TSMC Q2 Revenue Surges 36% as AI Chip Demand Powers Growth Ahead of Earnings 
Australia Flags Child Safety Gaps at Apple, Meta, Google Over Online Sexual Extortion 
Stellantis Q2 Vehicle Shipments Rise 10% as North America Drives Growth 
SK Hynix Shares Drop After Strong Nasdaq Debut Despite $26 Billion ADR Listing 
Apple Tests China's CXMT Memory Chips as DRAM Maker Gains Global Market Share 
OpenAI Executive Fidji Simo to Step Down Amid Health Challenges Ahead of IPO 
Taiwan Mangoes Head to Europe as Premium Fruit Exports Expand 
Deutsche Bank Fined A$2 Million by ASIC Over OTC Derivatives Reporting Errors 
Chinese Chip Stocks Jump as Apple Reportedly Tests CXMT Memory Chips for China Devices 
SK Hynix Stock Soars as AI Memory Demand Outlook Fuels Chip Rally 
BHP Faces Major Port Hedland Strike as Labor Talks Stall Ahead of Production Report 
DeepSeek Eyes China IPO as AI Startup Seeks $71 Billion Valuation in New Funding Round 
Samsung to Launch First Yongin Chip Plant by 2029 as South Korea Speeds Up Semiconductor Hub 
EU to Propose New Rules Limiting Children's Access to Social Media 
Trump Administration Launches AI Cybersecurity Partnership to Protect Critical Infrastructure 
Morgan Stanley Says China’s Reusable Rocket Progress Poses Long-Term Challenge to SpaceX 
Elon Musk Says Anthropic Leads AI Race as Claude Models Challenge OpenAI 
Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) has reduced its annual stock option distribution by about 10% for tens of thousands of employees, despite its shares hitting record highs, according to the Financial Times.
Employees at Meta receive equity refreshers yearly, which make up a significant portion of their compensation alongside base salaries and bonuses. These stock options vest every three months over four years. The reduction, which varies by location and job level, will impact most employees.
Meta's stock has surged since January 17, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold a TikTok ban, despite former President Donald Trump delaying its enforcement. The rally was further fueled by CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement that Meta plans to invest up to $65 billion in AI infrastructure this year.
Despite this bullish momentum, Meta’s stock dropped 1.3% to $694.80 on Thursday. In January, the company also announced plans to cut about 5% of its lowest-performing employees, with plans to rehire for affected roles. Zuckerberg has signaled further job cuts in 2025 to boost performance standards.
While Meta exceeded Wall Street’s expectations for Q4 revenue, its forecast for Q1 sales raised concerns about the profitability of its AI-driven initiatives. The company’s cost-cutting moves highlight its ongoing efforts to balance aggressive AI investments with financial discipline.
