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Canada has approved a $4 billion expansion of an Enbridge natural gas pipeline in British Columbia, according to Canadian Energy Minister Tim Hodgson. The approval allows Enbridge to proceed with expanding the Westcoast Transmission System, which delivers natural gas to the U.S. Pacific Northwest.

• The pipeline expansion involves Enbridge's BC Pipeline system, also known as the Westcoast Transmission System
• The project carries a total investment value of $4 billion
• The pipeline currently delivers natural gas from British Columbia to the U.S. Pacific Northwest region

Procter & Gamble exceeded quarterly estimates driven by strong demand for premium beauty and hair care products, but warned of a $150 million hit to annual profit from rising input costs linked to the Middle East conflict. The company maintained its fiscal 2026 targets while expecting earnings per share at the lower end of forecasts, and reported its sixth consecutive quarter of margin declines.

• P&G's quarterly sales rose 7% to $21.24 billion, beating estimates of $20.50 billion, with organic volume up 2% led by 5% growth in the beauty segment
• Rising oil prices from $60 to $100 per barrel due to Middle East conflict will impact plastics, paper packaging, and transportation costs by $150 million, with greater impact expected in fiscal 2027 if conflict continues
• Currency-neutral gross margin fell 100 basis points for the sixth straight quarter, with the company facing nearly $400 million in tariff impacts and seeking refunds for half that amount from invalidated tariffs

Production at Samsung Electronics' South Korean chip facilities dropped significantly during an overnight shift on Thursday as unionized workers protested demanding higher wages. Foundry chip production fell 58% while memory chip production declined 18% during the strike action. Samsung declined to comment on the union's report.

• Foundry chip production dropped 58% and memory chip production fell 18% during the overnight shift on Thursday
• The production disruptions occurred at Samsung's South Korean facilities as unionized workers protested for higher compensation
• Samsung Electronics declined to provide comment on the union's claims about the production impact

A Reuters/Ipsos poll found 78% of Americans are concerned about pesticide use in food crops, ahead of a Supreme Court case on Monday where Bayer seeks to limit Roundup cancer lawsuits. The Trump administration is backing Bayer, despite opposition from some 'Make America Healthy Again' supporters who view the stance as potentially damaging to Republican midterm election prospects.

• 63% of poll respondents oppose protecting companies from lawsuits over cancer-causing products, even with warnings (71% Democrats, 57% Republicans, 61% independents)
• Bayer is appealing a $1.25 million verdict and seeking to shut down tens of thousands of lawsuits claiming Roundup's active ingredient glyphosate causes cancer
• MAHA movement leaders warn Trump's support for Bayer could compromise Republican votes in November midterms, with activists planning a rally outside the Supreme Court

China is planning to restrict major technology firms, including leading AI startups, from accepting U.S. investment capital without prior government approval, according to a Bloomberg News report citing people familiar with the matter. This move represents a significant escalation in tech and investment controls between the U.S. and China, though Reuters has not independently verified the report.

• The restrictions would apply to top technology companies, with a particular focus on leading AI startups
• Affected firms would need government approval before accepting U.S. capital, giving Chinese authorities direct oversight of foreign investment flows
• The measure signals intensifying tech competition and capital controls between the world's two largest economies

Commerzbank is planning additional job cuts as part of an updated strategy, according to Handelsblatt, as Italy's UniCredit escalates takeover efforts. The German bank has not determined the extent of the cuts and will reveal its strategy details on May 8. This marks the third round of staff reductions in recent years for Commerzbank.

• The extent of additional job cuts has not yet been decided, with details to be provided on May 8
• UniCredit is escalating its takeover advances, having recently launched an unsolicited bid to increase its stake above 30% in Commerzbank
• Commerzbank has already implemented two rounds of staff reductions in recent years

Mitsubishi Motors is recalling 108,046 vehicles in the United States due to a liftgate safety defect. The issue involves ruptured gas spring cylinders that could cause the liftgate to fall unexpectedly, posing an injury risk to owners and bystanders. The recall was announced by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on April 24.

• The recall affects 108,046 Mitsubishi vehicles in the U.S. market
• The defect involves gas spring cylinders that may rupture, causing the liftgate to fall unexpectedly and potentially injure people
• The safety issue was identified and announced by NHTSA, the federal vehicle safety regulator

European stock futures pointed to a negative open on Friday, with major indexes down 0.6-0.8%, as optimism over U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks faded. President Trump declined to provide a timeline for a long-term deal with Iran, while U.S. forces reportedly boarded another tanker carrying Iranian oil, heightening Middle East tensions and pushing oil prices higher.

• Pan-European Stoxx 50 futures fell 0.6%, with FTSE 100 futures down 0.8% and CAC 40 futures down 0.6% ahead of Friday's open
• Oil prices rose on geopolitical tensions, with Brent crude futures up 0.4% to $105.44 per barrel and WTI futures marginally higher at $95.88
• European investors await corporate earnings from Eni, Orange, Volvo, and Renault, plus economic data including U.K. retail sales and German Ifo Business Climate figures

UK retail sales rose 0.7% in March, significantly exceeding economist expectations of 0.1% growth, despite growing concerns about the Iran war's impact on fuel prices and broader economic outlook. The stronger-than-expected performance came as consumer confidence fell to its lowest level since October 2023, reflecting uncertainty about future spending.

• Sales volumes grew 0.7% month-over-month, beating the Reuters poll consensus of 0.1% increase
• UK consumer confidence index dropped to its lowest since October 2023 in March, recording the biggest monthly decline in a year
• Major retailers including Tesco and Sainsbury's report no meaningful changes in consumer behavior yet, though clothing chain noted April trading has been soft following encouraging March results

Stellantis will concentrate the majority of its investment on four core brands—Jeep, Ram, Peugeot, and Fiat—under CEO Antonio Filosa's new strategic plan to be announced May 21, according to five sources. The world's fourth-largest automaker will shift from evenly distributing resources across its 14-brand portfolio, instead positioning remaining brands like Citroen, Opel, and Alfa Romeo as regional or national players using technology from the core brands.

• Stellantis' market capitalization has plummeted to around 21 billion euros, barely above EV startup Rivian's $21 billion valuation and less than half of Volkswagen's worth
• The four core brands will receive a 'material increase' in funding, while the remaining 10 brands will use shared platforms and technology from the core brands to maintain regional relevance
• CEO Filosa does not plan to close any brands despite investor and analyst suggestions to shut overlapping European brands, though executives may eventually 'sunset' some based on future performance

Hyundai Motor announced plans to launch 20 new models in China over the next five years through its joint venture with Beijing Automotive Group, marking its most ambitious product expansion in the market. The South Korean automaker, which has struggled in China for years, aims to more than double its annual sales to 500,000 vehicles as it attempts to revive its presence in the world's largest auto market.

• Hyundai unveiled the China-specific all-electric IONIQ V at the Beijing auto show, powered by technology from Chinese autonomous driving developer Momenta
• The company's annual sales target of 500,000 vehicles in China represents more than double its current volume
• Hyundai is expanding local partnerships with Momenta and battery maker CATL as part of its localization strategy to compete in China's fiercely contested market

SpaceX's S-1 filing reveals the company will leverage Texas anti-takeover laws to protect against hostile bids and activist investors as it prepares for a major IPO. The Texas incorporation includes provisions making acquisitions, proxy contests, and officer removal more difficult, requiring potential acquirers to negotiate directly with the company. This follows Tesla's 2024 reincorporation in Texas after a Delaware court initially voided Elon Musk's $56 billion pay package.

• Texas anti-takeover statutes will discourage 'coercive takeover practices' and force potential acquirers to negotiate with SpaceX rather than pursue hostile bids
• Activist investor campaigns increased 3% year-over-year in Q1 2026, with 41 campaigns launched at U.S. companies, primarily targeting technology and industrial sectors
• Texas laws allow SpaceX to ban many lawsuits and restrict shareholder rights, consolidating board power despite concerns from proxy advisory firms like ISS

SpaceX secured a $20 billion bridge loan in March 2026 to refinance existing debt ahead of its planned summer IPO, which is expected to value the company at $1.75 trillion. The loan, from an undisclosed syndicate of lenders, replaced five existing debt facilities tied to Elon Musk's X platform and xAI ventures, reducing total debt from $22.05 billion to $20.07 billion.

• The 18-month bridge loan must be repaid with IPO proceeds if not refinanced within six months of the offering
• SpaceX's debt decreased by $1.98 billion through the refinancing, consolidating obligations from Musk's X social media platform and xAI artificial intelligence business
• The company filed its S-1 IPO document confidentially with the SEC and is expected to be the largest public offering when it lists this summer

Edwards Lifesciences reported first-quarter results that exceeded Wall Street expectations, driven by strong demand for its artificial heart valves used in cardiac procedures. The medical device company raised its full-year sales growth and profit guidance following the strong performance, benefiting from aging populations requiring more healthcare interventions.

• Sales of Edwards' TAVR (transcatheter aortic valve replacement) device, used to treat severe aortic stenosis, rose 14.4% year-over-year to $1.2 billion, beating estimates of $1.15 billion
• Quarterly revenue reached $1.65 billion, surpassing the $1.6 billion estimate, with adjusted earnings of 78 cents per share
• The company raised its annual sales growth forecast to 9-11% (from 8-10%) and increased its adjusted annual profit guidance to $2.95-$3.05 per share

President Donald Trump warned Americans to expect higher gas prices 'for a little while' due to the ongoing Iran war, though he provided no specific timeline. Gas prices have surged over 30% to top $4 per gallon since the conflict began in late February. Trump indicated he is not rushing to reach a peace deal with Iran, claiming the war has had less economic impact than anticipated.

• Gas prices have increased more than 30% since the war started, with WTI crude rising to $105.07 per barrel and Brent crude climbing from about $72 to over $95 per barrel
• Trump claimed the U.S. has 'total control' of the Strait of Hormuz and rejected Iran's proposal to reopen it, maintaining the blockade as leverage for a deal
• A majority of Americans surveyed expect higher gas prices to last at least six months, despite administration earlier estimates that the war would last four to six weeks

German software company SAP reported a 17% increase in operating profit for the first quarter, driven by strong demand for its cloud services. The results demonstrate continued growth in SAP's cloud business segment.

• SAP's Q1 operating profit rose 17% year-over-year
• Strong cloud demand was the primary driver of the profit increase
• The results reflect SAP's successful transition toward cloud-based software offerings

Intel reported first-quarter earnings that beat Wall Street expectations, with revenue rising 7.2% year-over-year to $13.58 billion, marking a potential turnaround for the struggling chipmaker. The stock surged 15% following the results, adding to an over 80% gain year-to-date, buoyed by Trump administration support and signs of renewed growth momentum.

• Revenue of $13.58 billion exceeded estimates of $12.42 billion, marking growth after revenue declines in five of the past seven quarters
• Intel stock is up more than 80% year-to-date as of the report, following an 84% gain in 2025, supported by billions in Trump administration investments
• Second-quarter revenue guidance of $13.8 billion to $14.8 billion signals continued momentum as Intel works to catch up to rivals Nvidia and TSMC in the AI chip market

The U.S. Commerce Department announced preliminary antidumping duties on solar cells and panels from India, Indonesia, and Laos on April 23. This represents the latest action in over a decade of U.S. tariffs targeting low-cost Asian solar imports. The duties vary significantly by country, with India facing the highest rate.

• India faces a 123.04% preliminary dumping margin, the highest among the three countries targeted
• Indonesia's preliminary duty rate is set at 35.17%, while Laos faces 22.46%
• These tariffs continue a pattern of U.S. trade actions against cheap solar imports from Asia spanning more than ten years

Brazil's antitrust regulator CADE approved a recommendation to launch formal administrative proceedings against Google over its use of journalistic content, citing potential abuse of market dominance. The investigation, which began in 2019, has been reopened due to Google's evolving conduct, particularly the introduction of AI-generated features that synthesize news content directly in search results. The regulator is concerned about exploitative practices that extract value from publishers without proportional compensation.

• CADE's interim chief cited Google's AI generative features as a key development, noting they synthesize information directly in search interfaces rather than simply linking to original sources
• The regulator highlighted a 'structural dependency' of news publishers on Google's search mechanisms for audience reach, potentially creating an exploitative relationship
• The case was previously recommended for closure due to insufficient evidence, but has been reopened following changes in Google's conduct since the 2019 inquiry began

A foreign-flagged tanker delivered crude oil from Texas to Pennsylvania under a temporary Jones Act waiver issued by President Trump in March 2025. The 60-day waiver allows foreign vessels to transport fuel and other goods between U.S. ports in response to supply disruptions and price increases caused by the Iran war. The administration is considering extending the waiver beyond its initial term.

• The Malta-flagged HTM Warrior transported Bakken crude from Phillips 66's Beaumont, Texas terminal to Monroe Energy's Trainer refinery in Pennsylvania in early April
• The Jones Act waiver, issued in March for 60 days, temporarily suspends the 1920 law requiring domestic vessels for inter-U.S. port shipping of fuel, fertilizer, and other goods
• The waiver addresses urgent supply chain issues including sharp gasoline price increases and disrupted fertilizer supplies for U.S. farmers due to the Iran conflict