$PSO

Pearson Education settled a $150,000 disability discrimination lawsuit with the EEOC, alleging its third-party online platforms were inaccessible to visually impaired employees. The settlement requires Pearson to audit and improve accessibility, train HR personnel, and report compliance. The EEOC emphasized employer responsibility for accommodations, even when technology is outsourced, raising questions about vendor liability and due diligence.

Oklahoma lawmakers and regulators say higher electric bills this summer reflect multiple factors, including interim rate changes at Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) effective July 1, rising Southwest Power Pool transmission costs, summer air-conditioning demand, and grid upgrades. A proposed PSO settlement would cut a roughly 15% residential increase to about 1%. Data centers are cited as emerging demand, with HB 2992 taking effect July 1.

Polski Swiatlowod Otwarty (PSO) said it expanded its fibre network in July, covering over 11,000 new households across 112 locations, with the largest additions in Warsaw, Wroclaw and Gdansk. It also upgraded more than 43,500 addresses on its HFC network to FTTH and added nearly 700 subsidized households in nine sites, increasing total fibre-optic coverage.

Pearson (PSO) reported H1 2026 adjusted operating profit of £226m, up 14%, and adjusted EPS of 28.9p, up 19% at constant exchange rates. Adjusted operating margin rose to 15.5%. Free cash flow was £259m. Full-year guidance calls for adjusted operating profit of £640m to £685m and mid-single-digit revenue growth.

Pakistan Stock Exchange’s KSE-100 Index rose about 1.2% in the opening session, gaining roughly 2,133 points to 179,216.20, after US and Qatari comments boosted hopes for a diplomatic resolution to the US-Iran conflict. Heavyweights including OGDC, PPL, PSO, HBL, MCB, MEBL and UBL were up. Pakistan also sought China to refinance a $1.3 billion loan.

Pearson partnered with Anthropic to expand the Claude Certification Program with three new role-based credentials, using Pearson’s supervised, identity-verified exam system. Total Claude credentials rise to four. Anthropic says 36,000 consultants across 1,300 organizations were certified since March, and partners committed to certifying tens of thousands of staff.

Pearson reported end-June 2026 net debt of £1.3 billion, up £0.3 billion year on year, and said cash generation was offset by buybacks, acquisitions and dividends. It raised its interim dividend 5% to £0.082 per share and completed a £350 million accelerated repurchase. Full-year guidance was maintained for mid-single-digit underlying revenue growth and adjusted operating profit of £640m to £685m.

Good H1 performance and reiterating 2026 guidance. Uniquely positioned to benefit from accelerating demand for reskilling in an AI-driven world.

Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) said it supports the White House Ratepayer Protection Pledge, which seeks to prevent existing utility customers from paying higher bills for data center energy infrastructure. PSO said its proposed Oklahoma tariff would require large-load customers to make long-term commitments and fund generation, upgrades, and related costs, according to PSO.

Pearson, the UK education publisher, says its digital-first learning and assessment strategy is supporting earnings. The company highlights group revenue growth driven by assessment and qualification services, plus demand for higher-education courseware and virtual learning. Pearson also cites cost discipline, portfolio simplification, and capital returns via dividends and possible buybacks.