Microsoft’s Q3 results surpassed estimates for both revenue and earnings. But the revenue forecast for Q4 was less than anticipated, with the company reportedly projecting $64 billion, which is below the consensus of $64.5 billion – (only just). Revenue: $61.86 vs. $60.80 billion expected Earnings per share: $2.94 vs. $2.82 expected Additionally,Read More →
Alphabet announced on Thursday 25th April 2024 that it is issuing its first-ever dividend of 20 cents per share and that its board has authorised a stock repurchase of up to $70 billion. This announcement follows Meta’s board authorising its own inaugural dividend in February. As of 31st March 2024,Read More →
The gross domestic product (GDP) from January to March 2024, grew at an annualised rate of 1.6%, significantly underperforming the projected 2.4%. The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, crucial for the Federal Reserve’s inflation assessments, climbed at an annualised rate of 3.4% for the quarter, marking the largest increaseRead More →
AI startup Synthesia on Thursday 25th April 2024 announced its ‘Expressive Avatars’. These are AI-generated digital avatars that can express human emotions including happiness, sadness, and frustration. Synthesia, supported by the tech giant Nvidia, reportedly secured an investment of $90 million in 2023, reaching a valuation close to $1 billion.Read More →
Meta Platforms Inc. suffered a serious loss, witnessing its market value plummet by $200 billion. The decline happened following the company’s first-quarter earnings call, during which CEO Mark Zuckerberg highlighted the company’s substantial investments in artificial intelligence (AI) and the Metaverse, instead of concentrating on immediate revenue streams. Despite aRead More →
Powering artificial intelligence (AI) models takes a substantial toll on our planet’s energy resources. Delving deeper into AI, it becomes crucial to comprehend the environmental impact of this technological revolution. Current trends A new peer-reviewed study featured in ‘Joule‘ highlights the significant energy requirements of AI. The research, carried outRead More →
Tesla’s profits have significantly decreased so far in 2024, prompting the company to accelerate the introduction of new models. The company is also reducing its workforce by thousands in an effort to improve its financial outlook. The electric vehicle manufacturer reported earnings of $1.13 billion for the first quarter, aRead More →
The UK FTSE 100 stock index has reached a new record closing price on Monday 22nd April 2024 The new all-time high was likely propelled by a weakening pound and reduced tensions in the Middle East. The FTSE 100 has been the laggard for many months. The index concluded MondayRead More →
Voyager 1, launched in September 1977, holds the distinction of being the furthest human-made object from Earth. It embarked on an incredible journey, venturing beyond the boundaries of our solar system and into interstellar space. Here’s the latest update on this iconic spacecraft Communication On 14th November 2023, Voyager 1 experienced anRead More →
A Japanese proverb This is a simple yet beautiful and profound quote. It reminds us of the enduring strength and resilience of nature. The mountain, despite the fierce winds, stands unwavering and unyielding.Read More →
Bitcoin halving is a significant event in the cryptocurrency world What is Bitcoin Halving? Bitcoin halving, which happens roughly every four years, cuts the rate of new Bitcoin creation by half. This event is tied to the method of recording and generating Bitcoins. Transactions are logged on a blockchain, a ledgerRead More →
UK police have dismantled a gang that provided a technology service enabling criminals to use fraudulent text messages to defraud victims Britain’s Metropolitan Police announced on Thursday 18th April 2024 that the ‘LabHost‘ website had been utilised by 2,000 criminals to pilfer personal details from users. The police have reportedlyRead More →
Meta’s complimentary artificial intelligence (AI) assistant, known as Meta AI, is being introduced across its social media platforms, including WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger. The assistant is reportedly designed to respond to queries, craft animations, and produce ‘high-quality’ images, according to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg in a recent video posting.Read More →
Norway’s massive sovereign wealth fund reported a first-quarter profit of 1.21 trillion kroner ($109.9 billion) – bolstered by strong returns from its technology stock investments it was announced on Thursday 18th April 2024. Established in the 1990s, Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, the largest in the world, invests the surplus revenueRead More →
Digital assets have soared recently to unprecedented heights and then plummet just as quickly. It’s an extremely volatile financial environment. Amid this volatility, the European Union’s securities watchdog, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), has sounded a cautionary note. The Concentration Conundrum ESMA’s latest report highlights a considerable concern: theRead More →
The statement that a single speck of dust is halfway between the size of an atom and the entire planet Earth is a fascinating way to think about scale, and it’s based on a logarithmic, not linear, scale. A fun fact On a linear scale, the size of a dustRead More →
TSMC stands as the world’s foremost producer of sophisticated processors, boasting clientele that includes industry giants like Nvidia and Apple Unprecedented demand for AI chips is being led by the proliferation of large language models such as ChatGPT and Chinese equivalents. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) on Thursday 17th April 2024 beatRead More →
The International Monetary Fund calculates that Russia’s economy will expand more rapidly than all advanced economies this year. According to the latest World Economic Outlook released by the IMF, Russia’s economy is projected to expand by 3.2% in 2024. This growth outpaces the anticipated growth rates for the U.S. atRead More →
The Bank of England (BoE) stands as a bastion of economic stability, guiding the United Kingdom through the ebbs and flows of financial tides. Modernising the Bank of England’s forecasting system has become a critical necessity. A recent independent review has cast a spotlight on the ‘serious deficiencies’ within itsRead More →
Record-breaking rain has inundated the United Kingdom over the past few months, leaving fields submerged and livestock at risk. The relentless downpours, likely exacerbated by climate change, are now threatening the very foundation of UK food production. Challenges faced by farmers UK farmers are facing the repercussions of extreme weatherRead More →
Inflation in the U.K. eased to 3.2% from 3.4% in March, the Office for National Statistics said on Wednesday 17th April 2024. But a higher-than-expected reading creates more concern as investors push back bets on the timing of the first Bank of England (BoE) rate cut. Economists expected 3.1% asRead More →
The latest figures on UK pay growth and unemployment present a complex picture of the country’s labour market. The unemployment rate has seen a slight uptick to 4.2%, a rise from the previous 3.9%. This increase, which is more than anticipated, suggests a softening in the labour market. Conversely, wage growthRead More →
The company intends to reduce its global workforce by over 10%, amounting to roughly 14,000 employees As of December, Tesla had a total of 140,473 employees worldwide. This decision is believed to be a response to the obstacles Tesla is encountering with slowing growth and operational effectiveness and cheaper competition. In anRead More →
On a quarter-by-quarter basis, China’s GDP grew 1.6% in the first quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of around expectations of 1.4%. Beijing’s growth target for 2024 is around 5%. China’s growth was driven in part by external demand, as export volume grew by 14% year on year. Industrial output forRead More →
Muhammad Ali – (Cassius Clay) 1942 – 2016 He was an American professional boxer, activist, spokesperson for civil rights and entertainer. Nicknamed “the Greatest“, he is regarded as one of the most significant sports figures of the 20th century and is often regarded as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time.Read More →
Gold at all-time high above $2,400 Technical analysis indicates that the risk trends towards the upside, with indicators showing overbought conditions and prices rising above moving averages. However, it’s crucial to remember that markets are subject to change and can be affected by various factors, including geopolitical risks and economicRead More →