAP suffers biggest fall in five years amid concerns over cloud business — Financial Times -
• SAP Shares Slump After Cloud Backlog, Guidance Disappoint — Wall Street Journal -
• Dow to Cut 4,500 Employees in AI Overhaul — Wall Street Journal -
• Meta Reports Record Sales, Massive Spending Hike on AI Buildout — Wall Street Journal -
• Microsoft Shares Dive as Data-Center Spending Overshadows Earnings Surge — Wall Street Journal -
• Want to solve deepfakes? Ask citizens what to do — Financial Times -
• Tesla scraps models in pivot to AI as annual revenue falls for first time — Financial Times -
• The A.I. Boom’s Uncertain Payoff — The New York Times Business -
• Caterpillar Sales Jump, Fueled by Power & Energy for Data Centers — Wall Street Journal -
• Tesla lurches into the Musk robotics era — Financial Times -
• Microsoft’s AI spending and disappointing cloud growth overshadow strong profits — Financial Times -
• Big tech’s $680bn buy-now-book-later problem — Financial Times -
• FirstFT: Tesla accelerates AI pivot — Financial Times -
• Nokia Reports Jump In Sales From AI And Cloud Customers — Wall Street Journal -
• Alibaba Teams Up With Zelos on $2 Billion Robovan Business — Wall Street Journal -
• Apple Supplier STMicroelectronics Flags Improving Chip Sales — Wall Street Journal -
• Top chipmakers to boost capital spending amid AI-driven supply squeeze — Financial Times -
• There might be good reasons for Britain to build data centres. Job creation isn’t one of them — Financial Times -
• How shopping chatbots might transform retail — Financial Times -
• OpenAI in talks to raise $40bn in investments from Nvidia, Amazon and Microsoft — Financial Times -
• Tesla’s Japan victory is more retail than revolution — Financial Times -
• Samsung Profit Beats as Chip Earnings Soar on Strong Demand — Wall Street Journal -

Trump's policies continue to shape global dynamics, notably through US efforts to open Venezuela's oil reserves, pressure exacerbating Cuba's oil crisis, and widening trade deficits impacting manufacturers, while EU sanctions against Iran deepen international tensions and UK-China relations show signs of warming.

• Cuba has ‘15 to 20 days’ of oil left as Donald Trump turns the screws — Financial Times -
• Venezuelan Lawmakers Approve Sweeping Overhaul of Oil Sector — The New York Times Business -
• US moves to open Venezuela’s vast crude reserves to Big Oil — Financial Times -

• Albertan separatists accused of ‘treason’ over Trump administration meetings — Financial Times -
• U.S. Trade Deficit Widens Despite Trump’s Tariffs — The New York Times Business -
• Trump says Putin has agreed to suspend attacks on Ukraine’s capital — Financial Times -
• Trump Picks New Leader for Maritime Regulator — Wall Street Journal -
• Russia’s Lukoil in Talks to Sell Some Assets to U.S. Investment Firm — The New York Times Business -
• Germany signals joint fighter project with France may not deliver jets — Financial Times -
• A rescue mission for the rules-based order — Financial Times -
• Trump officials met group pushing Alberta independence from Canada — Financial Times -
• Oil surges past $70 as US-Iran tensions rise — Financial Times -
• US to pay monthly Venezuela ‘budget’ from oil proceeds via Qatar fund — Financial Times -
• Lockheed Martin to Quadruple Thaad Missile-Defense Output — Wall Street Journal -
• U.K.’s Starmer Meets Xi Jinping in Beijing as Ties Warm — The New York Times Business -
• China rolls out the red carpet for Keir Starmer — Financial Times -
• Starmer tells Xi UK wants more ‘sophisticated’ relationship with China — Financial Times -
• Carlyle Edges Ahead in Race for Lukoil’s International Assets — Wall Street Journal -
• The ‘Little West’ takes on the new world order — Financial Times -
• EU to list Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as terrorist group — Financial Times -
• Hyundai Flags Challenges as Profit Slumps on Tariff Hit — Wall Street Journal -
• Trump’s Trade Policies Sort Manufacturers Into Winners and Losers — The New York Times Business -
• A Rug Maker Withstood One Year of Trump’s Tariffs. New Challenges Loom. — The New York Times Business -
• EU to impose new sanctions on Iran as France backs IRGC terror listing — Financial Times -
• Germany plans satellite missile detection system to cut reliance on US — Financial Times -
• Europe and the UK would lose more than the US in a trade war, research finds — Financial Times -
• Trump’s armada: the US military force assembled against Iran — Financial Times -
• Russian oil income drops sharply as sanctions bite — Financial Times -

Across various industries, companies report mixed financial results, from Visa's climbing sales driven by holiday spending and Starbucks' global expansion plans to First Brands facing liquidation and fraud charges, while Saks plans extensive store closures and **significant M&A activity is seen in the energy and aviation sectors**.

• First Brands at breaking point as it scrambles to avoid liquidation — Financial Times -
• Murdoch and News Corp Take on the West Coast with The California Post — The New York Times Business -
• Opinion | Lenders and the First Brands Fraud Charges — Wall Street Journal -

• Visa First-Quarter Sales Climbed on Strong Holiday Shopping — Wall Street Journal -
• Saks to Close Most of Its Off 5th Discount Stores as Part of Bankruptcy — Wall Street Journal -
• Auto & Transport Roundup: Market Talk — Wall Street Journal -
• Energy & Utilities Roundup: Market Talk — Wall Street Journal -
• Financial Services Roundup: Market Talk — Wall Street Journal -
• Southwest Now Charges for Seats. Next Stop: Quadrupling Profit — Wall Street Journal -
• Judge appears reluctant to intervene in dispute over Javice legal fees — Financial Times -
• Gold and silver fall from record highs in metals market whiplash — Financial Times -
• Costco Is Sued Over Preservatives in Its $5 Rotisserie Chickens — The New York Times Business -
• Adidas to Buy Back €1 Billion in Stock After Preliminary Fourth-Quarter Revenue Shows Increase — Wall Street Journal -
• First Brands founder and brother indicted on US fraud charges — Financial Times -
• Starbucks set to open thousands more coffee shops globally — Financial Times -
• Founder of First Brands, Whose Bankruptcy Spooked Wall St., Is Indicted on Fraud Charges — The New York Times Business -
• Coterra and Devon near tie-up to create $60bn US shale group — Financial Times -
• Mercedes-Benz boss says Howard Lutnick urged carmaker to move its HQ to US — Financial Times -
• Mastercard to Cut 4% of Full-Time Employees After Business Review — Wall Street Journal -
• Comcast’s Broadband Subscriber Slump Persists — Wall Street Journal -
• VSE to Acquire Precision Aviation Group for $2 Billion — Wall Street Journal -
• The Agonizing Decline of One of Europe’s Core Industries — Wall Street Journal -
• Norfolk Southern Profit, Revenue Falls — Wall Street Journal -
• International Paper Splitting in Two; Wider Quarterly Loss Posted — Wall Street Journal -
• PulteGroup Profit Sinks as Consumer Worries Hurt Homebuying Demand — Wall Street Journal -
• Altria Profit Falls as Cigarette Sales Decline — Wall Street Journal -
• Blackstone lines up ‘one of largest IPO pipelines in history’ — Financial Times -
• Royal Caribbean Profit Rises as Onboard Spending Increases — Wall Street Journal -
• Dutch Bank ING Expects Further Growth This Year and Next — Wall Street Journal -
• Honeywell Posts Higher Sales, Will Spin Off Aerospace Unit Sooner Than Expected — Wall Street Journal -
• 3i shares surge as PE group hails recovery at discount retailer Action — Financial Times -
• H&M Earnings Jump as Turnaround Plan Continues — Wall Street Journal -
• ABB Shares Climb After Record Revenue Beats Market Views — Wall Street Journal -
• Roche Forecasts 2026 Growth, Cites Drug-Pipeline Strength — Wall Street Journal -
• Remy Cointreau Shares Rise After Sales Beat Market Views — Wall Street Journal -
• Toyota Remains World’s Top-Selling Automaker — Wall Street Journal -
• EasyJet Pretax Loss Widens Despite Increase in Passenger Numbers, Revenue — Wall Street Journal -
• Sanofi to Launch $1.20 Billion Share Buyback — Wall Street Journal -
• Deutsche Bank Profit Beats Views on Lighter Costs — Wall Street Journal -
• Japan’s market moment helps Nomura turnaround — Financial Times -
• Malaysia ‘Mom-and-Pop’ Retailer Eyes $750 Million IPO Valuation — Wall Street Journal -
• Who’s the real cockroach: bankers, lawyers or private equity? — Financial Times -
• Prada cuts ties with over 200 suppliers after labour abuse audit — Financial Times -
• Sony and Singapore’s GIC to tie up to buy music rights — Financial Times -
• Fintech PicPay owned by Batista beef barons valued at $2.5bn in New York IPO — Financial Times -
• UK vehicle output hits lowest since 1950s as companies weigh defence shift — Financial Times -
• Barry Diller Told Warner Discovery He Is Interested in Buying CNN — Wall Street Journal -

Central banks are cautiously monitoring an uncertain economy, with the Fed holding interest rates steady, concerns over the dollar's global standing persist, and the UK seeks a productivity revival, all as **the S&P 500 reaches a record 7,000 points**.

• Opinion | Orbánomics Needs European Union Subsidies — Wall Street Journal -
• Why US stocks don’t care a jot about Greenland, trade wars or global aggro — Financial Times -
• The Fed Is Waiting and Watching an Uncertain Economy — The New York Times Business -

• Don’t bet on dollar dethronement — Financial Times -
• Is the UK on the cusp of a productivity revival? — Financial Times -
• Jay Powell urges Fed successor to ‘stay out of elected politics’ — Financial Times -
• Fed will be on hold until mid-year — Financial Times -
• The left-behind economy and what to do about it — Financial Times -
• Indonesian stocks tumble as Goldman warning adds to MSCI concerns — Financial Times -
• The Fed is done cutting until something changes — Financial Times -
• At World’s Busiest Port, China’s Unbalanced Economy Comes Into View — The New York Times Business -
• S&P 500 tops 7,000 for first time — Financial Times -
• How Singapore Inc became a safe place for investors — Financial Times -

Businesses are grappling with social and regulatory pressures, including protests impacting hotels amid immigration crackdowns, confusing new food stamp rules, and concerns over job cuts and workforce adjustments in response to economic shifts and AI, while the EU eyes a significant ban on 'forever chemicals'.

• Opinion | America Needs Restraint—and Facts — Wall Street Journal -
• Budget Hotels Become an Immigration Battleground for ICE Protests — The New York Times Business -
• New Food Stamp Rules Are Confusing Grocery Stores and Consumers — The New York Times Business -

• What CEOs Are—and Are Not—Saying About ICE and Minneapolis — Wall Street Journal -
• Why Some Cold States Are Making It Cheaper to Run a Heat Pump — The New York Times Business -
• U.S. Companies Are Still Slashing Jobs to Reverse Pandemic Hiring Boom — Wall Street Journal -
• Home Depot Cuts 800 Jobs, Orders Corporate Workers Back to Office Full Time — Wall Street Journal -
• US plans ICE drawdown in Minnesota after outcry over immigration raids — Financial Times -
• EU says ‘forever chemicals’ ban could save €110bn by 2050 — Financial Times -
• It’s time we had a proper debate about funding university education — Financial Times -
• India and the true cost of coal | FT Film — Financial Times -
• Companies urged to bypass ‘fit note’ system with health plans for sick staff — Financial Times -
• Immigration crackdown hits tequila sales as Hispanic consumers in US stay at home — Financial Times -
• ‘Das glut’: why Germans are handing out free potatoes — Financial Times -
• ‘I wouldn’t dare take these drugs’: how China supplies untested peptides to the west — Financial Times -
• Hedge funds pile into EU carbon permits ahead of supply squeeze — Financial Times -
• Sergey Brin Backs New California Political Effort as Threat of Wealth Tax Looms — Wall Street Journal -
• Opinion | More Teamster Job Casualties at UPS — Wall Street Journal -