Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Gold prices rose in Pakistan on Friday, according to data compiled by FXStreet.

The price for Gold stood at 35,718.35 Pakistani Rupees (PKR) per gram, up compared with the PKR 35,563.21 it cost on Thursday.

The price for Gold increased to PKR 416,604.50 per tola from PKR 414,802.30 per tola a day earlier.

Unit measure

Gold Price in PKR

1 Gram

35,718.35

10 Grams

357,177.20

Tola

416,604.50

Troy Ounce

1,110,971.00

FXStreet calculates Gold prices in Pakistan by adapting international prices (USD/PKR) to the local currency and measurement units. Prices are updated daily based on the market rates taken at the time of publication. Prices are just for reference and local rates could diverge slightly.

Gold FAQs Gold has played a key role in human’s history as it has been widely used as a store of value and medium of exchange. Currently, apart from its shine and usage for jewelry, the precious metal is widely seen as a safe-haven asset, meaning that it is considered a good investment during turbulent times. Gold is also widely seen as a hedge against inflation and against depreciating currencies as it doesn’t rely on any specific issuer or government.

Central banks are the biggest Gold holders. In their aim to support their currencies in turbulent times, central banks tend to diversify their reserves and buy Gold to improve the perceived strength of the economy and the currency. High Gold reserves can be a source of trust for a country’s solvency. Central banks added 1,136 tonnes of Gold worth around $70 billion to their reserves in 2022, according to data from the World Gold Council. This is the highest yearly purchase since records began. Central banks from emerging economies such as China, India and Turkey are quickly increasing their Gold reserves.

Gold has an inverse correlation with the US Dollar and US Treasuries, which are both major reserve and safe-haven assets. When the Dollar depreciates, Gold tends to rise, enabling investors and central banks to diversify their assets in turbulent times. Gold is also inversely correlated with risk assets. A rally in the stock market tends to weaken Gold price, while sell-offs in riskier markets tend to favor the precious metal.

The price can move due to a wide range of factors. Geopolitical instability or fears of a deep recession can quickly make Gold price escalate due to its safe-haven status. As a yield-less asset, Gold tends to rise with lower interest rates, while higher cost of money usually weighs down on the yellow metal. Still, most moves depend on how the US Dollar (USD) behaves as the asset is priced in dollars (XAU/USD). A strong Dollar tends to keep the price of Gold controlled, whereas a weaker Dollar is likely to push Gold prices up.

(An automation tool was used in creating this post.)

SpaceX isn’t just trying to get humans to Mars anymore. According to ARK Invest, the company’s Starship launch system is the linchpin of a $28.5 trillion total addressable market, with the vast majority of that figure, somewhere between $22.7 trillion and $26.5 trillion, tied directly to artificial intelligence infrastructure in orbit.

The math behind space-based AI The company filed its S-1 in June 2026, laying out the $28.5 trillion TAM figure ahead of its IPO. In that filing and in a separate FCC application from late January 2026, SpaceX outlined plans for a constellation of up to 1 million satellites designed specifically for AI workloads.

Advertisement

The satellite design, called AI1, is built around efficient heat dissipation using radiators, integrated solar power, and Starlink-style connectivity. ARK analysts Daniel Maguire and Brett Winton have noted that these AI satellites would actually be simpler than existing Starlink units.

The economic argument hinges on Starship’s reusability. SpaceX has driven launch costs down by approximately 95% since 2008, and ARK believes the trajectory points toward costs below $100 per kilogram to orbit. ARK’s analysis suggests these space-based compute facilities could become economically viable within 2-3 years.

ARK’s valuation case ARK Invest forecasts SpaceX’s enterprise value at roughly $2.5 trillion by 2030. The bullish case pushes that to approximately $3.1 trillion.

More than 90% of SpaceX’s future market opportunity is tied to AI, according to ARK’s July 2026 commentary.

The crypto angle investors shouldn’t ignore SpaceX currently holds 18,712 BTC on its balance sheet, valued at around $1.29 billion.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.

Gold prices rose in India on Friday, according to data compiled by FXStreet.

The price for Gold stood at 12,367.41 Indian Rupees (INR) per gram, up compared with the INR 12,311.85 it cost on Thursday.

The price for Gold increased to INR 144,249.10 per tola from INR 143,603.00 per tola a day earlier.

Unit measure

Gold Price in INR

1 Gram

12,367.41

10 Grams

123,672.40

Tola

144,249.10

Troy Ounce

384,696.80

FXStreet calculates Gold prices in India by adapting international prices (USD/INR) to the local currency and measurement units. Prices are updated daily based on the market rates taken at the time of publication. Prices are just for reference and local rates could diverge slightly.

Gold FAQs Gold has played a key role in human’s history as it has been widely used as a store of value and medium of exchange. Currently, apart from its shine and usage for jewelry, the precious metal is widely seen as a safe-haven asset, meaning that it is considered a good investment during turbulent times. Gold is also widely seen as a hedge against inflation and against depreciating currencies as it doesn’t rely on any specific issuer or government.

Central banks are the biggest Gold holders. In their aim to support their currencies in turbulent times, central banks tend to diversify their reserves and buy Gold to improve the perceived strength of the economy and the currency. High Gold reserves can be a source of trust for a country’s solvency. Central banks added 1,136 tonnes of Gold worth around $70 billion to their reserves in 2022, according to data from the World Gold Council. This is the highest yearly purchase since records began. Central banks from emerging economies such as China, India and Turkey are quickly increasing their Gold reserves.

Gold has an inverse correlation with the US Dollar and US Treasuries, which are both major reserve and safe-haven assets. When the Dollar depreciates, Gold tends to rise, enabling investors and central banks to diversify their assets in turbulent times. Gold is also inversely correlated with risk assets. A rally in the stock market tends to weaken Gold price, while sell-offs in riskier markets tend to favor the precious metal.

The price can move due to a wide range of factors. Geopolitical instability or fears of a deep recession can quickly make Gold price escalate due to its safe-haven status. As a yield-less asset, Gold tends to rise with lower interest rates, while higher cost of money usually weighs down on the yellow metal. Still, most moves depend on how the US Dollar (USD) behaves as the asset is priced in dollars (XAU/USD). A strong Dollar tends to keep the price of Gold controlled, whereas a weaker Dollar is likely to push Gold prices up.

(An automation tool was used in creating this post.)

Brookfield Wealth Solutions NYSE: BNT shareholders approved all resolutions presented at the company’s annual general and special meeting, including a transaction resolution that would combine the businesses of Brookfield Wealth Solutions and Brookfield Corporation under a single publicly traded company.

Lori Pearson, Chair of the Board, said the proposed combination would place the company and Brookfield Corporation under Brookfield Corporation Limited, referred to during the meeting as “New BN.” Pearson said the transaction is intended to “further simplify the corporate structure, create a more capital-efficient platform to support Brookfield’s long-term growth, and open a path to broader global index inclusion.”

Get BNT alerts:

The company said the transaction is expected to close in late fourth quarter 2026 if it receives the final order of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, customary closing conditions and all other required legal and regulatory approvals.

Shareholders Approve All Meeting Resolutions Seamus MacLoughlin, Corporate Secretary of Brookfield Wealth Solutions, outlined the voting procedures for the virtual meeting. Lyndsay Hatlelid, Managing Partner and General Counsel, said there were nine items of business and confirmed that a quorum was present.

Pearson said management had received proxies representing a majority of the company’s Class A shares, as well as 100% of the Class B and Class C shares. Those proxies directed management to vote a majority of the shares in favor of the resolutions.

Following the close of voting, MacLoughlin said preliminary voting results showed that the director nominees had been elected and that each other motion had been carried.

The approved matters included:

The election of 10 directors to serve until the next annual general and special meeting of shareholders. The reappointment of Deloitte LLP as external auditor and authorization for directors to set its remuneration. Approval of quarterly return of capital distributions on Class A and Class B shares for periods ending on or around Sept. 29, 2026, Dec. 31, 2026, March 31, 2027, and June 30, 2027. Approval of the transaction resolution related to the combination with Brookfield Corporation. Approval of stock option and escrowed stock plans for New BN and Brookfield Canada Corporation, referred to as “New BNC.” The Class A director nominees elected were William Cox, Anne Schaumburg, Dr. Soonyoung Chang, Lars Rodert and Michele Coleman Mayes. The Class B director nominees elected were Sachin Shah, Barry Blattman, Gregory Morrison, Michael McRaith and Lori Pearson.

CFO Highlights Growth Since 2021 Spinoff After the formal meeting, Thomas Corbett, Chief Financial Officer of Brookfield Wealth Solutions, provided a management presentation on the company’s business and priorities. Corbett said the company has grown significantly since its 2021 spinoff and now has approximately $180 billion of insurance assets, approximately $20 billion of group capital and annualized distributable operating earnings of more than $2 billion.

Corbett said the company remains “very well-capitalized” and has $35 billion of cash and short-term liquid investments. He said that financial position supports policyholder commitments while giving the company flexibility to invest in the business and pursue growth opportunities.

Corbett described three core business lines. He said the retail annuity business has $127 billion of insurance assets across the United States and the United Kingdom. The institutional annuity business has $42 billion of insurance assets across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. The property and casualty business has $11 billion of insurance assets and provides diversification from the company’s spread-based lending businesses.

Management Outlines Strategic Priorities Corbett said Brookfield Wealth Solutions remains focused on broadening products and distribution channels in its retail and institutional annuity businesses. He also said the company is working to reposition its investment portfolios by leveraging Brookfield Asset Management’s investment expertise.

In the United Kingdom, Corbett said the company is focused on supporting the continued growth of the recently acquired Just Group as a participant in institutional and retail annuity markets. He also said the company is looking to expand its global footprint through new opportunities, with a focus on Asia.

Corbett said capital allocation remains guided by the objective of delivering returns on invested capital of 15% or greater.

Combination Expected to Create Simpler Structure Discussing the approved combination of Brookfield Corporation and Brookfield Wealth Solutions, Corbett said the transaction “marks the next evolution of Brookfield.” He said Brookfield Wealth Solutions was established five years ago to build an insurance business that protects policyholders, delivers attractive risk-adjusted returns and uses Brookfield’s real asset investing capabilities.

Corbett said the business has grown to nearly $200 billion of assets and that a full combination is now optimal to support growth while maintaining a low-risk profile. He said the combination would create a globally diversified, fully integrated insurance and investment organization under one public company.

Corbett also said the structure would give the insurance operations direct access to Brookfield Corporation’s permanent capital base, which he described as an incremental $145 billion. He said broader index inclusion over time could expand the investor base, improve trading liquidity and increase passive ownership of the shares.

During the question period, Hatlelid said the company expects the combination to enhance the movement of capital between entities over time and support overall business growth. She said Brookfield Wealth Solutions does not anticipate any change to the float managed by Brookfield Asset Management, any change to investment allocations to Brookfield Asset Management or associated funds, or any change in tax treatment of the underlying businesses as a result of the transaction.

About Brookfield Wealth Solutions (NYSE:BNT)Brookfield Wealth Solutions is focused on securing the financial futures of individuals and institutions through a range of retirement services, wealth protection products and tailored capital solutions. Through our operating subsidiaries, we offer a broad range of insurance products and services, including annuities, personal and commercial property and casualty insurance and life insurance.The company was incorporated in 2020 and is headquartered in Pembroke, Bermuda.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

Should You Invest $1,000 in Brookfield Wealth Solutions Right Now?Before you consider Brookfield Wealth Solutions, you'll want to hear this.

MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Brookfield Wealth Solutions wasn't on the list.

While Brookfield Wealth Solutions currently has a Hold rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.

View The Five Stocks Here

MarketBeat just released its list of the 7 hottest IPOs expected to hit Wall Street in 2026. See which companies are preparing to go public and why investors are watching closely.

Get This Free Report

Gold (XAU/USD) attracts some buyers during the Asian session on Friday, reversing a part of the previous day's losses back closer to the monthly low. Any meaningful recovery, however, seems elusive amid a bearish fundamental backdrop. Crude oil prices have jumped over 10% this week as renewed US-Iran clashes stoked supply concerns, reviving inflation fears and lifting expectations that the US Federal Reserve (Fed) will keep rates higher for longer. This, in turn, is seen acting as a tailwind for the US Dollar (USD) and undermining the non-yielding bullion.

The US-Iran conflict is entering a dangerous new phase as both sides exchanged intensifying fire on Thursday, with the latter expanding its military campaign beyond conventional military targets. In fact, officials in southern Iran's Bandar Abbas reported that civilian infrastructure – including power facilities and a train station – has been hit. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks targeting US-allied Gulf nations. Tensions have also escalated around the Strait of Hormuz, with the US intercepting commercial vessels attempting to breach its naval blockade around Iran.

Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had threatened to expand the conflict by targeting additional regional energy supply routes. In fact, Reuters reported that Iran has asked Yemen’s Houthis to stand ready to close the Red Sea oil route. This helps crude oil prices in preserving the recent gains at a one-month high, reviving concerns about energy-driven inflation. Adding to this, the upbeat US macro data and hawkish comments from influential Fed officials reinforced expectations that the US central bank will raise borrowing costs at least once by the end of this year.

The US Labor Department reported on Thursday that the number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits dropped to a seasonally adjusted 208 K for the week ended July 11. The reading was below consensus estimates and underscored the resilience of the US labor market. Separately, the Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index surged from 10.3 to 41.4 in July, hitting its highest level since November 2021 and indicating a rapid acceleration in regional factory activity. Further details revealed that both price indicators continued to signal rising prices.

Furthermore, Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan said that the positive news this week on consumer and wholesale prices still wasn’t good enough to signal real help for US households. She called for modestly higher interest rates to win a battle the central bank has been losing for the past five years. Apart from this, Fed Vice Chair Philip Jefferson said that he would be open to raising rates if inflation does not show near-term improvement. According to the CME Group's FedWatch Tool, traders are currently pricing in a nearly 75% chance of a 25-basis-point (bps) Fed rate hike by December.

The aforementioned factors favor the USD bulls, suggesting that any subsequent recovery in the Gold price is more likely to be sold into and fizzle out rather quickly. Traders now look forward to Friday's US economic docket – featuring Building Permits, Housing Starts, Industrial Production data, and the prelim University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index and Inflation Expectations. This, along with Fed speak, would drive the USD and provide some impetus to the Gold price, which remains on track to register losses for the second consecutive week.

XAU/USD daily chart

Gold’s bearish technical setup warrants caution before positioning for any meaningful recoveryFrom a technical perspective, the XAU/USD pair has been trending lower along a downward-sloping channel and remains below the very important 200-day Simple Moving Average (SMA). This reaffirms the near-term bearish outlook for Gold and suggests that rallies are likely to remain capped within the broader corrective phase. Meanwhile, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator has turned modestly positive, while the Relative Strength Index (RSI) near 40 hints at only a tentative stabilization rather than a sustained recovery.

Hence, any further move up could face an initial hurdle at the channel top near $4,082.74, with stronger structural resistance at the 200-day SMA clustered around $4,495.44. On the downside, the lower boundary of the descending channel at $3,661.05 acts as key support, and a decisive break below this zone would reinforce the prevailing bearish structure and expose further downside within the current trend.

(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)

Fed FAQs Monetary policy in the US is shaped by the Federal Reserve (Fed). The Fed has two mandates: to achieve price stability and foster full employment. Its primary tool to achieve these goals is by adjusting interest rates. When prices are rising too quickly and inflation is above the Fed’s 2% target, it raises interest rates, increasing borrowing costs throughout the economy. This results in a stronger US Dollar (USD) as it makes the US a more attractive place for international investors to park their money. When inflation falls below 2% or the Unemployment Rate is too high, the Fed may lower interest rates to encourage borrowing, which weighs on the Greenback.

The Federal Reserve (Fed) holds eight policy meetings a year, where the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) assesses economic conditions and makes monetary policy decisions. The FOMC is attended by twelve Fed officials – the seven members of the Board of Governors, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and four of the remaining eleven regional Reserve Bank presidents, who serve one-year terms on a rotating basis.

In extreme situations, the Federal Reserve may resort to a policy named Quantitative Easing (QE). QE is the process by which the Fed substantially increases the flow of credit in a stuck financial system. It is a non-standard policy measure used during crises or when inflation is extremely low. It was the Fed’s weapon of choice during the Great Financial Crisis in 2008. It involves the Fed printing more Dollars and using them to buy high grade bonds from financial institutions. QE usually weakens the US Dollar.

Quantitative tightening (QT) is the reverse process of QE, whereby the Federal Reserve stops buying bonds from financial institutions and does not reinvest the principal from the bonds it holds maturing, to purchase new bonds. It is usually positive for the value of the US Dollar.

Des flux sélectionnés issus des déchets plastiques souples et multicouches du Mexique, une catégorie estimée à environ 1,5 million de tonnes par an, passent à la phase d’essais HCT pour l’évaluation de leur potentiel en tant que matières premières circulaires July 16, 2026 22:36 ET  | Source: Aduro Clean Technologies Inc.

LONDON, Ontario, 17 juill. 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aduro Clean Technologies Inc. (ci-après « Aduro » ou la « Société ») (Nasdaq : ADUR) (TSX : ACT) (FSE : 9D5), une société de technologie propre qui recycle chimiquement les matières premières de moindre valeur comme les déchets plastiques, le bitume lourd ou les huiles renouvelables en ressources adaptées au XXIᵉ siècle, a annoncé ce jour que sa collaboration avec ECOCE, A.C. (« ECOCE ») est passée à l’étape suivante après l’achèvement de la phase 1 de cartographie des matières premières et de sélection des flux. Les flux sélectionnés d’emballages plastiques souples post-consommation au Mexique entrent désormais dans une campagne d’essais de la technologie Hydrochemolytic™ (« HCT ») afin d’évaluer leur conversion en produits hydrocarburés liquides destinés à des applications circulaires en aval dans l’industrie des plastiques.

La collaboration, annoncée en décembre 2025, est structurée comme une évaluation progressive fondée sur les données des emballages plastiques souples collectés par les systèmes de récupération au Mexique. La phase 1 s’est appuyée sur le programme national continu de cartographie des matières premières d’ECOCE, réalisé pour ses entreprises membres, à partir duquel les parties ont finalisé la sélection des flux de matériaux candidats pour l’étape suivante. Menée par ECOCE, cette cartographie a permis d’identifier plusieurs flux d’emballages souples post-consommation et de les évaluer selon leur disponibilité estimée, leurs circuits de collecte, leur forme physique, leur profil de contamination et leurs exigences de préparation. Ces travaux ont permis d’identifier des flux candidats présentant des volumes suffisants pour une évaluation pertinente à l’échelle industrielle ainsi que des caractéristiques justifiant leur passage aux essais HCT.

Les emballages plastiques souples constituent l’une des catégories de matériaux les plus difficiles à traiter dans les systèmes de recyclage existants. Ces flux peuvent comprendre du polyéthylène, du polypropylène et des emballages multicouches, ainsi que des encres, adhésifs, structures mixtes, petits formats et divers niveaux de contamination. Conformément à la hiérarchie des déchets, la réduction à la source, la réutilisation et le recyclage mécanique demeurent les solutions privilégiées lorsqu’elles sont techniquement et économiquement viables. Pour les flux d’emballages souples peu adaptés au recyclage mécanique ou physique, la collaboration évalue si la technologie HCT peut offrir une voie de valorisation des hydrocarbures contenus dans ces matériaux et contribuer à leur réintégration dans la chaîne de valeur des plastiques.

ECOCE a identifié les emballages plastiques souples comme une catégorie de matériaux majeure et en croissance au Mexique. Les données disponibles indiquent qu’environ 1,5 million de tonnes d’emballages plastiques souples sont produites chaque année dans le pays. La phase 1 s’est inscrite dans ce contexte de marché en cartographiant les flux candidats de déchets d’emballages plastiques souples et multicouches, notamment les catégories de matériaux, les circuits de collecte, les sources géographiques et les niveaux indicatifs de contamination. Les matériaux recensés au cours de cette phase comprennent des emballages souples en polypropylène, des emballages souples en polyéthylène et des emballages souples multicouches, y compris des formats post-consommation courants tels que les emballages de snacks et de biscuits, les sacs de courses et de pain, les emballages pour graines et céréales, les emballages pour aliments pour animaux, les emballages de charcuterie et de produits laitiers, ainsi que les sachets refermables.

Le travail d’ECOCE avec les principales entreprises agroalimentaires et de boissons, représentant plus de 400 marques, confère à cette collaboration une pertinence concrète au regard des priorités de la chaîne de valeur des emballages et du besoin de solutions crédibles de circularité pour les emballages souples difficiles à recycler. L’objectif est de développer une compréhension fondée sur des données probantes de la manière dont les flux sélectionnés d’emballages souples peuvent s’intégrer dans une chaîne de valeur circulaire : depuis la collecte et la caractérisation post-consommation, en passant par la préparation des matières premières et la conversion par HCT, jusqu’à l’obtention de produits hydrocarburés liquides destinés à être évalués par les acteurs des chaînes de valeur pétrochimiques et polymères.

La phase 1 étant désormais achevée et le programme d’essais de la phase suivante défini, la collaboration entre dans une étape d’essais HCT sur les flux de matériaux sélectionnés. Aduro commencera par des évaluations à l’échelle du laboratoire afin d’analyser la réaction des déchets plastiques souples et multicouches mexicains sélectionnés à la technologie HCT, notamment en termes d’aptitude au traitement, de caractéristiques des produits obtenus, de rendement, de résidus, de comportement des contaminants et de bilan matière. Dans le cadre de cette nouvelle phase, Adrián Velasco, directeur des emballages plastiques souples chez ECOCE, visitera les installations d’Aduro afin d’examiner le protocole d’essai, les exigences relatives aux échantillons et le programme de développement à l’échelle pilote. Cette visite contribuera à faire converger l’expertise d’ECOCE sur les systèmes de récupération mexicains avec le processus d’évaluation technique de la Société, alors que les flux sélectionnés passent de la phase de cartographie des matières premières aux essais HCT. Des résultats concluants à l’échelle du laboratoire permettront d’envisager une progression vers la phase 3, avec des essais sur l’usine pilote Next Generation Process (« NGP »), afin de soutenir l’évaluation du passage à l’échelle, l’évaluation par les clients et les futures analyses commerciales.

« La phase 1 a permis de faire passer cette collaboration d’une opportunité de marché à un programme technique clairement défini sur les matières premières », a déclaré Ofer Vicus, PDG d’Aduro. « ECOCE apporte une compréhension pratique de la manière dont les emballages souples circulent dans les systèmes de récupération mexicains, ce qui nous aide à sélectionner des flux de matériaux représentatifs pour les essais HCT. La phase suivante générera les données essentielles pour le passage à l’échelle et l’évaluation économique, notamment en matière de traitabilité, de qualité des produits, de rendement, de comportement des contaminants et de valeur potentielle des liquides issus du procédé HCT comme matières premières hydrocarburées circulaires. C’est ainsi qu’Aduro fait avancer la commercialisation de sa technologie : en reliant des matériaux réels, les exigences du marché en aval, la validation économique et un parcours clair allant des essais en laboratoire à l’usine pilote NGP. »

« Les emballages plastiques souples représentent l’un des défis les plus importants en matière de gestion des matériaux au Mexique », a souligné Adrián Velasco, directeur des emballages plastiques souples chez ECOCE. « Grâce à cette collaboration, ECOCE contribue à relier les données réelles issues des systèmes de récupération aux travaux techniques nécessaires pour évaluer des solutions circulaires pour ces matériaux. Ma visite des installations d’Aduro, alors que la collaboration entre dans la phase d’essais HCT, nous permettra d’examiner directement le protocole d’essai, d’aligner nos exigences en matière d’échantillons et de mieux comprendre comment les flux sélectionnés d’emballages souples mexicains pourraient être évalués en vue de leur réintégration dans la chaîne de valeur des plastiques. »

Les résultats de cette prochaine phase fourniront à Aduro et à ECOCE les éléments techniques et économiques nécessaires pour évaluer l’adéquation des matériaux, la qualité des produits, les exigences de mise à l’échelle et les futures options commerciales visant à réintroduire les emballages souples difficiles à recycler dans la chaîne de valeur des plastiques.

À propos d’ECOCE

ECOCE, A.C. est une association civile à but non lucratif au Mexique, créée et soutenue par l’industrie agroalimentaire et des boissons afin de promouvoir la gestion appropriée, la collecte et le recyclage des déchets d’emballages post-consommation. ECOCE réunit les principales entreprises des secteurs des boissons et de l’alimentation, représentant plus de 400 marques, ainsi que des partenaires stratégiques œuvrant au développement de pratiques d’économie circulaire pour les emballages au Mexique.

ECOCE travaille avec l’industrie, les pouvoirs publics, les établissements d’enseignement, la société civile et les citoyens afin de renforcer la culture du recyclage, de soutenir le tri et la récupération appropriés des matériaux d’emballage et de favoriser leur orientation vers les filières de recyclage. Alors qu’ECOCE élargit son champ d’action au-delà du PET et d’autres flux de matériaux déjà bien établis pour inclure les emballages plastiques souples, l’organisation apporte une connaissance pratique des systèmes de récupération mexicains, des formats d’emballage, des infrastructures de collecte et des priorités de circularité de ses entreprises membres. Pour en savoir plus, consultez le site www.ecoce.mx.

À propos d’Aduro Clean Technologies

Aduro Clean Technologies développe des technologies à base d’eau brevetées permettant de recycler chimiquement les déchets plastiques, de convertir le pétrole brut lourd et le bitume en huile plus légère et à plus forte valeur et de transformer les huiles renouvelables en combustibles ou produits chimiques renouvelables à plus forte valeur ajoutée. La technologie Hydrochemolytic™ de la Société utilise l’eau en tant qu’agent essentiel d’une plateforme chimique fonctionnant à des températures relativement basses et à moindre coût, une approche qui change la donne pour recycler les matières premières à faible valeur en ressources adaptées au XXIᵉ siècle. Pour en savoir plus, consultez le site www.adurocleantech.com.

Pour de plus amples informations, veuillez contacter :

Abe Dyck, responsable du développement d’entreprise et des relations avec les investisseurs
[email protected]
+1 226 784 8889

Carla Gamboa
Directrice Marketing et Communications
[email protected]

Déclarations prospectives

Le présent communiqué contient des déclarations prospectives au sens des lois canadiennes et américaines sur les valeurs mobilières, y compris la loi américaine Private Securities Litigation Reform Act de 1995. Les déclarations prospectives figurant dans ce communiqué comprennent notamment, sans s’y limiter, les déclarations relatives à la collaboration entre Aduro et ECOCE ; à la caractérisation, la sélection et l’évaluation des flux d’emballages plastiques souples mexicains ; à l’application potentielle de la technologie Hydrochemolytic™ d’Aduro aux emballages plastiques souples post-consommation ; à la progression prévue des essais à l’échelle du laboratoire vers d’éventuels essais sur l’usine pilote Next Generation Process ; à la génération potentielle de données concernant la qualité des produits, les bilans matière, le passage à l’échelle, l’évaluation par les clients, ainsi que les analyses techniques et commerciales ; à la demande du marché pour les matières premières circulaires ; au potentiel des produits hydrocarburés issus de la technologie HCT pour soutenir les chaînes de valeur pétrochimiques et polymères ; au développement éventuel de modèles d’affaires ou d’installations futures fondées sur la technologie HCT au Mexique ; ainsi qu’aux plans plus larges de commercialisation et de développement des marchés.

Les déclarations prospectives reposent sur les attentes et hypothèses actuelles de la direction, notamment concernant la disponibilité, la qualité, la composition et l’adéquation des flux de matières premières ; la capacité d’ECOCE à fournir des informations pertinentes sur les matières premières ; la capacité d’Aduro à mener des essais techniques par étapes ; les performances de la technologie HCT sur les flux de matériaux sélectionnés ; la possibilité de transposer à plus grande échelle les résultats obtenus au laboratoire et sur l’usine pilote NGP ; la disponibilité de partenaires, de clients, d’installations, de capitaux et d’autorisations réglementaires ; la poursuite de la demande pour les matières premières circulaires ; ainsi que la stabilité des politiques publiques, des marchés et des conditions économiques favorables aux plastiques circulaires. Ces déclarations sont soumises à un certain nombre de risques et d’incertitudes, notamment, sans s’y limiter : le risque que les matériaux sélectionnés ne soient pas adaptés au traitement par HCT ; le risque que les résultats obtenus au laboratoire ou sur l’usine pilote NGP ne permettent pas une application commerciale ; le risque que la qualité des produits, les rendements, les bilans matière ou les performances économiques ne répondent pas aux attentes ; les difficultés liées à l’approvisionnement, à la préparation, à l’expédition ou au traitement des matières premières ; les retards dans les essais, les analyses, les négociations contractuelles, les autorisations, le financement ou l’engagement des partenaires ; les évolutions des cadres réglementaires ou de l’acceptation du marché pour les matières premières circulaires ; la concurrence d’autres filières de recyclage ou de gestion des déchets ; les risques liés à la technologie et à la propriété intellectuelle de la Société ; les risques liés à l’acceptation du marché et à la commercialisation ; les risques découlant de modifications des lois, réglementations ou politiques ; ainsi que les autres facteurs décrits dans les documents publics de la Société disponibles sur www.sedarplus.ca et sur le site de la SEC www.sec.gov. Les résultats réels peuvent différer sensiblement de ceux exprimés ou sous-entendus dans ces déclarations prospectives. Les lecteurs sont donc invités à ne pas accorder une confiance excessive aux déclarations prospectives. Aduro décline toute obligation de les actualiser ou de les réviser publiquement, indépendamment de nouvelles informations, événements futurs ou autres circonstances, sauf si la loi l’exige.

Une photo annexée au présent communiqué est disponible à l’adresse suivante : https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c6e45f47-4c07-4bdd-a9fa-758574558e87

This wasn’t the movie they wanted to watch.

Netflix (NFLX +0.91%) published its second-quarter results after market close on Thursday, and after-hours traders reacted by selling out of the streaming giant’s stock. It was down by 9% late that evening; let’s unpack the reasons why.

Image source: Getty Images.

Record numbersNetflix booked revenue of $12.56 billion, for year-over-year growth of 13% (it was also a record quarterly high, by the way). The company’s net income under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) grew more modestly, rising just shy of 9% to a bit over $3.4 billion, or $0.80 per share.

Neither metric was too far off its consensus analyst estimate. Prognosticators tracking Netflix stock were collectively forecasting $12.58 billion on the top line, and $0.79 per share for GAAP net income.

Today's Change

(

0.91

%) $

0.67

Current Price

$

74.35

The company’s performance was also in line with its own expectations, it stated in its earnings release. It added that the growth in headline metrics was due to a cocktail of higher pricing (the company raised its fees for all three of its membership tiers in late March), an increase in total members, and higher advertising revenue.

Netflix also didn’t hesitate to note that this growth occurred across all its regions. In fact, it also notched a new all-time high quarterly revenue figure in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa of $4 billion. Ditto for the almost $1.6 billion it earned in Latin America and the just over $1.5 billion take of Asia-Pacific.

Overall, in the release, Netflix sounded rather satisfied with its performance. Not surprisingly, the company indicated it’ll stick to its current, three-tiered strategy of improving the quality, quantity, and variety of its content, leveraging technology to deliver what it describes as “more personalized,
immersive, and interactive experiences for our members,” and getting more out of its monetization efforts. The latter particularly applies to its advertising efforts, but also covers pricing.

Guidance missesGiven Netflix’s size, reach, and prominence, those trailing growth figures weren’t half bad. Yet as any savvy investor knows, stocks trade more on future potential than trailing results. And that, as they say, was the rub for the company.

It proffered fresh guidance for its current (third) quarter and adjusted its full-year projections. For the former period, it expects to earn $12.86 billion in revenue, which, if achieved, would mean year-over-year growth of almost 12%. Net income is forecast to be $3.45 billion ($0.82 per share), for anticipated improvement of 36%. While that sounds high, third-quarter 2025 profitability was hurt by a $619 million tax expense incurred by its Brazil operations. Unfortunately, both estimates fall just under the consensus analyst estimates of $13 billion on the top line and $0.84 per share for GAAP net income.

As for that full-year guidance, Netflix narrowed its projection for revenue. It now believes this will land at $51 billion to $51.4 billion; the preceding range was $50.7 billion to $51.7 billion. 

Look at the long termWhile none of the historical or guidance whiffs were drastic, they were whiffs nevertheless. That alone tends to discourage investors, and the dynamic is particularly acute with Netflix.

The company’s dogged yet ultimately failed pursuit of storied Hollywood entertainment conglomerate Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD +0.07%) is still fresh in the minds of many market players. We’re also in an era of intense competition in the streaming space, with new content and services popping up constantly. Netflix remains a compelling destination for those seeking entertainment, but there are an increasing number of smart and determined rivals that can poach precious viewer time. It feels to me that the company’s investors are hungry for a big, tangible win, and with this earnings report, they didn’t really get one.

That doesn’t make this stock a sell for me, though. I feel Netflix has actually done a fine job of broadening its already daunting content lineup, capturing large-scale viewership for offerings like World Wrestling Entertainment and live “legitimate” sports (not long ago, it signed deals with both Major League Baseball and the National Football League). There’s a lot of action and noise in the streaming world right now, and much jostling for attention in a temptingly immense market. More than most other streamers, I’d say, Netflix is positioning itself to be compelling for many types of viewers, and has the resources to continue doing so.

I think Thursday’s after-hours investor reaction was overblown, and I’d expect Netflix stock to recover once the market recognizes the company’s high value as an elite-level streamer and a long-term growth story.

34.22K Followers

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of ADBE either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Intuitive Surgical (ISRG +3.55%) is an aggressive growth stock. That means it is appropriate only for investors who can handle some risk. The risk is on clear display today, with the stock down around 35% from its all-time high, reached in early 2025. But history suggests that this is likely to be a temporary setback. Here's what you need to know.

On the surface, Intuitive Surgical makes da Vinci surgical robots. Indeed, the company is a leader in the surgical robotics space. The technology generally provides for less invasive procedures and better surgical outcomes. And it is being approved for an increasing number of surgical procedures, expanding the playing field even as the number of surgical robots in place increases.

Image source: Getty Images.

To put a number on this dynamic, Intuitive Surgical had 11,395 da Vinci systems in place at the end of the first quarter of 2026. That was up 12% year over year, but the number of surgeries performed jumped by 17%. This is important because only about 25% of the medical device maker's revenue comes from robot sales; the rest comes from the sale of services, instruments, and accessories.

The company's parts and services sales are annuity-like in nature and represent the real flywheel of this healthcare business. Even if the sale of new da Vinci systems were to slow down, the company would still have a strong earnings foundation.

There's a problem with Intuitive Surgical's stock Investors know all about Intuitive Surgical's growth story. And it has long been afforded a premium valuation. At the early 2025 peak, the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio was a shockingly high 95x. When companies get to valuations like that, even the biggest bulls can get nervous. The slightest concern can lead to a sell-off. And, as noted above, that's exactly what has happened. A key issue is the company's expectation that the number of surgeries performed with a da Vinci robot will increase by 13% to 15% in 2026, a drop from 18% in 2025. Still, the first quarter of 2026 came in above that range, so the company's guidance may be conservative.

Today's Change

(

3.55

%) $

13.80

Current Price

$

402.77

The deep drawdown Intuitive Surgical has experienced has pushed its P/E to 47x. That's still quite high, noting that the S&P 500 index has an average P/E of 27.5x. But Intuitive Surgical's five-year average P/E is 68x. Compared to its own trading history, the stock looks relatively cheap.

And, just as important, this isn't the first time the company's stock has sold off like this. In fact, it has gone through swings like this at least eight times since its initial public offering. Each time it has, it has eventually gone on to higher highs.

ISRG data by YCharts

To be fair, Intuitive Surgical is up against more competitors today, including medical device giant Medtronic. So it is entirely possible that growth slows somewhat. However, all the da Vinci robots currently in place will continue generating parts and services revenue. And the expanding use of surgical robots will mean that the business has a growth driver beyond the sale of new da Vinci systems. Simply put, the growth story isn't over here.

Probably worth a look for more aggressive investors Given the still lofty valuation, Intuitive Surgical isn't going to interest value investors. And it doesn't pay a dividend, so income investors won't find it appealing, either. However, if you are a more aggressive growth investor, this drawdown could open up a buying opportunity. At least, that's what history suggests. But be prepared to hold for the long term if you do buy the stock, because history also shows that this stock's drawdowns can get even deeper and last for a few years.

Shares of Abbott Laboratories (ABT +10.71%) popped on Thursday after the healthcare products provider raised its full-year profit forecast.

Image source: Getty Images.

An intelligent acquisition is fueling Abbott's growth Abbott's sales rose 13% to $12.6 billion in the second quarter, boosted by its $21 billion acquisition of cancer screening leader Exact Sciences in March.

The acquisition added more preventive products to Abbott's offerings, including Exact's market-leading noninvasive colorectal cancer screening test, Cologuard.

Abbott's worldwide diagnostics sales surged 42.3% to $3.1 billion.

Today's Change

(

10.71

%) $

9.56

Current Price

$

98.83

Revenue in the healthcare giant's worldwide medical devices division also grew by a solid 9% to $5.9 billion, driven by an 11% jump in sales of continuous glucose monitors.

All told, Abbott's adjusted earnings rose 4% to $1.31 per share. That bested Wall Street's expectations, which had called for per-share profits of $1.28.

Higher profits mean larger dividends for investors Looking ahead, Abbott sees its full-year comparable sales growing by 6.5% to 7.5% in 2026. Management also lifted its adjusted earnings per share outlook to between $5.45 and $5.60, up from a prior forecast of $5.38 to $5.58.

Abbott's strengthening profitability enables it to reward its shareholders with steadily rising cash payments. The medical devices and testing leader has raised its dividend for a remarkable 54 straight years.

Joe Tenebruso has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Abbott Laboratories. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.

Disclosure. PANews may publish sponsored content, partner content, advertisements, affiliate links, event promotions, and market commentary involving Web3 projects, service providers, or financial products. PANews personnel, contributors, or affiliates may hold digital assets or other interests related to covered topics. See our Terms of Service.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA.

a16z-linked whale has deposited 437,000 HYPE tokens worth $28.38 million to crypto exchanges over two days.

According to Lookonchain’s monitoring, a whale linked to a16z that had previously amassed large HYPE holdings has begun reducing its positions. Over the past two days, the whale has deposited 437,000 HYPE tokens worth approximately $28.38 million onto Hyperliquid, OKX, Bybit, and Gate, likely for selling purposes.

4 minutes ago

BofA raises AMD’s price target, stating that AI server demand continues to push up growth expectations.

Bank of America analyst Vivek Arya has raised Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)’s price target, attributing the move to strong AI server demand, rising EPYC processor market share, and improved supply visibility—factors that could drive the chipmaker to deliver another round of better-than-expected results. BofA lifted AMD’s target price from $550 to $620 and retained its Buy rating. The bank notes AMD is no longer just a CPU recovery play, but is emerging as a more comprehensive AI infrastructure provider. Its EPYC server CPUs, Instinct AI accelerators, and the upcoming MI455X Helios rack-scale solution are poised to be core growth drivers in the next phase. Arya expects AMD’s third-quarter guidance may include initial shipments of the MI455X Helios, adding that if demand and supply execution proceed smoothly, the firm’s quarterly AI revenue could reach or exceed $6 billion to $7 billion by the end of the fourth quarter. BofA also holds that agentic AI workloads will boost data center CPU demand, further expanding AMD’s server CPU market opportunities.

4 minutes ago

Spot gold surpasses the $4,000 mark.

According to Bitget market data, spot gold has broken through the $4,000 per ounce threshold, currently trading at $4,000.3, with a 0.59% gain on the day.

4 minutes ago

SK Group Chairman Choi Tae-won responds to recent stock price slump: Stock prices will see long-term growth supported by memory chip demand.

SK Group Chairman Choi Tae-won stated that backed by memory chip demand, SK Hynix’s stock price will maintain a long-term upward trend. “Demand for memory chips is growing exponentially, which explains why SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics’ stock prices have surged rapidly since last year,” he said at a forum hosted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Friday. When asked about the recent stock price decline, he noted that stocks typically rise in line with market expectations before correcting after an overheated rally. “I believe demand for memory chips will persist, so the stock price trend will be upward over time,” he added. Note: On Thursday, SK Hynix and Samsung’s stock prices fell 12% and 8.8% respectively, as South Korean authorities imposed restrictions on leveraged funds tracking chip manufacturers.

4 minutes ago

$1.2 billion worth of Bitcoin (BTC) options are set to expire, while Ethereum (ETH) put positions have remained at high levels for a consecutive month.

Crypto analytics platform Greeks.live reported that on July 17, 19,000 BTC options expired, with a Put-Call Ratio (PCR) of 0.9, a max pain point of $63,000, and a nominal value of around $1.2 billion. Meanwhile, 123,000 ETH options expired, with a PCR of 1.61, a max pain point of $1,800, and a nominal value of roughly $230 million. In terms of market performance, BTC has continued to fluctuate above $60,000 this week, having traded in the $60,000 to $65,000 range for over a month. Sharp swings in U.S. equities (SpaceX and storage sectors) have not yet had a noticeable impact on the crypto market. Looking at options positions, around 5% of options expired this week, leading to a slight drop in overall open interest, mainly due to low market volatility and reduced trading opportunities. BTC’s Gamma Exposure (GEX) is mainly concentrated around $64,000 and $70,000. ETH’s GEX is primarily in the $1,825 to $2,000 range, with a relatively dispersed distribution. Some traders have started positioning for a rebound via slightly out-of-the-money options. The proportion of large bullish trades has continued to rise recently, dominated by short-term bull spread buying strategies. Notably, ETH’s Put-Call Ratio has stayed above 1 for a consecutive month, hitting 1.61 this week. The high proportion of put options outstanding reflects clear market divergence on ETH’s future outlook, with intensified bull-bear rivalry.

4 minutes ago

A certain whale has continuously withdrawn 50,000 ETH from Coinbase Prime, valued at approximately $95.4 million.

According to monitoring by OnchainLens, a whale that previously held 10,000 ETH continues to accumulate Ethereum through its Coinbase Prime account. After withdrawing 30,000 ETH yesterday, the whale pulled an additional 20,000 ETH today, valued at roughly $37.7 million. To date, the total amount of ETH withdrawn from Coinbase Prime by this whale has reached 50,000, with a total value of approximately $95.4 million.

4 minutes ago

But a strong recovery above $4,200 after a drop to $3,850 will increase the chances of an upside breakout. A break above $4,200 will push prices towards $4,350. On the other hand, a break above $4,350 will open the door for a move towards the $5,000 area. A break below $3,850 will increase the chances of a strong and quick drop in the gold market to mark the final low.

Gold Must Reclaim $4,200 to Confirm a Bullish Reversal The 4-hour chart for spot gold also shows strong bearish price action since March 2026. The formation of rounding tops below $5,000 and then below $4,500 indicates bearish pressure in gold. Prices must recover above $4,200 in the short term to confirm bottom and initiate a rally towards $4,500. A break above $4,500 will be a positive sign and open the door for a move towards $5,000.

NEW YORK, July 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kuehn Law, PLLC, a shareholder litigation law firm, is investigating whether certain officers and directors of Globus Medical, Inc. (NYSE: GMED) breached their fiduciary duties to shareholders. The investigation concerns potential self-dealing. Shareholders may be entitled to damages and corporate governance reforms.

If you are a long-term GMED stockholder please contact Justin Kuehn, Esq. by email at [email protected], or call (833) 672-0814. The consultation and case are free with no obligation to you. Kuehn Law pays all case costs and does not charge its investor clients. Shareholders should contact the firm immediately as there may be limited time to enforce your rights.  

Why Your Participation Matters:

As a shareholder your voice matters, and by getting involved, you contribute to the integrity and fairness of the financial markets. Your investment. Your voice. Your future.™  

For additional information, please visit Shareholder Derivative Litigation - Kuehn Law.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Contacts:
Kuehn Law, PLLC
Justin Kuehn, Esq.
53 Hill Street, Suite 605
Southampton, NY 11968
[email protected]
(833) 672-0814

NEW YORK, July 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kuehn Law, PLLC, a shareholder litigation law firm, is investigating whether certain officers and directors of Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: VKTX) breached their fiduciary duties to shareholders. The investigation concerns potential self-dealing. Shareholders may be entitled to damages and corporate governance reforms.

If you are a long-term VKTX stockholder please contact Justin Kuehn, Esq. by email at [email protected] or call (833) 672-0814.   The consultation and case are free with no obligation to you. Kuehn Law pays all case costs and does not charge its investor clients. Shareholders should contact the firm immediately as there may be limited time to enforce your rights.  

Why Your Participation Matters:

As a shareholder your voice matters, and by getting involved, you contribute to the integrity and fairness of the financial markets. Your investment. Your voice. Your future.™  

For additional information, please visit Shareholder Derivative Litigation - Kuehn Law.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Contacts:
Kuehn Law, PLLC
Justin Kuehn, Esq.
53 Hill Street, Suite 605
Southampton, NY 11968
[email protected]
(833) 672-0814

Key Highlights

USD/JPY started a fresh increase above 162.00 and 162.20. A major bullish trend line is forming with support at 161.90 on the 4-hour chart. EUR/USD again failed to gain strength for a move above 1.1475. GBP/USD rallied above 1.3450 before it faced sellers near 1.3560. USD/JPY Technical Analysis The US Dollar remained supported above 161.50 against the Japanese Yen. USD/JPY gained strength for a fresh move above 162.00.

Looking at the 4-hour chart, the pair surpassed the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement level of the downward move from the 162.70 swing high to the 161.28 low. The pair even settled above 162.20, the 100 simple moving average (red, 4-hour), and the 200 simple moving average (green, 4-hour).

On the upside, the pair could face strong resistance at 162.70. The next major resistance might be 162.85. A close above 162.85 could start a steady increase. In the stated case, the bulls could aim for a move to 163.50.

If there is a downside correction, the pair might find support near 162.00. There is also a major bullish trend line forming with support at 161.90.

The first major support could be near 161.30 and the 200 simple moving average (green, 4-hour). A downside break and close below 161.30 might send the pair toward 161.00. Any more losses could open the doors for a test of 160.00.

Looking at EUR/USD, the pair attempted a fresh increase, but the bears are still active near the 1.1475 resistance zone.

Upcoming Key Economic Events:

US Import Price Index for June 2026 (MoM) – Forecast -0.7%, versus +1.9% previous. US Export Price Index for June 2026 (MoM) – Forecast -0.4%, versus +1.3% previous. US Industrial Production for June 2026 (MoM) – Forecast 0.2%, versus 0.1% previous. Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index for July 2026 (Prelim) – Forecast 51.0, versus 49.5 previous.

Titan FXhttp://titanfx.com

Titan FX is a technology driven online ECN forex and commodities broker that provides traders with next generation trading conditions, institutional grade spreads, fast trade execution, deep top tier liquidity and the security of financial registration and oversight.

July 16, 2026 20:27 ET  | Source: Brookfield Corporation

BROOKFIELD, NEWS, July 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brookfield Corporation (“Brookfield”) (NYSE: BN, TSX: BN) today announced that the transaction to simplify its corporate structure (the “Transaction”) received shareholder approval at its annual and special meeting of shareholders held on July 16, 2026 (the “Meeting”). Upon completion of the Transaction, Brookfield Corporation Ltd., which will be listed on the TSX and NYSE under the symbol “BN”, will be the new parent entity of the group. Completion of the Transaction is subject to customary conditions and is expected to close by year-end, subject to receipt of all applicable regulatory approvals. 

In addition, Brookfield announced that all eight nominees proposed for election to the board of directors by holders of Class A Limited Voting Shares (“Class A Shares”) and all eight nominees proposed for election to the board of directors by the holder of Class B Limited Voting Shares (“Class B Shares”) were elected at the Meeting. Detailed results of the vote for the election of directors are set out below.

Management received the following proxies from holders of Class A Shares in regard to the election of the eight directors nominated by this shareholder class:

Director NomineeVotes For%Votes Withheld%M. Elyse Allan1,670,838,79199.3311,198,8480.67Ang Eng Seng1,680,919,87199.931,117,7680.07Janice Fukakusa1,654,108,19598.3427,929,4441.66Maureen Kempston Darkes1,642,627,74197.6639,409,8982.34Frank J. McKenna1,528,459,76790.87153,577,8729.13Hutham S. Olayan1,666,734,57699.0915,303,0630.91Satish C. Rai1,675,269,58799.606,768,0520.40Diana L. Taylor1,594,363,48294.7987,674,1575.21      Management received a proxy from the holder of Class B Shares to vote all 85,120 Class B Shares for each of the eight directors nominated by this shareholder class:

Director NomineeVotes For %Howard S. Marks100.0Rafael Miranda100.0Lord O'Donnell100.0Jeffrey M. Blidner100.0Jack L. Cockwell100.0Bruce Flatt100.0Brian D. Lawson100.0Samuel J.B. Pollock100.0   A summary of all votes cast by holders of the Class A Shares and Class B Shares represented at the Meeting is available on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar or SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

About Brookfield Corporation

Brookfield Corporation is a leading global investment firm focused on building long-term wealth for institutions and individuals around the world. We have three core businesses: Asset Management, Wealth Solutions, and our Operating Businesses which are in infrastructure, energy, private equity, and real estate.

We have a track record of delivering 15%+ annualized returns to shareholders for over 30 years, supported by our unrivaled investment and operational experience. Our conservatively managed balance sheet, extensive operational experience, and global sourcing networks allow us to consistently access unique opportunities. At the center of our success is the Brookfield Ecosystem, which is based on the fundamental principle that each group within Brookfield benefits from being part of the broader organization. Brookfield Corporation is publicly traded in New York and Toronto (NYSE: BN, TSX: BN).

For more information, please visit our website at bn.brookfield.com or contact:

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of Canadian provincial securities laws and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable U.S. securities laws (collectively, “forward-looking statements”). Forward-looking statements include statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future results, events or conditions, and reflect management’s current estimates, beliefs and assumptions, which are based on management’s perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “foresee,” “could,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “will,” “may” and similar expressions. In particular, the forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding the expected closing of the Transaction and receipt of related regulatory approvals.

These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable estimates, beliefs and assumptions, but are subject to significant business, economic, competitive and other risks and uncertainties, described from time to time in Brookfield’s filings with securities regulators in Canada and the United States, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by such statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, Brookfield undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.

Beyond the AI Trade: 3 Defensive Stocks Built for StabilityBrookfield NYSE: BN shareholders approved a key transaction resolution at the company’s annual and special meeting, advancing a plan to combine Brookfield Corporation and Brookfield Wealth Solutions Ltd. under a single publicly traded company referred to during the meeting as New BN.

Frank McKenna, chair of Brookfield’s board, said the transaction is intended to “further simplify our corporate structure, create a more capital-efficient platform to support Brookfield’s long-term growth, and open a path to broader global index inclusion.” He described the combination as “the next evolution of Brookfield as a globally diversified and fully integrated insurance and investment organization.”

Get Brookfield alerts:

3 Stocks to Ride the Manufacturing Sector's Big ComebackThe vote was held pursuant to an order of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. McKenna said the final court hearing to approve the transaction is scheduled for July 21, 2026, and that the deal is expected to close in late fourth quarter 2026, subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by Brookfield Wealth Solutions shareholders and other legal and regulatory approvals.

Shareholders Approve Core Meeting Items At the formal portion of the meeting, Brookfield shareholders elected 16 directors. The nominees for Class A limited voting shareholders were Elyse Allan, Ang Eng Seng, Janice Fukakusa, Maureen Kempston Darkes, Frank McKenna, Hutham Olayan, Satish Rai and Diana Taylor. The nominees for Class B limited voting shareholders were Howard Marks, Rafael Miranda, Lord Gus O'Donnell, Jeffrey Blidner, Jack Cockwell, Bruce Flatt, Brian Lawson and Sam Pollock.

McKenna said 15 of the 16 nominees had been elected at the prior annual general meeting in June 2025 and were standing for re-election. Ang Eng Seng, a current director, was appointed by the board on Feb. 11, 2026, and stood for re-election at the meeting.

Shareholders also approved the reappointment of Deloitte LLP as Brookfield’s external auditor and authorized the directors to set its remuneration. An advisory resolution on the company’s approach to executive compensation was also carried.

Several resolutions connected to the proposed transaction were also considered, including share option and escrowed stock plans for New BN and Brookfield Canada Corporation, referred to as New BNC. The meeting operator said formal declarations on the New BN share option plan, New BN escrowed stock plan, New BNC escrowed stock plan and New BNC share option plan would be made after the Brookfield Wealth Solutions shareholder meeting later in the day. Final voting results are expected to be posted to SEDAR+.

Brookfield Reports Strong 12-Month Performance Following the formal meeting, Nicholas Goodman, Brookfield’s president and chief financial officer, reviewed the company’s financial performance and strategic priorities. Goodman said Brookfield has built a permanent capital base of $175 billion, which he described as “one of the largest pools of discretionary capital globally.”

Goodman said Brookfield generated $6 billion of distributable earnings over the last 12 months, supported by growth across asset management, wealth solutions and operating businesses. He said the asset management business raised $108 billion of capital across strategies, increasing fee-bearing capital to $614 billion. Fee-related earnings rose 18% to $3.1 billion over the period.

In wealth solutions, Goodman said distributable earnings increased 11% to $1.7 billion. He said insurance assets grew to $180 billion, including the acquisition of Just Group, which added $40 billion of assets and expanded Brookfield’s presence in the U.K. Brookfield also originated $20 billion of annuity sales and deployed $14 billion of float into Brookfield-managed strategies.

Goodman said Brookfield’s operating businesses generated $1.5 billion of distributable earnings, supported by “stable and resilient cash flows.” He also noted that real estate occupancy was above 95% across Brookfield’s super core and core plus portfolios.

Capital Allocation and Growth Outlook Goodman said Brookfield returned $1.5 billion of capital to shareholders over the past year, including $900 million through share repurchases and $600 million through dividends. He said the company completed $170 billion of financings across its businesses and currently has $188 billion of deployable capital, while maintaining an A-minus credit rating at the corporation.

Looking ahead, Goodman said Brookfield is “exceptionally well-positioned” to grow earnings by more than 20% annually over the next five years, before the effects of capital allocation. He said the company expects distributable earnings to grow from $2.54 per share today to $5.85 per share by 2030, consistent with plans outlined at its investor day last September.

Goodman said capital allocation could add another $1.10 per share of earnings over five years, increasing expected distributable earnings to $6.95 per share by 2030. He said Brookfield expects to generate $53 billion of cumulative free cash flow from existing businesses over the next five years, which would be deployed through the company’s centralized capital allocation framework.

Goodman said Brookfield expects wealth solutions insurance assets to grow from $180 billion to $350 billion by 2030 and fee-bearing capital at Brookfield Asset Management to grow to more than $1 trillion. He also said carried interest is reaching “an inflection point” as transaction activity and realizations increase.

Management Highlights Rationale for BN-BWS Combination Goodman said the proposed combination of Brookfield Corporation and Brookfield Wealth Solutions would simplify the corporate structure and allow shareholders to own the full value of both businesses through a single security. He said it would also provide the insurance operations with direct access to the corporation’s permanent capital base, which he described as an incremental $145 billion.

Goodman added that the new structure could create a path toward broader global index inclusion, which over time could broaden Brookfield’s investor base, improve trading liquidity and support greater ownership by passive investment vehicles. He said the transaction is expected to be tax-efficient for most shareholders.

No shareholder questions were submitted during the formal meeting or the management presentation, according to the operator.

About Brookfield (NYSE:BN)Brookfield Corporation NYSE: BN is a global alternative asset manager that specializes in real assets. The company invests in and operates businesses across real estate, infrastructure, renewable power and energy, private equity and credit. Its activities span both ownership and active management of physical assets as well as the operation of investment funds and vehicles that provide institutional and retail investors access to long‑lived, cash‑generating assets.

Brookfield's services include asset management, direct investing, property development and the operation of infrastructure and energy businesses.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

Should You Invest $1,000 in Brookfield Right Now?Before you consider Brookfield, you'll want to hear this.

MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Brookfield wasn't on the list.

While Brookfield currently has a Moderate Buy rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.

View The Five Stocks Here

MarketBeat just released its list of the 7 hottest IPOs expected to hit Wall Street in 2026. See which companies are preparing to go public and why investors are watching closely.

Get This Free Report

, /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Shutterstock, Inc. ("Shutterstock" or the "Company") (NYSE: SSTK). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Shutterstock and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. 

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On July 13, 2026, Shutterstock issued a press release "announc[ing] that Paul Hennessy has stepped down as the Company's Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the Board of Directors, effective immediately." 

On this news, Shutterstock's stock price fell $0.24 per share, or 2.83%, to close at $8.25 per share on July 13, 2026.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:
Danielle Peyton
Pomerantz LLP
[email protected]
646-581-9980 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP

By You're currently following this author! Want to unfollow? Unsubscribe via the link in your email.

SpaceX's first Starship launch since its June IPO was aborted due to engine issues at its South Texas Starbase facility. Steve Nesius/Reuters SpaceX called off its first Starship launch since its massive IPO in June.

On Thursday, SpaceX backed away from a launch attempt of its upgraded Starship rocket after an engine issue triggered an automatic abort before liftoff at the company's Starbase facility in South Texas.

CEO Elon Musk said in a post on X that "Some of the engines didn't start, triggering an automatic launch abort." He added that the company would try again, "hopefully in a few days."

Some of the engines didn’t start, triggering an automatic launch abort.

Now offloading propellant.

Next launch attempt hopefully in a few days.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 16, 2026 The launch was meant to mark Starship's return to flight weeks after the debut of the V3 vehicle in May.

Thursday's test was also the first Starship launch attempt since SpaceX's June 12 public debut, which raised more than $85 billion in what the company described as the largest IPO in history. After briefly reaching a market valuation comparable to Amazon and Microsoft, SpaceX shares have since retreated.

The stock closed Thursday below its $135 IPO price. Shares fell more than 4% in after-hours trading following the aborted launch before recovering some of those losses.

SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for comments.

Read next

Katherine Li You're currently following this author! Want to unfollow? Unsubscribe via the link in your email.

Elon Musk SpaceX FAA More

When Berkshire Hathaway revealed a large Alphabet (GOOGL 4.48%)(GOOG 4.43%) position last year, the easy assumption was that new CEO Greg Abel was behind it. Warren Buffett, after all, had spent decades steering clear of big technology bets outside of Apple.

On Wednesday, Buffett set the record straight. "I initiated it," he told CNBC, adding that not buying the search giant sooner was a mistake.

It was a candid admission from an investor who rarely second-guesses himself in public. And it landed as the stock traded near an all-time high, up about 3% on the day and more than double where it sat a year ago.

So should regular investors follow Buffett into Alphabet here?

Image source: Getty Images.

How the bet came together Berkshire first disclosed its Alphabet stake in the third quarter of 2025, then more than tripled it early this year. In June, it went further. The conglomerate agreed to buy $10 billion of stock directly from the company in a private placement ($5 billion of Class A shares and $5 billion of Class C shares) to help fund Alphabet's artificial intelligence (AI) build-out. All told, the position is now worth about $31 billion, one of Berkshire's larger equity holdings and its biggest new technology bet in years.

Buffett was refreshingly blunt about where it ranks for him. He said he doesn't like Alphabet as well as "at least four or five other businesses that we own," and he flagged the enormous sums the company and its rivals are pouring into AI.

"[T]hey're all laying out hundreds of billions, and that's real money," he said.

He was just as clear about who runs Berkshire now. "We talk all the time," Buffett said of Abel, "but he is the decider."

The business behind the conviction Buffett's concerns are worth holding onto. But so is the reason he bought in the first place: Alphabet is putting up some of its strongest numbers in years.

In the first quarter of 2026, revenue rose 22% year over year to $109.9 billion, the company's 11th straight quarter of double-digit growth. Operating margin expanded about 2 percentage points to 36.1%, and earnings per share soared 82% to $5.11. Most of that jump, though, came from unrealized gains on the company's equity investments rather than the core business -- operating income grew 30%.

Today's Change

(

-4.48

%) $

-16.61

Current Price

$

354.32

The standout remains Google Cloud. Segment revenue jumped 63% year over year to $20 billion, a sharp acceleration, and the cloud backlog (contracted work not yet booked as revenue) nearly doubled from the prior quarter to more than $460 billion. Alphabet expects to recognize just over half of that backlog as revenue within two years, so the demand converts on a near horizon, not a distant one.

And the strength is broad. The company pointed to solid results across the business, from search to YouTube, not just the cloud unit grabbing headlines.

Of course, advertising still pays most of the bills. But a fast-growing, increasingly profitable cloud arm gives Alphabet a second engine of growth that advertising alone never provided. For a company this size, an accelerating segment as large as the cloud is unusual, and it is a big reason Alphabet's overall growth has climbed rather than faded.

The risk is the one Buffett named. To serve all that demand, Alphabet expects to spend $180 billion to $190 billion on capital expenditures this year, with more to come in 2027. If those investments don't earn their keep, the spending will weigh on free cash flow and margins for years to come. That is the central bet, and it is not a small one.

Which brings the story back to price. Alphabet trades at about 28 times earnings -- only a touch above the S&P 500's multiple, and cheaper than most of its megacap AI peers. For a business compounding at better than 20% with an accelerating, increasingly profitable cloud arm, I'd call that reasonable rather than stretched.

In my view, Alphabet is a buy here, though not because Buffett owns it. The real case is the combination of 20%-plus revenue growth, a cloud business that keeps accelerating, and a valuation in line with the market. The heavy AI spending is the risk worth watching, as Buffett himself pointed out. But at today's price, I'm comfortable owning Alphabet, endorsement or not.

Amazon (AMZN 1.99%) CEO Andy Jassy put a striking number on one of his company's least-discussed businesses this spring. If Amazon's in-house chip operation were a stand-alone company that sold the chips it produces to outside buyers, he said on the company's first-quarter earnings call in April, its annual revenue run rate would be about $50 billion.

The business as it actually runs today is no small thing either. Amazon's custom chip unit -- Graviton processors, Trainium artificial intelligence (AI) accelerators, and Nitro networking chips, all deployed inside Amazon Web Services (AWS) -- has an annual revenue run rate above $20 billion, growing at triple-digit percentage rates year over year.

And customers have lined up. Jassy said in the company's first-quarter earnings call that it now holds more than $225 billion in revenue commitments for Trainium.

Numbers like those suggest Amazon is building something bigger than an internal cost-saving project. Here's a closer look at the chip business, and what it could mean for the stock.

Image source: Amazon.com Inc.

A $20 billion business inside AWS Amazon's chips business grew nearly 40% quarter over quarter in the first quarter alone, Jassy said on the earnings call. And as best the company can tell, he added, its custom silicon operation is now "one of the top three data center chip businesses in the world."

The $225 billion commitment figure comes with recognizable names attached. Amazon's first-quarter report disclosed a commitment from OpenAI to consume approximately two gigawatts of Trainium capacity beginning in 2027, and an agreement under which Anthropic will secure up to five gigawatts of current and future generations of Trainium chips. Uber is using Graviton chips to match riders with drivers. And Meta Platforms signed on to deploy tens of millions of Graviton cores.

Demand is running ahead of supply, too.

"Our Trainium2 chip has about 30% better price-performance than comparable GPUs, and has largely sold out," Jassy said on the call. Trainium3, which started shipping at the beginning of 2026, is nearly fully subscribed. And much of Trainium4, still more than a year from broad availability, has already been reserved.

Today's Change

(

-1.99

%) $

-5.07

Current Price

$

249.89

A challenger to Nvidia, within limits Of course, Nvidia is still much bigger. Its graphics processing units (GPUs) dominate AI data centers, and Amazon itself remains a huge Nvidia customer -- the same first-quarter report that touted Trainium also announced plans to deploy more than 1 million Nvidia GPUs starting in 2026.

Trainium's selling point is cost per unit of computing, and Amazon offers its chips only through AWS.

Jassy's $50 billion figure is also a hypothetical. It describes what the business would look like if Amazon sold its chips on the open market the way other chipmakers do, which today it mostly doesn't. Amazon doesn't break out the unit's profits, either, so investors can't yet see what all this silicon earns.

But the chip momentum sits inside a cloud business that is accelerating. AWS revenue grew 20% for all of 2025, then 24% in the fourth quarter, then 28% in the first quarter of 2026, reaching $37.6 billion -- growth Jassy called the segment's fastest in 15 quarters. AWS also produced $14.2 billion of operating income in the first quarter, up 23% from $11.5 billion a year earlier.

That growth is expensive. Amazon expects about $200 billion in capital expenditures across the company in 2026, and its free cash flow for the trailing 12 months fell to $1.2 billion from $25.9 billion a year earlier as AI investments ramped up.

The spending is the main risk here. If demand for AI computing cools before these investments pay for themselves, Amazon's profits and its stock could suffer.

Still, the stock arguably isn't asking investors to pay much for the chip business. At about $255 per share as of this writing, Amazon trades at about 30 times earnings, though earnings get a boost from a $16.8 billion pre-tax gain on the company's Anthropic investment booked in the first quarter. Excluding it, the multiple would be somewhat higher. Even so, shares are up a modest 10% or so this year while AWS accelerates.

Ultimately, I don't think Trainium needs to beat Nvidia for Amazon shareholders to win. A chip business with a $20 billion run rate, triple-digit growth, and $225 billion in commitments strengthens the case for a stock priced like this while its biggest profit engine accelerates. I already liked Amazon at this price. The chip business is one more reason.

This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.

If you bought YieldMax NVDA Option Income Strategy ETF (NYSEARCA:NVDY) to ride NVIDIA‘s (NASDAQ:NVDA | NVDA Price Prediction) rocket while collecting a fat monthly check, the fund is quietly clipping both sides of your ticket. It charges you more than nine times what a plain index ETF costs, and it hands the underlying stock’s biggest up-moves to the option buyers on the other side of its trades.

What You’re Actually Paying NVDY’s fact sheet lists a gross and net expense ratio of 1.09%. On a $10,000 stake, that is roughly $109 a year flowing out of your NAV before a single option premium hits the account. Compound that against a mainstream, cheap alternative like the Invesco QQQ Trust or the iShares Semiconductor ETF, and the drag stops looking like a rounding error. Over 10 years, a 1.09% annual fee on $10,000 quietly removes more than $1,000 of ending value versus a low-cost peer, before you even discuss the options overlay.

The comparison gets sharper against just owning the underlying. NVIDIA stock is up 28.72% over the past year and 13.25% year to date through July 10, 2026. NVDY, by comparison, returned 27.94% over the past year and 11.38% year to date. Those gaps are the covered call cap showing up in the price chart, on top of the fee.

The Part the Factsheet Doesn’t Highlight Look inside the fund and the marketing story frays. As of May 19, 2026, only 11.5% of net assets sit in NVIDIA common stock. 20.6% is parked in U.S. Treasury securities. The N-PORT snapshot from April 30, 2026 shows an even more extreme cash tilt, with Treasury bills making up roughly 94.9% of net assets and NVIDIA exposure delivered through offsetting long and short options rather than shares.

That structure has two costs the factsheet does not spell out. First, the short calls cap your upside. On every big NVIDIA rip, someone else exercises against the fund and takes the gain above the strike, which is why NVDA can post 28.72% in a year while NVDY trails. Second, the fund’s income is a blend of option premiums and Treasury coupons, not pure NVIDIA dividends. NVIDIA itself pays only $0.25 a quarter after its June 2026 hike. The rest of NVDY’s high distribution is manufactured, and manufactured income has historically included return-of-capital and short-term gains that get taxed as ordinary income in a taxable account.

There is also transaction drag. Rolling multiple short and long NVIDIA calls week after week, visible in the July 17, 2026 expiration with 997,144 call contracts of open interest, generates bid-ask friction that never appears in the 1.09% headline.

The Cheaper Mirror If the goal is NVIDIA exposure, holding NVDA directly costs nothing in fund fees and preserves the full upside. If the goal is diversified AI exposure with a lower expense ratio, broad tech and semiconductor ETFs run at a fraction of NVDY’s 1.09%. The trade-off is clear: you give up the loud monthly distribution and accept price appreciation as your return. NVDY sells the reverse trade, and NVDY holders paid for it in the one-year gap between the fund and its underlying.

What This Means for You NVDY is a specific bet: swap a chunk of NVIDIA’s upside for a smoother, front-loaded income stream, and pay 1.09% a year for someone to run the options desk. The question worth asking before your next contribution is whether that monthly check, after fees, taxes, and the capped upside on a stock still compounding at 955.75% over five years, is actually paying you, or paying the structure.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Netflix, Inc.'s Q2 print shows strong underlying fundamentals—solid revenue growth, resilient margins, and disciplined buybacks—despite headline optics that spooked the market. NFLX stock's sharp decline reflects sentiment around disclosure changes, regional deceleration, and content‑spend seasonality, not deterioration in the core business. At $68, the market is effectively pricing NFLX as a no‑growth company; reverse DCF math and long‑term FCF visibility point to a materially undervalued, high‑quality asset.

By PYMNTS  |  July 16, 2026

 | 

Every claim UnitedHealth processes, every prior authorization it reviews and every patient interaction it handles now runs through artificial intelligence (AI). The company is turning that internal overhaul into a commercial product line. “Virtually everything that we do, we see it basically as the operating infrastructure of the future,” Chairman and CEO Stephen Hemsley said Wednesday (July 15) on the company’s second-quarter 2026 earnings call. “It really is occurring across the spectrum of our businesses.”

The results are showing up in the numbers. AI-powered prior authorization is achieving a 96% first-pass approval rate. The company committed this quarter to eliminating 30% of prior authorization volume by year-end and nearly two-thirds of prior authorization requirements for pediatric care. Those efficiencies are flowing straight to the bottom line, with second-quarter operating earnings up 55% year over year.

Where AI Is Doing the Work At Optum Health, which delivers care directly to 20 million patients, ambient listening AI tools are available to 70% of employed clinicians and are on track to reach 90% by year end. The technology transcribes patient encounters in real time, removing the documentation burden that drives clinician burnout. Optum CEO Patrick Conway said during the call that the tool has produced a 90% reduction in cognitive burnout among clinicians who use it.

Conway also noted that AI is helping nurses summarize complex patient cases 40% faster. Enhanced care transition support has driven a 10% reduction in hospitalizations in the Western and Southern regions since late last year. Home health pilots have cut readmissions and reduced skilled nursing facility stays.

In claims processing, complex cases that once required manual review are now processed automatically and with higher accuracy. “Very complex claims that we never before thought we would be able to automate, we’re able to automate those and process those with higher accuracy,” said Tim Noel, CEO of UnitedHealthcare. Patient-facing hours expanded by nearly 200,000 in the first half of the year as AI-assisted scheduling cut wait times for specialist appointments.

Selling the Playbook to the Rest of the Industry Optum Insight is converting those internal tools into commercial products sold to health systems and payers outside UnitedHealth. About a third of Optum Insight’s technology investment this year is going toward that commercialization effort.

A digital prior authorization product launched last quarter under the Optum Real branch has processed roughly half a million prior authorizations and saved 69,000 administrative hours for external clients. Value Connect, an AI insights platform embedded directly in provider electronic health records, is showing a 17% reduction in pharmacy costs in early client deployments.

Hemsley said every internal function, including HR, finance, legal and clinical operations, is being rebuilt around AI. The efficiency gains from that work will become the product Optum Insight sells externally. About a third of Optum Insight’s investment this year is going toward commercializing internal use cases for outside clients. “This is the beginning,” Hemsley said, “but it will have compounding effects as we make these investments.”

What Else Stood Out UnitedHealth committed to processing 80% of prior authorizations in real time by end of 2027, eliminating most of the back-and-forth between health plans and providers that currently delays care and drives administrative cost on both sides. Commercial insurance cost trends are running modestly above 11%, driven partly by an arbitration process under the No Surprises Act that UnitedHealth says is being exploited. Roughly 60% of all arbitration cases are brought by just five entities, and average payouts when arbitrators side with providers now run 11 times what Medicare would pay. Medicare Advantage cost trends are coming in below original planning assumptions, driven by benefit design changes and network adjustments. Full-year Medicare margins are now expected to finish above 3%. Optum Health now reaches nearly 90% of U.S. counties and conducts approximately 2.5 million rural patient home visits annually, with plans to expand those programs across the full Optum Health footprint by year-end. Topline Results and Outlook UnitedHealth reported second-quarter adjusted earnings per share of $6.38, compared with $4.08 in the prior year. Total revenues were $112 billion, largely flat year over year. Operating earnings of $8 billion grew 55% year over year. The medical care ratio was 86.7%, including $860 million of net favorable prior period medical development, compared to 89.4% in the second quarter of 2025.

Operating cash flows were approximately $11 billion, or 1.9 times net income. The debt-to-capital ratio fell to 41.2%, down from 44.1% a year ago. The company closed its acquisition of Alegeus Technologies on July 2.