Profit

• HSBC Holdings plc ha annunciato un utile trimestrale prima delle imposte di 10,1 miliardi di dollari statunitensi per il trimestre chiuso al 31 marzo 2026, escluse le voci straordinarie, dimostrando una solida performance dei profitti nel primo trimestre. • La banca ha approvato un primo dividendo ad interim per il 2026 di 10 centesimi di dollaro per azione, segnalando fiducia nei risultati finanziari e l'impegno verso i rendimenti per gli azionisti. • I risultati riflettono la continua redditività di HSBC nelle sue operazioni globali, nonostante i persistenti venti contrari economici e le pressioni competitive sui margini del settore bancario.

• Chime ha riportato una crescita dei ricavi per il primo trimestre del 2026 del 25% su base annua, superando le previsioni e segnando il suo primo trimestre di redditività GAAP da quando è diventata una società pubblica. • Il forte slancio dei ricavi ha portato a un aumento delle previsioni per l'intero anno e a una nuova autorizzazione al riacquisto di azioni per 200 milioni di dollari annunciata il 6 maggio. • I risultati della società fintech con sede a San Francisco evidenziano l'accelerazione dell'adozione del digital banking in un competitivo mercato statunitense.

Saudi Arabia’s state oil company’s profits up 26% to £26.9bn in first three months of yearBusiness live – latest updatesSaudi Arabia’s state oil company reported a 26% jump in profits in its first quarter as its east-west pipeline allowed it to ship millions of barrels of oil out of the Gulf despite conflict in the Middle East.Profits at Saudi Aramco hit $33.6bn (£26.9bn) in the first three months of the year, while revenue rose nearly 7% compared with a year earlier to $115.5bn. Continue reading...

Florida agreement grants US president control of licensing and merchandising at renamed airport, analysts sayIt was a week in which one prominent name in aviation, Spirit Airlines, disappeared, killed in the company’s own admission by high fuel prices resulting from Donald Trump’s war in Iran.Within days, however, another moniker was already flying high in industry circles: the president’s own. Continue reading...

• Ocean Network Express (ONE) posted a US$55 million profit in the fourth quarter of FY2025 as freight rates recovered, though overall cargo movements remained sluggish throughout the year. • The container shipping company faced persistent headwinds from weak cargo demand in 2025, signaling continued challenges in the global freight market. • Industry observers view ONE's modest profitability as reflective of broader shipping sector weakness, with market recovery dependent on improved global trade volumes.

International Airlines Group expects to spend £1.7bn more on fuel than planned since US-Israeli attack on IranBusiness news – live updatesThe parent company of British Airways has issued a profit warning and said it expects to spend about €2bn (£1.72bn) more on fuel than planned this year due to the Iran war.International Airlines Group (IAG), which also owns Aer Lingus, Iberia and Vueling, said it has hedged 70% of its expected fuel use for this year with costs expected to be about €9bn, up from previous forecasts of €7.1bn. Continue reading...

• India's largest companies have seen profits surge over 30% annually since the pandemic, yet private investment remains weak with capital outflows nearly matching FDI inflows. • Chief Economic Adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman publicly questioned the reluctance amid tax incentives, infrastructure push, and record corporate cash reserves. • Experts cite safety preferences by family-run businesses, funds parked in family offices by heirs, and high perceived political-regulatory risks as key barriers.

• Kansai Nerolac Paints posted a 7.3% rise in Q4 FY26 net profit to Rs 109.9 crore, reflecting steady demand in the paints sector despite mixed market conditions. • The results highlight resilience in core operations, with revenue growth supported by volume increases in industrial and decorative segments. • This earnings beat underscores the company's strong market position amid rising input costs, offering positive cues for consumer goods stocks.

Chair Tim Martin says pub chain could miss expectations, in latest sign UK hospitality sector buckling under higher billsBusiness live – latest updatesThe boss of JD Wetherspoon has said the pub chain could miss profit expectations because of rising costs, in the latest sign the UK hospitality industry is buckling under the pressure of higher energy, food, labour and tax bills.The company’s chair, Tim Martin, told investors on Wednesday: “As many hospitality operators, including Wetherspoon, have reported, there have been substantial increases in costs.” Continue reading...

• Ally Financial swung to profitability in Q1 2026, reporting net income of $319 million and diluted EPS of $0.93, reversing a $225 million loss and $0.82 loss per share from the prior year. • Total net revenue climbed to $2.102 billion from $1.541 billion year-over-year, driven by higher net financing revenue of $1.589 billion and significantly smaller investment losses. • Noninterest expenses fell sharply to $1.235 billion from $1.634 billion, demonstrating improved cost management and operational efficiency despite modest credit cost increases.

• Morgan Stanley announced Q1 2026 results on May 5, with net revenues reaching $20.6 billion, a 16% increase from the prior year, and net income applicable to shareholders at $5.4 billion, up 30%. • Diluted EPS rose to $3.43 from $2.60, while ROE hit 21.0% and ROTCE achieved 27.1%, surpassing the firm's 20% ROTCE target. • Institutional Securities revenues surged 19% to $10.7 billion, fueled by strong Markets performance and a 36% rebound in Investment Banking, particularly Advisory; Wealth Management grew 16% to $8.5 billion with $118.4 billion in net new assets.

• Krutrim successfully pivoted to AI cloud services, achieving profitability and igniting a rally in India's tech sector as of May 5, 2026. • The shift validates India's domestic AI infrastructure development, positively impacting stocks like TCS, Infosys, and RIL. • This milestone signals a growth runway for Indian IT giants, reshaping competition against global players.

Unions group wants rate returned from 3% to 8% after big four UK lenders reveal £14bn total profit in first quarter An increased windfall tax should be imposed on the UK’s largest banks according to trade union leaders, after the big four lenders reported almost £14bn in first-quarter profits, partly fuelled by market turbulence caused by the Iran war.The Trades Union Congress (TUC) renewed its call for an increase in the current bank surcharge, which was reduced from 8% to 3% of profits above £100m by the Conservative government in 2023, as banks benefit from the high interest rate environment. Continue reading...

• U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB) reported Q1 2026 net income of $1,945 million, up from $1,709 million year-over-year, with earnings per share rising 14.6% to $1.18. • Total net revenue reached $7,288 million, driven by 3.8% average loan growth, 1.7% deposit growth, wider net interest margins, and stronger fee income. • The company announced a pending acquisition of BTIG for up to $1 billion in cash and stock, plus performance-based earn-outs, to expand its capabilities.

• Grab Holdings Limited announced Q1 2026 results on May 5, with revenue surging 24% year-over-year to $955 million, driven by On-Demand and Financial Services growth in Southeast Asia. • On-Demand GMV rose 24% to $6.1 billion, monthly transacting users increased 16% to 51.6 million, and adjusted EBITDA hit a record $154 million, up 46% with a 16.2% margin. • Profit for the period climbed to $120 million from $10 million last year, boosted by operating improvements and a $95 million gain in fair value of financial assets.

London-headquartered bank’s shares slide as it sets aside an extra $300m to cover effects of Middle East conflictBusiness live – latest updatesHSBC has suffered a $1.3bn (£961m) hit to profits, fuelled by the fallout from the US-Israel war on Iran and fraud in the troubled private credit sector.The London-headquartered bank said profits fell 4% in the first three months of the year, dropping $100m to $9.4bn, compared with the same period in 2025. Revenue increased 6% to $18.6bn. Continue reading...

• Eternal and The India Cements among 10 stocks achieving over 100% year-on-year profit growth in Q4 FY26, fueling earnings boom narrative. • Strong results driven by cost efficiencies, demand recovery in key sectors like infrastructure and consumer goods. • These outperformers boosted investor confidence amid broader market rebound, with focus shifting to sustainable growth post-correction.

• Infosys reported Q4 net profit up 21% to Rs 8,501 crore, though shares fell 3.6% on weak revenue guidance. • IT sector faces pressure from BFSI weakness and higher costs, impacting peers like Cyient. • Results highlight mixed quarterly outcomes in tech amid global demand shifts.

Rising oil prices are cutting into incomes for more than 2 million people across the country’s fishing sector, as costs climb and catches fall.

BYD's first-quarter net profit dropped 55.4 per cent from a year earlier to 4.1 billion yuan.

Climate group calls for urgent windfall tax on excess fossil fuel profits, as delegates tell Colombia conference their nations are sufferingThe Middle East oil and gas crunch will impose as much as a trillion dollars of additional costs on the global economy while petroleum companies rake in spectacular profits from elevated fuel prices, analysis has revealed.The uneven distribution of risk and reward comes amid rising concern that the US-Israeli attack on Iran is worsening inequality, poverty and hunger across a world that has become dangerously dependent on fossil fuels. Continue reading...

Energy company hails ‘exceptional’ contribution of oil trading operations as profits hit $3.2bn in the first quarterBusiness live – latest updatesBP’s quarterly profits have more than doubled amid a jump in oil and gas prices linked to the conflict in the Middle East.The energy company said on Tuesday that underlying profits for the first quarter were $3.2bn (£2.4bn), up from $1.38bn in the equivalent period a year ago and outstripping City forecasts of $2.67bn. Continue reading...

• Delta Air Lines reported first-quarter net income of $1.8 billion, up 22% year-over-year, benefiting from strong leisure and business travel demand with average fares rising 8% despite lower capacity growth across the industry. • CEO Ed Bastian stated that forward bookings through summer 2026 indicate "resilient demand," with premium cabin bookings up 15%, offsetting concerns about potential economic slowdown and suggesting corporate travel spending remains solid. • The strong results bolstered airline sector sentiment, lifting Southwest Airlines and United Airlines stocks by 2.4% and 1.9% respectively on optimism about sustained pricing power and margin expansion through peak summer travel season.

Analyst who worked on Internet Watch Foundation report says content exists ‘across all social media platforms’ and is ‘very easy’ to findThe number of commercial child sexual abuse websites has doubled in a year as experts say that criminal gangs are making “huge profits” from online sexual exploitation.According to data collected by the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), 15,031 commercial child sexual abuse sites were found in 2025, compared with 7,028 found in 2024, a 114% increase. Continue reading...

Retailer WH Smith joins supermarket in warning on effects of Middle East conflict Sainsbury’s has warned that profits could fall this year as the conflict in the Middle East squeezes customers’ budgets and pushes up business costs.The supermarket group said the conflict “will impact both our customers and our business” and it was unclear how large the effect would be. Continue reading...

Firm had to repatriate almost 12,000 guests and staff, including from two cruise ships in Abu Dhabi and DohaThe Iran war has cost the travel company Tui €40m (£34.7m) so far, including repatriating almost 12,000 holidaymakers and staff, and forced it to cut its profit forecast for this year.Europe’s biggest holiday operator said that it had taken the hit in March owing to the impact of the conflict in the Middle East, as it was forced to bring home 5,000 guests from two cruise ships anchored in ports in Abu Dhabi and Doha. Continue reading...

• ICICI Bank reported Q4 FY26 net profit of ₹12,949 Cr, surpassing street estimates and bringing annual profit to ₹50,000 Cr milestone. • The bank declared a ₹12 dividend per share, signaling confidence in its financial performance and shareholder returns. • Strong Q4 results reflect robust performance in India's banking sector amid evolving market conditions.

Budget airline says passengers are leaving it later to book flights owing to economic uncertaintyBusiness live – latest updatesThe budget airline easyJet has warned the impact of the Iran war on bookings and oil prices will hit its profits, having driven up fuel costs by £25m in the last month alone.It said it expected to report an increased pre-tax loss of £540-£560m for the six months to March, up from £394m in the first half of 2024-25. The carrier typically makes its money in the second half of the year which includes the peak summer period. Continue reading...