Microsoft chief joins in warnings over AI
Microsoft chief economist Michael Schwarz has become the latest to warn over the dangers of AI
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Memex Automation
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Memex Automation is the leader in real-time shop-floor-to-top-floor technology solutions. Memex’s flagship product MERLIN delivers Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) metrics in real-time, enabling manufacturers to enhance production and increase income and profits from operations.
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Microsoft launches stunning rebuke of CMA following Activision Blizzard takeover block
‘English Channel has never been wider’ said president Brad Smith, warning of further UK tech brain drain
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Big Tech earnings beats save Nasdaq from broad market selloff
The Dow closed Wednesday down 229 points, 0.7%, at 33,302, while the Nasdaq added 55 points, 0.5%, to 11.854 and the S&P 500 shed 16 points, 0.4%, to 4,056
Bill Gates hails AI as revolutionary as the Internet on eve of Bard launch
Bill Gates has called artificial intelligence as revolutionary as the Internet on the eve of Google’s launch of chat bot ChatGPT rival Bard
Microsoft intends to launch mobile app to rival Google and Apple
Deal is said to be contingent of regulatory approval of Activision Blizzard takeover
ChatGPT-4, how is it better?
ChatGPT is said to be 40% more likely to produce reliable answers, a key feature OpenAI spent six months on
ChatGPT 4 'more advanced' but not yet fully reliable
OpenAI launched its latest model of ChatGPT on Tuesday, the most 'advanced yet,' but warned it was not yet fully reliable
ChatGPT’s ‘unfettered’ use presents risks, GCHQ warns
The UK's intelligence agency has warned of the dangers of ChatGPT and similar AI language models, advising people to be cautious when using the tech
Microsoft chatbot too heavy on emotions suggest testers
Microsoft's chatbot, launched last week, has proven to be moody, argumentative and wrapped in emotion according to testers
Microsoft's mixed quarterly earnings report delivered little more than a rorschach test to predict its future, says Wedbush
“The bull/bear debate on MSFT will only intensify after this print,” analysts said
Microsoft eyes job cuts, suggesting no ease for tech sector
Microsoft will cut some 11,000 jobs in the coming weeks, continuing the negative sentiment seen across the tech industry
Microsoft loses its Teflon-like aura but can ride out the economic storm, Wedbush analysts say
Analysts at the broker kept an outperform rating on the tech giant and said today's weakness in the share price represented a buying opportunity.
Microsoft tops expectations despite slow down in cloud growth
Amy Hood, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Microsoft said: “We continue to see healthy demand across our commercial businesses including another quarter of solid bookings as we deliver compelling value for customers.”
Earnings growth to continue slowing warn analysts ahead of Microsoft, Alphabet and other big tech results
Analysts at UBS noted that even with estimates being cut, earnings growth is the slowest since the pandemic-affected final quarter of 2020
Microsoft confirms job cuts as it expects growth to slow - CNBC
In July, Microsoft said it expected about 10% revenue growth in its fiscal first quarter, slower than it has been in more than five years
UK regulator raises concerns over Microsoft Corporation merger with Activision Blizzard
“We are concerned that Microsoft could use its control over popular games like Call of Duty and World of Warcraft post-merger to harm rivals," said the CMA
Microsoft misses on fiscal 4Q estimates, but meets own projection on revenue
Total revenue hit US$51.9 billion, less than analyst estimates of just over US$52.8 billion, but still 12% above the comparable year-ago quarter’s profit of US$46.2 billion
US stocks stumble into the red Tuesday as focus remains on earnings and Fed rate decision
The Dow closed Tuesday down 228 points, 0.7%, at 31,762, the Nasdaq Composite lost 220 points, 1.9%, to 11,563 and the S&P 500 slid 46 points, 1.2%, to 3,921
Will the tech earnings season make or break the struggling cryptocurrency markets?
Crypto has historically trended with large-cap tech stocks, but in a year full of surprises, nothing is a given
Bitcoin and Ethereum open strong as extreme fear hits a record run
Decentralised finance space surpasses US$80bln in total value locked
Hardware & electrical equipment
US earnings season in next weeks could turn the tide on tech sector - analyst
The view from broker Wedbush is that much of the worst fears "is already baked into tech stocks at current levels"
Gucci to accept cryptocurrencies in US stores
The move marks a major endorsement of crypto by a leading luxury brand
Microsoft reassurance 'for the ages' calms Wall Street nerves after tech bloodletting
The optimism is not universal, with some saying the tech bubble is burst
Microsoft sees quarterly revenue beat estimates on cloud strength
The software giant reported revenue of $49.36 billion in the third quarter, compared with $41.7 billion a year earlier, versus average estimates of $49.05 billion
Microsoft and Alphabet set to drop quarterly earnings: what can we expect?
Consensus analyst estimates have Microsoft reporting revenue for 3Q of about US$49 billion or $2.18 per share
Microsoft and Apple Q1 earnings will dictate direction of 'white-knuckle' market ride
“We may be reaching the stage of the market cycle where fundamentals and valuation really do matter much more than financial engineering,” said one analyst
Warner Bros Discovery makes steady start on market debut
Warner Bros Discovery Inc will run three streaming services; it also owns the Warner Bros film studio and a number of cable channels
US stocks close down in volatile session as investors await Fed meeting
As the Federal Reserve’s two-day policy meeting begins, investors will be looking for updates on when the central bank will raise interest rates and by how much
Can Microsoft help settle nerves with strong quarter's earnings?
Capricorn Energy and TI Fluid Systems are in London's corporate diary, with 3M, American Express, General Electric, Johnson & Johnson, Verizon Communications Inc announcing in New York pre-market open
Microsoft and Take-Two mega-deals highlight continued drive for consolidation in video games, say analysts
Credit Suisse said intellectual property and development capability would be the attractive qualities for potential bidders, while Shore Capital said UK video gaming companies possess similar qualities to those recently acquired
Microsoft’s US$69bn Activision acquisition is a big weapon in the console war
Big-name game franchises could play a major factor in the battle between Xbox and Playstation.
Microsoft lays foundation for gaming future with US$69bn Activision Blizzard buy
The all-cash deal values Activision shares at US$95 each, a 46% premium to the close last night
Hackers target Minecraft as weak spot found in network
Private sector researchers have described the situation as if the “internet is on fire”
Microsoft smashes through forecasts as cloud sales boom
Cloud sales jumped by almost $4bn (£2.91bn) from a year ago
Why some companies prefer dividends and some prefer buybacks - two-minute explainer
Companies often buy back shares even whether the price is high or low, which most investors would view as not the most effective use of cash
Microsoft unveils giant share buyback on top of annual dividend hike
It is the 12th straight September where the Redmond outfit has added to its quarterly payout
Microsoft mulls using Ethereum to combat piracy
In a research paper, the tech giant proposed a blockchain-based system, built on the Ethereum network, that is designed to incentivise users to participate and reinforce anti-piracy campaigns
Microsoft claws back losses after Azure concerns quelled
Investors were likely spooked by slower growth than expected at the cloud-services business, prompting a 3% fall of the stock
Microsoft tipped for bumper quarter as cloud adoption accelerates
Headline numbers should comfortably beat the market’s US$44bn and $1.90 estimate.
Microsoft Exchange servers were targeted in Chinese cyber-attack says UK, US and EU
Tensions are rising over state-sponsored cybercrime and espionage.
Hardware & electrical equipment
Microsoft joins Apple in the US$2trn club as cloud demand booms
Working from home is driving a boom in cloud-based services
AT&T to merge with Discovery as content consolidation continues for broadcasters
In the sector content IP owners are increasingly combining assets to drive 'direct-to-consumer' streaming platforms such as HBO Max, Disney+ and Peacock.
Discord pulls out of merger talks with Microsoft
The video game chat app, valued at around US$7bn, has reportedly ended negotiations for a potential merger with the computing giant, rekindling speculation of a possible IPO
Microsoft Corp wins US$22bn augmented reality headset contract with US Army
Augmented reality allows information to be overlaid on what the wearer is seeing through glasses or a headset
How companies can protect themselves from Microsoft Exchange Server threats
The tech giant's emailing system has been targeted by hackers twice in recent months, threatening the security of thousands of businesses that use it for their own communication
Discord: What is it and why is Microsoft after it?
The online communication platform, a staple of the video gaming community, has attracted the attention of the computing giant and is reportedly in negotiations for a takeover that could see it valued at around US$10bn
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US stocks fall hard on new global COVID-19 restrictions
The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by 308 points on a big sell-off of travel and retail stocks
Microsoft in talks to snap up gamer chat platform Discord
Discord, which has around 300mln registered users and was valued at around US$7bn in December, could also decide to go public, according to reports
Microsoft made takeover approach to Pinterest, reports
The social media network, popular among hobbyists who post collages featuring home décor, food, fashion and accessories, has seen its share price swell over 300% since its 2019 IPO
Microsoft hits new high as home working sends cloud demand rocketing
Azure, Microsoft's server business, saw revenues jump by 50%
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Wall Street ends a hair worse than flat as earnings reports take center stage
GE shares are up, and Microsoft is poised to kick off the big tech earnings train today
Microsoft among 40 tech firms and government agencies hit in SolarWinds cyberattack
“The attack unfortunately represents a broad and successful espionage-based assault on both the confidential information of the US government and the tech tools used by firms to protect them,” said the tech giant's president Brad Smith
TikTok ban delayed by US government
The US commerce department said it will refrain from blocking the video-sharing app pending further legal developments
Microsoft prepares to launch Xbox Series X video game console, but Sony’s PlayStation 5 follows close behind
The computer giant will release its Xbox Series X on Tuesday, with the PlayStation 5 to follow on Thursday
Microsoft sees first-quarter revenue and profit beat Wall Street estimates on cloud computing boost
Revenue growth for Azure, the company’s flagship cloud computing business, was 48% higher, up from 47% in the previous quarter
Microsoft eyed to benefit from accelerated digitisation in quarterly earnings
Analysts are estimating EPS of US$1.54 for the quarter alongside revenues of US$35.7bn, with the computing giant's outlook for the Christmas quarter also likely to draw attention as it prepares to launch its new generation of Xbox consoles
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US stocks end mixed session on rising COVID-19 rates and stimulus impasse
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell adjourned the Senate until November 9, further diminishing the prospects for an aid deal being reached before the election
Working from home and staying-in are here to stay - here's how to invest
Around three-quarters of UK firms plan to maintain the increase in home working after the coronavirus has gone away
TikTok to team up with Oracle as Microsoft loses acquisition race
The US Treasury Secretary said the Oracle deal was being reviewed by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States
Oracle Corp said to be mulling TikTok move as social app saga takes new twist
Larry Ellison has already held preliminary discussions with TikTok’s parent company ByteDance, according to the FT,