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Block to Cut 40% of Workforce in AI-Driven Restructuring, Rattling Fintech Sector

Block, the payments and financial services company led by Jack Dorsey, announced it will eliminate approximately 40% of its workforce as part of a sweeping strategic restructuring tied to the adoption of artificial intelligence. The announcement sent S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures each down 0.4% before Friday's open and raised fresh concerns about AI-driven displacement across the broader fintech and financial services industry.

U.S.-Iran Nuclear Talks Resume With No Deal, Lifting Oil While Markets Brace for Geopolitical Risk

Diplomatic talks between the United States and Iran over Tehran's nuclear program concluded in Geneva without a resolution, with technical-level discussions now scheduled to resume in Vienna next week. While the continuation of negotiations eased the most acute fears of an imminent military confrontation, analysts at Raymond James warned that a U.S. military operation against Iran remains likely at this stage, keeping crude oil elevated and energy stocks in focus.

HSBC Strategists Slash U.S. Equity Overweight, Favor Global Markets

HSBC’s global strategists sharply reduced their overweight position in U.S. equities, reallocating toward emerging markets and European stocks as economic momentum abroad appears stronger. The shift reflects concerns about U.S. equity valuations and changing growth prospects, signaling cross-border flow impacts for market participants adjusting risk exposures.

Nvidia Posts Record $68 Billion Quarter but Shares Fall as Wall Street Demands More

Nvidia delivered its largest quarterly revenue beat in semiconductor history, reporting $68.13 billion in fiscal Q4 2026 revenue — up 73% year over year — and adjusted EPS of $1.62, topping the $1.53 consensus. Yet shares slid nearly 5% on Thursday as investors, skeptical of AI capital expenditure sustainability, demanded proof of monetization rather than infrastructure growth alone.

Salesforce Crushes Q4 Estimates by 25%, Authorizes $50 Billion Buyback as Agentforce Scales

Salesforce reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 non-GAAP EPS of $3.81, surpassing the $3.05 consensus estimate by nearly 25%, as its Agentforce AI platform reached approximately $800 million in ARR — up 169% year over year. The company authorized a $50 billion share repurchase program, though shares fell over 3% in premarket trading Thursday amid broader software sector anxiety.

Tariff Regime in Flux as Trump Replaces Struck-Down IEEPA Levies With 10–15% Section 122 Duties

Following a Supreme Court ruling that invalidated President Trump's broad emergency tariffs imposed under IEEPA, the administration swiftly replaced them with a 10% across-the-board import duty under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer confirming the rate will rise to 15% for certain trading partners. The legal and economic uncertainty is reverberating across equity, commodity, and currency markets.

Stripe Said to Weigh Full or Partial Acquisition of PayPal in Landmark Fintech Deal

Payments giant Stripe is evaluating a potential acquisition of all or part of PayPal Holdings, according to reports citing people familiar with the matter, sending PayPal shares surging more than 13% over two sessions. The prospective deal would represent one of the largest fintech consolidations in history and arrives as PayPal grapples with a recent CEO departure, a cautious 2026 profit outlook, and intensifying competitive pressure from AI-enabled payment solutions.

Nvidia Reports Fiscal Q4 Earnings After the Bell, AI Industry Watches Closely

Nvidia is set to release its fiscal fourth-quarter results after Wednesday's closing bell, with analysts expecting revenue of approximately $65.7 billion — a roughly 67% year-over-year surge — fueled by relentless demand for its Blackwell AI chips. The report is widely regarded as a referendum on the sustainability of the global AI infrastructure spending boom, with hyperscalers committing a collective $650 billion in AI capital expenditures for 2026.

Stripe Said to Weigh Full or Partial Acquisition of PayPal in Early-Stage Talks

Payment processing giant Stripe, freshly valued at $159 billion following a secondary share sale, is in preliminary discussions to acquire all or parts of PayPal Holdings, according to sources familiar with the matter. The report has sent PayPal shares up more than 9% over two sessions, as investors bet that a deal could breathe new life into a company that has lost significant market share to Apple Pay and Google Pay.