Business 29 January 2026 - 2 February 2026

BHP Group Ltd Shares Drop as Oil Shock, China Iron Ore Fight Put April Review in Focus
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BHP Group Ltd Shares Drop as Oil Shock, China Iron Ore Fight Put April Review in Focus

BHP shares fell 2.53% to A$51.23 in Sydney Monday as mining stocks dropped, with turnover at 8.7 million shares, below average. The company received US$4.3 billion from Wheaton Precious Metals in a silver streaming deal for future Antamina output. BHP reported a 22% rise in half-year profit, with copper surpassing iron ore in earnings. Iron ore sales face pressure from lower Chinese prices and shifting trade patterns.
April 6, 2026
Capgemini puts Capgemini Government Solutions up for sale after ICE row as shares rise
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Capgemini puts Capgemini Government Solutions up for sale after ICE row as shares rise

Capgemini shares rose up to 2% Monday after the company announced plans to sell its U.S. subsidiary, Capgemini Government Solutions, following criticism over a contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The unit’s December 2025 deal with ICE involved data-driven “skip tracing.” French lawmakers and unions demanded more transparency and broader action. Capgemini said legal limits on oversight prompted the sale.
February 2, 2026
India Budget 2026 gives Apple a five-year tax shield for iPhone-making machines
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India Budget 2026 gives Apple a five-year tax shield for iPhone-making machines

India’s 2026/27 budget exempts foreign firms from income tax on machinery supplied to contract manufacturers in bonded export zones for five years. The rule, aimed at easing Apple’s expansion, does not cover domestic sales, which remain subject to import duties. Apple and its suppliers have pushed for clarity amid rising iPhone production. The exemption runs through the 2030-31 tax year.
February 1, 2026
Waymo’s $16B raise plan: Alphabet backs $110B valuation as safety scrutiny returns
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Waymo’s $16B raise plan: Alphabet backs $110B valuation as safety scrutiny returns

Waymo is seeking about $16 billion in new funding, which could lift its valuation to nearly $110 billion, with Alphabet expected to provide $13 billion. The fundraising comes as U.S. regulators investigate a Waymo vehicle’s collision with a child in California. Waymo recently expanded airport service in San Francisco and launched fully autonomous rides in Miami.
February 1, 2026
Meta’s Reality Labs lost $19 billion in 2025 — what it means for Mark Zuckerberg’s metaverse reset
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Meta’s Reality Labs lost $19 billion in 2025 — what it means for Mark Zuckerberg’s metaverse reset

Meta’s Reality Labs posted a $19.2 billion operating loss for 2025, with fourth-quarter losses at $6.0 billion on $955 million in revenue. Meta expects Reality Labs’ losses in 2026 to remain at similar levels. The division cut about 10% of staff, with up to 1,000 jobs affected. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said most investment is now going toward glasses and wearables.
February 1, 2026
Verizon’s best subscriber surge in six years comes with upbeat 2026 forecast and a $25 billion buyback
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Verizon’s best subscriber surge in six years comes with upbeat 2026 forecast and a $25 billion buyback

Verizon raised its 2026 adjusted profit and free cash flow forecasts after adding 616,000 postpaid phone subscribers in the fourth quarter, its best result since 2019. The company approved a share buyback plan of up to $25 billion over three years, with at least $3 billion set for 2026. Fourth-quarter revenue reached $36.4 billion, with adjusted earnings of $1.09 per share.
January 30, 2026
Perplexity’s $750 million Microsoft Azure deal raises a question: why keep AWS too?
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Perplexity’s $750 million Microsoft Azure deal raises a question: why keep AWS too?

Perplexity signed a $750 million, three-year Azure cloud deal with Microsoft, Bloomberg reported, citing sources. Microsoft confirmed the partnership but did not disclose terms. The agreement comes as Microsoft faces investor concerns over heavy AI spending and slowing cloud growth, with shares falling sharply after earnings. Perplexity, backed by Nvidia, is also facing a lawsuit from Amazon over automated shopping tools.
January 30, 2026
Apple earnings: iPhone 17 surge lifts outlook to 16% growth as chip crunch looms
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Apple earnings: iPhone 17 surge lifts outlook to 16% growth as chip crunch looms

Apple reported $143.8 billion in revenue and $2.84 earnings per share for the holiday quarter, driven by strong iPhone 17 demand and a rebound in China. The company expects March-quarter revenue growth of 13% to 16%, above analyst forecasts, but warned of supply constraints due to chip shortages. Services revenue hit $30.01 billion, while Mac and wearables sales declined. Shares rose up to 3.5% after hours.
January 30, 2026
Apple’s second-biggest acquisition ever: Inside the near-$2 billion Q.ai deal for “silent speech” tech
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Apple’s second-biggest acquisition ever: Inside the near-$2 billion Q.ai deal for “silent speech” tech

Apple has acquired Israeli audio AI startup Q.ai in a deal valued at nearly $2 billion, according to the Financial Times. About 100 Q.ai employees, including CEO Aviad Maizels, will join Apple. Q.ai developed technology to capture whispered speech and enhance audio in difficult environments. Apple has not disclosed how it will use Q.ai’s technology.
January 29, 2026
Comcast’s broadband losses deepen again — and the company is freezing prices in 2026
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Comcast’s broadband losses deepen again — and the company is freezing prices in 2026

Comcast lost 181,000 broadband subscribers in Q4, a steeper decline than analysts expected. The company will freeze broadband prices through 2026 and offer new bundles with free mobile lines. Theme parks and Peacock drove profits above forecasts, despite widening streaming losses. Revenue reached $32.31 billion; adjusted earnings were 84 cents per share.
January 29, 2026
Musk’s next mega-merger? SpaceX talks with xAI ahead of IPO plans
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Musk’s next mega-merger? SpaceX talks with xAI ahead of IPO plans

SpaceX and xAI are in merger talks ahead of a planned IPO, with xAI shares potentially exchanged for SpaceX shares, according to a source. Nevada filings show two entities tied to SpaceX CFO Bret Johnsen were set up January 21. Some xAI executives may receive cash instead of stock. SpaceX, recently valued near $800 billion, has secured banks for an IPO possibly this year.
January 29, 2026
SAP and ServiceNow rattle Wall Street — U.S. software stocks slide on AI disruption fears
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SAP and ServiceNow rattle Wall Street — U.S. software stocks slide on AI disruption fears

U.S. software stocks fell sharply Thursday after SAP’s cloud outlook and a post-earnings plunge in ServiceNow shares. The S&P 500 Software and Services Index dropped 6.5%. SAP lost 15% in Frankfurt, erasing over 40 billion euros in value after its 2026 cloud forecast missed estimates. ServiceNow’s stock slid despite raising its 2026 subscription revenue target and announcing a $5 billion buyback.
January 29, 2026
Report: Nvidia, Microsoft and Amazon weigh up to $60 billion OpenAI investment
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Report: Nvidia, Microsoft and Amazon weigh up to $60 billion OpenAI investment

Nvidia, Microsoft, and Amazon are in talks to invest up to $60 billion in OpenAI, The Information reported. SoftBank is separately negotiating an additional $30 billion investment, according to Reuters. Microsoft shares fell 11% in early U.S. trading, while Nvidia and Amazon dropped about 1.5% each. OpenAI’s funding round could value the company at around $830 billion.
January 29, 2026
Microsoft’s $37.5B AI splurge: Azure beats, stock drops after earnings
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Microsoft’s $37.5B AI splurge: Azure beats, stock drops after earnings

Microsoft shares fell about 6.5% in after-hours trading after reporting record $37.5 billion in capital expenditures and slower cloud growth. Azure revenue rose 39%, while Microsoft 365 Copilot reached 15 million annual users. Quarterly revenue hit $81.3 billion, up 17%, with net income at $38.5 billion. CFO Amy Hood said capital spending will dip next quarter, but higher memory-chip prices may pressure margins.
January 29, 2026
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