UK proposes 'strategic market status' for Microsoft; final decision set for February

The UK's CMA proposed designating Microsoft with 'Strategic Market Status' for its business software, citing strong positions in five core areas. The regulator raised concerns about high switching costs and potential competition barriers. Microsoft disputes the CMA's view, stating its products are open and interoperable. A public consultation is ongoing, with a final decision expected by February 2027.

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is considering designating Microsoft with strategic market status (SMS) for its business software ecosystem. The CMA aims to assess Microsoft's software bundling practices and developer integration. Microsoft disagrees, stating its products are open and interoperable. The CMA has until February 2027 to decide, with potential interventions if deemed necessary.

Goldman Sachs and Citi issued bullish reports on Microsoft (MSFT) ahead of its earnings. Goldman predicts Azure cloud revenue growth of 46-47% for Q1 FY2027, exceeding prior guidance. Citi raised its price target to $636. Both banks highlight strong Azure demand, AI progress, and infrastructure investments as key drivers. Microsoft is set to report Q1 FY2027 results on October 28.

NiSource (NI) and Microsoft (MSFT) agreed to a 20-year power deal for MSFT's Indiana data center, aiming to save NIPSCO customers $1.75B. MSFT will fund infrastructure, adding 1,100 MW capacity. NI shares rose 2.8%, MSFT gained 0.32% premarket. NI expects to detail the deal in its Q3 2026 earnings call.

NiSource (NYSE:NI) signed a 20-year deal with Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) to supply 1,100 MW of power to an Indiana data center, starting in 2028. Microsoft will fund infrastructure. NiSource raised customer savings projections to $1.75B. GenCo contracted 600 MW of battery storage. Financial details will be discussed in Q3 earnings.

NiSource has agreed to a 20-year energy supply deal with Microsoft for its Indiana data center campus, starting in 2028. Microsoft will fund the required generation and infrastructure, and the agreement is expected to increase customer savings to $1.75 billion over the life of all data center contracts, up from a previous $1.4 billion projection.