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Tariff Costs Put New Pressure on U.S. Corporate Profits

Rising tariff expenses are beginning to weigh heavily on U.S. companies, prompting executives across multiple industries to warn that profit margins may tighten in the months ahead. Many firms had initially suggested they could manage the added costs through efficiency improvements or selective price increases, but that confidence is fading as import-related expenses continue to climb. Companies that rely on global supply chains are feeling the strain most acutely. Higher costs on imported materials and components are forcing difficult decisions: pass the increases on to consumers, risking weaker demand, or absorb the costs internally, which directly erodes profitability. For many businesses, neither option is attractive. Consumer-facing brands are finding it especially challenging to raise prices further, as shoppers show growing sensitivity to even modest increases. This resistance limits the ability of firms to offset tariff-driven expenses, creating a squeeze that is beginning t...

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Wall Street drifts lower, dragged down by tech and anxiety over China tariffs

U.S. stock futures declined on Wednesday morning, driven by disappointing earnings reports from major technology companies Alphabet Inc. and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). As of 7:08 a.m. ET, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were down 0.1%, S&P 500 futures fell 0.4%, and Nasdaq 100 futures dropped 0.8%.

Alphabet, the parent company of Google, saw its shares fall by 7.1% in premarket trading after reporting mixed results, with weaker-than-expected cloud revenue growth. The company also announced a substantial $75 billion investment in artificial intelligence initiatives.

AMD's stock declined by nearly 10% following its earnings release, which revealed data center revenue below analysts' expectations. CEO Lisa Su projected a 7% decrease in data center sales for the upcoming quarter.

In contrast, Walt Disney Co. shares rose after reporting better-than-expected quarterly revenue and profit, despite a slight decrease in Disney+ subscribers.

Investors are also monitoring ongoing trade tensions, as concerns about prolonged tariffs between the U.S. and China add to market instability. China recently announced tariffs on various U.S. products and initiated an antitrust investigation into Google, with potential similar actions against Apple's App Store.

These developments contribute to a cautious market environment, with investors advised to remain vigilant and consider diversification strategies amid the current volatility.

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