Trending Market News

Japanese spacecraft startup ispace announced it will delay its NASA-sponsored lunar mission to 2030 (from 2027) and cut its global workforce following two failed lunar landing attempts. The company is shifting strategy to focus on launching five lunar orbiters by 2030 while consolidating moon lander development across its Japanese and U.S. units. The delay comes as NASA accelerates its Artemis program with plans for up to 30 uncrewed lunar missions starting next year.

• ispace will incur costs of several million dollars due to the strategic changes, leading to potential equity financing and a reduction of a few dozen staff members
• The company's third mission is scheduled for 2028 as part of Japan's lunar program, using an 'Ultra' lander capable of carrying 200 kg payloads
• Only two private companies, both U.S.-based (Intuitive Machines and Firefly Aerospace), have successfully landed on the Moon, while ispace remains the only private company outside the U.S. with moon landing technology

AstraZeneca announced on March 27 that its experimental drug tozorakimab successfully met primary endpoints in two late-stage clinical trials, demonstrating a meaningful reduction in exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), commonly known as 'smoker's lung'. The positive trial results represent a potential breakthrough in treating a major respiratory condition.

• Tozorakimab achieved its main goal in two separate late-stage trials for COPD treatment
• The drug showed meaningful reduction in disease flare-ups, which are critical events that worsen patient outcomes in COPD
• COPD, often called 'smoker's lung', is a chronic respiratory disease affecting millions globally, making this a significant market opportunity

Huawei's new 950PR AI chip has successfully completed customer testing and attracted orders from major Chinese tech companies ByteDance and Alibaba, marking a significant breakthrough for the company. The chip offers better compatibility with Nvidia's CUDA software system compared to Huawei's previous flagship chip, which struggled to gain adoption. Huawei plans to ship approximately 750,000 units in 2025, with mass production beginning next month.

• The 950PR chip is more compatible with Nvidia's CUDA software system and offers better response speeds, addressing adoption barriers that limited uptake of Huawei's previous Ascend 910C chip among major Chinese tech firms
• Huawei plans to ship around 750,000 950PR chips this year, with samples sent to customers in January and mass production starting in April, priced at 50,000 yuan ($6,900) for the standard version and 70,000 yuan for the premium HBM memory version
• The chip is designed to excel at AI inference workloads rather than raw computing power, aligning with China's shift from AI model development to real-world deployment as Nvidia faces ongoing U.S. export restrictions in the Chinese market

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Novo Nordisk's insulin injection Awiqli for treating type 2 diabetes in adults. The approval allows the Danish drugmaker to market the medication to help improve blood sugar control in this patient population.

• Awiqli is an insulin injection specifically approved for improving blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes
• The approval expands Novo Nordisk's diabetes treatment portfolio in the U.S. market
• The FDA clearance enables commercial distribution of the therapy to address the large type 2 diabetes patient population

A federal judge in San Francisco granted AI startup Anthropic a preliminary injunction against the Trump administration's decision to blacklist the company and ban federal agencies from using its Claude AI technology. The dispute arose after contract negotiations with the Pentagon fell apart over Anthropic's restrictions on using its AI for autonomous weapons and domestic mass surveillance. The judge questioned whether the government's actions constituted an 'attempt to cripple' the company.

• Anthropic is the first American company publicly designated a supply chain risk by the Defense Department, a label historically reserved for foreign adversaries, forcing Defense contractors like Palantir and Microsoft to certify they don't use Claude
• Contract talks broke down when the Pentagon demanded unfettered access to Anthropic's models for all lawful purposes, while Anthropic sought assurances its technology wouldn't be used for fully autonomous weapons or domestic mass surveillance
• Judge Rita Lin expressed concern that Anthropic is being 'punished' by the administration, noting that one amicus brief described the government's actions as 'attempted corporate murder'

OpenAI's advertising pilot program has surpassed $100 million in annualized revenue in less than two months since launching in the U.S. The ads appear at the bottom of ChatGPT responses for free and ChatGPT Go users, with the company now working with over 600 advertisers and planning expansion to Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

• Roughly 85% of OpenAI's free and Go users in the U.S. are eligible to see ads, but less than 20% are shown them daily, reflecting a deliberately gradual rollout
• Ads are clearly labeled, do not influence ChatGPT responses, and are restricted from appearing near sensitive topics like politics, health, and mental health, with users under 18 excluded
• OpenAI reports no impact on privacy-related trust metrics and strong advertiser interest, though some advertisers have expressed frustration with the slow and conservative pace of the pilot expansion

American Airlines is in discussions with SpaceX's Starlink and Amazon to upgrade in-flight Wi-Fi and entertainment on its narrow-body aircraft, and is seriously considering reinstalling seatback screens it removed nearly a decade ago. The carrier faces competitive pressure from Delta and United, which have invested heavily in onboard products and capture most of the U.S. airline industry's profits. A decision on seatback screens could come as early as next month.

• American removed seatback screens from narrow-body planes nearly 10 years ago to cut equipment costs and weight, betting passengers would use personal devices instead
• Discussions with Amazon include providing Prime content, music, and potentially shopping features where customers could use miles for purchases
• Starlink has secured deals with multiple carriers including United, JetBlue, and Qatar Airways, as airlines race to offer free Wi-Fi to loyalty program members

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT), representing 1.8 million members, has called for a boycott of Target over the retailer's perceived inadequate response to federal immigration enforcement in Minneapolis that resulted in two U.S. citizen deaths. This boycott comes as Target attempts a turnaround under new CEO Michael Fiddelke after three consecutive years of declining sales, and follows an earlier boycott over the company's rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

• The AFT plans to urge members to shop locally instead of Target during the critical back-to-school season and will push similar resolutions at AFL-CIO, NAACP, and LULAC conventions
• Target's sales have declined for three straight years, with the company attributing some losses to boycotts, though an Atlanta pastor recently ended a DEI-related boycott earlier this month
• CEO Fiddelke signed a letter with other Minnesota executives calling for an 'immediate pause' in immigration enforcement but did not name the victims or criticize the Trump administration, which the AFT described as 'insulting'

Netflix raised prices across all subscription tiers effective Thursday, with increases ranging from $1 to $2 per month. The price hike, the first since January 2025, comes as the streaming giant invests heavily in content, including live events and video podcasts, with planned spending of $20 billion on content in 2026.

• The ad-supported plan increased to $8.99/month (from $7.99), standard plan to $19.99/month (from $17.99), and premium plan to $26.99/month (from $24.99)
• Netflix expects to spend $20 billion on content in 2026, up from $18 billion in 2025, as it expands into live events and video podcasts
• The company projects 2026 revenue between $50.7 billion and $51.7 billion, driven by membership growth, pricing increases, and roughly doubled ad revenue compared to 2025

Vicki Hollub, 66, is preparing to retire as CEO of Occidental Petroleum after a decade leading the company, making her one of the most powerful women in the male-dominated oil industry. Richard Jackson, the company's chief operating officer, is expected to succeed her when she formally announces her departure later this year. Hollub's tenure was defined by the controversial $55 billion Anadarko acquisition in 2019, which left Occidental with significant debt but expanded its position in the Permian Basin.

• The 2019 Anadarko deal, financed partly by $10 billion from Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, drew criticism for its size and terms, sparking an activist campaign by Carl Icahn and forcing Hollub to forgo her 2019 bonus.
• Under Hollub's leadership, Occidental became more focused on oil and gas production through strategic moves including the $12 billion CrownRock purchase in 2024 and the $9.7 billion divestment of its chemicals business in early 2026.
• Hollub was the first woman to lead a major U.S. oil company and remained the sole female CEO of a publicly listed American oil and gas company for much of her tenure, helping break gender barriers in the industry.

Mastercard is seeking to sell the real-time payments unit it acquired from Denmark's Nets Group in 2019 for $3.2 billion, according to the Financial Times. The company has hired investment bankers to lead the sale process, which is expected to attract interest from private equity groups. The unit is likely to fetch a lower valuation than the original purchase price.

• Mastercard paid $3.2 billion for the payments unit in 2019 but is expected to receive a lower valuation in the sale
• Investment bankers have been hired to manage the sale process, with private equity groups anticipated as potential buyers
• The divestiture comes as Mastercard recently acquired stablecoin infrastructure firm BVNK for up to $1.8 billion earlier this month

Apple plans to open its Siri voice assistant to third-party AI services beyond ChatGPT, allowing integration with rivals like Google's Gemini and Anthropic's Claude, according to Bloomberg News. The move, expected with iOS 27, represents a significant shift in Apple's AI strategy as it seeks to position the iPhone as a broader AI platform and catch up with Silicon Valley competitors.

• Users will be able to route queries to different AI services from within Siri and choose which service handles each request through tools integrated with Apple Intelligence platform
• Apple could generate additional revenue by taking a cut from subscriptions to premium AI services accessed through its platform
• The company is expected to preview these new software features at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June, though plans could still change

Microsoft has ordered a hiring freeze across major divisions including its cloud unit and North American sales groups, according to The Information. The directive was issued by executives in recent weeks to managers at these key business segments. Three employees with direct knowledge confirmed the decision.

• The hiring freeze affects Microsoft's cloud division, a critical growth driver for the company's business
• North American sales groups are also impacted by the suspension of new hiring
• The decision was communicated by executives to managers in recent weeks across multiple major divisions

Elon Musk's lawyer has asked a federal judge to review a jury verdict that found Musk liable for defrauding Twitter investors, alleging jurors compromised their integrity by writing '$4.20' in blue ink on the verdict form as a joke. The March 20 verdict awarded nominal damages to investors who claimed Musk made false statements affecting Twitter's stock price. The lawyer argues this 'numerical joke' shows the jury was sending a message to Musk rather than rendering an impartial verdict.

• Musk's attorney Alex Spiro claims jurors 'mocked' Musk by writing '$4.20' in bright blue ink while other entries were in black, referencing marijuana culture and Musk's frequent use of the number 420
• The jury found Musk liable for two statements questioning whether Twitter was accurately counting spam bots, which investors claim was intended to pressure Twitter into renegotiating the buyout price
• Musk has repeatedly used '420' in business contexts, including pricing Tesla's Model S at $69,420 in 2020 and his 2018 tweet about taking Tesla private at $420 per share

United Airlines and its flight attendants union reached a tentative labor deal that includes their first pay raises in roughly six years. If ratified, United would become the last major U.S. carrier to secure a labor agreement with cabin crew since the pandemic ended. Flight attendants previously rejected a deal last July that included immediate 26% raises.

• Flight attendants last received raises approximately six years ago, making this their first compensation increase since before the pandemic
• The deal includes higher base pay, additional compensation for flight disruptions, and new restrictions on overnight flight assignments
• United flight attendants rejected a previous contract in July that would have provided immediate 26% pay increases

Medical device maker Stryker is recovering from a cyberattack that occurred on March 11, which disrupted its operations by impacting Windows-based devices connected to its systems. The company has restored electronic ordering systems and is working to return manufacturing to full capacity while coordinating with cybersecurity experts and authorities.

• The cyberattack affected cellphones, laptops, and remote devices running Microsoft Windows that connected to Stryker's platforms
• Electronic ordering systems have been restored, with the company now reconciling orders and working to manufacture and deliver products to customers
• Stryker operates in 61 countries with 56,000 employees, and authorities have attempted to seize domains linked to the hackers behind the attack

French spirits maker Pernod Ricard is considering acquiring Brown-Forman, the owner of Jack Daniel's whiskey, according to Bloomberg News. The Paris-listed company has reportedly held initial discussions with the Louisville, Kentucky-based Brown-Forman. Neither company has commented on the potential transaction.

• Pernod Ricard has engaged in preliminary discussions with Brown-Forman regarding a potential acquisition deal
• Brown-Forman, based in Louisville, Kentucky, owns the iconic Jack Daniel's whiskey brand
• Both companies declined to comment on the reported discussions when contacted by Reuters

French oil major TotalEnergies announced it will reevaluate its 2050 carbon neutrality targets, stating that global society is not transitioning away from fossil fuels fast enough to meet Paris Agreement goals. The company said it cannot adopt a formal 'Net Zero' transition plan under European reporting standards, citing dependence on technical innovation, public policies, and consumer choices beyond its control.

• TotalEnergies emitted 368 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent in 2025, down from 376 million tons in 2024, remaining within its target of under 400 million tons through 2030
• The company acknowledged that society has begun an energy transition 'but at a pace that does not yet allow for the collective achievement of carbon neutrality' under the Paris Agreement
• Other European oil majors BP and Shell have similar 2050 carbon intensity targets but also cite the pace of societal transition from hydrocarbons as a critical factor in achieving goals

Apple announced a $400 million expansion of its American Manufacturing Program through 2030, adding four new partners—Bosch, Cirrus Logic, TDK, and Qnity Electronics—to manufacture components domestically. This expansion is part of Apple's larger $600 billion, four-year commitment to U.S. manufacturing and innovation, aimed at strengthening domestic supply chains and creating jobs.

• Apple will purchase over 100 million advanced chips from TSMC's Arizona facility in 2026, a significant increase from 2025 production levels
• New partners will produce critical components including sensors for camera stabilization (TDK), chips for Crash Detection (Bosch), and Face ID semiconductors (Cirrus Logic)
• Apple has absorbed approximately $3.3 billion in tariff costs since Trump's trade policies began, choosing not to raise consumer prices

Kodiak Sciences' stock surged 52% in premarket trading after its experimental eye drug Zenkuda met primary endpoints in a late-stage trial for diabetic retinopathy. The trial showed 62.5% of patients achieved at least a two-step improvement on retinopathy severity scales at 48 weeks versus 3.3% on placebo. The company plans to accelerate its FDA approval submission.

• Patients on Zenkuda saw an 85% reduction in risk of developing sight-threatening complications such as proliferative diabetic retinopathy
• The drug was well tolerated with no reported cases of vision-threatening conditions like blood vessel or eye inflammation
• Zenkuda demonstrated consistent efficacy regardless of whether patients were taking GLP-1 medications