E-commerce 30 January 2026 - 9 March 2026

Visa Inc launches AI payment tool as stablecoins and AI shopping reshape checkout
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Visa Inc launches AI payment tool as stablecoins and AI shopping reshape checkout

Visa launched a new payment-processing service on March 9, offering real-time machine learning analysis and 99.999% uptime, according to company data. The firm is integrating stablecoins into its systems, reporting a $4.5 billion annualized run rate, and expanding stablecoin-linked cards to over 100 countries by year-end. Visa’s first-quarter revenue rose to $10.9 billion as payment volume increased 8%. Stablecoin use at ordinary merchants remains limited.
March 10, 2026
Costco Holds Off on Special Dividend as Digital Personalization Adds $470 Million in E-Commerce Sales
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Costco Holds Off on Special Dividend as Digital Personalization Adds $470 Million in E-Commerce Sales

Costco reported quarterly net sales up 9.1% to $68.24 billion and net income of $2.04 billion, but CFO Gary Millerchip said there are no plans for a new special dividend. Digitally enabled sales jumped 22.6%, with e-commerce product recommendations generating over $470 million. Paid memberships reached 82.1 million. The company ended the quarter with $17.38 billion in cash.
March 9, 2026
Shopify rolls out POS Hub and faster checkout tools as SHOP shares climb
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Shopify rolls out POS Hub and faster checkout tools as SHOP shares climb

Shopify unveiled a redesigned POS system and new POS Hub hardware for in-store checkouts, adding inventory transfer reports and stricter staff access to customer data. Shares rose about 3% in New York on Thursday, after a 6% jump in Toronto on Wednesday. The POS Hub connects tablets to checkout hardware via USB, replacing Bluetooth. Updates follow Shopify’s recent upbeat revenue outlook and $2 billion buyback plan.
March 5, 2026
JD.com earnings miss: China e-commerce giant slips to Q4 loss as price war bites
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JD.com earnings miss: China e-commerce giant slips to Q4 loss as price war bites

JD.com reported fourth-quarter revenue of 352.3 billion yuan ($51.12 billion), up 1.5% but below analyst expectations, and posted a net loss of 2.7 billion yuan versus a 9.9 billion yuan profit a year earlier. Service revenue rose 20.1% while product revenue fell 2.8%. The board approved an annual cash dividend and reaffirmed its share repurchase plan. Marketing expenses jumped 50.6% as the company invested in new initiatives.
March 5, 2026
Affirm shares climb after Stripe adds its buy-now-pay-later option to AI checkout tokens
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Affirm shares climb after Stripe adds its buy-now-pay-later option to AI checkout tokens

Affirm said it will support Stripe’s Shared Payment Tokens, allowing AI shopping agents to offer Affirm’s pay-over-time plans at checkout. Stripe said the system lets agents initiate payments with shopper permission without exposing sensitive credentials. Affirm shares rose about 6% in premarket U.S. trading. The feature will roll out to Stripe’s direct merchants first, then more broadly later this year.
March 5, 2026
MercadoLibre (MELI) stock tumbles after earnings: shipping and credit spend back in the spotlight
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MercadoLibre (MELI) stock tumbles after earnings: shipping and credit spend back in the spotlight

MercadoLibre shares fell 6.7% to $1,767.71 in after-hours trading Wednesday after missing quarterly profit estimates. Net income for the fourth quarter came in at $559 million, below the $587 million expected, while margins narrowed to 10.1% from 13.5% a year earlier. Investors cited higher spending on logistics, credit, and free shipping as key concerns.
February 25, 2026
Etsy stock holds Friday surge before open as Depop exit and tariff jitters hang over markets
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Etsy stock holds Friday surge before open as Depop exit and tariff jitters hang over markets

Etsy shares were flat in premarket trading Monday at $52.18 after an 8.4% jump Friday, as investors weighed the $1.2 billion Depop sale to eBay and a softer first-quarter outlook. U.S. index futures slipped amid tariff uncertainty following a Supreme Court ruling and new global levies. Etsy reported $881.6 million in quarterly revenue and guided Q1 gross merchandise sales to $2.38–$2.43 billion.
February 23, 2026
eBay stock jumps after $1.2 billion Depop deal and upbeat forecast lifts EBAY shares
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eBay stock jumps after $1.2 billion Depop deal and upbeat forecast lifts EBAY shares

eBay shares rose 4.6% to $85.99 after announcing a $1.2 billion cash deal to acquire Depop and raising its outlook. The company reported fourth-quarter revenue up 15% to $3.0 billion, lifted its dividend, and expanded its buyback program. Etsy, which is selling Depop, gained 9.7%. Investors await eBay’s management call for more details on the deal and 2026 demand.
February 19, 2026
Shopify stock price in focus as buyback nears and AI “shopping agents” debate drags on
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Shopify stock price in focus as buyback nears and AI “shopping agents” debate drags on

U.S. markets were closed Monday for Washington’s Birthday; trading resumes Tuesday. Shopify’s $2 billion share buyback begins Feb. 17, following a 1.84% gain Friday to $112.70 after earnings. Fourth-quarter revenue rose 31% to $3.672 billion, with $715 million in free cash flow. Analysts remain split on whether AI “shopping agents” threaten Shopify’s business model.
February 17, 2026
Amazon stock slips again as AMZN trades near $198 with AI spending doubts still in the mix
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Amazon stock slips again as AMZN trades near $198 with AI spending doubts still in the mix

Amazon shares fell 0.7% to $198.17 Friday, extending an eight-session slide and pushing the stock over 20% below its recent high. Italian tax police searched Amazon’s Milan offices in a new tax evasion probe, which the company called “aggressive.” Amazon plans $200 billion in 2026 capex, raising investor concerns about cash flow and AI returns. Peers traded mixed as Wall Street indexes opened flat.
February 13, 2026
Shopify stock price jumps 8% after MoffettNathanson upgrade, with earnings next
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Shopify stock price jumps 8% after MoffettNathanson upgrade, with earnings next

Shopify shares jumped 8.5% to $128.46 in U.S. trading Tuesday after MoffettNathanson upgraded the stock and raised its price target to $150. The move comes ahead of Shopify’s fourth-quarter results, due before markets open Wednesday. In Toronto, shares rose about 6%. Investors remain cautious amid volatile software sentiment and a busy U.S. data week.
February 10, 2026
Germany just told Amazon to stop policing seller prices — and pay back €59 million
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Germany just told Amazon to stop policing seller prices — and pay back €59 million

Germany’s cartel office blocked Amazon from enforcing price caps on marketplace sellers and ordered the company to repay €59 million, citing abuse of market dominance. Amazon will appeal and says its German store will remain open. The watchdog used new 2023 powers and signaled more scrutiny for other platforms. About 60% of amazon.de sales come from independent sellers.
February 5, 2026
Spotify Adds Bookshop.org to Sell Physical Books in-App as “Page Match” Syncs Print and Audio
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Spotify Adds Bookshop.org to Sell Physical Books in-App as “Page Match” Syncs Print and Audio

Spotify will let users in the US and UK buy physical books through its app via Bookshop.org later this spring. The company is also launching Page Match, a feature that syncs print or e-book pages to the exact spot in an audiobook. Bookshop.org will handle pricing and shipping. Spotify plans to roll out Page Match to all audiobook users by February 23.
February 5, 2026
China hits Kuaishou e-commerce unit Kuaigou with $3.8 million fine over “illegal acts”
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China hits Kuaishou e-commerce unit Kuaigou with $3.8 million fine over “illegal acts”

China’s market regulator fined Kuaigou, Kuaishou’s e-commerce arm, 26.7 million yuan ($3.84 million) for violations including unreasonable fees, poor consumer protections, and failure to curb counterfeit goods. The penalty follows a September investigation into illegal ads and misleading marketing. Kuaigou said it accepts the decision and will improve compliance.
January 30, 2026