News Flash, Friday, October 30, 2026

Transcript

This is the OpenSight News Flash for Friday, October 30, 2026. This episode is read by an AI voice.

Microsoft's Azure grows 48 percent while the company stays cash positive. Microsoft reported revenue of about 92 billion dollars for the quarter to September, up 19 percent. Azure revenue grew 48 percent to about 33 billion dollars. This is the first quarter in which Microsoft reports an Azure revenue figure on its own. Spending on property and equipment was about 39 billion dollars. Unlike some rivals, the company still produced strong positive cash flow. The wider Microsoft Cloud reached about 64 billion dollars, up 30 percent. Operating income rose 21 percent to about 46 billion dollars. That report is from Microsoft.

The ECB holds its deposit rate at two and a half percent as energy prices keep rising. The European Central Bank, the ECB, left its three key interest rates unchanged on 29 October. The deposit rate stays at two and a half percent. The bank says energy prices have kept rising. That adds upside risk to inflation and downside risk to growth. Underlying inflation has been broadly stable so far and wages have not reacted much. The main refinancing rate stays at 2.65 percent and the marginal lending rate at 2.90 percent. That report is from European Central Bank.

Alphabet's cloud revenue doubles but heavy spending pushes cash flow negative again. Alphabet reported third-quarter revenue of about 128 billion dollars, up 25 percent. Google Cloud more than doubled to about 31 billion dollars. Capital spending reached about 51 billion dollars in the quarter. That pushed free cash flow below zero for the second quarter in a row. Diluted earnings came in at 2 dollars 12 cents per share. Operating margin was 31.8 percent and net income 26.2 billion dollars. Over the trailing twelve months free cash flow is still positive at 19.7 billion. That report is from Alphabet.

Every item, with its sources, is on opensight.ch/news. Thank you for listening.