Finance & Banking
Axon Enterprise Soars as Software Demand Drives Earnings Beat

Key Takeaways
- The S&P 500 added 0.6% on Thursday, Could 8, after the U.S. struck a commerce settlement with the U.Ok.
- Axon Enterprise shares surged after the maker of legislation enforcement and navy tools topped quarterly estimates, citing robust software program demand.
- On-line courting platform operator Match Group posted a decline in paying customers and introduced workforce reductions, and its shares tumbled.
Main U.S. equities indexes pushed increased after President Trump unveiled a new trade agreement with the U.K.
It’s the first deal introduced since final month’s suspension of “reciprocal” tariffs. The settlement will preserve the ten% broad tariff in place, however will give the U.Ok. concessions on car and metal trade tariffs in trade for “elevated market entry” for U.S. agricultural, industrial, and chemical merchandise in Britain.
The S&P 500 gained 0.6% on Thursday. The Dow industrials additionally closed 0.6% increased, whereas the tech-heavy Nasdaq jumped 1.1%.
Shares of Taser maker Axon Enterprise (AXON) surged 14.1%, gaining the most of any stock in the S&P 500 on Thursday. The corporate, which additionally supplies physique cameras and different merchandise for navy and legislation enforcement, posted better-than-expected gross sales and earnings for the primary quarter and boosted its full-year steerage. Axon touted robust development for its software program and providers phase, highlighting strong demand for its synthetic intelligence (AI) policing programs.
Epam Methods (EPAM) additionally surpassed consensus estimates with its quarterly outcomes, and shares of the digital engineering and cloud-based software program supplier jumped 12.9%. Development in IT providers income, AI-related demand, and strategic partnerships helped underpin the robust efficiency. EPAM additionally elevated its full-year gross sales outlook and introduced that its present chief income officer would take the reins as CEO later this yr.
Enphase Vitality (ENPH) shares superior 12.2% after the power know-how agency launched a plug-and-play photo voltaic power system in Germany. The brand new product is designed for customers who reside in flats or have restricted roof area. It may also be utilized in off-grid areas equivalent to cabins, campsites, and cellular houses. With Thursday’s beneficial properties, Enphase inventory staged a partial restoration from losses posted late final month after its quarterly outcomes fell short of expectations.
Shares of Match Group (MTCH), operator of Tinder and different on-line courting providers, sank 9.6%, posting the S&P 500’s weakest every day efficiency. The corporate reported a year-over-year decline in paying customers throughout its platforms, together with the courting websites Hinge and OkCupid. Moreover, Match mentioned it could minimize its workforce by 13% in an effort to chop prices because it navigates challenges associated to consumer engagement.
Fortinet (FTNT) shares fell 8.4% within the wake of the cybersecurity agency’s quarterly earnings launch. Though its first-quarter adjusted earnings got here in forward of consensus forecasts, income for the interval missed the mark, and Fortinet issued underwhelming steerage for the present quarter and the complete yr. Regardless of the comparatively cautious outlook, Fortinet maintains a powerful management place within the world firewall market.
Shares of drug wholesaler and pharmaceutical options supplier Cencora (COR) misplaced 6.8% on Thursday, reversing the robust beneficial properties posted by the inventory within the prior session following a powerful earnings report. However the robust quarterly efficiency, Cencora famous that it faces difficult development comparisons for GLP-1 weight-loss merchandise together with softness in medical trial exercise and its specialty logistics enterprise.
Finance & Banking
Aflac Says ‘Sophisticated Cybercrime Group’ Accessed Customers’ Personal Data

Key Takeaways
- Aflac mentioned its community was hit by a cyberattack on June 12 that affected an unknown variety of prospects.
- Probably impacted information embody social safety numbers, well being and claims data, and extra, the corporate added.
- Aflac is the newest insurer to be the sufferer of a cyber crime this month.
Aflac (AFL) mentioned Friday that its community was hit by a cyberattack that affected an unknown variety of prospects’ private data.
The supplemental insurance coverage supplier mentioned on June 12, it “recognized suspicious exercise on our community in the US” and “stopped the intrusion inside hours.” Whereas the corporate did not supply an estimate on the variety of affected prospects, it mentioned probably impacted information embody social safety numbers, well being and claims data, and extra.
“This assault, like many insurance coverage firms are at the moment experiencing, was attributable to a classy cybercrime group,” Aflac mentioned. “This was a part of a cybercrime marketing campaign in opposition to the insurance coverage trade.” The attacker used social engineering ways, which contain manipulating people reasonably than hacking pc methods, the corporate added.
Different insurance coverage companies have skilled related current incidents. Erie Indemnity Firm mentioned it recognized a data safety incident earlier this month, as did Philadelphia Insurance coverage Corporations.
Shares of Aflac dipped in premarket buying and selling Friday however reversed course and had been up 1% in current buying and selling. They’re close to flat for 2025.
Finance & Banking
Trump Extends TikTok Ban Deadline, Again—What You Need To Know

Key Takeaways
- TikTok has one other 90 days to be bought or banned within the U.S., after President Trump signed an government order Thursday extending the deadline.
- A deal was reportedly shut forward of an earlier April deadline, earlier than Trump’s tariffs on Chinese language items introduced the talks to a halt.
- Trump reportedly stated he believes Chinese language President Xi Jinping is receptive to agreeing to a deal for TikTok to be bought to an American firm or group of buyers.
TikTok received one other lifeline on Thursday, as President Donald Trump signed an government order extending the deadline till a U.S. sell-or-be-banned legislation goes into impact.
After Trump issued a pair of 75-day extensions following his inauguration in January and again in April, TikTok mother or father ByteDance has one other 90 days—till Sept. 17—to comply with promote the social media platform to a U.S.-based proprietor or be banned within the nation.
Trump instructed reporters on Air Power One Thursday that he believes Chinese language President Xi Jinping is receptive to agreeing to a deal for TikTok to be bought to an American firm or group of buyers, NBC Information reported.
TikTok Is ‘Completely Assured in a Decision’ to Authorized Points
TikTok stated in a press release that it’s “grateful” for Trump’s resolution, and stated it would “proceed to work with” the administration to resolve the state of affairs. Khartoon Weiss, the corporate’s vice chairman of worldwide enterprise options, stated TikTok is “completely assured in a decision” throughout an promoting convention in France this week, in response to The New York Occasions.
Trump’s authorized authority to proceed delaying the ban deadline is unsure. Within the Supreme Court docket’s resolution upholding the legislation banning the app, the justices famous that the legislation handed by Congress “permits the President to grant a one-time extension of not more than 90 days with respect to the prohibitions’ 270-day efficient date if the President makes sure certifications to Congress concerning progress towards a certified divestiture.”
Forward of an earlier deadline in April, reviews emerged a couple of vary of potential patrons, from Amazon (AMZN) to numerous teams led by buyers like Reddit (RDDT) co-founder Alexis Ohanian. Trump stated on the time {that a} deal was shut, however the escalating commerce warfare with China following his April 2 tariff announcement introduced the talks to a halt, in response to the Related Press.
Finance & Banking
Will the Fed Cut Interest Rates Soon? One Official Thinks So.

Key Takeaways
- Federal Reserve Gov. Christopher Waller instructed CNBC that the Fed might reduce rates of interest as early as its subsequent assembly.
- Waller stated he didn’t anticipate a spike in inflation from tariffs, and an rate of interest reduce on the subsequent assembly might assist stabilize the labor market.
- President Donald Trump has been crucial of the Federal Reserve for not slicing charges, placing strain on Chair Jerome Powell to behave.
Perhaps the Federal Reserve will reduce rates of interest extra shortly than buyers suppose.
Federal Reserve Gov. Christopher Waller instructed CNBC on Friday that he didn’t consider inflation would rise considerably underneath President Donald Trump’s tariffs on U.S. buying and selling companions. Waller stated the Fed might reduce its key federal funds rate as early as its subsequent assembly in late July.
Fed officers have hesitated to chop the fed funds charge from higher-than-usual ranges to this point this yr. They are saying they’re ready to see if retailers passing along the cost of Trump’s tariffs to clients will reignite inflation.
Nevertheless, Waller pointed to lower-than-expected inflation data and other positive trends in economic growth resembling a gentle unemployment charge.
“I believe we’ve room to deliver [the fed funds rate] down, after which we are able to see what occurs with inflation,” Waller stated.
What’s Subsequent For the Fed?
Earlier this week, the Federal Reserve’s coverage committee held its influential interest rate on the identical degree it has been at since December. Not one of the 12 voters, together with Waller, supported a reduce.
Projections released Wednesday indicated Fed officers could also be break up on what comes subsequent. Multiple-third of the committee forecast no charge cuts this yr, whereas an analogous variety of members anticipate they will reduce two or extra occasions. Three extra Fed officers believed they would not reduce charges in any respect this yr in comparison with the final time the committee printed projections.
Most buyers consider the Federal Reserve will proceed to carry rates of interest at their present degree subsequent month. The CME FedWatch Software, which initiatives the route of rates of interest primarily based on buying and selling of Fed funds futures, signifies buyers are pricing in solely a 15% probability the Fed will reduce charges when it meets on July 30.
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