WSJ Tech News Briefing: Airbus Backs Its Guidance After Trump-EU Trade Deal

Episode Release Date: July 30, 2025
Host: Ariana Aspuru, The Wall Street Journal

1. Airbus Maintains Financial Guidance Amid Trade Uncertainties

In the latest update on the aerospace giant, Airbus has affirmed its aircraft delivery and financial targets for the current year. Notably, the company emphasized that its guidance does not account for the recently negotiated trade agreement between President Trump and the European Union. Despite this accord, Airbus remains cautious, highlighting its vulnerability to potential trade policy shifts in other regions.

Ariana Aspuru mentions at [00:20] (00:20):
"Airbus has confirmed its aircraft delivery and financial targets for the year, but said its guidance didn't include any impact from tariffs even after President Trump reached a trade agreement with the European Union because the company remains vulnerable to trade decisions elsewhere."

This stance underscores Airbus's awareness of the global trade landscape's volatility and its potential repercussions on the company's operations and profitability. The decision to exclude the Trump-EU agreement's impact from their guidance suggests Airbus is preparing for various scenarios that could influence its market performance.

2. Autonomous Trucks Make Nighttime Debut on Dallas-Houston Highway

A significant advancement in the field of autonomous transportation was reported as Aurora Innovation, a leading startup in self-driving technology, successfully deployed autonomous trucks operating on highways during nighttime hours. These trucks are currently hauling food and dairy products between Dallas and Houston, marking a pivotal shift from their previous operations, which were confined to daytime and favorable weather conditions.

At [00:45] (00:45), Aspuru elaborates:
"Autonomous trucks are now driving highways at night, hauling food and dairy between Dallas and Houston. This marks a step forward for the industry because until recently they've stuck mainly to daytime hours and good weather."

The technological breakthrough stems from Aurora Innovation's enhanced detection system, which can identify objects at distances exceeding the length of three football fields, even in the dark. This capability allows the autonomous vehicles to recognize pedestrians, other vehicles, or road debris approximately 11 seconds earlier than a human driver would. Such improvements significantly boost the safety and reliability of autonomous trucking, potentially revolutionizing the logistics and transportation sectors.

3. Tech Giants Report Robust Earnings Driven by Core and Emerging Businesses

The second-quarter financial results from major technology firms Meta Platforms and Microsoft reveal strong performance anchored by their core businesses and strategic investments in emerging technologies.

Meta Platforms' Strong Revenue Growth

Meta Platforms reported a 22% revenue growth in the second quarter, primarily fueled by its resilient core advertising business. Despite substantial investments amounting to billions of dollars into Artificial Intelligence (AI), the company's sales reached $47.5 billion, surpassing analysts' expectations.

Aspuru reports at [02:10] (02:10):
"Meta Platforms posted 22% revenue growth in the second quarter, showing its core ads business remains strong at a time when the company is investing billions of dollars into AI. Sales came in at $47.5 billion ahead of analysts expectations."

As a result of these impressive earnings, Meta's shares experienced a significant uptick, increasing by more than 10% in after-hours trading.

Microsoft's Cloud Computing Dominance

Similarly, Microsoft delivered a stellar performance in its fourth fiscal quarter, bolstered by its cloud computing division. The company's total revenue reached $76.4 billion, exceeding Wall Street's forecasts. The cloud services unit alone demonstrated a 39% growth, outpacing analysts' projections and affirming Microsoft's leadership in the cloud sector.

At [03:00] (03:00), Aspuru states:
"Microsoft reported that its cloud computing unit pushed the tech giant to another strong quarter. Microsoft reported revenue of $76.4 billion for its fourth fiscal quarter, top topping Wall street expectations. The company's closely watched cloud services unit grew by 39%, exceeding expectations."

Following the announcement, Microsoft's shares rose by more than 7% in after-hours trading, reflecting investor confidence in the company's strategic direction and operational execution.

Conclusion

In this episode of the WSJ Tech News Briefing, host Ariana Aspuru delivered comprehensive updates on Airbus's financial stance post the Trump-EU trade deal, the groundbreaking progress in autonomous trucking by Aurora Innovation, and the impressive earnings reports from Meta Platforms and Microsoft. These insights highlight the dynamic and evolving nature of the tech and aerospace industries, emphasizing the importance of strategic adaptability and innovation in maintaining market leadership.

For those interested in deeper explorations of these topics and more, be sure to tune into the Tech News Briefing podcast, available every Tuesday and Friday.