North America:

  • UnitedHealth Group announces mixed Q4 results, surpasses earnings expectations, falls short on revenue, but maintains a positive 2025 outlook and calls for US healthcare reform.
  • Apple engages in talks with Barclays and Synchrony Financial for a new credit card partnership, slips to third in China’s smartphone market, opens a store in Anhui, and faces a TikTok ban in the US.
  • Morgan Stanley‘s Q4 earnings beat expectations thanks to strong dealmaking and stock sales, leading to a profit increase and a share price rise in premarket trading.
  • Google, under Alphabet Inc., invests in environmental projects in India, enhances its Gemini chatbot with AP news, and plans to introduce Google Pay in Saudi Arabia by 2025.
  • Bank of America reports a strong Q4 with earnings driven by trading and investment banking, boasting a $25.35 billion revenue.
  • Wells Fargo faces fines for a fake accounts scandal, reveals mixed Q4 results, and predicts net interest income growth by 2025 amid a financial sector rise.
  • NVIDIA is highlighted by Oppenheimer as a top semiconductor pick for 2025, while industry leaders discuss the evolving AI market, emphasizing Nvidia and Microsoft’s roles.
  • Meta Platforms sees insider trading as Mark Zuckerberg sells over $24 million in shares, with the tech sector surging after inflation data release.
  • Universal Music Group prepares for a US share offering and secondary listing, involving shares owned by Pershing Square, while facing a legal challenge from artist Drake.
  • QXO, Inc. sees initial share rise after an $11 billion buyout offer from Beacon Roofing Supply, which was later rejected.

Europe and Asia:

  • BP announces job cuts totaling 7,700 to improve efficiency and investor confidence.
  • Compagnie Financière Richemont experiences a surge in European luxury stocks after a record-breaking Q3, with sales reaching €6.2 billion.
  • Rio Tinto‘s 2024 production results show a slight decrease in iron ore but increases in copper, bauxite, and aluminum, with progress on major projects.
  • Kering sells 60% of its Paris property portfolio to Ardian for €837 million, creating a joint venture.
  • Volkswagen attracts interest from Chinese buyers for its German factories and focuses on renewable energy investments for powering electric vehicles.
  • Renault reports a 1.3% rise in global vehicle sales, driven by hybrids, and plans to expand its electric vehicle lineup with Dacia.
  • Stellantis experiences a 9% drop in vehicle shipments in Q4 2024, mainly due to North American inventory reductions.
  • TotalEnergies expects a slight increase in Q4 hydrocarbon production but predicts weak refining margins and oil prices will impact financials.
  • Eni, through Plenitude, acquires a 49% stake in a US solar portfolio and discusses building a new LNG terminal in Egypt with the government.
  • TSMC reports a record 57% increase in Q4 net income and remains optimistic for early 2025 revenue, despite US export controls on AI chips to China.
  • Samsung Electronics sees South Korean shares rise, announces developments in wearable robotics, strategic mergers, and a partnership with IBM for the UK’s Emergency Services Network.
  • ADNOC Gas implements carbon capture technology in the UAE and pauses trading on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange after price-sensitive information disclosure.
  • Toyota Motor‘s subsidiary Hino Motors will pay fines for emissions data falsification, while Toyota Europe enjoys a 4% sales increase.
  • KKR considers investing in Seven & i Holdings to support a management buyout proposal by the founding family.
  • BHP Group completes the acquisition of Filo Mining, owner of the Filo del Sol copper project in Argentina and Chile.
  • Accenture forms a seven-year joint venture with Telstra for data and AI and announces a digital transformation partnership with Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance.
  • Intuitive Surgical sees healthcare stocks rise after the US restricts biotech exports to China.
  • Xiaomi launches flagship smartphones in South Korea amid EU privacy complaints against Chinese companies over data transfers.
  • Infosys reports a rise in Q3 earnings, increases revenue, and raises its annual revenue forecast for the third time due to demand from US banking and retail clients.
  • OCBC buys SG$5.9 million worth of shares for employee share schemes.