Blackstone reported that the trillion-dollar investment firm's Wall Street deal engine is revving back to life as it sees a pickup in initial public offerings and merger and acquisition transactions. "We are preparing a number of other companies for public offerings over the coming quarters," Stephen Schwarzman, Blackstone's CEO, said during the company's second-quarter earnings call on Thursday, after pointing to the investment firm's July IPO of Cirsa, a gambling company in Spain.Jon Gray, Blackstone's p ...

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella sent a note to employees on Thursday explaining why the company has cut thousands of jobs while generating huge profits and spending billions on AI. "This is the enigma of success in an industry that has no franchise value," Nadella wrote. "Progress isn't linear. It's dynamic, sometimes dissonant, and always demanding. But it's also a new opportunity for us to shape, lead through, and have greater impact than ever before."Microsoft this year has said it would shed about 15,000 e ...

Core Insights - Tesla urges American consumers to purchase vehicles now due to limited supply and the impending removal of the $7,500 EV tax credit by the end of the quarter [1][2] - The company reported second-quarter revenue of $22.5 billion, marking its sharpest quarterly revenue decline in at least the last 10 years, with earnings per share at 40 cents, below Wall Street's estimate of 42 cents [9][10] - Tesla's stock fell over 4% after hours on the earnings report and is down 17.6% year-to-date [11] Supply and Demand - Limited vehicle supply in the U.S. is expected this quarter, prompting the CFO to recommend placing orders immediately [2] - The removal of the EV tax credit is seen as beneficial for smaller competitors like Lucid and Rivian, who are less reliant on such incentives [2] Financial Performance - Tesla delivered over 384,000 vehicles in the quarter ending in June [3] - The company is experiencing a "weird transition period" as it adjusts to the expiration of incentives and the regulatory environment for autonomous vehicles [8] Cost Pressures - The CFO indicated that tariffs imposed by the Trump administration have raised costs by approximately $300 million this quarter [9] - Tesla is beginning to reduce planned incentives as vehicle sales increase, including perks like free supercharging and discounts for certain groups [3]

Core Insights - Mattel's dolls category revenue declined by 19% year-over-year, totaling $335 million in the second quarter [1][2] - The overall net revenue for Mattel decreased by 6% compared to the previous year, amounting to $1.02 billion, with a net income of $53 million, down $4 million from last year [8] - Despite the decline in doll sales, other product categories, such as vehicles led by Hot Wheels, experienced a 10% increase in sales, reaching $407 million [2] Sales Performance - The decline in doll sales was attributed to fewer new Barbie product launches and lower retailer promotional support [2] - The company anticipates an improvement in doll sales in the second half of the year due to new product innovations and partnerships [3][8] Pricing Strategy - In response to tariffs, Mattel announced a price increase for its toys, including Barbies, which took effect in the latest quarter [9] - Approximately 40% to 50% of Mattel's products in the US will continue to be priced below $20, even after the price adjustments [10] Stock Performance - Following the earnings report, Mattel's stock price fell nearly 5% in after-hours trading, although it has risen about 17% over the past year [9]

Core Viewpoint - Tesla's CEO Elon Musk revealed that the company's upcoming budget-friendly electric vehicle (EV) will resemble the Model Y, addressing investor inquiries during the latest earnings call [1][2][3]. Group 1: Product Details - The new affordable model is described as "just a Model Y," indicating a close resemblance to the existing model [3]. - No specific details regarding the model's features or release date were provided, although production of new vehicles, including more affordable options, is expected to begin in the first half of the year [3]. - The self-driving capabilities of the new model are anticipated to enhance affordability for customers, allowing them to potentially earn money by renting out their vehicles [5][6]. Group 2: Market Context - Musk identified the primary barrier to EV ownership as financial constraints, stating that many potential buyers lack sufficient funds rather than desire for the vehicles [4]. - The Model Y was the best-selling car globally in 2023, but Tesla faces increasing competition from lower-cost EVs offered by Chinese manufacturers [12]. - In the second quarter of 2025, Tesla's sales in China dropped nearly 12% year-over-year, with the company selling 129,000 vehicles [13].

Core Insights - Tesla's second-quarter earnings revealed the steepest year-over-year revenue decline in a decade, falling below Wall Street estimates, leading to a more than 4% drop in share price after the earnings call [1] - CEO Elon Musk indicated that the company is entering a "weird transition period" due to shifting tariffs, unclear fiscal policy impacts, and political sentiment, suggesting potential rough quarters ahead [1][2] - Despite challenges, Musk expressed optimism for Tesla's economics by the end of next year as the company navigates waning EV incentives and evolving autonomous vehicle regulations [2] Group 1: Financial Performance and Future Outlook - The latest earnings report indicates that Tesla's core auto business may have seen the worst behind it, although it remains below what fundamentals would suggest for a trillion-dollar company [3] - Musk anticipates that a more affordable Tesla model, resembling the Model Y, will be available to the public in the fourth quarter [11] - The company plans to expand its vehicle offerings, including the first builds of a more affordable model in June, with volume production expected in the second half of 2025 [13] Group 2: Robotaxi Development - Tesla executives provided updates on the Robotaxi initiative, planning a quasi-robotaxi expansion in the San Francisco Bay Area, with a driver present to expedite the process while awaiting regulatory approval [8][12] - The current Robotaxi service in Austin is limited to select Tesla influencers and investors, with human safety monitors present during rides [9] - Musk has previously missed deadlines for Robotaxi timelines, raising questions about future projections [10] Group 3: Shareholder Concerns and Governance - Musk expressed concerns about his control over Tesla, fearing he could be ousted by activist shareholders if his shares decrease [14] - A significant majority of direct Tesla shareholders (51%) prefer Musk to focus more on the company rather than his political involvement [16] - The CFO declined to discuss potential investments in Musk's other company, xAI, during the earnings call, indicating a desire to keep the focus on Tesla [17][18]

Google's parent company Alphabet beat analyst estimates for its second-quarter earnings on Wednesday, but its stock faltered after Alphabet reported it would increase its capital expenditures by $10 billion this year. Investors have been closely monitoring Alphabet for signs of weakness as more and more people turn to ChatGPT instead of Google to find answers on the internet.The tech giant saw strong growth in its core search business, which was up over 11% year-over-year, fueled in part by the strong perf ...

Tesla's new retro-futuristic diner has Californians queuing around the block — but they are less keen on the company's cars. The automaker's registrations in the West Coast state fell more than 20% in the second quarter compared to the previous year, according to data from the California New Car Dealers Association released on Tuesday.It's Tesla's seventh consecutive quarterly decline in the US's largest EV market, and comes despite California's new car sales growing in the first half of the year. The Cal ...

Kohl's, Krispy Kreme, Rocket Companies, Lockheed Martin, and NIO are catching the interest of investors. This is where they were trading premarket at 7 a.m. ET Wednesday — and what's driving the moves.1. Kohl'sThe move: The department store giant was down 0.4% to $14.29 after jumping about 38% by the close on Tuesday. Why: The stock surged after chatter on WallStreetBets Reddit thread about Kohl's stock's high short interest, which prompted retail investors to pour in.2. Krispy KremeThe move: The doughnut ...

Core Points - Alaska Airlines experienced an IT outage that led to a request for a ground stop on all mainline aircraft [1] - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the request for a temporary, system-wide ground stop for Alaska and Horizon Air flights [2] - The airline indicated that there would be residual impacts on operations throughout the evening due to the outage [2]