HSBC reported a 29% drop in second-quarter profit to $6.3 billion, missing expectations due to impairment charges, and announced a $3 billion share buyback amid ongoing restructuring and economic uncertainties.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) is expected to report a 30% rise in second-quarter profit due to surging demand for AI chips, with net profit estimated at T$236.1 billion ($7.25 billion). The company's stock has soared, driven by the AI boom, and TSMC is investing heavily in new factories, including $65 billion in the U.S. Despite competition from Intel and Samsung, TSMC remains a dominant player in the market.
UBS, Switzerland's largest bank, reported a second-quarter profit of $28.88 billion, surpassing analysts' expectations, in its first earnings report since completing its takeover of Credit Suisse. The profit was primarily driven by negative goodwill on the acquisition. UBS CEO Sergio Ermotti stated that the bank is focused on regaining client trust, reducing costs, and creating economies of scale for future growth. The integration of Credit Suisse's domestic banking unit into UBS is expected to be completed by 2024. The acquisition was part of an emergency rescue deal mediated by Swiss authorities.
Saudi Aramco, the state oil giant, reported a 38% drop in net profit for the second quarter due to lower crude oil prices and weakening refining and chemicals margins. The company's net profit of $30.07 billion came slightly above analyst expectations. The decline in profitability is in line with industry trends, as other oil giants like BP, ExxonMobil, Shell, and TotalEnergies also reported steep drops in earnings. Saudi Arabia's production cut of 1 million barrels per day, in effect since July, has added pressure on prices, but oil prices are expected to increase in the coming quarters due to strong demand and OPEC+ supply deficits.
BP, the British oil major, reported a 70% drop in second-quarter profits due to weaker fossil fuel prices, in line with the trend seen across the energy industry. The company's underlying replacement cost profit for the quarter was $2.6 billion, lower than analysts' expectations. BP raised its dividend by 10% and announced plans to repurchase $1.5 billion of its shares. Other oil majors, including Shell, TotalEnergies, and Exxon Mobil, also reported significant declines in second-quarter profit. The drop in oil and gas prices in the first half of the year, driven by global economic concerns, impacted the industry's profitability.
Chevron Corp reported a second-quarter net profit of $6 billion, surpassing Wall Street estimates. The company's CEO, Michael Wirth, indicated that Chevron remains open to further acquisitions and increasing shareholder distributions. Despite a softer macro price environment compared to the first quarter, Chevron achieved high levels of operating performance and minimal unplanned downtime. The company's oil and gas production in the Permian Basin reached a record high, and its expansion project in Kazakhstan remains on schedule and on budget. Chevron's recent acquisition of PDC Energy is expected to significantly increase production in the DJ Basin.
Chevron reported better-than-expected second-quarter performance, driven by record production in the shale-rich Permian Basin region, ahead of its upcoming earnings announcement.