SoftBank Group reported a net profit of 1.9 trillion yen (about $12.05 billion) for January–March, up sharply from a year earlier. The company logged five straight profitable quarters, with rising value of its major OpenAI stake playing a key role in the jump, highlighting how AI investments continue to move the investor’s results.
SoftBank expects another strong quarter, with profits boosted by its major investment tied to OpenAI as the AI firm’s valuation climbs. Yet the excitement is shadowed by a widening debt pile used to fund these bets. S&P Global Ratings has turned cautious, warning through a negative credit outlook as leverage rises.
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Jane Street reportedly set a first-quarter record with $16.1 billion in trading revenue, as market volatility and gains from AI-related holdings boosted performance. Profits more than doubled to $10.3 billion, reinforcing its dominance in high-frequency trading. Medium-frequency strategies and investments tied to AI firms such as Anthropic and CoreWeave were key drivers, sources say.
A new survey finds nine in 10 Indian C suite leaders plan to raise AI investments in 2026, driven more by revenue growth than cost cutting. While the biggest obstacle remains a shortage of skilled talent, companies are still pushing ahead—deploying AI agents, redesigning workflows, and hiring. Employees appear cautiously optimistic about AI’s efficiency and business impact.
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