Ericsson’s shares surge 13% after profit beat and minimal tariff concerns

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Swedish telecoms giant Ericsson saw its shares soar more than 13% on Tuesday, marking its strongest single-day rise since 2018, after the company reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings and dismissed concerns over U.S. tariffs.

Adjusted EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) — excluding restructuring costs — reached 15.4 billion Swedish crowns ($1.62 billion) for the quarter ending September, exceeding analysts’ forecasts of 14.1 billion crowns, according to an Infront poll.

The company attributed its strong performance to ongoing cost savings and its leading market share in North America, where it has outpaced rival Nokia in the race to deploy 5G infrastructure. Ericsson’s finance chief Lars Sandström told Reuters that while no firm is entirely immune to tariffs, the company currently sees “no additional impact going forward.”

Although total net sales fell 9% year-on-year to 56.2 billion crowns, they still surpassed expectations of 55.7 billion. Sales in the Americas declined 8% compared to 2024’s strong performance, which benefited from major customer investments and network deliveries.

Ericsson also announced a new five-year partnership with Vodafone to modernize programmable networks and confirmed the completion of its Iconectiv sale, generating a one-off profit of 7.6 billion crowns — potentially paving the way for higher dividends or a share buyback program.

Taiwan warns of surge in Chinese cyberattacks and “online troll army”

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Taiwan’s National Security Bureau (NSB) has reported a 17% rise in Chinese cyberattacks targeting its government systems so far in 2025, amounting to an average of 2.8 million attacks per day. The agency warned that Beijing is deploying an “online troll army” to amplify disinformation and undermine public trust in the island’s institutions.

The NSB report, presented to parliament, described these as systemic cyberattacks focusing on key sectors such as defence, telecommunications, energy, and healthcare. Beyond espionage, the operations reportedly use the dark web, internet forums, and social media to spread fabricated content and erode public confidence in Taiwan’s cybersecurity capabilities.

Taiwan’s authorities accuse China of using “grey-zone” tactics — hybrid measures that combine military drills, cyber intrusions, and propaganda — to pressure the island into accepting Beijing’s sovereignty claims. China’s Taiwan Affairs Office declined to comment, though Beijing has repeatedly denied involvement in hacking and instead claims it is a victim of Taiwanese cyber operations.

The report also flagged more than 10,000 suspicious social media accounts, mostly on Facebook, that collectively spread over 1.5 million pieces of disinformation. These campaigns reportedly promote pro-China narratives, attack Taiwan’s leadership, and attempt to sow distrust toward the United States, Taipei’s key ally and arms supplier.

According to the NSB, AI-generated memes and targeted digital propaganda have become central tools in China’s information warfare strategy ahead of Taiwan’s elections and trade talks with Washington.

TomTom beats expectations as auto sector sales rebound

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Dutch navigation and digital mapping company TomTom reported quarterly earnings far exceeding expectations, driven by a recovery in automotive demand and tighter cost management. The company posted an operating profit of 8.4 million euros in the third quarter, sharply higher than analysts’ consensus of 2 million euros and a marked improvement from the 4.1 million euro loss recorded a year earlier.

Following the announcement, TomTom’s shares surged over 7% in early Amsterdam trading. CEO and co-founder Harold Goddijn attributed the strong results to a mix of growing automotive revenues and cost discipline, highlighting that process standardization across customer operating systems has increased efficiency and predictability.

In June, TomTom announced plans to cut 300 jobs as part of an AI-driven restructuring strategy aimed at streamlining operations. The firm’s automotive location technology unit, its largest division, was the only one to post revenue growth — a 2% increase — as global carmakers step up investment in navigation and self-driving technologies.

Despite lingering uncertainty in the car market, Goddijn noted a renewed appetite for automation among manufacturers in Japan, China, Europe, and the United States. While its consumer GPS products continue to see slowing demand, TomTom’s app remains profitable, supporting the development of its high-definition maps and connected driving systems.