OpenAI Unveils Strawberry AI Model Series; Boeing Stock Falls 4% Amid Strike; HR Surges 20% on Growth Forecast

Boeing (NYSE:BA) – Workers at Boeing’s West Coast factories voted in favor of a strike. The walkout, the first since 2008, will affect 737 MAX production amid the company’s production challenges and mounting debts. The union argued that the offer didn’t offset years of stagnant wages and rising health care costs. A 50-day strike could cost Boeing between $3 billion and $3.5 billion in cash flow, according to TD Cowen. Boeing stated it is ready to resume negotiations and expressed a willingness to reset its relationship with the union and seek a new agreement. Additionally, NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy warned Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg of the urgent need to address safety culture issues within the company. She stated that the employees’ lack of trust compromises safety. Shares fell 4.0% in pre-market trading after closing up 0.9% on Thursday.

RH (NYSE:RH) – RH’s stock jumped 19.7% in pre-market trading Friday after rising 3.83% in Thursday’s regular session. The company reported second-quarter earnings of $29 million, or $1.45 per share, compared to $3.36 per share last year. Revenue increased to $829.7 million, beating the $825 million estimate. For fiscal 2024, RH forecasts demand growth of 8%-10% and revenue growth of 5%-7%, slightly below previous projections. Third-quarter demand growth is estimated between 12%-14%.

OpenAI – OpenAI launched the “Strawberry” series of AI models, including the o1 and o1-mini. These models enhance reasoning in complex tasks such as science and math, surpassing previous models. They use the “chain of thought” reasoning technique to solve problems more effectively and autonomously.

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) – Microsoft resolved an outage that affected its cloud services, such as Word and Teams, caused by a change made by a third-party internet provider. Connectivity was restored after reversing the change. The outage impacted thousands of users and affected multiple platforms. Microsoft also announced cutting 650 jobs in its Xbox division, the third layoff this year, while integrating its Activision Blizzard acquisition. The cuts will focus on corporate and support roles, without impacting gaming or studios. Microsoft also appointed Carolina Dybeck Happe, former CFO of GE, as Chief Operating Officer to strengthen leadership and drive AI transformation. Dybeck Happe, who aided GE’s recovery and the spin-off of GE Vernova, will join Microsoft’s senior leadership team. Shares dipped 0.1% in pre-market trading after closing up 0.9% on Thursday.

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) – Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris stated that the EU court order requiring Apple to pay $14.4 billion will allow the government to invest in infrastructure, housing, and capital projects. Ireland and Apple have contested the tax since 2016, but the funds will now address urgent challenges. In other news, Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance criticized Apple, stating that while he doesn’t consider the company “evil,” it benefits from slave labor in its supply chains in China and other countries. He advocates for tax cuts for companies that create jobs in the U.S. and higher tariffs for those outsourcing jobs abroad. Shares rose 0.1% in pre-market trading.

Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) – In 2019, Google removed a feature allowing publishers to prevent ad sales from being diverted to competitors, anticipating resistance. Documents show Google tried to soften the change, which is now central to an antitrust trial, and reveal that Google knew the removal would increase its influence and could hurt publisher revenue. Shares rose 0.7% in pre-market trading after closing up 2.3% on Thursday.

Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU) – Micron Technology’s stock fell 3.8% Thursday after BNP Paribas downgraded the stock and cut its price target to $67, citing the company’s expected underperformance against AI competitors. Despite the drop, some analysts still view the stock as undervalued based on price metrics. Shares rose 0.2% in pre-market trading.

Adobe (NASDAQ:ADBE) – In the quarter ended August 30, Adobe reported revenue of $5.41 billion, surpassing the $5.37 billion estimate. Adobe posted net income of $1.68 billion, or $3.76 per share, compared to $1.40 billion, or $3.05 per share, in the prior-year period. On an adjusted basis, the company earned $4.65 per share, while analysts projected $4.53 per share. However, Adobe forecast lower-than-expected profits for the fourth quarter due to strong competition and weak demand for its AI tools. Adobe expects earnings per share between $4.63 and $4.68, slightly below the $4.67 estimate. Expected fourth-quarter revenue is $5.50 billion to $5.55 billion, below the $5.61 billion forecast. Shares dropped 8.1% in pre-market trading after closing up 1.1% on Thursday.

Oracle (NYSE:ORCL) – Oracle forecasts annual revenue of at least $104 billion by 2029, driven by its cloud expansion. The company raised its 2026 revenue forecast to $66 billion. Oracle, whose shares are up 53% this year, is focused on migrating its database customers to the cloud. Shares climbed 6.2% in pre-market trading after closing up 2.7% on Thursday.

Fortinet (NASDAQ:FTNT) – Fortinet revealed yesterday that someone gained unauthorized access to some customer files stored on a third-party cloud, but it did not affect internal operations. The company notified customers, and there is no evidence of malicious activity. Shares fell 2.8% on Thursday, closing at $74.49.

CrowdStrike (NASDAQ:CRWD) – While it’s common for companies and their leaders to buy back shares during significant declines to support the price, CrowdStrike hasn’t done so. Following a drop in July caused by a global outage, the company did not purchase shares on the open market. The last recorded repurchase was just 42 shares in June, before the outage. Shares rose 1.41% on Thursday.

DigitalBridge (NYSE:DBRG) – DigitalBridge is considering selling all or part of EdgePoint Infrastructure, in Southeast Asia, valued at up to $4 billion. The company is exploring options with financial advisers as investors seek high-demand telecom assets. Discussions are early and may not proceed. Shares rose 0.9% in pre-market trading after closing up 5.9% on Thursday.

Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) – Ericsson launched a new company and a joint venture with multiple telecom operators to offer network API software. These APIs will help prevent fraud, improve entertainment, and offer various capabilities. The new company will have 50% ownership by Ericsson and 50% by the operators. Shares fell 0.3% in pre-market trading after closing up 0.3% on Thursday.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) – Verizon will face an expense between $1.7 billion and $1.9 billion in Q3 due to 4,800 planned layoffs. The company also expects charges of up to $380 million related to asset and business streamlining. Verizon plans to reduce office space and certain non-core business operations. Additionally, the company intends to sell assets and mobile towers to raise capital and improve its position in the fiber optics market.

Vodafone Group Plc (NASDAQ:VOD) – The UK questioned whether the $19.7 billion merger between Vodafone and Three would benefit competition, despite promises to improve mobile networks. The CMA raised concerns over price hikes and service reductions but sees potential if the deal is adjusted. The final decision is due in December. Shares rose 0.5% in pre-market trading after closing down 0.1% on Thursday.

Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN) – Amazon will invest $660 million to increase compensation for Delivery Service Partners (DSPs) next year, raising drivers’ average income to nearly $22 per hour. The investment, part of a $12.3 billion total over six years, includes a new app and AI-powered safety measures. Shares fell 0.1% in pre-market trading after closing up 1.3% on Thursday.

FuboTV (NYSE:FUBO) – The antitrust trial between FuboTV and Walt Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros Discovery, regarding the new sports streaming service, is set to begin on October 6, 2025, according to a court document released Thursday. Shares fell 1.1% in pre-market trading after closing up 4.1% on Thursday.

Charter Communications (NASDAQ:CHTR) – Charter Communications and Warner Bros Discovery renewed their deal, allowing Max and Discovery+ to be included at no additional cost in Spectrum TV Select packages. This addition may expand Charter’s customer base. Shares closed up 3.6% on Thursday.

Warner Bros Discovery (NASDAQ:WBD) – Warner Bros Discovery expects to add more than 6 million Max subscribers in Q3, highlighting international growth and new releases. CEO David Zaslav stated that subscriber growth will drive revenue. The service, relaunched in May, expanded to Europe and Latin America. Shares fell 0.4% in pre-market trading after closing up 10.4% on Thursday.

Roku (NASDAQ:ROKU) – Roku shares rose 5.7% on Thursday after Wolfe Research stated the company is expected to see accelerated sales growth. Wolfe Research upgraded the stock from Peer Perform to Outperform and set a price target of $93 after increasing sales and free cash flow estimates for 2025. Despite a 19% drop this year, recovery is seen as promising. Shares closed up 5.7% on Thursday.

Sony (NYSE:SONY) – Sony Music is close to securing a deal to acquire the rights to Pink Floyd’s recordings for approximately $500 million, according to the Financial Times. Negotiations have been complicated by disputes between band members, particularly Roger Waters and David Gilmour. Shares fell 0.3% in pre-market trading after closing down 0.2% on Thursday.

Amazon, Walmart (NYSE:WMT) – India’s antitrust investigation found that Amazon and Walmart’s Flipkart violated local laws by favoring certain sellers on their platforms. Reports indicate these preferred sellers were given better search placement and additional benefits, harming competition. Both companies deny wrongdoing and are reviewing the findings. Walmart shares rose 0.2% in pre-market trading after closing up 1.0% on Thursday.

Petco (NASDAQ:WOOF) – Investors are focusing more on meme stocks than financial fundamentals in 2024. Keith Patrick Gill, known as Roaring Kitty, didn’t mention Petco on social media, but a subreddit post boosted the stock by 44% in two days. Despite weak financials, the appointment of a new CEO offers hope. Shares, up 74.95% this week, closed up 11.3% on Thursday.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) – McDonald’s extended its $5 meal promotion in the U.S. through December to attract budget-conscious customers. Launched in June and extended in August, the offer aims to sustain demand amid competitor promotions. The company also announced other deals to lure customers. Shares rose 0.7% on Thursday.

American Airlines (NASDAQ:AAL) – American Airlines flight attendants approved a new five-year contract with 87% of the vote. The deal includes wage increases of up to 20.5%, retroactive pay, and compensation for boarding and waiting time. It’s the first contract to guarantee boarding pay. Shares rose 0.2% in pre-market trading after closing up 1.0% on Thursday.

Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) – Delta Air Lines forecasted an improvement in Q3 revenues due to high demand and moderate industry capacity. The company expects positive unit revenue growth and earnings per share between $1.70 and $2.00, and reduced revenue expectations due to a cyberattack that impacted flights.

Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV) – Teamsters Local 19 and Southwest Airlines reached a tentative four-year agreement, providing a 23% wage increase for flight simulator technicians. The package includes enhanced retirement and parental leave benefits, along with ratification bonuses. Member voting will take place soon.

United Airlines Holdings (NASDAQ:UAL) – United Airlines postponed its investor updates day, originally scheduled for May. CFO Mike Leskinen stated that the industry faces financial challenges and prefers to present better results rather than promising future improvements while margins remain low. Shares fell 0.3% in pre-market trading after closing up 2.4% on Thursday.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC) – Norfolk Southern replaced CEO Alan Shaw with Mark George, the company’s CFO, following Shaw’s resignation due to an inappropriate relationship with the chief legal officer. While George brings stability, there are concerns over the board’s governance, which could lead to further changes.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) – Union Pacific announced it has restored all its rail lines following Hurricane Francine but warned of potential delays for shipments in the affected area. The railway completed inspections and installed generators in locations without power. Francine, now a tropical depression, still poses risks.

General Motors (NYSE:GM) – General Motors is negotiating to buy batteries from CATL, with the technology assembled at a new U.S. factory managed by TDK Corp. This aims to cut costs and avoid tariffs, creating over 1,000 jobs. Ford also plans to use similar technology in Michigan despite legislative concerns. Additionally, GM and Hyundai Motor agreed to explore collaborations in strategic areas, including joint vehicle development, supply chain cooperation, and clean energy technologies. The companies signed a memorandum of understanding to combine forces, reduce costs, and accelerate the delivery of new technologies and vehicles to the market. Shares rose 0.4% in pre-market trading after closing up 3.3% on Thursday.

Ford Motor (NYSE:F) – Ford plans to reopen a factory in Tamil Nadu, India, for export purposes, returning to the market it exited in 2021. The company sent a letter of intent to the state government, focusing on production for global markets rather than domestic sales. Details about the vehicles to be manufactured will be announced later.

Stellantis (NYSE:STLA) – Stellantis will suspend production of the electric Fiat 500 for four weeks due to low demand and challenges in the European electric vehicle market. The Mirafiori plant in Turin, Italy, will be revamped with a $110 million investment to produce a hybrid version of the model starting in 2025. Shares rose 0.3% in pre-market trading after closing down 1.4% on Thursday.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA) – Mastercard will acquire Recorded Future for $2.65 billion, as announced Thursday. The acquisition aims to expand Mastercard’s threat intelligence capabilities, with the company having processed $9 trillion in transactions last year. With the acquisition, Mastercard will enhance its ability to detect fraud and cyber threats. Shares rose 0.1% in pre-market trading after closing up 0.8% on Thursday.

Blackstone (NYSE:BX) – Blackstone is considering selling its majority stake in VFS Global after receiving interest from investors. The asset manager is evaluating whether to pursue a full or partial sale, which could value the company at around $7 billion. Preliminary discussions with advisers are underway, but no final decision has been made. Shares rose 2.3% on Thursday.

Lazard (NYSE:LAZ) – In August, Lazard faced $7.5 billion in net outflows from asset management, as a client switched to a passive investment strategy. This reduced its total assets under management to $244.34 billion. Despite this, the bank saw year-over-year growth and second-quarter profits. Shares closed up 1.2% on Thursday.

Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.B) – Ajit Jain, a former Berkshire Hathaway insurance executive, sold more than half of his Class A shares this week, totaling $139.1 million. Jain sold 200 shares, including 104 directly and 96 through family trusts. The sale followed a peak in share prices and may reflect personal motives, according to analysts. Jain still holds significant shares in Berkshire. Shares rose 0.1% in pre-market trading after closing down 0.5% on Thursday.

Carlyle Group (NASDAQ:CG) – Carlyle Group opted for an IPO of StandardAero after offers for a sale did not meet valuation expectations. StandardAero, a major aircraft maintenance services provider, recently posted profits, reversing previous losses. The IPO could still change, and terms will be set later.

Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC) – Wells Fargo shares fell 4% on Thursday after the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) identified anti-money laundering control failures and limited the bank’s expansion in risk areas. The bank pledged to address the deficiencies, though there are no financial penalties. Shares rose 0.1% in pre-market trading.

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) – Goldman Sachs hired Melissa Goldman as a partner and global head of technology engineering. With 30 years of experience, she returns after having worked at Google and JPMorgan Chase. Goldman Sachs has brought other former employees back as partners this year, including Robert Kaplan.

Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) – Deutsche Bank raised its forecast for the S&P 500 from 5,500 to 5,750 points due to strong earnings growth, robust stock buybacks, and AI optimism. The new target reflects a 2.75% increase over the index’s recent close and is driven by positive economic expectations. Shares rose 0.1% in pre-market trading after closing up 1.0% on Thursday.

Bank of Montreal (NYSE:BMO) – The Bank of Montreal won a U.S. appeals court ruling overturning a $564 million judgment against its subsidiary related to a $3.65 billion Ponzi scheme run by Tom Petters. The court ruled that the subsidiary was not liable, following precedents in similar cases. Shares rose 0.1% in pre-market trading after closing up 0.9% on Thursday.

Navient (NASDAQ:NAVI) – The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau barred Navient from managing federal student loans and imposed a $120 million penalty for errors and deceptive practices. Navient will permanently exit the student loan servicing business, including $100 million in restitution and a $20 million fine. Shares closed up 5.5% on Thursday.

ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) – Mitsubishi agreed in principle to buy a stake in ExxonMobil’s Texas hydrogen facility and acquire low-carbon ammonia. The facility will produce up to 1 billion cubic feet of hydrogen daily and 1 million tons of ammonia annually starting in 2029. Shares rose 0.4% in pre-market trading after closing up 1.4% on Thursday.

Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY) – Occidental Petroleum’s 1PointFive carbon capture unit received up to $500 million from the U.S. Department of Energy for its Direct Air Capture Center in Texas. This project, already funded by BlackRock, is crucial for testing the economic viability of this decarbonization technology. Shares rose 0.7% in pre-market trading after closing up 0.7% on Thursday.

Dow Inc (NYSE:DOW) – Dow lowered its Q3 revenue forecast to $10.6 billion from $11.1 billion due to a partial shutdown of a Texas plant following Hurricane Beryl. The financial impact could range between $125 million and $150 million. Shares fell 0.9% on Thursday.

Vale (NYSE:VALE) – Vale aims for 10% of its iron ore production to come from mining waste by 2030. In 2024, the miner expects to recover about 7 million tons of tailings, reducing the storage of hazardous material. Annual iron ore production is expected to rise to more than 360 million tons after 2030. Shares fell 0.1% in pre-market trading after closing up 1.5% on Thursday.

Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA) – On Thursday, Moderna delayed its breakeven target to 2028 and forecasted 2025 sales below market expectations after vaccine development delays. Revenue projections for 2025 range from $2.5 billion to $3.5 billion, below analysts’ expectations of $3.74 billion. Shares dropped 3.3% in pre-market trading after closing down 12.4% on Thursday.


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