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August 5, 2025

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Europe markets open: Stocks rise; BP Q2 profit at $2.35B, beating estimates

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European stock markets started Tuesday’s session on a positive note, with major indices advancing as investors shifted their focus from last week’s tariff updates to a busy calendar of corporate earnings.

A stronger-than-expected profit report from oil giant BP provided a significant boost to market sentiment, helping the regional Stoxx 600 index extend its recent gains.

After a relatively quiet day for European earnings on Monday, the calendar is packed today. In early trading, the pan-European Stoxx 600 index was last seen up 0.4%, with all major national bourses in the green.

A key driver of this positive sentiment was British energy major BP, whose shares were up 2% after the company exceeded second-quarter profit expectations. BP reported an underlying replacement cost profit, which is used as a proxy for net profit, of $2.35 billion for the three months through June.

This figure comfortably beat the $1.81 billion that analysts had expected, according to an LSEG-compiled consensus.

The strong results come as BP continues its efforts to rebuild investor confidence following a protracted period of underperformance relative to its industry peers, and after a period of heightened volatility for global oil and gas prices.

Other major European companies have also reported their latest financials this morning:

  • Staffing firm Adecco Group posted better-than-expected second-quarter operating income, which was up 6% to 115 million euros ($132.8 million). The company also stated that it expected its profitability to improve in the second half of the year.
  • French satellite operator Eutelsat also beat expectations with revenue growth of 1.6% to 1.24 billion euros. This was driven by growing interest in its satellite internet services from government and corporate customers. However, the company’s operating losses widened to 909 million euros from 310 million euros.
  • Germany’s Fresenius Medical Care fell short of market estimates with an adjusted operating income of 476 million euros. The company cited higher-than-expected patient outflows amid “elevated” mortality and missed treatments. Despite this, the firm confirmed its full-year guidance after both its sales and profit rose.

Investors are also awaiting results from fashion house Hugo Boss later in the day.

The lingering shadow of tariffs

Despite the positive start to the day, investors are still keeping a close eye on the latest trade developments.

On Tuesday, their focus will be on the fallout from US President Donald Trump’s announcement of plans to significantly raise tariffs on Indian exports to the United States.

“India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits,” Trump wrote on the social media platform Truth Social, explaining his rationale.

India has responded by saying it was being “targeted” by both the US and the European Union over its imports of Russian oil. Indian markets slipped at the open on Tuesday as investors monitored these trade developments.

Elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region, markets traded broadly higher.

US markets provide a positive backdrop

The upbeat mood in Europe on Tuesday is also being supported by a rebound on Wall Street in the previous session.

US stock futures were slightly higher on Monday night, following a positive day for US markets as investors there also followed the latest batch of corporate earnings.

The post Europe markets open: Stocks rise; BP Q2 profit at $2.35B, beating estimates appeared first on Invezz

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In Business

Columbia Sportswear sues Columbia University, alleging trademark infringement

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For decades, T-shirts, sweatshirts and other clothing under the Columbia Sportswear brand and clothing emblazoned with the Columbia University name coexisted more or less peacefully without confusion.

But now, the Portland-based outdoor retailer has sued the New York-based university over alleged trademark infringement and a breach of contract, among other charges. It claims that the university’s merchandise looks too similar to what’s being sold at more than 800 retail locations including more than 150 of its branded stores as well as its website and third-party marketplaces.

In a lawsuit filed July 23 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, Columbia Sportswear, whose roots date back to 1938, alleges that the university intentionally violated an agreement the parties signed on June 13, 2023. That agreement dictated how the university could use the word “Columbia” on its own apparel.

As part of the pact, the university could feature “Columbia” on its merchandise provided that the name included a recognizable school insignia or its mascot, the word “university,” the name of the academic department or the founding year of the university — 1754 — or a combination.

But Columbia Sportswear alleges the university breached the agreement a little more than a year later, with the company noticing several garments without any of the school logos being sold at the Columbia University online store.

Many of the garments feature a bright blue color that is “confusingly similar” to the blue color that has long been associated with Columbia Sportswear, the suit alleged.

The lawsuit offered photos of some of the Columbia University items that say only Columbia.

“The likelihood of deception, confusion, and mistake engendered by the university’s misappropriation and misuse of the Columbia name is causing irreparable harm to the brand and goodwill symbolized by Columbia Sportswear’s registered mark Columbia and the reputation for quality it embodies,” the lawsuit alleged.

The lawsuit comes at a time when Columbia University has been threatened with the potential loss of billions of dollars in government support.

Last week, Columbia University reached a deal with the Trump administration to pay more than $220 million to the federal government to restore federal research money that was canceled in the name of combating antisemitism on campus.

Under the agreement, the Ivy League school will pay a $200 million settlement over three years, the university said.

Columbia Sportswear aims to stop all sales of clothing that violate the agreement, recall any products already sold and donate any remaining merchandise to charity. Columbia Sportswear is also seeking three times the amount of actual damages determined by a jury.

Neither Columbia Sportswear or Columbia University couldn’t be immediately reached for comment.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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In Politics

DOJ launching grand jury investigation into Russiagate conspiracy allegations: sources

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Attorney General Pam Bondi directed her staff Monday to act on the criminal referral from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard related to the alleged conspiracy to tie President Donald Trump to Russia, and the Department of Justice is now opening a grand jury investigation into the matter, Fox News Digital has learned.

Bondi ordered an unnamed federal prosecutor to initiate legal proceedings, and the prosecutor is expected to present department evidence to a grand jury to secure a potential indictment, according to a letter from Bondi reviewed by Fox News Digital and a source familiar with the investigation.

A DOJ spokesperson declined to comment on the report of an investigation but said Bondi is taking the referrals from Gabbard ‘very seriously.’ The spokesperson said Bondi believed there is ‘clear cause for deep concern’ and a need for the next steps.

The DOJ confirmed two weeks ago it received a criminal referral from Gabbard. The referral included a memorandum titled ‘Intelligence Community suppression of intelligence showing ‘Russian and criminal actors did not impact’ the 2016 presidential election via cyber-attacks on infrastructure’ and asked that the DOJ open an investigation.

No charges have been brought at this stage against any defendants. A grand jury investigation is needed to secure an indictment against any potential suspects.

The revelation that the DOJ is moving forward with a grand jury probe comes after Gabbard declassified intelligence in July that shed new light on the Obama administration’s allege determination that Russia sought to help Trump in the 2016 election.

Former President Barack Obama and his intelligence officials allegedly promoted a ‘contrived narrative that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help President Trump win, selling it to the American people as though it were true. It wasn’t,’ Gabbard said during a press briefing of the intelligence.

Among the declassified material was a meeting record revealing how Obama allegedly requested his deputies prepare an intelligence assessment in December 2016, after Trump had won the election, that detailed the ‘tools Moscow used and actions it took to influence the 2016 election.’ 

That intelligence assessment stressed that Russia’s actions did not affect the outcome of the election but rather were intended to sow distrust in the democratic process.

It is unclear who is under investigation and what charges could be in play given statutes of limitations for much of the activity from nearly a decade ago have lapsed.

Former Obama intelligence officials, including John Brennan, James Clapper and James Comey have drawn scrutiny from Trump officials for their involvement in developing intelligence that undermined Trump’s 2016 victory.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

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