Procter & Gamble Co. $PG announced in early June a comprehensive two-year restructuring initiative focused on streamlining its non-manufacturing workforce. The plan includes the reduction of up to 7,000 white-collar positions, representing approximately 15% of its office-based global staff. Manufacturing roles will remain unaffected, reflecting the company’s intent to preserve core production capacity while reconfiguring administrative operations. The initiative was outlined at the Deutsche Bank Global Consumer Conference, underscoring P&G’s strategic shift toward operational efficiency in the face of a slowing consumer environment and rising input costs. The cuts are expected to be distributed across business units and geographies, though specific segment-level details remain undisclosed.
Couchbase Inc. $BASE recorded a significant jump of 29% in after-hours trading following confirmation of a definitive agreement to be acquired by Haveli Investments. The all-cash transaction assigns the enterprise software firm an equity value of approximately $1.5 billion, marking a substantial valuation uplift for shareholders.
Global stock markets retreated on Thursday as geopolitical tensions intensified in the Middle East. Reports of renewed Israeli-Iranian air strikes, combined with speculation about possible U.S. military involvement, prompted investors to move toward defensive assets. The U.S. dollar (USD) gained ground, while oil prices remained elevated. U.S. equity futures, including the S&P 500 Index $^SPX, slipped by 0.5%. Despite the selloff, most U.S. markets were closed due to a public holiday, limiting liquidity and amplifying volatility.
Suzuki Motor Corporation $7269.T has unveiled the 2025 iteration of its flagship maxi-scooter, the Burgman 400, specifically tailored for the European market. While the core mechanical specifications remain unchanged, the model receives a visually distinctive update aimed at reinforcing its relevance in an increasingly saturated premium scooter segment. The visual refresh focuses on new color schemes designed to appeal to both urban commuters and long-distance riders, reflecting shifting consumer preferences toward design-oriented two-wheel mobility solutions.
New York-based clean energy startup Aircela has publicly revealed its air-to-fuel conversion machine during a live demonstration in Manhattan. The compact device, roughly the size of a standard refrigerator, attracted a high-profile audience, including government officials, energy specialists, and major investors. The event marked a critical step in positioning synthetic fuels as a scalable alternative to fossil fuels in existing infrastructure.
Cloudflare Inc. $NET, a prominent player in web security and content delivery infrastructure, has disclosed plans to raise $1.75 billion through a private placement of convertible senior notes maturing in 2030. The announcement led to a noticeable drop in NET stock, as traders priced in the risk of future equity dilution tied to the hybrid instrument.
A banking consortium, led by Barclays Plc $BCS, has revealed a $1.5 billion loan package to facilitate Silver Lake Management's acquisition of a majority stake in Altera Corp., a programmable chip subsidiary of Intel Corp. $INTC. This strategic move underscores the sophisticated financial engineering frequently employed in high-stakes acquisitions and reflects the appetite for leveraged financing solutions in today's market environment.
Suzuki Motor Corp $7269.T recently encountered significant operational challenges after suspending production of its popular Swift model. The interruption, which began on May 26 and extended until June 12, was a direct consequence of a critical shortage in spare parts. According to company announcements, partial production will resume on June 13 with the full cycle expected to restart from June 16. Reports from local media indicate that China’s restrictions on the export of rare earth elements, essential for both internal combustion engines and electric vehicle components, have caused widespread disruptions in the supply chain.
Broadcom Inc. $AVGO has reinforced its position on the AI technology map by commencing shipments of its latest Tomahawk 6 switch chip, targeting the intensifying demand for artificial intelligence processing in data centers. This strategic expansion into AI-focused networking hardware aligns with the surging investment trend in next-generation computing systems.
Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals faced notable share price declines after mixed results from late-stage clinical trials of their experimental drug, itepekimab, targeting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in former smokers. On Friday, Sanofi disclosed that its phase III trials produced diverging efficacy data. In one study, the drug demonstrated a 27% reduction in the rate of COPD exacerbations, suggesting meaningful therapeutic potential. However, parallel research failed to replicate these benefits, despite earlier, more positive interim outcomes.
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. $ANF witnessed a marked leap in share value after management raised its full-year sales forecast, highlighting the company’s confidence in managing evolving tariff challenges. The updated outlook projects net sales growth of 3–6% year-over-year, up from the previous expectation of 3–5% issued in March. This revision incorporates anticipated tariff-related costs of approximately USD 50 million.
BYD Co. $1211.HK experienced another slide on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, dropping up to 4% during Tuesday’s trading session after a sharp 8.6% fall the previous day. This consecutive two-day drop exceeded 10%, reflecting heightened concern after the electric vehicle maker introduced significant price cuts last week. The move, targeting 22 electric and plug-in hybrid car models in China, will see discounts of up to 34% through the end of June. Investors’ reaction stemmed from renewed apprehension about an intensifying price competition within the Chinese electric vehicle sector.
