WSJ Tech News Briefing: Detailed Summary of “TNB Tech Minute: Figma Shares Soar Over 200% in Stock-Market Debut”

Release Date: July 31, 2025
Hosted by: Ariana Aspuru, The Wall Street Journal

The latest episode of the WSJ Tech News Briefing delves into significant developments in the tech industry, highlighting major financial movements, corporate earnings, and regulatory responses affecting leading technology companies. Hosted by Ariana Aspuru, the briefing provides a comprehensive overview of pivotal events shaping the tech landscape.

1. Figma’s Spectacular IPO Surge

A standout moment of the episode is the remarkable debut of Figma’s stock on the public market. Ariana Aspuru reports:

“In its stock market debut, software company Figma soared more than 200% in one of the splashiest initial public offerings in years” (00:17).

Figma’s shares opened at $85 per share, doubling its initial IPO price and marking the best first-day performance in recent memory for a major technology offering. This surge valued Figma at over $19 billion, and the IPO successfully raised $1.2 billion. Aspuru emphasizes that this represents the largest venture-backed tech IPO since 2021, underscoring investor confidence in Figma's market position and growth potential.

2. Amazon’s Robust Second Quarter Performance

The briefing shifts focus to Amazon.com, detailing its impressive second-quarter financial results:

“Amazon.com reported sharp increases in sales and profit, partly fueled by the growth of its cloud computing business” (00:17).

Key financial highlights include:

• Revenue Growth: Up by 13% to reach $168 billion.
• Profit Growth: Surged by 35%.

These figures met Wall Street’s expectations, showcasing Amazon's strong performance despite the challenging economic environment. The expansion in Amazon Web Services (AWS), the company’s cloud computing division, played a crucial role in driving these gains, reflecting the sustained demand for cloud infrastructure and services.

3. Apple’s Impressive Earnings and iPhone Sales Surge

Apple also delivered notable earnings, with particular emphasis on its flagship product—the iPhone:

“iPhone sales blew past Wall Street's expectations in the June quarter as some US consumers rushed to buy their devices before potential price increases from tariffs” (00:17).

Key points include:

• iPhone Sales Growth: Exceeded 13%, marking the highest increase in years.
• Overall Sales: Reached $66.6 billion, approximately 10% higher than the same period last year.

Ariana Aspuru attributes the robust iPhone sales to consumer anticipation of potential tariff-induced price hikes, prompting a surge in purchases. This strategic consumer behavior significantly contributed to Apple's strong financial performance for the quarter.

4. Regulatory Scrutiny on AI Marketing Claims

The episode also addresses the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) product marketing among major tech companies:

“Apple, Google, Microsoft and Samsung have been revising or retracting certain claims about their newest, hottest and AI products in response to a probe by an ad industry self-regulatory group into whether marketers are overstating the capabilities or availability of AI features” (00:17).

Key developments include:

• Revisions and Retractions: These tech giants have adjusted their marketing strategies by removing misleading information or advertisements concerning their AI products.
• Regulatory Probe: Instigated by an ad industry self-regulatory group, the investigation focuses on the accuracy of AI feature claims made by marketers.
• Response Motive: Companies are seeking to ensure truthful advertising to secure returns on substantial investments in the competitive AI sector.

The scrutiny underscores the importance of transparency and accuracy in AI product marketing, as companies navigate the balance between promoting innovation and maintaining consumer trust.

5. Correction on Iconic’s Funding Round

Towards the end of the episode, Ariana Aspuru issues a correction regarding a previously shared piece of information:

“We need to correct information shared in Wednesday morning's episode. We incorrectly said the iconic growth led AI finance app RAMP's recent funding round. That's an earlier name for Iconic's venture and growth arm” (00:17).

This clarification ensures the accuracy of the reporting, rectifying the misunderstanding about the relationship between Iconic and the AI finance app RAMP. By providing this correction, the briefing maintains its commitment to reliable and precise information dissemination.

Conclusion

The WSJ Tech News Briefing episode offers an insightful and detailed exploration of key events in the technology sector as of July 31, 2025. From Figma’s triumphant IPO debut to Amazon and Apple’s strong financial performances, the briefing highlights significant milestones and trends. Additionally, the discussion on regulatory actions concerning AI marketing practices underscores the dynamic interplay between innovation and governance in the tech industry. For those seeking an in-depth understanding of current tech news, this episode serves as a valuable resource.

For extended coverage and deeper analysis, listeners are encouraged to tune into the Tech News Briefing podcast, available on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Timestamp Reference:

• All quoted material is attributed to Ariana Aspuru at 00:17 in the episode transcript.