Tobias

U.S. stocks rose Thursday, boosted by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing’s (TSMC) optimistic revenue forecast, offsetting concerns about escalating U.S.-China trade tensions. TSMC’s strong earnings, driven by demand for AI-related high-performance computing, benefited Nvidia and Broadcom. Starbucks also gained on positive China valuation revisions, while Salesforce surged following a bullish analyst presentation highlighting AI integration and CRM market share growth.

Ring and Flock Safety are partnering to allow Ring camera owners to voluntarily share footage with law enforcement via Flock’s software, potentially aiding criminal investigations. This integration leverages Ring’s “Community Requests” through FlockOS, enabling law enforcement to solicit video evidence from Ring users within a specified area. Participation is voluntary, with users controlling whether to share footage. While intended to improve public safety, the partnership raises privacy concerns, similar to past Ring initiatives that faced scrutiny. Flock Safety aims to expand its presence in the public safety market, emphasizing its commitment to community safety.

Apple’s Eddy Cue outlined the company’s strategy for sports rights, focusing on innovation and differentiated experiences. While interested in acquiring rights, Apple seeks opportunities to deliver something “unique and special,” aiming to disrupt traditional broadcasting models. Cue highlighted issues like blackouts and content fragmentation, referencing Apple TV+’s MLS broadcasting as an example of improvement. Apple is experimenting with broadcasting techniques, seeking a “level of differentiation” by improving video quality and exploring unconventional camera angles. The company views sports rights as a way to reshape how sports are consumed globally.

HPE shares fell 8% premarket after FY26 guidance disappointed, projecting adjusted EPS of $2.20-$2.40 versus the $2.40 consensus. Revenue growth is expected between 5%-10%, below the anticipated 17%. CEO Neri cited the Juniper Networks acquisition integration timeline, aiming for transparency. HPE focuses on networking through the Juniper acquisition and AI capabilities, targeting government and enterprise clients. The board approved an additional $3B in share buybacks, signaling confidence. A 5% workforce reduction was announced earlier. Analysts are monitoring Juniper integration and AI revenue growth.

Amid rising AI concerns, states are enacting regulations, prompting Senator Blackburn to urge federal preemption. California’s recent AI measures, including chatbot safeguards, contrast with vetoed stricter conditions. Blackburn calls for federal action, citing the inability to pass preemptive legislation on children’s online safety due to tech company resistance. She advocates for comprehensive consumer privacy, data protection against LLMs, and safeguards against unauthorized AI use of personal likeness, emphasizing adaptable regulations focused on “end-use utilizations” reflecting fast AI changes. Parental concerns over AI’s impact on children are also rising.

Salesforce projects revenue exceeding $60 billion by 2030, aiming to reassure investors amid growth concerns. This excludes the Informatica acquisition, expected to enhance data integration. While targeting over 10% organic growth, Salesforce faces skepticism due to AI code generation tools. CEO Benioff downplays AI’s imminent takeover, emphasizing human expertise. The company is focusing on its Agentforce software to automate customer service, despite slow early adoption. Partnerships with Anthropic and OpenAI aim to bolster Agentforce’s AI capabilities, showcased at Dreamforce with implementations at companies like FedEx and PepsiCo.

Arm CEO Rene Haas advocates for distributing AI workloads from cloud-based infrastructure to local devices to reduce energy consumption and improve sustainability. He highlights a shift towards hybrid computing, with AI training in the cloud and inference occurring on devices like smartphones and AR glasses. Arm’s expanded partnership with Meta aims to optimize AI efficiency across the entire compute stack, exemplified by localized speech recognition in Meta’s Ray-Ban Wayfarer glasses. This localized processing enhances responsiveness and reduces reliance on cloud servers.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent accuses China of predatory rare earth pricing, prompting consideration of industrial policy, including price floors. Major U.S. banks reported strong earnings, contrasting trade uncertainty. Despite Trump’s trade stance, markets showed resilience, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite gaining. Investors are watching upcoming tech earnings from Tesla and Intel for trade war impacts. Separately, Abu Dhabi’s MGX investments, including in crypto and TikTok, have drawn attention, particularly concerning links to the Trump family.

Europe’s AI ambitions are threatened by increasing water scarcity. Data centers, crucial for AI, consume significant water, especially in water-stressed Southern Europe where tech giants are investing heavily. Experts highlight the lack of integrated planning, prioritizing AI over sustainability. While the EU emphasizes green computing and recycling, concerns persist about the overall water footprint, including off-site energy generation. Some regions are facing tensions and enacting restrictions due to strain on resources, prompting the industry to explore sustainable innovations like non-potable water feeds and water-efficient designs.

The FCC is intensifying scrutiny of Hong Kong-based HKT Trust and HKT Ltd due to national security concerns, initiating proceedings that could block their interconnection with U.S. networks. This follows similar actions against other Chinese telecom companies. HKT’s shares declined on the news. The FCC’s action reflects growing U.S. concerns about Chinese influence and security risks, particularly for companies with ties to the Chinese government, amidst escalating trade tensions. PCCW, HKT’s parent, is majority-owned by Richard Li, placing the company at the center of US-China geopolitical rivalry.