Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) – Deutsche Bank has proposed a settlement to resolve shareholder lawsuits alleging that the bank underpaid for the Postbank acquisition. However, shareholders’ lawyer Jan Bayer rejected the offer, calling it unsatisfactory. Shares rose 0.9% in pre-market.
Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) – Bank of America has partnered with FIFA to sponsor the 2026 World Cup. This will be FIFA’s first global banking sponsorship, expanding the bank’s reach and increasing its global visibility. The tournament, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches, will be co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Shares rose 0.3% in pre-market.
Quanterix (NASDAQ:QTRX) – On August 13, 2024, Quanterix Corp CEO Masoud Toloue acquired 19,000 shares, increasing his total stake to 354,119 shares. The purchase reflects confidence in the company, which specializes in highly sensitive biomolecular measurement technology. The purchase comes as shares are undervalued below the estimated intrinsic value of $24.98, according to GF Value.
MicroStrategy (NASDAQ:MSTR), ETF Defiance Daily Target 1.75X Long MSTR (NASDAQ:MSTX) – Defiance launched the ETF Defiance Daily Target 1.75X Long MSTR (MSTX), focused on MicroStrategy, known for its large Bitcoin bets. The leveraged fund seeks daily returns and is highly volatile, with elevated risk, reflecting the growing trend of high-volatility and leveraged ETFs. Shares rose 1.9% in pre-market.
UBS Group AG (NYSE:UBS) – UBS decided to liquidate a $2 billion real estate fund acquired from Credit Suisse due to the decline in asset value and difficulty meeting investor redemptions. The decision reflects the challenges in the commercial real estate market, especially for offices, exacerbated by the pandemic. Shares closed down 2.4% on Thursday but rose 1.3% in pre-market.
Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.B), Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) – Warren Buffett now owns exactly 400 million shares each of Apple and Coca-Cola after halving his stake in Apple. This raises speculation that he may have finished selling Apple shares, treating it as a long-term investment similar to Coca-Cola. Berkshire shares rose 0.3% in pre-market, while Coca-Cola shares increased by 0.2%.
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), PayPal (NASDAQ:PYPL) – Apple has allowed third parties to access its near-field communication technology, enabling competition with Apple Pay. This benefitted PayPal, which saw its shares close up 2.72% on Thursday as it can now offer tap-to-pay payments. Analysts expect the change to boost transaction margins in the long run. Shares rose 0.3% in pre-market.
Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) – Google is expanding its AI-generated summaries feature, after a product review, to six new countries: Brazil, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, and the UK. Initially available in the U.S., the “AI Overviews” will appear at the top of searches, offering summaries before traditional links. Google has adjusted the feature to avoid inaccurate responses and now includes more relevant links to sites. Shares rose 0.2% in pre-market.
Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) – Meta’s Threads app is introducing new features to enhance the platform for businesses and digital creators. Users can now access post metrics and follower demographics, and write and schedule multiple post drafts. The updates start on the web version and will soon be on the mobile app. Meanwhile, Meta has deactivated CrowdTangle, a crucial tool for monitoring and analyzing popular posts on Facebook and Instagram, especially for journalists and researchers. The decision, made shortly before the U.S. presidential election, has raised concerns, as the replacement, Meta Content Library, lacks the same functionality and access. The new tool limits the ability to study trends and misinformation, hindering research on the impact of social media. After closing up 2% on Thursday, shares fell 0.3% in pre-market.
Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) – Microsoft’s LinkedIn is adapting to include more personal content, such as selfies and intimate stories, alongside traditional leadership articles. Users are adjusting their strategies to share personal and authentic experiences, which could increase visibility and engagement on the platform. It is important to ensure that posts still offer professional value and promote meaningful connections. After closing up 1% on Thursday, Microsoft shares rose 0.4% in pre-market.
Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM), Manchester United (NYSE:MANU) – Qualcomm has extended its sponsorship deal with Manchester United until 2029 to promote the Snapdragon brand. The Snapdragon logo has already been displayed over 2 billion times, boosting the company’s visibility. Qualcomm aims to expand its presence in the PC market, challenging Intel. The partnership is valued at around £60 million annually. After closing up 3.7% on Thursday, Qualcomm shares rose 0.3% in pre-market.
Paramount Global (NASDAQ:PARA) – Edgar Bronfman Jr., Seagram heir and media executive, is preparing an offer to acquire National Amusements, which controls Paramount Global. The offer, which could occur soon, adds complexity to Paramount’s current situation, which recently struck a deal with Skydance Media. Shares are stable in pre-market after rising 7.1% on Thursday.
Autodesk (NASDAQ:ADSK) – The design and engineering software company continued offering discounts on multi-year contracts despite promising to stop in 2021. This practice aimed to increase cash flow but was considered risky by employees as it reduced long-term revenue and complicated financial modeling. The accounting investigation resulted in the CFO’s replacement and increased pressure for leadership changes.
AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ:ASTS) – AST SpaceMobile shares closed at a record high on Thursday after confirming the commercial launch of its low-orbit satellite network in September. The company, which aims to offer satellite communication services for smartphones, has partnerships with AT&T and Verizon. The first satellites are expected to be operational by the end of the year. Shares fell 0.2% in pre-market after rising 50.7% on Thursday.
PepsiCo (NASDAQ:PEP) – PepsiCo is facing a lawsuit for allegedly misleading consumers by promoting its Gatorade protein bars as healthy despite containing more sugar than protein and being comparable to regular chocolate bars. The judge accepted the claim that the marketing might have been deceptive, and the case continues.
Wendy’s (NASDAQ:WEN) – The Flynn Group, the world’s largest franchise operator, acquired 83 Wendy’s stores, bringing its total to 277. The purchase makes Flynn one of the largest Wendy’s franchisees in the U.S., controlling nearly 5% of the chain’s units. The transaction’s value and the seller were not disclosed.
Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG) – Chipotle lost nearly $6 billion in market value with CEO Brian Niccol’s departure to Starbucks. However, investors have confidence in COO Scott Boatwright as interim CEO, citing improvements in food quality and sales growth. Shares fell 0.1% in pre-market after rising 4.5% on Thursday.
Kroger (NYSE:KR) – Kroger plans to cut food prices by $1 billion after its $25 billion merger with Albertsons, surpassing the previous $500 million commitment. The merger, facing antitrust challenges, is awaiting a court decision in Colorado, with the trial set for September 30.
Disney (NYSE:DIS), Lululemon Athletica (NASDAQ:LULU) – Disney shares have fallen 30% since April, with weak theme park results, although streaming is profitable. Calvin McDonald, Disney director and Lululemon CEO, purchased $1 million in Disney shares after the earnings report, increasing his stake to 22,313 shares. Disney shares rose 0.3% in pre-market after rising 2.9% on Thursday. Lululemon shares are stable after a 6.7% rise yesterday.
MGM Resorts International (NYSE:MGM) – MGM Resorts has formed a joint venture with Grupo Globo to explore the Brazilian sports betting and online gaming market. If licensed, the partnership will launch BetMGM in early 2025 in São Paulo. Brazil, with over 20 million bettors, is regulating the sector and expects to generate $3 billion in revenue this year. Shares are stable in pre-market after rising 2.9% yesterday.
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) – Tesla shares closed up 6.3% on Thursday, driven by positive economic data. Increases in retail sales and declines in jobless claims raised expectations of lower interest rates, benefiting the automotive sector. However, Tesla shares are still down about 14% year-to-date. Shares rose 0.5% in pre-market.
Stellantis (NYSE:STLA) – Shareholders have sued Stellantis after the company reported lower-than-expected profits, alleging that the automaker hid inventory issues and other weaknesses to artificially inflate stock value in 2024. The company denies the accusations and will defend itself in court. Shares rose 1% in pre-market.
Toyota Motor (NYSE:TM) – According to Reuters, while Toyota lags behind some competitors in electrifying its fleet, it may become the first to abandon gasoline-only cars. The automaker plans to convert many of its models to hybrids, leveraging a strategy that combines hybrids and other technologies. This approach allows Toyota to comply with new emissions regulations and buy time to improve its electric vehicle offerings while maintaining efficiency and reducing regulatory costs.
Boeing (NYSE:BA), United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) – United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby believes Boeing’s recovery will be faster than expected. After lunch with Boeing’s new CEO Kelly Ortberg, Kirby expressed renewed confidence in the company’s direction, highlighting Ortberg’s experience and close approach to teams and customers. Boeing shares rose 4.7% on Thursday and 0.3% in pre-market. United shares are stable in pre-market after rising 6% on Thursday.
Alaska Air (NYSE:ALK), Hawaiian Holdings (NASDAQ:HA) – Alaska Air extended the review of its $1.9 billion acquisition proposal for Hawaiian Holdings with the U.S. DOJ until August 20. The deal, announced last year, is being closely scrutinized due to rigorous merger scrutiny in the aviation sector.
Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT), Terran Orbital (NYSE:LLAP) – Lockheed Martin will buy Terran Orbital for $450 million, paying 25 cents per share, a 37.5% discount from the previous value. The deal follows the withdrawal of an earlier $1 per share offer. The acquisition aims to consolidate Lockheed’s satellite supplier and pay off Terran’s debt. Terran Orbital shares fell 39.4% on Thursday and are down 1.1% in pre-market.
Chevron Corp (NYSE:CVX) – Chevron agreed to pay Richmond City Council $550 million over 10 years, avoiding a vote on a new tax at the company’s refinery. The agreement, effective July 2025, aims to resolve litigation and keep the refinery operational.
BHP Group (NYSE:BHP) – The strike at BHP’s Escondida mine in Chile has raised copper prices due to supply concerns. After a meeting without progress, BHP and the union failed to advance negotiations. The world’s largest mine faces operational stoppage and a possible impact on global copper supply. Shares rose 0.4% in pre-market.