Tobias

The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady, but attention focused on Fed Chair Powell’s defense of his presence at a crucial legal proceeding involving Fed Governor Lisa Cook, warning his successor against political entanglement. Meanwhile, UK PM Starmer visited China, signaling efforts to deepen ties, with early signs of cooperation. Corporate earnings from Meta, Microsoft, and Tesla showed mixed investor reactions despite exceeding expectations. The S&P 500 neared 7,000, the dollar strengthened, and gold prices hit new highs. European banks and pharma companies also reported positive results.

SAP’s stock plunged 16% as fourth-quarter cloud backlog growth of 16% missed analyst expectations. The company cited large transformational deals and legal termination clauses for the shortfall, though CEO Christian Klein remains optimistic about future revenue acceleration. Investors are also watching SAP’s response to AI’s potential impact on software development demand and its own R&D integration efforts.

Toyota solidified its position as the world’s top-selling automaker in 2025, with record sales of 10.5 million units. The company’s success, particularly in the U.S. market, was driven by strong demand for its hybrid vehicles and effective navigation of tariffs. This performance outpaced rivals Volkswagen and Hyundai, with Toyota also raising its profit forecast due to cost controls and diversified global sales.

Norway’s sovereign wealth fund achieved a record-breaking $247 billion return in 2025, reaching $21.27 trillion. Driven by strong equity performance, particularly in tech, financials, and basic materials, the fund saw a 19.3% return from its stock holdings. Fixed income, real estate, and renewable energy also contributed positively. This growth occurred despite some scrutiny over divestments.

U.S. stock futures were flat as Fed Chair Powell offered no clear policy direction. Major tech firms showed divergent fortunes: Meta’s AI bets boosted its stock, while Microsoft faced headwinds from slowing cloud growth. Tesla reported strong earnings but announced a shift away from legacy models to focus on robotics and AI, also investing in Musk’s xAI. The U.S. dollar rebounded after Treasury Secretary Bessent dismissed intervention speculation. Financial giants are backing a “Trump accounts” initiative for children.

This earnings season highlights a split in tech’s AI approach. Meta’s stock soared on strong revenue and ambitious AI infrastructure plans, assuaging investor concerns. Conversely, Microsoft faced a significant stock drop due to decelerating Azure growth and increased capital expenditures, despite a massive backlog driven by its OpenAI partnership. IBM also saw gains with its AI business doubling. However, broader software companies like ServiceNow experienced declines amidst fears of AI disrupting traditional software models.

Waymo is under NHTSA investigation after a driverless vehicle struck a child near a Santa Monica elementary school. The child sustained minor injuries. Regulators are examining the AV’s caution near schools and Waymo’s response. This incident follows recent scrutiny regarding Waymo vehicles speeding in Los Angeles and illegally passing school buses in Austin, leading to separate NTSB and NHTSA probes. These events highlight the challenges and intense oversight of autonomous vehicle deployment.

Apple’s Q1 earnings surpassed expectations with a 16% revenue increase to $143.76 billion, driven by a 23% surge in iPhone sales and strong growth in its Services segment. Greater China also showed impressive 38% growth. Despite declines in Mac and Wearables, the company anticipates continued revenue growth, supported by increased R&D spending, particularly in AI.

The U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee advanced a cryptocurrency market structure bill, granting the CFTC authority over digital commodities. This marks the first time such a comprehensive bill has cleared a Senate committee. The legislation, which passed along party lines, aims to define digital commodities and establish regulatory oversight for intermediaries, enhancing consumer protections. Further progress requires approval from the Senate Banking Committee and reconciliation of differing versions of the bill.

Apple has reportedly acquired Israeli AI startup Q.ai, signaling a strategic move into audio-focused artificial intelligence. This acquisition, led by CEO Aviad Maizels, whose previous venture PrimeSense was acquired by Apple, could enhance Apple’s existing audio features and accelerate its AI roadmap. The move aligns with investor calls for more substantial AI acquisitions and complements Apple’s ongoing development of features like “Apple Intelligence” and an enhanced Siri.