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☆ J&J expects cancer drugs, medical devices to drive growth in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Shares of J&J, which recently spun off its consumer health unit to focus on drugs and medical devices, rose over 1% in premarket trading. The company expects sales at its pharmaceutical unit to grow more in the second half of 2023, compared with the first half. Quarterly sales of its multiple myeloma drug, Darzalex, were $2.43 billion, in line with Wall Street estimates, according to Refinitiv. Second-quarter sales for its medical device unit were $7.79 billion, topping estimates of $7.55 billion. J&J said it now expects adjusted 2023 profit of $10.70 to $10.80 per share, above estimates of $10.65 per share and its prior forecast of $10.60 to $10.70 per share.

Persons: Johnson, Stelara, J, J's, Bhanvi, Anil D'Silva Organizations: Johnson, Wall, Thomson Locations: Kenvue, Bengaluru

JOHANNESBURG, July 20 (Reuters) - A BRICS currency will not be on the agenda of the bloc's summit in South Africa next month, but Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa will continue to switch away from the U.S. dollar, South Africa's senior BRICS diplomat said on Thursday. "There's never been talk of a BRICS currency, it's not on the agenda," Anil Sooklal, South Africa's Ambassador at Large: Asia and BRICS, told a media briefing. "What we have said and we continue to deepen is trading in local currencies and settlement in local currencies." This has pushed countries to find alternatives to the dollar, especially among non-U.S. allies. "BRICS started a process that has been expedited as a result of the conflict, as a result of unilateral sanctions," Sooklal said.

Persons: There's, it's, Anil Sooklal, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Sergei Lavrov, BRICS, Sooklal, Rachel Savage, Carien du Plessis, Tim Cocks, Angus MacSwan Organizations: U.S ., South, Thomson Locations: JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Brazil, Russia, India, China, South, Asia, Russian, Ukraine, U.S

☆ Juul seeks US authorization for new e-cigarette
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 19 (Reuters) - Juul Labs said on Wednesday it was seeking U.S. authorization for a new e-cigarette that has age-verification capabilities and prevents the use of unauthorized refill cartridges. In its latest premarket tobacco product application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration submitted on Tuesday, Juul Labs said it was seeking to sell tobacco-flavored pods at a nicotine concentration of less than 2%. The e-cigarette maker has been in a tussle with the FDA to get its existing products approved after their sale was briefly banned last year following thousands of lawsuits that accused Juul of fueling a teen vaping epidemic. The company, in which Marlboro maker Altria (MO.N) was a former investor, would pursue additional filings to expand its e-cigarette alternatives, while pursuing an appeal of the FDA's stayed decision, a company spokesperson told Reuters. Reporting by Deborah Sophia and Savyata Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli and Anil D'SilvaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: FDA's, Deborah Sophia, Savyata Mishra, Shinjini Ganguli, Anil D'Silva Organizations: Juul Labs, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, FDA, Thomson Locations: Britain, U.S, Marlboro, Altria, Bengaluru

☆ Carvana shares surge on plans to cut debt load
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Nathan Gomes | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Companies Carvana Co FollowJuly 19 (Reuters) - Carvana (CVNA.N) shares soared as much as 43% on Wednesday after the troubled used-car retailer struck a deal with most of its term bondholders to cut its outstanding debt by more than $1 billion. Carvana had long-term debt of $6.54 billion as of June end, relatively unchanged from a year earlier. But Carvana has been struggling to sell cars acquired at elevated prices as buyers, hit by inflation and worried about a recession, cut spending. Carvana shares have lost 87% of their value in the past two years. In premarket trading on Wednesday, Carvana's shares rose as high as $57, in what traders said looked like a short squeeze.

Persons: John Zito, Carvana, Ernest Garcia's, Carvana's, Ortex, they're, Dennis Dick, Nathan Gomes, Bansari Mayur, Shivansh, Raechel, Medha Singh, Sriraj Kalluvila, Saumyadeb Chakrabarty, Anil D'Silva Organizations: Triple D, Carvana, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ AT&T bounces back after it eases fears over lead cable exposure
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 19 (Reuters) - Shares of AT&T (T.N) rose 5% in premarket trading on Wednesday after the telecom company said lead cables made up only a small part of its wireline network, easing fears of an expensive clean-up. Several brokerages including J.P. Morgan and Citi had downgraded AT&T after the report, which said the cables may have contaminated neighboring soil and drinking water sources. AT&T said on Tuesday lead-clad cables "represent less than 10% of its copper footprint of roughly two million sheath miles of cable, the overwhelming majority of which remains in active service." AT&T shares have fallen about 14% since the WSJ report and hit a three-decade low on Monday, while Verizon has lost about 10%. AT&T is scheduled to report its second-quarter results next Wednesday.

Persons: Morgan, Samrhitha, Anil D'Silva Organizations: Verizon, Wall, Citi, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ Reliance - Jio Financial Services demerger: what you need to know
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Chris Thomas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Five analysts estimate that Reliance's Jio Financial Services will be valued at 160-190 rupees per share. However, Jio Financial Services' stock will be included in the indexes, including the blue-chip Nifty 50 (.NSEI), but will not trade until it is listed. Jio Financial Services' listing date is widely expected to be announced at Reliance's forthcoming annual general meeting. THE DEMERGERReliance announced last October that it would demerge and list its financial services business - Reliance Strategic Investments - which will be renamed Jio Financial Services (JFS). Reliance shareholders would get one share of Jio Financial Services for holding one share of Reliance.

Persons: Mukesh, Hitesh Sethia, Chris Thomas, Anil D'Silva Organizations: Reliance Industries, Jio Financial, Reliance, National Stock Exchange, Bombay, Exchange, Jio Financial Services, NSE, DEMERGER Reliance, Reliance Strategic Investments, Kamath, ICICI Bank, Macquarie Research, AAA, Thomson Locations: BENGALURU, Bengaluru

INVESTMENT BANKING GAINSInvestment banking was a standout, with net income surging 76% to $2.7 billion. The gains were driven by higher interest payments and leasing revenue, the company said. In another surprise bright spot, the bank's sales and trading revenue outperformed expectations to post a 3% increase in revenue to $4.3 billion. Revenue from fixed income, currencies and commodities trading rose 7% to $2.7 billion from a year earlier. The financial health of consumers underpins BofA's consumer banking unit, where revenue rose 15% to $10.5 billion.

Persons: Wells, Brian Moynihan, David Fanger, BofA, Alastair Borthwick, Borthwick, Manya Saini, Saeed Azhar, Lananh Nguyen, Anil D'Silva, Nick Zieminski Organizations: YORK, Bank of America's, Wall, U.S, . Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Federal Reserve, " Bank of America's, Investment, Bank of America, Thomson Locations: U.S, dealmaking, Bengaluru, New York

July 18 (Reuters) - Bank of America (BAC.N) beat Wall Street estimates for second-quarter profit on Tuesday as it earned more from customers' loan payments, while its investment banking business fared better than expected. The bank reported a 7% rise in investment banking fees to $1.2 billion, driven by higher interest payments and leasing revenue, the company said. The bank reported a profit of 88 cents per share in the second quarter, beating analysts' average expectations of 84 cents, according to IBES data from Refinitiv. BofA's net interest income (NII) rose 14% to $14.2 billion in the second quarter. The financial health of consumers underpins BofA's consumer banking unit, whose revenue rose 15% to $10.5 billion.

Persons: Brian Moynihan, Wells, JPMorgan Chase's, Jeremy Barnum, Manya Saini, Saeed Azhar, Lananh Nguyen, Anil D'Silva Organizations: Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Federal Reserve, JPMorgan, U.S, Thomson Locations: U.S, Refinitiv, dealmaking, Bengaluru, New York

☆ India's Vedanta says it's awaiting govt nod for semiconductor plant in Gujarat
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BENGALURU, July 18 (Reuters) - India's Vedanta is awaiting government approval for incentives under a modified semiconductor production plan to begin construction of a plant in the country's western state of Gujarat, for which its has tapped technology and equity partners, a top executive said on Tuesday. The group already has a partnership with Taiwan's Innolux for display fab manufacturing, he added. After Foxconn pulled out, Vedanta said it had lined up partners for the venture, without giving details. Separately, Gujarat is holding talks with Foxconn over a semiconductor plant, while the Taiwanese company had said it intends to apply for incentives under India's semiconductor production plan. Reporting by Sethuraman NR and Aleef Jahan in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza and Maju SamuelOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Taiwan's, Anil Agarwal, Taiwan's Foxconn, Foxconn, Vedanta, Foxconn's pullout, Aleef, Savio D'Souza, Maju Samuel Organizations: Vedanta Semiconductors, Reuters, Sethuraman, Thomson Locations: BENGALURU, Gujarat, Bengaluru

☆ India's Vedanta to enter the chip market this year after Foxconn split
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BENGALURU, July 12 (Reuters) - India's Vedanta will enter the market for the manufacturing of chips and displays this year, group chairman Anil Agarwal said on Wednesday, days after its joint-venture partner Foxconn (2317.TW) pulled out of the $19.5 billion chipmaking project. Foxconn separately intends to apply for incentives under India's semiconductor production plan. In an address to the shareholders, Agarwal said Vedanta will "this year, subject to government approval" begin its foray to setup its semiconductor and display units. After Foxconn pulled out, Vedanta said it has lined up partners for the venture, without giving any further details. Volcan Investments, Vedanta's holding company and Foxconn had signed a pact last year to set up semiconductor and display production plants in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state Gujarat in western India.

Persons: Anil Agarwal, Foxconn, Agarwal, Vedanta, Narendra Modi's, Foxconn's pullout, Tanvi Mehta, Nivedita Bhattacharjee, Louise Heavens Organizations: Volcan Investments, Reuters, JV, Sethuraman NR, Thomson Locations: BENGALURU, Volcan, Gujarat, India, Bengaluru, New Delhi

☆ India's slow progress in becoming a chipmaking powerhouse to rival China is bad news for Apple
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Hasan Chowdhury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Apple has long depended on China for manufacturing, but the relationship is getting complex. Two recent developments suggest India's push to become a viable alternative to China — and benefit Apple — are mixed. "Foxconn has determined it will not move forward on the joint venture with Vedanta," Foxconn said in a statement to Reuters. That's a critical blow to Modi, who set out chip manufacturing as a strategic part of his ambitions to level up India. Vedanta chairman Anil Agarwal tweeted that the joint venture meant "India's own Silicon Valley is a step closer now."

Persons: Foxconn, —, China's, Luxshare, JP Morgan, Tim Cook, Modi, Madhuri Dixit, Mukesh Ambani, Narendra Modi, That's, Europe's, Anil Agarwal, Agarwal Organizations: Apple, Apple ., Tata Group, Bloomberg, Vedanta, Reuters Locations: China, India, Asia, China's hawkishness, Taiwan, Vietnam, Beijing, Mumbai, iPhones, Karnataka, Modi's, Gujarat, Cupertino

Foxconn (2317.TW) withdrew from the JV with the Indian metals-to-oil conglomerate on Monday, in a setback to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's chipmaking plans for India. "Foxconn is committed to India and sees the country successfully establishing a robust semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem." India expects its semiconductor market to be worth $63 billion by 2026, but Modi's plan has so far floundered. The $3 billion ISMC project is stalled because Tower is being acquired by Intel, while another $3 billion plan by IGSS was also halted because it wanted to re-submit its application, Reuters has reported. Like Foxconn, the Indian government has said the breakup of the JV had "no impact" on India's semiconductor plans, adding that both companies were "valued investors" in the country.

Persons: India Foxconn, Foxconn, Narendra Modi's chipmaking, Modi, IGSS, Ann Wang, Vedanta, Anil Agarwal, Vedanta's, Yimou Lee, Ben Blanchard, Tanvi Mehta, Aditya Kalra, Jacqueline Wong, Sonali Paul, Alexander Smith Organizations: India, JV, Vedanta, TW, Semiconductors, IGSS Ventures, ISMC, Intel, Reuters, REUTERS, Vedanta's, Vedanta Ltd, Vedanta Resources, Thomson Locations: chipmaking, India, TAIPEI, MUMBAI, Singapore, New Taipei City, Taiwan, Vedanta's India, Vedanta's London, Taipei, Mumbai, New Delhi, Pandya, Bengaluru

☆ India's Adani mulls bidding for Anil Ambani's bankrupt coal plants, Bloomberg reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 11 (Reuters) - Indian billionaire Gautam Adani is considering a bid for the bankrupt coal-fired power plants belonging to industrialist Anil Ambani, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. Ambani's Reliance Power Ltd (RPOL.NS) will also likely make an offer to win back control of the firm, the report added. Last week, Adani Green Energy Ltd (ADNA.NS) approved raising 123 billion rupees ($1.49 billion), while two other Adani group companies - Adani Transmission (ADAI.NS) and Adani Enterprises (ADEL.NS) - had in May outlined plans to raise funds totalling $2.57 billion. Adani's bids are aimed at strengthening the company's growing portfolio of coal power projects, the report said. Adani Enterprises or Reliance Power did not immediately respond to a Reuters' request for comment.

Persons: Gautam Adani, Anil Ambani, Ambani, Adani, Jose Joseph, Kashish Tandon, Sohini Goswami Organizations: Bloomberg, Vidarbha Industries Power Ltd, Ambani's Reliance Power, Green Energy Ltd, Adani Enterprises, Hindenburg Research, Reliance, Thomson Locations: Vidarbha, Nagpur, Maharashtra, Bengaluru

☆ India, Foxconn's worries over Vedanta's financials led to JV pullout - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Yimou Lee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Indian conglomerate Vedanta Ltd's (VDAN.NS) London-based parent, Vedanta Resources, has been plagued by a rising debt pile. In a statement to Reuters, Vedanta said its Indian unit, Vedanta Ltd, is in "a comfortable financial position" and there was "no basis" to such speculation. Some ratings agencies downgraded Vedanta Resources this year amid concerns about risks of a debt default. There have been no defaults on debts from the group, Vedanta Chairman Anil Agarwal has said. Reporting by Yimouy Lee; Additional reporting by Aditya Kalra and Munsif V; Editing by Himani Sarkar and Emelia Sithole-MatariseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Vedanta, Anil Agarwal, Yimouy Lee, Aditya Kalra, Himani Sarkar, Emelia Organizations: Reuters, Vedanta, Vedanta Resources, Vedanta Ltd, Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, London

☆ Troubles of Indian tycoon Anil Agarwal's Vedanta mount as Foxconn ditches JV
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Tanvi Mehta | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

He then expanded his empire across India, Zambia, Namibia, Ireland and South Africa and later entered the oil and gas sector. London-headquarted Vedanta Resources controls the India unit, Vedanta Ltd. Agarwal took Vedanta Resources private in 2018. Vedanta's gross debt stood at $6.8 billion as of April end, after the company completed 75% of its debt reduction commitment. FOXCONN JVVedanta-Foxconn had sought incentives from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government and several Indian states for its Foxconn JV to manufacture semiconductors. Relations between Zambia and Vedanta broke down several years ago and culminated in the state appointing a liquidator for the KCM assets in May 2019.

Persons: Foxconn, Anil Agarwal, VEDANTA, Agarwal, Agarwal's, Akarsh Hebbar, Moody's, Narendra Modi's, Paul Kabuswe, Vedanta, Tanvi Mehta, Aditya Kalra, Sonali Paul Organizations: Vedanta, Resources, India's, Forbes, JV, Reuters, Thomson Locations: DELHI, Mumbai, India, Zambia, Namibia, Ireland, South Africa, London, Tamil Nadu, Odisha

☆ Foxconn withdraws from $19.5 bln Vedanta chip plan in India
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Here is a timeline of how events have unfolded since the signing of the $19.5 billion joint venture:* Feb. 14, 2022: Foxconn partners with Vedanta to make semiconductors in India in a bid to diversify its business. * Sept. 13, 2022: Vedanta and Foxconn sign pacts to invest $19.5 billion to set up semiconductor and display production. * Sept. 14, 2022: Vedanta's Anil Agarwal says the Indian metals-to-oil conglomerate does not see funding problems for the JV. * May 31, 2023: Reuters reports that Vedanta-Foxconn JV proceeding slowly as talks to involve STMicroelectronics (STMPA.PA) are deadlocked. * July 10, 2023: Foxconn drops Vedanta chip JV, without specifying a reason.

Persons: Foxconn, Narendra Modi's chipmaking, Vedanta, Vedanta's Anil Agarwal, Chandrasekhar, Tanvi Mehta, Alexander Smith Organizations: Vedanta, Indian, JV, Reuters, Thomson Locations: DELHI, India, Gujarat

☆ Consumers and marketers see a role for (responsible) generative AI in customer experiences
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Sponsor Post | Created Adobe With Insider Studios | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A majority (57%) of all surveyed consumers believe generative AI will enhance their personal creativity, and the number rises as consumers get younger: 75% of Gen Z consumers say generative AI will make them more creative. And when it comes to their experiences with brands, 72% of global consumers say generative AI will improve their customer experiences, with eight out of ten millennial (80%) and Gen Z (83%) consumers expressing similar optimism. Consumers want companies to use generative AI to improve experiences – responsiblyWhen it comes to the most important things companies should do when using new generative AI technologies, consumers ranked responsibility #1, with 34% prioritizing actions like having guardrails in place to encourage responsible use. Generative AI will help boost efficiency and make customer experiences more personal. Learn more about Adobe's differentiated approach to generative AI – including next-generation customer experiences enhanced by Adobe Sensei GenAI, and our creative co-pilot Adobe Firefly.

Persons: Anil Kamath, there's, Adobe, they've, —, Adobe Sensei GenAI Organizations: Adobe, CAI, CX, Insider Studios Locations: United States, United Kingdom, Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, France, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, India, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia

SummarySummary Companies Mines minister says agreement with Vedanta Resources imminentVedanta says both parties want to sees mines in productionNAIROBI/LUSAKA, July 5 (Reuters) - Zambia is close to resolving a dispute with Vedanta Resources (VEDJB.UL) over its Konkola Copper Mines, with a deal over the future of the partly state-owned unit "imminent", its mines minister said. KCM has battled to attract investment since relations between Zambia and Vedanta broke down several years ago, culminating in the state's take-over of the KCM assets and forced liquidation in May 2019. The move triggering protracted legal battles, with Vedanta approaching an arbitration court in London to fight off the seizure of the copper assets. "The negotiations are advanced and an announcement is imminent," Zambia's Mines Minister Paul Kabuswe told Reuters. "We are concerned with the levels of deterioration of not only the mines but also socio-fabric of the workers," the spokesperson told Reuters.

Persons: KCM, Vedanta, Paul Kabuswe, Kabuswe, Situmbeko Musokotwane, Hakainde Hichilema, Anil Agarwal, Felix Njini, Chris Mfula, Jan Harvey Organizations: Mines, Vedanta, Vedanta Resources, Zambia's Mines, Reuters, Mining, Thomson Locations: NAIROBI, LUSAKA, Zambia, London, Africa's, Nairobi, Lusaka

June 30 (Reuters) - Apple Inc's (AAPL.O) stock market value ended a trading session above $3 trillion for the first time on Friday, lifted by signs of improving inflation and bets that the iPhone maker will successfully expand into new markets. Shares of the world's most valuable company jumped 2.3% to $193.97, giving it a market capitalization of $3.05 trillion, Refinitiv data showed. Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsThe Cupertino, California company's market capitalization briefly peaked above $3 trillion in intraday trading on Jan. 3, 2022 before closing the session just below that mark. Apple's $3 trillion milestone follows the June 5 launch of a pricey augmented-reality headset, its riskiest bet since the introduction of the iPhone more than a decade ago. Four other U.S. companies have valuations of more than $1 trillion - Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O), Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O), Nvidia and Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O), which follows Apple with a market value of $2.5 trillion.

Persons: Hogan, Riley, Tiyashi Datta, Noel Randewich, Anil D'Silva, Richard Chang Organizations: Apple, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Nvidia Corp, Tesla Inc, Commerce Department, Amazon.com Inc, Nvidia, Microsoft Corp, Tesla, Inc, Thomson Locations: Cupertino , California, Apple's, Bengaluru, Oakland, Calif

☆ Bausch + Lomb to buy Novartis dry-eye drug for $1.75 bln
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

June 30 (Reuters) - Bausch + Lomb Corp (BLCO.TO) will purchase a dry-eye drug from Swiss pharma company Novartis (NOVN.S) for $1.75 billion, the companies said on Friday, as the contact lens maker seeks to capitalise on a growing market for the disease's treatment. Acquisition of the drug, Xiidra, will mark the first big deal by CEO Brent Saunders since he returned to the company in March. Sales of the anti-inflammation eye drop Xiidra, mainly from the U.S. market, were $487 million last year, up 4%. The deal will also include potential milestone payments worth up to $750 million. Reporting by Leroy Leo in Bengaluru and Ludwig Burger in Frankfurt; Editing by Anil D'Silva and Vinay DwivediOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Brent Saunders, Leroy Leo, Ludwig Burger, Anil D'Silva, Vinay Dwivedi Organizations: Lomb, Swiss pharma, Novartis, Thomson Locations: U.S, Bengaluru, Frankfurt

☆ Apple's market value breaches $3 trillion mark again
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Tiyashi Datta | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Shares of Apple, which is also the world's most valuable- listed company, were up 1.6% at $192.6, after touching a record high of $193.15 during the day. They have jumped nearly 46% this year and, at the current price, the company's market value stands at around $3.02 trillion. Apple's market value briefly peaked at above $3 trillion in intra-day trading on Jan. 3, 2022, before closing the session just below that mark. Apple's 12-month forward price-to-earnings multiple (P/E), a common benchmark for valuing stocks, is 29.49, well above the sector median of 13.14, according to Refinitiv data. Currently, four other U.S. companies have a valuation of more than $1 trillion - Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O), Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O), Nvidia Corp (NVDA.O) and Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O), which is a close second with a market value of $2.49 trillion.

Persons: Atif Malik, Microsoft's, Tiyashi Datta, Anil D'Silva Organizations: Apple, Citigroup, Federal, Amazon.com Inc, Nvidia Corp, Microsoft Corp, Tesla, Nvidia, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ AI company Runway valued at $1.5 bln in latest funding -source
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 29 (Reuters) - AI company Runway has been valued at $1.5 billion in its latest round of funding, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday, after it raised $141 million from investors, including Alphabet-owned Google (GOOGL.O) and Nvidia (NVDA.O). The extension to the Series C funding round was also led by Salesforce Ventures and existing investors, the company said in a statement. Runway's software allows users to transform or tweak existing videos or create new videos by using text prompts or images. The company also launched a mobile app earlier this year, giving its users access to its generative AI tools. Reporting by Jaiveer Singh Shekhawat in Bengaluru and Krystal Hu in Toronto; Editing by Anil D'SilvaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jensen Huang, Jaiveer Singh, Krystal Hu, Anil D'Silva Organizations: Runway, Nvidia, Salesforce Ventures, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru, Toronto

☆ Lordstown Motors gets Nasdaq delisting notice
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 29 (Reuters) - Lordstown Motors (RIDE.O) said on Thursday it had received a delisting notice from the Nasdaq, days after the U.S. electric truck maker filed for bankruptcy protection. The company received the notice from Nasdaq on June 28, notifying its failure to meet listing rules and saying that trading in its class A common stock would be suspended on July 7, 2023, according to a filing. The EV maker filed for bankruptcy protection on Tuesday and put itself up for sale after failing to resolve a dispute over a promised investment from Taiwan's Foxconn (2354.TW). Lordstown accused Foxconn of fraudulent conduct and a series of broken promises in failing to abide by an agreement to invest up to $170 million in the company. Reporting by Tiyashi Datta in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'SilvaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Lordstown, Taiwan's Foxconn, Tiyashi Datta, Anil D'Silva Organizations: Lordstown Motors, Nasdaq, U.S, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ U.S. antitrust regulator plans to target Amazon's online marketplace, Bloomberg reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. antitrust regulator is planning to file a suit targeting Amazon.com's (AMZN.O) core online marketplace in the coming weeks, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, citing documents and people familiar with the matter. The agency's antitrust case targeting Amazon's online marketplace has been in the works for a long time, according to the report. Amazon got the FTC notice for initial investigation in June 2019, Bloomberg reported, citing documents. Those documents included questions about how using Amazon's warehousing and delivery services impacted third-party sellers’ product placements in its online marketplace, including boxes on the website that give products additional prominence. The two companies had entered into a deal to sell Apple iPhones, iPads and other devices on Amazon's marketplace in 2018.

Persons: Lina Khan's, Joe Biden's, Chavi Mehta, Anil D'Silva, Pooja Desai Organizations: Bloomberg, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, Amazon, Big Tech, FTC, Apple Inc, Apple, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ AI company Runway valued at $1.5 billion in latest funding
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 29 (Reuters) - AI company Runway has been valued at $1.5 billion in its latest round of funding, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday, after it raised $141 million from investors, including Alphabet-owned Google (GOOGL.O) and Nvidia (NVDA.O). The extension to the Series C funding round also included Salesforce Ventures and Runway's existing investors, the company said in a statement. Runway's software allows users to transform or tweak existing videos or create new videos by using text prompts or images. The company also launched a mobile app earlier this year, giving its users access to its generative AI tools. Earlier in the day, another AI startup Inflection raised $1.3 billion from Microsoft at a valuation of $4 billion, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Persons: Jensen Huang, Jaiveer Singh, Krystal Hu, Anil D'Silva Organizations: Runway, Nvidia, Salesforce Ventures, Microsoft, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru, Toronto

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