FTEC

EU Clears Microsoft's $13B OpenAI Investment from Formal Probe: A Relief for Tech Giants

Microsoft's $13 billion investment in OpenAI Inc will not undergo a formal investigation by the European Union's merger watchdogs. The European Commission concluded that the collaboration does not constitute a takeover. Microsoft does not exercise control over OpenAI's operations. The decision follows scrutiny of Microsoft's close relationship with the developer.

LinkedIn Unveils Premium Pages, New Subscription Plan Offers Exclusive Growth Tools For Small Businesses

LinkedIn has begun testing a Premium Company Page subscription for small and medium-sized businesses. The subscription offers AI-generated content, tools to increase follower counts, and other features to enhance visibility on the platform. In 2023, premium subscription revenue could reach $1.7 billion of LinkedIn's $15 billion annual revenue.

OpenAI Launches First Asian Office in Tokyo Amid Microsoft's Massive AI and Cloud Push in Japan

OpenAI has opened its first Asia office in Tokyo, Japan. The entity behind the ChatGPT generative AI chatbot has expanded its global presence. Japan has become a top destination for tech firms seeking to lessen their reliance on China. Microsoft recently announced an investment of $2.9 billion in cloud and AI in Japan.

Weekly Report: what happened at FTEC last week (0408-0412)?

Microsoft's Growth Soars with AI Innovations, Projected to Lead in Public Cloud by 2032: Analyst

Morgan Stanley analyst Keith Weiss maintained Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT) with an Overweight and raised the price target from $465 to $520. Weiss expected Microsoft’s leadership position for multiple secular growth trends to translate into a 14% revenue CAGR through fiscal 2029.

Tailwinds In Tech

William Blair: We are in a new demand cycle for tech hardware. Smartphones and PCs are still the largest end-markets, but their outlook is improving. AI presents a second avenue of growth for many of these Taiwanese companies, says Hiraman. The past year’s gains in Taiwan tech were primarily driven by increases in stock valuations.

Weekly Report: what happened at FTEC last week (0401-0405)?

After The EU, Microsoft Faces Cloud Computing Antitrust Scrutiny in South Africa

Microsoft Corp’s cloud computing licensing practices have become the subject of an antitrust investigation under the South African regulatory body. Microsoft faces an EU complaint by rivals over its licensing practices in the region. The South African investigation is similar to the European Union antitrust case on Big Tech software company.