Group 1 - Deutsche Boerse is acquiring General Atlantic's remaining 20% stake in ISS STOXX for €1.1 billion ($1.31 billion) [1] - The payment will be made in two tranches: €731 million due in February and the remainder in March [1] - The acquisition is expected to provide a low single-digit boost to Deutsche Boerse's cash earnings per share in the first year of full ownership [1]

Core Viewpoint - Paycom Software forecasts annual revenue for 2026 below Wall Street expectations, leading to a decline in its shares by over 7% in extended trading [1] Company Summary - Paycom Software, a payroll software maker, reported a forecasted revenue range of $2.18 billion to $2.20 billion for 2026, which is below the analysts' average estimate of $2.23 billion [1] - The company reported revenue of $544.3 million for the fourth quarter ended December 31, exceeding analysts' estimates of $543 million [1] Industry Summary - The human capital management market is becoming increasingly competitive, with Paycom facing rivals such as ADP, Paylocity, and Workday [1] - Macroeconomic challenges are impacting new customer acquisition for Paycom, as businesses are delaying or reducing HR and payroll software purchases due to tighter budgets [1] - A slowdown in hiring or job cuts among small- and medium-sized businesses, which are Paycom's core clients, could pose additional challenges [1]

Core Viewpoint - Ameren Corp reported a fourth-quarter profit that narrowly exceeded Wall Street estimates, driven by increased electricity rates and stronger retail sales in its Missouri unit [1] Financial Performance - The company reported fourth-quarter revenue of $1.78 billion, surpassing analysts' expectations of $1.67 billion [1] - Ameren's profit for the quarter was 78 cents per share, slightly above the analysts' estimate of 77 cents per share [1] - Revenue from the gas segment increased to $337 million, up from $321 million a year earlier [1] Operational Highlights - Ameren Missouri's electric sales reached 8,405 million kilowatt hours, compared to 7,806 million in the previous year [1] - The company reaffirmed its profit forecast for 2026, estimating earnings between $5.25 and $5.45 per share [1] Strategic Developments - Ameren Missouri received approval for the Big Hollow Energy Center, a new hybrid facility expected to begin operations in 2028, which includes an 800 MW natural gas plant and a large-scale battery storage facility [1] - The company plans to add 1,000 MW of battery storage by 2030 and expand to 1,800 MW by 2042 [1] Industry Context - U.S. electricity usage reached record highs in 2025 and is projected to continue rising, influenced by the expansion of AI and the transition from fossil fuels to electric heating and vehicles [1] - Utilities are increasing power rates to offset higher grid modernization costs amid extreme weather and rising demand from industrial electrification and data center expansions [1]

Core Insights - Banco do Brasil expects adjusted net profit to grow by up to 26% in 2026, reaching approximately 22-26 billion reais ($4.3-$5 billion) [1][1][1] - The bank reported a fourth-quarter adjusted net profit of 5.74 billion reais, a 40% year-on-year increase, exceeding analyst expectations of 4.55 billion reais [1][1][1] - The return on equity for Banco do Brasil was 12.4%, down from 20.8% a year earlier but higher than the 8.4% in the third quarter [1][1][1] Financial Projections - The target for adjusted net profit in 2026 is centered at 24 billion reais, aligning with analyst predictions of 24.39 billion reais [1][1][1] - The bank anticipates credit portfolio growth between 0.5% and 4.5% in 2026, following a 3.1% increase in 2025 [1][1][1] - Cost of credit is projected to be between 53 billion and 58 billion reais, compared to approximately 62 billion reais last year [1][1][1] Shareholder Returns - Banco do Brasil announced 1.2 billion reais in interest on equity to shareholders [1][1][1]

Pakistan's proposed power prices to lift inflation, help industry, analysts say | ReutersSkip to main content[Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionalsLearn more aboutRefinitiv]A worker of Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) climbs up a high-voltage pylon in Peshawar, Pakistan August 7, 2017. REUTERS/Fayaz Aziz/File Photo [Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab]- Summary- Industrial groups say high prices erode export competitiveness- Analysts estimate middle-class househo ...

Core Insights - AppLovin missed fourth-quarter revenue estimates, reporting sales of $1.66 billion compared to the expected $1.70 billion, indicating weak demand for its advertising services amid rising competition and a challenging macroeconomic environment [1][1][1] - The company's net income for the fourth quarter increased by 84% to $1.10 billion, showcasing strong profitability despite revenue shortfalls [1][1][1] - AppLovin forecasts first-quarter sales between $1.75 billion and $1.78 billion, exceeding analysts' estimates of $1.67 billion, suggesting a potential rebound in demand [1][1][1] Industry Context - The advertising landscape is becoming increasingly competitive, with major players like Meta Platforms aggressively bidding for advertising space, which may lead to higher ad prices and compressed margins for companies like AppLovin [1][1][1] - A cautious spending environment is emerging as businesses prioritize investments in artificial intelligence and essential applications over traditional advertising expenditures, impacting demand for advertising services [1][1][1]

Core Insights - Grab Holdings forecasts fiscal 2026 revenue below Wall Street expectations, indicating a slowdown in its core ride-hailing and delivery businesses as consumers face economic uncertainty [1] - The company's shares fell approximately 7% in extended trading following the revenue forecast [1] - Grab plans to acquire U.S. digital financial services company Stash Financial for $425 million to enhance its personal finance segment [1] Financial Performance - Grab expects annual revenue between $4.04 billion and $4.10 billion, lower than the estimated $4.13 billion [1] - The company reported fourth-quarter revenue of $906 million, missing estimates of $940.7 million [1] - Grab anticipates a compounded annual revenue growth of 20% from 2025 to 2028 [1] Market Conditions - Sticky inflation in major Southeast Asian markets and the impact of U.S. tariff policies have led consumers to be more selective with their spending [1] - Consumers are curbing discretionary budgets and seeking cost-saving options for regular purchases [1] - Grab has introduced its Saver platform to attract cost-conscious customers through discounts and bundled offers to reduce delivery fees [1]

Core Viewpoint - Origin Energy exceeded first-half profit estimates, driven by strong performance in its Energy Markets division, leading to an upward revision of its full-year earnings forecast [1] Group 1: Financial Performance - The Energy Markets division reported operating earnings of A$860 million ($613 million) for the six months ending December 31, marking a 17% increase from the previous year [1] - The company raised its full-year operating earnings forecast to between A$1.55 billion and A$1.75 billion, up from a prior range of A$1.4 billion to A$1.7 billion, with the midpoint surpassing the Visible Alpha consensus of A$1.62 billion [1] - Origin Energy's first-half underlying profit was A$593 million, exceeding the Visible Alpha consensus estimate of A$577.9 million, compared to an underlying profit of A$924 million in the previous year [1] Group 2: Division Performance - Operating earnings in the Integrated Gas division fell by over 31% to A$860 million due to weaker realized prices and lower production [1] - The strong performance of the Energy Markets division was pivotal in supporting the overall profit results for the company [1] Group 3: Dividend Announcement - The company declared an interim dividend of 30 Australian cents per share, consistent with the prior year [1]

Core Viewpoint - Abbvie has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, contesting the inclusion of Botox in the prescription drug price controls mandated by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 [1]. Group 1: Legal Action - The lawsuit was initiated in the federal court located in Washington, D.C. [1] - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and its administrator Mehmet Oz are named as defendants in the lawsuit [1].

Core Viewpoint - Viking Therapeutics plans to advance its experimental oral obesity drug into late-stage trials later this year, indicating a significant step in its development pipeline [1]. Company Summary - Viking Therapeutics is focusing on the advancement of its oral obesity drug, which is currently in the experimental phase [1]. Industry Context - The move to late-stage trials reflects the growing interest and investment in obesity treatments within the pharmaceutical industry, as companies seek to address the rising prevalence of obesity globally [1].