Dow Jones Top Company Headlines at 7 PM ET: Microsoft's Head of Gaming to Retire After 38 Years at Company | Google ...

ForkLibertarian · 2026-02-21T14:05:30+00:00

Phil Spencer is retiring after 38 years at Microsoft, overseeing major acquisitions but facing competition challenges. Google aims to challenge Nvidia using its financial resources. LyondellBasell cuts dividends amid an industry downturn, while OpenAI faces scrutiny over past violence warnings. Danone expects stable growth despite infant formula recalls, and Starbucks aims for recovery. Amazon surpasses Walmart to become the largest U.S. company. Economic factors impact De Beers, and Moncler's shares rise from strong winter sales. Trade secret theft is increasing, exacerbated by AI, and Air Liquide reports profit growth from its gas and services business.

ForkLibertarian

2026-02-21 14:05:30

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Microsoft’s Head of Gaming to Retire After 38 Years at Company

Phil Spencer oversaw the acquisitions of Minecraft and Activision Blizzard, but has struggled to keep Xbox competitive with rivals.

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Google Is Exploring Ways to Use Its Financial Might to Take On Nvidia

As more AI companies consider Google’s chips, the company wants to use deals with external partners to expand the potential market.

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LyondellBasell Slashes Dividend as Industry Challenges Persist

LyondellBasell’s board has roughly halved the chemical company’s rich dividend amid a prolonged industry downturn.

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Boaz Weinstein Is Hunting Blue Owl’s Funds

The hedge-fund manager is adding private credit to his crusade against funds sold to individual investors.

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OpenAI Employees Raised Alarms About Canada Shooting Suspect Months Ago

The ChatGPT maker opted against informing Canadian authorities about Jesse Van Rootselaar’s descriptions of violence last June.

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Danone Forecasts Steady Sales Growth, Limited Hit From Infant-Formula Recalls

The French food maker projects steady sales growth for the year ahead and a muted impact from infant-formula recalls.

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Starbucks Needs You to Buy an Afternoon Refresher

Investors are again valuing the coffee chain like a growth stock, betting it can make a comeback.

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Amazon Is Now America’s Biggest Company. Its 17-Year Journey to Surpass Walmart.

Walmart had held the title as the biggest company by annual revenue since 2009.

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Anglo American Halves Value of De Beers Diamond Business

Soft economic growth in China, and the rise of cheaper lab-made diamonds has taken the shine off the storied unit.

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Moncler’s Shares Surge After Upbeat End to the Year

The group delivered strong results for the crucial winter season, sending its stock soaring and prompting gains across the luxury sector.

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First Brands Lender Onset Says It Was Misled by Auto-Parts Supplier

The financing firm countersued First Brands, saying the bankrupt company owes it more than $2 billion.

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Theft of Trade Secrets Is on the Rise-and AI Is Making It Worse

Google, Apple and xAI are among companies that have sought to defend their sensitive information as employees are accused of stealing it.

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Air Liquide Posts Higher Profit on Sales Growth in Gas, Services Business

Air Liquide posted a rise in full-year net profit as all gas and services businesses-accounting for most of group sales-recorded 2% sales growth.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 20, 2026 19:15 ET (00:15 GMT)

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