Google loses bid to end US antitrust case over digital advertising

By Jody Godoy (Reuters) – Alphabet’s Google must face trial on U.S. antitrust enforcers’ claim that the internet search juggernaut illegally dominates the online advertising technology market, a federal judge ruled on Friday. U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Alexandria, Virginia, denied Google’s motion during a hearing, according to court records. Google had argued for a win without a trial, saying that antitrust laws do not block companies from refusing to deal with rivals and … Read more…

Economy Propels the Market – by Justin Vaughn

(Justin Vaughn, Editor, Options Trading Report) Even as 272,000 jobs were added in May, surpassing expectations, markets on Friday were struggling to stay above water. Economists were expecting a slowdown of hiring with numbers slipping. The opposite occurred as unemployment edged up slightly to 4%. All three indices closed the day Friday near even, while for the month they were in positive territory. The big news Friday was the bond market as the 10-year Treasury … Read more…

Trump criticizes Ukraine aid, talks tax cuts and tariffs with Republicans

By David Morgan and Andy Sullivan WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Donald Trump on Thursday criticized U.S. aid to Ukraine, urged Republican lawmakers to cut taxes on gratuities and talked up tariffs in a visit to Capitol Hill, participants said, as he sought to build party unity ahead of the Nov. 5 election. In a closed-door meeting, Trump said he would work to expand the party’s narrow 218-213 House of Representatives majority and help re-elect even the two … Read more…

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US job market resembling pre-pandemic environment, Yellen says

(Reuters) – U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Thursday said the U.S. employment picture increasingly resembles the job market that existed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and slowing wage growth is not a threat to add to inflation. “The labor market has become a little less hot, a little bit more normal. The number of job openings has declined some. We’ve had a burst in labor force participation,” Yellen said in an interview with CNBC. … Read more…

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Broadcom soars as demand for AI chips power forecast raise

By Arsheeya Bajwa (Reuters) – Broadcom surged more than 13% on Thursday as its upbeat annual forecast highlighted an insatiable demand for chips used in powering AI-focused technology, while its announcement of a stock split added to the euphoria. The rising adoption of generative AI has been driving demand for companies such as Broadcom that provide chips and networking tools to support these intensive applications. Broadcom, whose shares have risen 76% in the past 12 … Read more…

Musk says Tesla shareholders voting in favor of his $56 billion pay package

By Hyunjoo Jin, Abinaya V and Greg Roumeliotis (Reuters) -Tesla shareholders were set to approve Elon Musk’s $56 billion pay package in what is being seen as a thumbs-up to his leadership – and an enticement for keeping his focus on the electric vehicle maker. Musk posted a chart on his social media platform X late Wednesday that showed the resolution – and another vote to move the company’s legal home to Texas – were … Read more…

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What to watch for in the Biden-Trump presidential debate

By James Oliphant (Reuters) – The two oldest candidates ever to run for U.S. president meet on June 27 for a televised debate unlike any other. One accuses his rival of being unhinged and a danger to democracy, while the other accuses his opponent of being senile and corrupt. President Joe Biden, 81, and former President Donald Trump, who turns 78 on Friday, are essentially tied in national opinion polls with fewer than five months … Read more…

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Tesla reported to police in Sweden over alleged illegal electrical work

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) – U.S. electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla has been reported to police in Sweden accused of performing electrical installation work without the necessary registration, the Swedish Electricians’ Union said on Wednesday. There are already tense relations between Tesla and unions in Sweden, where the company has faced prolonged industrial action and its mechanics have been on strike since Oct. 27. Tesla was not immediately available for comment when contacted by Reuters. “There is evidence … Read more…

Citron Research closes GameStop short position

By Pranav Kashyap and Medha Singh (Reuters) – Citron Research no longer has a short position in retail traders’ favorite GameStop, the short seller said on X.com on Wednesday, days after taking a bearish position in the company. “It’s not because we believe in a turnaround for the company fundamentals will ever happen, but with $4 billion in the bank, they have enough runway to appease their cult like shareholders,” Citron said in the tweet. … Read more…

Apple overtakes Microsoft to return as world’s most valuable company

(Reuters) -Apple once again became the world’s most valuable company on Wednesday, dethroning Microsoft from the top spot, as the iPhone maker pushed ahead in a race to dominate artificial intelligence technology. Its shares rose more than 2% to $211.75, giving it a market valuation of $3.25 trillion. Microsoft’s market capitalization stood at $3.24 trillion, falling behind Apple for the first time in five months. Apple shares had surged to an all-time high in the … Read more…