Bloomberg Daybreak: US Edition

Today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes. On today's podcast: 1) Brent oil rallied to a four-year high after Axios reported that US President Trump will receive a briefing on new military options for action in Iran. The US and Iran have maintained their blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, with the conflict in the Middle East called the biggest supply shock in history by the International Energy Agency. 2) Alphabet's Google is seeing a clear payoff from its AI spending, with solid growth at its cloud computing unit and a "meaningful acceleration in growth" driven by demand for its AI software and infrastructure. Meta Platforms is lagging behind, with its shares tumbling more than 6% after the company boosted full-year capital expenditures, and its consumer AI app being slower to take off. The four companies, including Amazon and Microsoft, are expected to spend as much as $725 billion in 2026, with a key question being whether that massive spending is providing tangible results. 3) Shares of Bill Ackman's Pershing Square USA Ltd. plunged 18% in its debut after the combined initial public offering raised $5 billion. The $5 billion haul was the bare minimum to keep early investors locked into the deal, and fell short of the $25 billion that Pershing Square sought to bring in. Pershing Square USA deserves to trade at a premium to its net assets over time if the newly listed closed-end fund delivers the same outperformance as the hedge fund firm has in the past, Ackman said. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Four of the biggest companies in the US: Alphabet, Amazon, Meta and Microsoft all reported earnings after the bell. - Meta Platforms shares slid after the company raised its spending outlook for the year, reigniting fears that the historic levels of investment it’s making to build artificial intelligence models won’t pay off. - Microsoft's cloud business reported growth that narrowly beat analysts’ estimates, disappointing investors concerned that the company isn’t fully capitalizing on demand for AI services. - Amazon spent more than anticipated to expand data center capacity in the quarter, fueling the fastest sales growth for its cloud unit in more than three years. - Alphabet (GOOGL) reported quarterly revenue and profit that beat projections, fueled by strong growth in its cloud computing unit, signaling that the internet giant’s unprecedented investments in AI infrastructure are beginning to pay off. For instant reaction and analysis, Bloomberg Businessweek Daily hosts Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec speak with: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg's Tom Keene and Jonathan Ferro and Lisa Abramowicz discuss remarks from Fed Chair Jay Powell following the Federal Reserve's latest policy decision on a special edition of Bloomberg Surveillance. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said he’ll remain at the central bank as a governor after his term as chair ends. “After my term as chair ends on May 15, I will continue to serve as a governor for a period of time to be determined,” Powell said Wednesday at a press conference. While Powell’s term as Fed chair ends on May 15, his seat on the Board of Governors doesn’t expire until 2028. “I plan to keep a low profile as a governor,” he said. “There is only ever one chair of the Federal Reserve Board. When Kevin Warsh is confirmed and sworn in, he will be that chair.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg's Tom Keene, Jonathan Ferro and Lisa Abramowicz break down the Federal Reserve's latest policy decision on a special edition of Bloomberg Surveillance. Federal Reserve officials left interest rates unchanged, but revealed a deepening division over the outlook for policy amid increased uncertainty caused by the conflict in the Middle East.Four officials voted against the decision, including three who objected to language in their post-meeting statement that suggested the central bank would eventually resume cutting rates. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes. On today's podcast: 1) The US signaled it would stick with a naval blockade of Iranian ports, as it tries to choke-off Tehran’s oil exports and force it back to the negotiating table. US President Donald Trump claimed on Tuesday that Iran was in a “state of collapse.” His treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, later said Washington’s “maximum pressure campaign” had caused Iran’s inflation to accelerate and that the country was running out of oil storage. It would soon have to start cutting production, Bessent said. 2) King Charles III called on the US to maintain its leadership role in the world, and to support Ukraine and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, in a remarkably pointed speech for a monarch that urged Americans to resist the pull of isolationism.Charles used his remarks to a joint session of Congress — the first such address by a British monarch in more than three decades — to argue for preserving the alliance between the UK and US. The king appealed to the shared heritage between the two nations, sprinkling his remarks with references to culture, religion and principles behind America’s decision to declare independence 250 years ago 3) With the Fed widely expected to keep rates on hold at the April 28-29 FOMC meeting, the more interesting revelation will concern Jerome Powell’s future: Will he stay on or leave the Fed when his term as chair expires May 15? Regardless of his plans, we think Powell will offer only limited forward guidance on policy at his final news conference as chair, with Kevin Walsh on track to be confirmed as his successor. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes. On today's podcast: 1) President Trump convened his national security team to discuss Iran’s proposal to end a war now in its third month. Iran has signaled it may be willing to accept an interim deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for Washington ending its blockade of Iranian ports. The president has told his advisers he’s not satisfied with Iran’s latest suggestions, and his administration has previously said any deal must include agreements to curb Iran’s nuclear activities. 2) Jimmy Kimmel defended comments he made during a broadcast that prompted President Trump to call for him to be fired, citing the First Amendment right to free speech. Kimmel's comments, which included a parody of the White House Correspondents' Dinner, were called "hateful and violent" by Melania Trump, who urged ABC to "take a stand." Kimmel apologized for what Trump and others went through, but questioned whether his joke had any effect on the events that unfolded, and suggested the First Lady should have a conversation with her husband about hateful and violent rhetoric. 3) Technology stocks led global equity markets lower as concerns over investment in artificial intelligence resurfaced. Oil kept rising as the Strait of Hormuz remained shut, with Brent advancing for a seventh day to top $110 a barrel. The dollar gained against major peers apart from the yen after the Bank of Japan held interest rates in a split vote. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes. On today's podcast: 1) The man accused of storming the White House Correspondents’ Dinner spent years quietly acquiring his arsenal, purchasing a shotgun from a Torrance, California, firearms dealer eight months before the attack and a semi-automatic pistol two years earlier, according to a law enforcement intelligence profile reviewed by Bloomberg. Cole Tomas Allen, 31, bought a Maverick 12-gauge pump-action shotgun from Turner’s Outdoorsman in Torrance in August 2025 and an Armscor semi-automatic pistol from CAP Tactical Firearms in Lawndale in October 2023, the profile shows. 2) Oil rose after efforts to resume peace talks over the Iran war stalled, leaving the Strait of Hormuz almost impassable and prolonging the supply disruption that has roiled global markets. Brent climbed as much as 3% to $108.50 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate advanced toward $97, before giving up some gains after Axios reported Tehran offered the US a fresh proposal to open the strait. Over the weekend, President Donald Trump canceled a planned trip by his top envoys to Pakistan, which is mediating talks, while Iran said it won’t negotiate if it’s being threatened. 3) To say the special relationship is going through a rough patch ahead of King Charles III’s visit would be an exercise in British understatement. The 77-year-old monarch will arrive in Washington on Monday with ties between the UK and the US at their lowest point since the Suez Crisis in the 1950s. While President Donald Trump often praises Charles as a “fantastic man,” he’s been heaping scorn on the country’s elected prime minister, mocking Keir Starmer as weak and unreliable for refusing to join America’s initial strikes on Iran See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg Daybreak Weekend with Host Nathan Hager take a look at some of the stories we'll be tracking in the coming week. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast: 1) The US increased pressure on Iran with its naval blockade, as it seeks to get Tehran to agree to talks. The US naval operation has caused many Iran-linked vessels to turn around rather than go through the Hormuz strait, potentially affecting Iran's oil exports. Israel and Lebanon are set to extend a ceasefire for three weeks, according to President Donald Trump, who announced the deal in a social-media post after meeting Israeli and Lebanese envoys at the White House. 2) Intel delivered a sales forecast of $13.8 billion to $14.8 billion in the June quarter, exceeding Wall Street expectations of $13 billion. The company's upbeat outlook suggests that Chief Executive Officer Lip-Bu Tan is making progress on a challenging comeback plan, with Intel shares soaring 20% in extended trading. Intel's strong demand for processors used in AI systems is lifting demand for its flagship Xeon server processors, with Tan saying the company is "laser-focused" on increasing output from its factories to meet demand. 3) Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he’ll maintain cooperation with NATO allies and brushed off a report that US officials are considering suspending his country from the alliance for its stance on the Iran war. Sanchez told reporters that Spain "meets our obligations, we are a loyal partner" and that the country's position is "full cooperation with allies, but always within the framework of international law." The US is considering measures within the alliance in response to the stance of NATO allies, including Spain, on the Iran war, according to people familiar with the matter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Intel gave a strong sales forecast for the current period, signaling that the struggling chipmaker is finally beginning to benefit from the giant build-out of artificial intelligence infrastructure. Revenue will be $13.8 billion to $14.8 billion in the quarter ending in June, the company said Thursday in a statement. Analysts, on average, estimated $13 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Earnings, excluding some items, will be about 20 cents a share, compared with a Wall Street prediction of 9 cents. The upbeat outlook suggests that Chief Executive Officer Lip-Bu Tan is making progress on a challenging comeback plan. After lining up major investments in Intel last year — helping to strengthen the company’s balance sheet — Thursday’s results suggest he’s now delivering on a promise to improve its operations. Intel shares rose 14% in extended trading. The stock had gained 81% this year before the results were released, closing at $66.78. For instant reaction and analysis, Bloomberg Businessweek Daily hosts Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec speak with: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes. On today's podcast: 1) The US and Iran are locked in a battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz after failing to meet for a fresh round of peace talks, with both sides blocking the waterway to gain leverage during an extended ceasefire. The US is maintaining a naval blockade on ships going to and from Iran’s ports, which Iran calls a violation of the ceasefire, while Iran is keeping Hormuz closed to almost all other international traffic. The blockade and closure of the Strait of Hormuz have led to increased oil prices and concerns about supply shortages and a global inflation crisis 2) Navy Secretary John Phelan was fired after clashing with top leaders at the Pentagon, including over administration efforts to revive US shipbuilding. Phelan was pushed out after butting heads with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg over President Trump’s focus on a new US “Golden Fleet." Undersecretary Hung Cao will replace Phelan, according to Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, who said Phelan was stepping down “effective immediately." 3) Tesla anticipates billions of dollars in additional spending this year to support Elon Musk’s ambitions to transform the company into an AI and robotics company. Capital expenditures this year will exceed $25 billion, roughly three times last year’s outlay, to be put toward a dramatic expansion of factory operations and initiatives such as production of its Optimus humanoid robot. The investments will support production of key products including Cybercab, Semi and an updated version of its Megapack battery storage system, with Tesla remaining on track to start making these products. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tesla beat Wall Street’s profit expectations to start the year as the automaker said demand for its electric vehicles is rebounding around the globe, hinting at a possible recovery for its long-struggling automotive business. Adjusted earnings rose to 41 cents a share in the first quarter, the company said Wednesday in a statement, higher than the 34-cent average of analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg. It’s the second straight quarter Tesla’s earnings have exceeded expectations. Tesla said it “saw continued growth in demand for our vehicles” in parts of Asia-Pacific and South America, along with a rebound in North America and the Europe-Middle East region. The surprisingly optimistic comments come several weeks after the automaker reported one of its worst quarters of auto sales in years. For instant reaction and analysis, Bloomberg Businessweek Daily hosts Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec speak with: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes. On today's podcast: 1) President Trump indefinitely extended a ceasefire with Iran as peace talks remain on hold, walking back threats to resume fighting. The US-Israel alliance and Iran won’t immediately return to fighting, but there’s still no sign the vital Hormuz waterway will be reopened to oil and gas shipments soon. Iran says it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz or restart peace talks until the US naval operation ends, and the US president blamed divisions among the Islamic Republic’s leaders for the need to extend the truce. 2) Virginia voters backed a Democratic plan to redraw the state's congressional districts, with the Yes vote leading 51.5% to 48.6%. The vote could net Democrats as many as four more US House seats in November's midterm elections, according to multiple projections. The outcome shifts Virginia's congressional delegation from being one of the most balanced to packing Republican voters together, favoring Democrats in most districts. 3) Kevin Warsh pledged to act independently if confirmed as the next Federal Reserve chair, rejecting concerns he would be a "sock puppet" for President Trump. Warsh called for changes to the way the US central bank makes its decisions, including a new framework for dealing with persistent inflation and a new way of communicating with the public. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Donald Trump announced he was extending a ceasefire with Iran indefinitely a day before it was set to expire, even as plans for a fresh round of talks between the two countries fell apart. In a Truth Social post, Trump said Tuesday he would maintain a blockade over ships coming to and from Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. He said Pakistan, which had mediated between the two sides, asked for the US to hold off on fresh strikes and he was extending the ceasefire until Iran submits a new proposal “and discussions are concluded, one way or the other.” For instant reaction and analysis, Bloomberg Businessweek Daily hosts Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec speak with: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes. On today's podcast: 1) President Trump signaled he is unlikely to extend a two-week ceasefire with Iran that’s set to expire in two days. The president said the Strait of Hormuz would stay blockaded for now, and “I’m not opening it until a deal is signed.” Iranian officials have stopped short of explicitly ruling out participation in the talks in Pakistan, reinforcing expectations that both sides are continuing to explore a deal to end the war. 2) Apple announced longtime CEO Tim Cook will be replaced by John Ternus, with Ternus taking the job in September, and the company implying that he will bring continuity and help preserve Cook's legacy. Ternus is expected to bring a more decisive leadership style, moving faster and sharpening Apple's competitiveness in AI, and will oversee the launch of new products, including Apple's first foldable iPhone and a fresh start for Siri. 3) Amazon is investing an additional $5 billion in Anthropic and may inject $20 billion more over time. The deal was struck at a valuation of $350 billion, and Anthropic plans to spend more than $100 billion over the next 10 years on Amazon’s cloud technologies and chips. Amazon will provide Anthropic with chips to reach about 5 gigawatts of power, and the companies said more than 100,000 customers run Claude models on Amazon Web Services. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apple named hardware chief John Ternus as the iPhone maker’s next leader, with Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook shifting to the role of executive chairman. Ternus, 50, will become CEO on Sept. 1, the company said in a statement Monday. The Apple veteran was head of hardware engineering since 2021 and has spent 25 years focused on product development at the iPhone maker. Bloomberg News previously reported that Ternus was Cook’s heir apparent. Ternus’s hardware engineering division will be taken over by longtime deputy Tom Marieb, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. He will report to newly named Chief Hardware Officer Johny Srouji. In that role, Srouji is gaining oversight of a newly combined hardware engineering and hardware technologies group. For instant reaction and analysis, Bloomberg Businessweek Daily hosts Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec speak with: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes. On today's podcast: 1) President Trump and Iranian officials offered disparate views on the next stage of the war, casting uncertainty over whether the two sides would meet for peace talks with a ceasefire set to expire in the coming days. Tensions in the war ratcheted up over the weekend as the US Navy fired upon and boarded an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman, the first seizure in the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. That critical waterway for energy shipments remained closed early Monday after confusion over the weekend about whether tankers could transit the strait. Iran had initially said ships could pass before abruptly stopping traffic through the waterway less than 24 hours later. At a weekly press conference Monday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said there are "no plans for the next round of negotiations, and no decision has been made in this regard.” 2) Oil jumped, pushing US stocks and Treasuries lower after a turbulent weekend in the Middle East cast doubt on the prospects for peace talks ahead of a looming ceasefire deadline. Brent rose 5.4% above $95 a barrel as the US Navy carried out its first seizure of an Iranian vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. Futures for the S&P 500 fell 0.5%, with the benchmark poised to snap a five-day winning streak during which it notched a succession of highs. European stocks declined 1%, while the technology sector drove gains in Asia. The dollar was little changed. Bond yields rose sharply in Europe, whereas moves in Treasuries were more modest. Gold dropped below $4,800 an ounce. 3) A man in Louisiana killed eight children, including seven of his own, in a domestic shooting that unfolded across two homes in Shreveport early Sunday, leaving a community in shock and prompting a large police response. The gunman, identified as Shamar Elkins, 31, also critically wounded two women before being killed by officers after a pursuit. Police said the victims, ages 3 to 11, were found in a single residence, with at least one child attempting to escape from the roof. Authorities said the case appears to stem from a domestic dispute and remains under investigation. It is the deadliest U.S. mass shooting in more than two years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg Daybreak Weekend with Host Nathan Hager take a look at some of the stories we'll be tracking in the coming week. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes. On today's podcast: 1) President Donald Trump claimed Iran has made key concessions in an ongoing negotiation to end the seven-week war, while a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon increased the prospect of a broader peace.Trump said it may not be necessary to renew an April 7 truce with the Islamic Republic before it expires next week, defying expectations that an extension will be needed to allow more time for diplomacy. 2) Some leaders in Arab states in the Persian Gulf and Europe expect it will take about six months to agree to a peace accord and that the ceasefire should be extended to cover that period, according to officials familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified discussing private talks. That’s in part to allow for a reopening of the critical Strait of Hormuz waterway, they said. 3) Netflix Inc. gave a forecast for the second quarter that fell short of analysts’ expectations, sending the shares tumbling in extended trading.The streaming pioneer also announced that Chairman and co-founder Reed Hastings is stepping down from the board at the company’s annual meeting after 29 years to pursue philanthropy and personal interests. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Netflix gave a forecast for the second quarter that fell short of analysts expectations, sending the shares down in extended trading. The streaming pioneer also announced that chairman and co-founder Reed Hastings is stepping down from the board after 29 years to pursue philanthropy and personal interests. Revenue rose 16% in the first three months of the year to $12.3 billion, compared with estimates for $12.2 billion, the company said in a statement on Thursday. Earnings per share for the quarter were $1.23 compared with estimates of 76 cents. For instant reaction and analysis, Bloomberg Businessweek Daily hosts Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec speak with: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.