Super Micro Shares Slide After Taiwan Raids Over Alleged Nvidia AI Chip Smuggling Probe 
SoftBank Shares Slide as OpenAI IPO Delay Concerns Weigh on AI Investment Outlook 
Apple Supplier Stocks Slide as Samsung, SK Hynix Lead Selloff After Apple Price Hikes 
Europe Heatwave Creates Growth Opportunity for Carrier, Trane, and Johnson Controls, Citi Says 
OpenAI IPO Delay Weighs on SoftBank Shares as AI Valuation Concerns Grow 
Open-Source AI Models Gain Ground as Enterprises Seek Lower-Cost Alternatives, Citi Says 
China Expands Export Controls, Adds 20 Japanese Companies to Restricted List 
UBS Raises TSMC Price Target to T$3,400 on Strong AI Chip Demand Outlook 
US Egg Producers Settle Price Manipulation Probe, Agree to Pay $3.3 Million and Donate 53 Million Eggs 
Italy Investigates Microsoft Over Microsoft 365 AI Subscription Price Hike 
Lenovo Shares Slide as AI-Driven Memory Demand Signals Higher DRAM and NAND Prices 
Morgan Stanley Raises Tesla Q2 Delivery Forecast on Strong Europe and China Demand 
Amazon Prime Day 2026 Sales Top $26.4 Billion as Shoppers Chase Discounts Amid Inflation 
Nomura Stock Upgraded to Buy by BofA as Stronger ROE and Earnings Growth Boost Outlook 
Kakaku.com Shares Rise as Bain Capital and LY Corp Prepare Higher Takeover Bid Than EQT 
Trump Urges Gasoline Retailers to Cut Prices to $2.50 Per Gallon, Warns of Legal Action 
Anthropic Brings Claude AI Models to Microsoft Azure Foundry With NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs 
Australian retail giant Coles Group (ASX: COL) reported solid third-quarter results, highlighting steady growth in its supermarket division and strong performance in online sales. For the 12 weeks ending March 29, total group revenue increased by 3.1% to A$10.7 billion, reflecting resilience in consumer demand despite ongoing economic pressures.
The company’s core supermarkets segment remained the primary growth driver, with sales rising 4.0% to A$9.78 billion. This performance underscores Coles’ strong market position in Australia’s competitive grocery sector. A notable contributor to this growth was the continued expansion of e-commerce, which saw a significant 24.8% increase during the quarter. Online sales penetration reached 13.6% of total supermarket revenue, driven by rising customer adoption of delivery services and click-and-collect options.
Investor confidence followed the positive earnings update, with Coles shares climbing 2.4% to A$22.65 in early trading. The retailer also observed increased demand for pantry staples in March, partly influenced by global geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Middle East. At the same time, supermarket price inflation showed signs of easing, coming in at 0.8% excluding tobacco, supported by lower fresh produce costs.
However, not all segments performed equally well. Coles’ liquor division continued to face challenges, reporting a 3.9% decline in sales to A$781 million. Comparable sales in this segment dropped 4.3%, reflecting subdued consumer spending and intensified competition in the alcohol retail market.
Looking ahead, Coles indicated that early fourth-quarter supermarket sales trends remain consistent with third-quarter performance. Nevertheless, the company flagged potential risks, including rising fuel, freight, and packaging costs, which could impact margins in the coming months. Overall, Coles’ strong supermarket sales growth and expanding e-commerce presence position it well in the evolving retail landscape.
