Finance 31 July 2025 - 2 February 2026

Oracle stock slides as investors digest plan to raise up to $50 billion for AI cloud buildout
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Oracle stock slides as investors digest plan to raise up to $50 billion for AI cloud buildout

Oracle shares fell about 4% in U.S. premarket trading Monday after the company announced plans to raise $45 billion to $50 billion by 2026 for cloud infrastructure expansion. The funding mix includes a $20 billion share-sale program, equity-linked securities, and a bond offering. Investors remain cautious over Oracle’s rising debt and dependence on unprofitable clients like OpenAI.
February 2, 2026
India’s budget lure: tax holiday till 2047 for foreign cloud firms using local data centres
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India’s budget lure: tax holiday till 2047 for foreign cloud firms using local data centres

India will exempt foreign cloud service providers from income tax on overseas sales from India-based data centers until 2047, the government announced Monday. Sales to Indian customers must go through local resellers, and related-party data center services face a fixed 15% profit margin. Officials say $70 billion in data center investments are underway, with another $90 billion announced.
February 2, 2026
Pay with your palm in the UAE: Central bank pilots face-and-palm biometric payments as Amazon pulls back
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Pay with your palm in the UAE: Central bank pilots face-and-palm biometric payments as Amazon pulls back

The UAE central bank has launched a pilot allowing payments by facial or palm scans at the Dubai Land Department, calling it a regional first. The system uses technology from Network International and PopID. The pilot runs as Amazon prepares to end its Amazon One palm-pay service after limited adoption. No timeline for a broader rollout has been set.
January 30, 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
Texas Instruments stock jumps on AI data-center boom — and a Q1 forecast it hasn’t made since 2010
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Texas Instruments stock jumps on AI data-center boom — and a Q1 forecast it hasn’t made since 2010

Texas Instruments forecast first-quarter revenue of $4.32–$4.68 billion and EPS of $1.22–$1.48, both above analyst estimates. Shares jumped nearly 9% after the company reported a 70% surge in data-center revenue for Q4 and said it will break out that segment separately. Q4 revenue reached $4.42 billion, with net income at $1.16 billion. Analysts cautioned that high capital spending and weak electronics demand could weigh on recovery.
January 28, 2026
UK FCA launches “Mills Review” on AI — what it could mean for everyday banking by 2030
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UK FCA launches “Mills Review” on AI — what it could mean for everyday banking by 2030

Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority has begun a major review of advanced AI in retail finance, led by executive director Sheldon Mills. The FCA is seeking feedback from industry and consumers by Feb. 24, with recommendations expected by summer 2026. UK firms remain cautious about customer-facing AI despite rising interest. Lawmakers are pressing for clearer rules as AI tools proliferate in financial services.
January 27, 2026
SEC drops Gemini Earn lawsuit after Winklevoss exchange customers get crypto back
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SEC drops Gemini Earn lawsuit after Winklevoss exchange customers get crypto back

The SEC has dropped its civil lawsuit against Gemini over the Gemini Earn program, citing a full in-kind return of customers’ crypto assets. The dismissal is with prejudice, blocking the agency from refiling the same claims. Gemini and the SEC filed the dismissal after Earn investors recovered funds through Genesis’s bankruptcy. Gemini agreed to pay up to $90 million in related settlements.
January 24, 2026
EquipmentShare IPO pops about 16% in Nasdaq debut, valuing construction tech firm above $7 billion
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EquipmentShare IPO pops about 16% in Nasdaq debut, valuing construction tech firm above $7 billion

EquipmentShare.com began trading on Nasdaq Friday, opening at $28.50 and valuing the company near $7.16 billion, above its $24.50 IPO price. The firm raised about $747 million by selling 30.5 million shares. EquipmentShare operates 373 U.S. locations and reported a $25.2 million net loss for the first nine months of 2025 on $2.8 billion in sales.
January 23, 2026
BitGo IPO pops on NYSE debut, reopening the crypto listing window
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BitGo IPO pops on NYSE debut, reopening the crypto listing window

BitGo opened at $22.43 on the NYSE, 24.6% above its $18 IPO price, valuing the crypto custody firm at $2.59 billion. The IPO raised $212.8 million after pricing above its marketed range. Shares trade under the ticker “BTGO.” BitGo reported $35.3 million net income in the first nine months of 2025 and managed $104 billion in assets as of September 30.
January 23, 2026
Sberbank jumps into Russia’s chip race with Element stake — and Rostec won’t sell
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Sberbank jumps into Russia’s chip race with Element stake — and Rostec won’t sell

Sberbank bought a 41.9% stake in microelectronics maker Element for 27 billion roubles ($355.7 million), surpassing Rostec’s 41.6% holding. The deal sets up a control struggle between the state-owned bank and the defense conglomerate. Sberbank acquired the shares from Sistema and other minority holders and plans a buyout offer. All three firms face Western sanctions over the Ukraine war.
January 23, 2026
Intel stock sinks on weak Q1 forecast as AI server chip supply crunch bites
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Intel stock sinks on weak Q1 forecast as AI server chip supply crunch bites

Intel forecast first-quarter revenue of $11.7 billion to $12.7 billion, missing Wall Street estimates and citing supply constraints for server CPUs amid surging AI data center demand. Shares dropped sharply in after-hours trading. Executives said factory capacity could not quickly shift to meet data center needs. Intel’s adjusted earnings per share are projected to be near break-even.
January 23, 2026
ED chargesheets Magicwin: Pakistan-linked betting site accused of hawala and crypto laundering
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ED chargesheets Magicwin: Pakistan-linked betting site accused of hawala and crypto laundering

India’s Enforcement Directorate filed a money-laundering prosecution complaint against Magicwin and 13 others, alleging illegal betting, piracy of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 broadcasts, and use of mule accounts and cryptocurrencies. The complaint, filed January 15 in Ahmedabad, names a UK-registered firm with Pakistani directors based in the UAE. Investigators are probing celebrity promotions linked to the platform.
January 19, 2026
Mississippi Lottery Official App Launches: How to Download It, Check Tickets and Avoid Scams (Nov. 20, 2025)
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Mississippi Lottery Official App Launches: How to Download It, Check Tickets and Avoid Scams (Nov. 20, 2025)

The Mississippi Lottery Corporation has launched its first official mobile app, allowing players to scan tickets, check jackpots, and enter second-chance drawings from their phones. The app does not permit online ticket purchases; all sales remain in-person at authorized retailers, in line with state law. The app is available on both Apple and Google platforms.
November 20, 2025
Jack Dorsey’s Cash App Bets Big on Bitcoin Lightning, Stablecoins and AI in Its Biggest Update Yet
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Jack Dorsey’s Cash App Bets Big on Bitcoin Lightning, Stablecoins and AI in Its Biggest Update Yet

Cash App, owned by Block, has launched its largest update, adding Bitcoin Lightning payments from USD balances, an AI financial assistant, and a Bitcoin-accepting business map. Stablecoin transfers using USDC on Solana are planned for 2026. The new features will roll out to Cash App’s 58 million users starting this month. Block calls it the app’s first coordinated multi-product launch.
November 14, 2025
PayPal alternatives today (Nov 10, 2025): Square flips on Bitcoin payments, Paystand buys Bitwage, and wallets march toward 6B users
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PayPal alternatives today (Nov 10, 2025): Square flips on Bitcoin payments, Paystand buys Bitwage, and wallets march toward 6B users

Square launched Bitcoin Payments at U.S. registers today, offering zero processing fees until 2027, Lightning support, and no chargebacks, except in New York. Paystand acquired Bitwage to add mass stablecoin payouts and FX to its B2B network, targeting faster global payroll. New research projects digital wallet users will surpass 6 billion by 2030.
November 10, 2025
Apple Stock Rockets to Record High as iPhone 17 Demand Explodes
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Apple Stock Rockets to Record High as iPhone 17 Demand Explodes

Apple’s iPhone 17 series is outselling last year’s models by 14% in the first 10 days after launch in China and the U.S., according to Counterpoint Research. Apple shares jumped 4% to a record high near $264 on Oct. 20, pushing its market cap close to $4 trillion. Wall Street analysts upgraded the stock, citing surging iPhone demand. The iPhone Air sold out in China but faces weaker global demand, with production cuts expected.
October 21, 2025
PayPal and Venmo Crash Leaves Millions Locked Out – Are Your Funds Safe?
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PayPal and Venmo Crash Leaves Millions Locked Out – Are Your Funds Safe?

PayPal and Venmo suffered a global outage Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, leaving users unable to log in or transfer funds for several hours. Downdetector logged nearly 10,000 reports for PayPal and over 8,000 for Venmo at the peak. PayPal confirmed a technical issue and said service was restored by early afternoon. The company did not disclose the cause but said no data breaches or fund losses occurred.
October 17, 2025
Big Tech’s AI Blowout Fuels $500 Billion Stock Surge – Global Roundup (July 30–31, 2025)
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Big Tech’s AI Blowout Fuels $500 Billion Stock Surge – Global Roundup (July 30–31, 2025)

Microsoft and Meta shares jumped 8% and 9% after hours on July 30, adding nearly $440 billion in market value as AI investments fueled strong earnings. Microsoft Azure cloud revenue climbed 39%, beating forecasts, and Copilot users topped 100 million. Meta projected Q3 revenue above estimates, citing AI-powered ad tools. Palo Alto Networks announced a $25 billion deal to buy CyberArk Software to expand in AI security.
July 31, 2025
Crypto Chaos: Fed Jitters, Altcoin Revival, NFT Breakthroughs – July 30–31, 2025 Roundup
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Crypto Chaos: Fed Jitters, Altcoin Revival, NFT Breakthroughs – July 30–31, 2025 Roundup

The Federal Reserve held rates at 4.25% with two officials dissenting for a cut, sending Bitcoin briefly below $116,000 before it rebounded above $118,000. Ethereum marked its 10th anniversary trading above $3,800, up 23% in recent weeks, as spot ETH ETFs saw 18 straight days of net inflows. The Justice Department seized $225 million from crypto scams, its largest haul to date. Solana unveiled an ACE roadmap targeting over 10,000 TPS.
July 31, 2025
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