Google dodged a breakup that would have included selling its Chrome browser after a judge ruled against the government's toughest proposals in the biggest antitrust case in three decades. The decision was also a big win for Apple, as Google will still be allowed to pay its partners. Apple gets about $20 billion a year for making Google search the default on iPhones. Alphabet shares rallied 8%, touching a record high; Apple rose 2%.
* Google avoids having to spin off Chrome. [Law360] * Lawyers using time saved by AI for more work. [Legal Cheek] * Charging documents for former Biglaw associate arrested in D.C. say someone said hostile things to National Guard troops and a day later they decided it was him. We might have another no bill on our hands. [National Law Journal]
Wall Street is sinking on Tuesday as rising pressure from the bond market pulls U.S. stocks further from their records. The S&P 500 fell 1.1% and was on track for its worst day in a month. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 412 points, or 0.9%, as of 2:30 p.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 1.3% lower. All three are still relatively close to their recently set all-time highs.
The market dropped almost 20% in April. It is now 34% above its 52-week high. There is no single reason to think it will stop rising, except that it is already rising. The market is expensive, based on S&P ratio yardsticks. However, strong earnings, particularly in the big tech sector, can offset this. Big tech rules the market value. Big tech earnings were super.
Sir Keir Starmer has reiterated the UK's unwavering support for Ukraine following President Zelensky's rejection of Donald Trump's suggestion for a peace plan that involves territory concessions to Russia. President Zelensky firmly stated that "Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier," emphasizing their strong stance against any territorial compromises. Zelensky and Starmer share concerns over discussing unrealistic options, underscoring the importance of maintaining Ukraine's sovereignty in the face of aggression.
Ron Deibert plans to address the merging of technology and authoritarianism at the Black Hat cybersecurity conference, emphasizing the role of big tech in collective insecurity.