The Finimize Daily Brief
Meta And Microsoft Both Beat Expectations, And The US Dollar Hit A Four-Year Low
29 Jan 2026
Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Hey, I'm Lana with your Daily Brief for Thursday, January 29th. Coming up, Meta and Microsoft both made more revenue and profit than expected, but investors only rewarded one of them. And the U.S. dollar hit a four-year low, and your portfolio may be more exposed than you'd like. We'll also check in with Carl to get his answers to your burning questions.
Chapter 2: What were the financial results for Meta and Microsoft this quarter?
More on the way, but first, a word from Guy at Finimize HQ.
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Microsoft pulled in over $81 billion in revenue last quarter, about $1 billion more than expected, and beat profit forecasts too. But investors were more focused on the costs involved. See, increasingly wary of big tech's even bigger spending, They're watching closely for signs of tighter financial discipline.
Massive fail on that front, Microsoft spent over $37.5 billion to expand its cloud business, much higher than analysts predicted. And with that division growing at a slightly slowing pace, investors worried about thinner profit margins and sent the stock south initially. Meta had plenty in common with Microsoft.
It banked more profit than expected and brought in nearly $60 billion in revenue, over $1 billion above forecast. The firm's also spending heavily, saying it'll burn through $115 billion to $135 billion this year. The key difference? Meta said that even with that splurge, profit should still land higher this year than last.
It also circled an early judgment day, saying this quarter's sales will land between $53 billion and $56 billion, well above the roughly $51 billion analysts had penciled in. Investors bought both the story and the stock, at least initially. Last year, companies were rewarded for building models that could generate.
Now they're being judged on how well they can delegate real work to AI systems that save time, close sales, and most importantly, finally turn big budgets into profit. Microsoft is under pressure to show Copilot can graduate from slick demos into everyday workflows, effectively acting like an automated coworker.
Meta, meanwhile, is betting on business agents inside WhatsApp and Instagram that answer questions and gently push customers toward a purchase, turning its apps into always-on storefront staff. Before we dive into the next story, it's time for our daily check-in with Carl. You've got questions, he's got your answers. Carl, what have you got for us?
Today we've got a question from Jordan in Johannesburg, and he asks, how does foreign investment affect local stock markets? Do overseas investors really matter? Yes, foreign money can seriously impact local markets. In smaller economies, flows can move prices quickly. When foreign investors buy, markets rise. When they pull out, volatility spikes.
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Chapter 3: How are investors reacting to Microsoft's spending on cloud business?
Assets priced in dollars, like commodities, also tend to see a boost. Gold has hit new record highs, with investors seeking its value-storing properties. If most of what you own is US-based and dollar-denominated, you're effectively betting on the currency. If that's not your intention, you'll want to spread your portfolio out more, across different regions and currencies. That's it for today.
I'm Lana. I'll see you tomorrow.