All the top moves, shakes and red hot takes from Azzet's editorial team are right here in your weekly business wrap every Friday (1 August, 2025).
Global markets are shifting fast, driven by major moves in logistics, payments, and pharma.
Amazon increased profits and revenue but its shares fell, Apple reported a 9.2% increase in net income, Meta Platforms shares soared more than 10% midweek, Mirosoft reported US$76.4 billion in Q4 FY25 revenue and Reddit's net income reached US$89 million.
Union Pacific’s planned $85 billion merger with Norfolk Southern would create the first coast-to-coast United States railroad, promising faster freight times and billions in savings.
Visa beat revenue expectations on the back of strong spending, though its full-year guidance remains unchanged.
On the downside, PayPal dropped 8% as fintech competition heats up, and Spotify lost ground post-earnings despite holding user growth.
Consumer and industrial players are adjusting, too.
Procter & Gamble lifted profits thanks to lower input costs and stable U.S. demand, although China sales remain weak.
Boeing shares slipped after a hefty quarterly loss, with its CEO committing to a reset in manufacturing culture.
Novo Nordisk has named a new CEO amid slower growth for its flagship diabetes and obesity drugs.
Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean is seeing stronger bookings, and Singapore Airlines posted stable Q1 results despite lower profits.
Reports suggest Russian oil may be reaching Australia via indirect channels, dodging sanctions.
The U.K. may formally recognise Palestine by September if peace efforts stall.
In Washington, Ghislaine Maxwell’s bid for immunity could open up new details about Jeffrey Epstein.
And Australia secured the lowest possible tariff rate of 10% under U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping reciprocal tariff regime.
China introduced a A$2,000 subsidy to support families, while Australia plans to block under-16s from YouTube to address online safety.
Elsewhere, there's fresh energy in public relations, with calls for faster, risk-taking messaging.
In resources, Lynas has made a major leap in rare-earth processing outside China — a boost for Western supply chains.
The ASX had a mixed week, driven by shifts in tech, travel, and energy.
Beonic Ltd (ASX: BEO) surged off the back of renewed confidence in retail AI, while Sprintex Ltd (ASX: SIX) accelerated on the promise of EV expansion. Helloworld Travel (ASX: HLO) also made altitude gains, lifted by a stronger-than-expected bounce in leisure demand.
On the downside, Boss Energy (ASX: BOE) faltered with uranium prices losing steam, and Viva Energy (ASX: VEA) slipped as refining margins pinched. More on the Viva story here.
Woodside Energy Group (ASX: WDS) posted modest growth, helped along by steadier oil prices and signs of infrastructure tailwinds from Beijing.
Off the trading floor, Samsung’s $16.5 billion chip contract with Tesla made waves in the tech world. The deal, which sees Tesla’s AI6 chips produced at Samsung’s Texas facility, is being seen as a strategic leap for the South Korean titan’s foundry business — a bid to claw back ground against rivals in the race to power next-gen EVs.
Meanwhile, Macquarie Group is grappling with governance tensions, as shareholders fired a strike over executive pay.
Across Asia-Pacific, capital is moving in new directions. Southeast Asia and India are drawing private equity attention as global investors steer away from more saturated Western markets.
In China, stimulus programs and EV optimism are injecting new life into iron ore and lithium bets — sparking a fresh rally across commodities.
Australia’s largest bank is under fire after refusing to refund $270 million in excessive fees charged to low-income customers, despite a broader industry move to repay $60 million following an ASIC investigation.
Commonwealth Bank and its subsidiary Bankwest are holding firm, citing terms and conditions, while rivals ANZ, Westpac, and Bendigo Bank have begun issuing refunds.
The controversy has reignited concerns about financial equity and corporate accountability, particularly in remote Indigenous communities where access to banking services remains limited.
Anthropic - the AI startup backed by Amazon and Google - is courting funds from Middle Eastern investors to triple its valuation to US$150 billion.
The move marks a strategic pivot after previously rejecting Gulf funding over ethical concerns.
At the same time, China is calling for a global AI governance framework to prevent monopolistic control, contrasting sharply with the U.S.'s deregulation push under Trump.
Regal Partners has surged on the ASX following a strong earnings update, reporting a 198% jump in net profit and a 54% rise in revenue, driven by acquisitions like PM Capital and Merricks Capital. The fund manager now oversees $17.7 billion in assets and boasts an 8.45% dividend yield, positioning itself as a mid-tier powerhouse in alternative investments.
Meanwhile, AFIC, Australia’s largest listed investment company, has trimmed its stake in CommBank, citing “extreme” valuations as CBA’s market cap hit $300 billion and its P/E ratio soared to 30x. The sale generated $190.2 million in capital gains, prompting AFIC to consider a share buy-back to address its 10% discount to net asset value.
In parallel, institutional capital is being redirected toward innovation and regional growth. Brighter Super and QIC have launched a $50 million mandate to invest in Queensland start-ups, targeting sectors like AI, AgTech, and HealthTech. Initial investments include SwarmFarm Robotics and Attekus, with plans to deploy an additional $500 million over five years.
At the corporate helm, WiseTech Global has appointed Zubin Appoo as its CEO, replacing interim chief Andrew Cartledge. Appoo, a long-time collaborator of founder Richard White, returns to lead the logistics software giant amid governance reforms and a renewed focus on product innovation.
Meanwhile, Ansett Australia has taken off again — this time as a slick, AI-driven travel service: Ansett Travel.
Russia has launched direct flights to Pyongyang, signalling deepening ties with North Korea amid ongoing military cooperation and shared opposition to Western sanctions.
Thai and Cambodian leaders met in Malaysia to broker a ceasefire after deadly border clashes, with Trump and Chinese officials backing the talks.
The summit resulted in an unconditional ceasefire and plans for joint military de-escalation. Trump also issued a stark ultimatum to Russia, demanding a Ukraine ceasefire within 10 to 12 days or face sweeping sanctions and tariffs.
In Europe, diplomacy took a commercial turn as Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen struck a landmark trade deal, imposing a 15% tariff on European Union exports to the U.S. while securing $750 billion in energy purchases and $600 billion in E.U. investments. The deal has drawn mixed reactions, with France calling it a “dark day” and Germany hailing it as a breakthrough.
In parallel, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer shared a new Middle East peace blueprint with Trump, calling for unrestricted aid to Gaza and a two-state solution, while resisting calls to immediately recognise Palestinian statehood.
On the business front, EssilorLuxottica reported a 7.3% revenue surge, driven by booming sales of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses and new AI-powered eyewear.
The ACCC ordered Webjet to pay $9 million for misleading flight pricing, while Western Australia topped CommSec’s national economic rankings. The FCC approved the Paramount-Skydance merger despite concerns over transparency, and Australia lifted restrictions on U.S. beef imports, prompting a celebratory response from Trump.
A sweeping study has revealed Central America as the region most affected by plastic bottle pollution, with Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Aje Group named as top contributors. In Norway, EV sales continued to climb as the country pushes to become the world’s electric vehicle capital.
Australia's luxury property market hit record highs in FY2025, as Los Angeles dominates June’s list of most expensive U.S. home sales.
And lastly, tributes poured in for famed jeweller Michael Hill, who passed away at 86.
The best of the rest
- Balanced investing: mix bonds and bold asset plays
- Bond update: BetaShares launches first Global Bond ETF
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- The options trading stealing Wall Street's lunch money
- Copper set to have watershed moment next week
- All the markets data, including gold and oil prices
- And re-live our earnings blogs here and here.
