News

Exclusive-Microsoft's Office-Teams offer will likely stave off EU antitrust fine, sources say

Microsoft is set to stave off a possible hefty antitrust fine as EU regulators are likely to accept an offer on its Office and Teams products, three people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday, amid tensions with the United States over the EU's scrutiny of Big Tech. Microsoft found itself back in the EU antitrust crosshairs after Salesforce-owned Slack alleged in a 2020 complaint to the European Commission that Microsoft was getting an unfair advantage by bundling chat and video app Teams with its Office product. Microsoft subsequently unbundled Teams from Office in 2023, selling Office without Teams for 2 euros ($2.24) less than Office with the video app, while Teams standalone would be sold for 5 euros a month.

How Walmart handles Trump's tariffs could offer clues on retail health

Results from Walmart, a bellwether for the U.S. retail industry, will offer proof on Thursday why the Arkansas behemoth is best placed to navigate the uncertainty from the Trump administration's tariffs. Walmart is among a handful of large companies that has not either pulled or slashed its forecast. Since the announcement was made minutes before U.S. imposed a 145% tariff on China - Walmart's largest supplier - investors will watch for any adjustment to the outlook and whether it absorbs any tariff-related costs or passes them on to customers.