Issue of Shares

Amazon (AMZN) is raising its minimum starting wage for U.S. core operations workers to $20/hour, a $1.5B investment. This follows rising fulfillment costs, which increased 13% YoY to $56.9B in H1 2026. The move aims to reduce turnover and support holiday demand, with average hourly pay approaching $24. Amazon's Q2 operating income rose 43% to $27.5B, but fulfillment expenses grew 14%. The wage hike adds to existing cost pressures, with future productivity gains uncertain.

Applied Materials (AMAT) plans a $5B investment in India over a decade to expand its semiconductor manufacturing presence. India aims for $110B in semiconductor consumption by 2030. AMAT's Q3 2026 revenue was $9.12B, up 25% YoY. Risks include delays in India's semiconductor projects and potential pressure on returns.

Accenture's contract with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) for a political funding system increased from $30M to $71M due to four amendments. The AEC defended the costs, citing a modular approach, while critics like Greens' Barbara Pocock questioned the strategy. In 2025-26, Accenture earned $667M from contract variations, exceeding new contracts. The company has received $1.6B from amendments over five years, raising concerns about transparency and oversight.

Alibaba Group (HK:9988) sold $500 million worth of ZTO Express (NYSE:ZTO) ADRs at $20.02 each, a 4.5% discount to Friday's close. ZTO's ADRs fell 7.2% on Monday, and its Hong Kong shares dropped nearly 5% on Tuesday, according to Bloomberg.

Wisconsin consumers and the state will receive over $11M from a settlement with Credit Acceptance Corporation (CAC). The $694M multi-state deal provides debt relief and restitution, resolving allegations of predatory lending practices. CAC denies wrongdoing but agrees to better disclose loan risks and protect consumers.

Chinese tech giants ByteDance, Alibaba, Tencent, and Baidu are taking on heavy debt to invest in AI computing power. ByteDance reported $1.2T revenue and $200B net profit in H1 2026, but borrowed $296B. Tencent issued $47B in bonds and saw negative free cash flow. Alibaba completed an $80B share placement. These companies are shifting from asset-light to asset-heavy models due to AI's capital-intensive nature.