Netflix raised its revenue forecast for the year and topped its projected second-quarter revenue and profits, continuing a strong run that has propelled its shares to new highs. The streaming service said strong member additions, price increases and its growing ad business drove revenue in the second quarter. Netflix’s revenue grew 16% to $11.08 billion in the second quarter. Net profit rose 46% to $3.1 billion. The company’s operating margin expanded to 34.1% in the second quarter, from 27.2% a year earlier, and higher than the 33.3% it projected. Free cash flow grew to $2.3 billion in the second quarter, from $1.2 billion a year earlier. Home to hits such as “Squid Game,” “KPop Demon Hunters” and “Ginny & Georgia,” Netflix has established itself as the dominant global streamer, while other entertainment companies continue to grapple with challenged cable businesses. The company’s stock has nearly doubled over the past year. It expects the return of popular shows such as “Wednesday” and the final season of “Stranger Things” in the second half of the year to continue to drive viewership. Netflix said it expects to generate $44.8 billion to $45.2 billion in revenue this year, up from an earlier forecast of $43.5 billion to $44.5 billion. The company increased its guidance for operating margins to 29.5% from 29%.

The Switzerland market closed on a firm note on Thursday, in line with markets across Europe, amid hopes the European Union and the U.S. will agree on a trade deal before the deadline. Positive reacting to some earnings updates also contributed to market's higher close. The benchmark SMI closed up 51.06 points or 0.43% at 11,961.87 after scaling a low of 11,910.09 and a high of 12,000.70 intraday. ABB soared nearly 10% after the company issued positive third-quarter comparable revenue outlook and maintained fiscal 2025 growth view, after reporting strong second-quarter results and order growth. Looking ahead to the third quarter, the company projects comparable revenue growth to be at least in the mid-single digit range, and the Operational EBITA margin to remain broadly stable year-on-year, amid the uncertainty for the global business environment. In its second quarter, net income attributable to ABB was $1.15 billion, up 5% from last year's $1.10 billion. Basic earnings per share grew 6% to $0.63 from $0.59 last year. Swatch Group climbed 2.4% despite reporting a drop in first-half net earnings. The Group sais net earnings dropped to 3 million Swiss francs from 136 million francs, prior year. Earnings per registered share was 0.01 francs compared to 0.52 francs. Operating profit declined to 68 million francs from 204 million francs. VAT Group gained 4.1%. Schindler Ps, Logitech International, Lindt & Spruengli, Holcim, UBS Group, Geberit, Kuehne + Nagel, Alcon and Straumann Holding gained 1.3 to 2.1%. Richemont tumbled 3.65%. Novartis closed lower by about 1.9%.

Europe
European stocks rebounded from recent losses and closed higher on Thursday as optimism over EU-US trade deal, and some encouraging earnings news helped underpin sentiment. The EU bloc is readying a package of tariffs to be levied on 72 billion euros' ($84bn) worth of goods against the U.S, if negotiations failed. News about a deal between US and EU firms to buy US natural gas has stoked speculation of a broader trade agreement. The EU's chief trade negotiator, Maroš Šefcovic, left for Washington on Wednesday for high-level talks aimed at rescuing a deal ahead of Trump's deadline. The pan European Stoxx 600 climbed 0.62%. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 gained 0.43%, Germany's DAX closed up 0.74% and France's CAC40 ended 0.83% up. Switzerland's SMI advanced 0.43%. Among other markets in Europe, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden and Turkiye closed higher. Austria, Denmark and Russia ended weak, while Norway and Portugal closed flat. In the UK market, Diploma rallied 6.5%. Whitbread, Ashtead Group, Intermediate Capital Group, Melrose Industries, Barclays, IMI, Lloyds Banking Group, Polar Capital Technology Trust, Standard Chartered, Weir Group, Rolls-Royce Holdings, Associated British Foods, Smith & Nephew, Spirax Group, BAE Systems, Taylor Wimpey and JD Sports Fashion gained 2 to 3.4%. Online supermarket and technology group Ocado soared more than 14% after reporting better-than-expected first-half results. Easyjet closed nearly 5% down, after strike action by French air traffic controllers and higher fuel prices dented its quarterly performance. AstraZeneca ended 1.2% down. Endeavour Mining lost 2.7%. British American Tobacco, Anglo American Plc, Glencore, Severn Trent, Fresnillo and Antofagasta also closed lower.

United States
After moving modestly higher over the course of the previous session, stocks saw further upside during trading on Thursday. With the continued upward move, the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 reached new record closing highs. The major averages ended the session near their best levels of the day. The Nasdaq advanced 153.78 points or 0.7 percent to 20,884.27, the S&P 500 climbed 33.66 points or 0.5 percent to 6,297.36 and the Dow rose 229.71 points or 0.5 percent to 44,484.49. PepsiCo said its business remained resilient during the recent quarter, logging higher revenue despite a small drop in volumes. The Purchase, N.Y., snacks and soda maker on Thursday noted an improvement in organic volume and market-share trends for its North America food business as the second quarter progressed. The company said the improvement occurred as the company stepped up commercial activities, such as increasing value for consumers and new product innovations. GE Aerospace raised its full-year earnings outlook and beat expectations on its top and bottom lines in the second quarter, as demand for its services is quelling concerns about macroeconomic turbulence and tariff costs. Orders across its commercial and defense businesses increased in the second quarter, driving up management’s expectations for the second half of the year. The jet engine maker now expects adjusted earnings per share to be $5.60 to $5.80 this year, up from prior guidance of $5.10 to $5.45. Shares advanced 1% to $269.50 in pre-market trading.

Asia
The stock markets in East Asia and Australia were mostly up on Friday.

Bonds
In the U.S. bond market, treasuries showed a lack of direction over the course of the session before closing roughly flat. Subsequently, the yield on the benchmark ten-year note, which moves opposite of its price, inched up by less than a basis point to 4.463 percent.

Analysis
Bank of America lowers Richemont target to CHF 170 (175) – Buy
UBS raises ASML target to EUR 660 (610) – Neutral
UBS lowers Sika target to CHF 285 (290) – Buy