“`html
The Federal Reserve decided to maintain interest rates at 4.25%-4.5% during their recent meeting, indicating ongoing concerns about inflation and unemployment rates remaining steady at 4.2%. Analysts suggest that while inflation is improving, significant economic uncertainties remain.
In terms of corporate earnings, Apple reported a 10% growth in revenue and 12% growth in earnings for the second quarter, surpassing expectations despite concerns over potential tariff impacts. Amazon’s revenue grew by 13% to $168 billion, with net income jumping nearly 50% to $18.2 billion, particularly fueled by growth in its advertising business and AWS division.
Podcast discussions also highlighted a growing competition among tech giants in artificial intelligence, with significant increases in capital expenditures from companies like Alphabet, Amazon, and Microsoft. Notably, the stakes in AI development are escalating as these firms invest heavily to maintain leadership in the market.
“`
