North America:

  • U.S. Banks: In 2024, distributed $100 billion to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks.
  • Citigroup: Implemented job reductions in wealth, technology, and data analysis sectors as part of cost-cutting measures.
  • Fastenal Company: Mixed quarterly results reported, including a dividend increase, unchanged net income, and missed revenue estimates.
  • General Motors Company: Under investigation for engine failures in nearly 878,000 vehicles and settled with the FTC over unauthorized data sharing.
  • Truist Financial Corporation: Surpassed quarterly profit expectations with a rise in Q4 earnings and revenue.
  • JB Hunt Transport Services: Q4 earnings report showed a miss in profit estimates but a slight increase in EPS and revenue beat.
  • American Express Company: Agreed to pay $230 million to settle a lawsuit with the DOJ over deceptive marketing and sales practices.
  • Meta Platforms, Inc.: European Commission's new chief competition enforcer dismissed concerns about easing efforts against Big Tech.
  • Apple Inc.: Lost its position as China's top smartphone seller, with technology stocks falling due to trade tensions.
  • Infosys Limited: Announced an increase in fiscal Q3 consolidated net profit but shares dropped 5%.
  • Atlassian Corporation: An insider sold shares totaling approximately $1,996,548.

Europe and Asia:

  • Novo Nordisk A/S: Aims to double the size of Catalent within five years; drugs included in U.S. Medicare price negotiations.
  • Schlumberger Limited: Reported better-than-expected Q4 earnings and increased quarterly dividends.
  • UBS Group AG: Received a waiver from the U.S. Department of Labor to continue managing U.S. retirement plans; eToro files for a US IPO.
  • Rio Tinto plc: Announced the creation of a new lithium unit; engaged in preliminary merger talks with Glencore.
  • Saab AB: Revised its organic sales growth forecast upwards with higher expected revenues.
  • Volkswagen AG: Enhancing electric vehicle services and saw a significant increase in new energy vehicle sales in China.
  • AstraZeneca PLC: Replaced its management team in China; received full FDA approval for its drug Calquence.
  • Glencore plc: Surprised RBC Capital Markets with unexpected merger talks with Rio Tinto.
  • Smiths Group plc: Shares soared as the company faced pressure to explore strategic alternatives.
  • HSBC Holdings plc: Strategist recommends a 'risk-on' approach to equities; bank repurchases shares.
  • Engie: Restructuring into four global business units focused on renewable energy growth.
  • KKR & Co. Inc.: Selling its stake in the Philippine fintech company Maya; investing to expand data-center capacity in the Middle East.
  • Nintendo Co., Ltd.: Shares dropped following the announcement of the Switch 2 console.
  • Xiaomi Corporation: Accused of illegally transferring European users' data to China.
  • Reliance Industries Ltd: Reported a significant rise in consolidated net profit for the fiscal third quarter.
  • TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company): CEO stated that its US plant will not receive the latest chip technology before Taiwan.
  • Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited: Repurchased shares for employee share schemes.
  • Tencent Holdings Limited: Faced US sanctions on its AI company Zhipu.
  • Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.: Topped the US patent registration list for the third consecutive year.
  • Boeing: A bird strike was identified as the cause of an airplane crash in South Korea.
  • BYD Company Limited: Expanded into the South Korean market with the launch of its electric SUV, the Atto 3.