Mumbai: JPMorgan said it sees further growth headwinds for the Information Technology companies over the next two years as the sector faces an uncertain demand environment from an unprecedented confluence of technology and business cycle headwinds from generative AI-led deflation and geopolitics.

The brokerage downgraded HCL Technologies, Tata Technologies and Wipro to underweight, as current prices have yet to capture the price action so far. Its top picks remain TCS, Infosys, TechM, Coforge, Persistent and Sagility.

JPMorgan said it sees further cuts in FY27 revenue growth expectations for these companies. “With a softer start to the year, the ask rate for FY27 gets tougher, as the usual 1H strength is unlikely to play out this time,” said the brokerage’s analysts in a client note.

JPMorgan has cut April-June revenue growth assumptions for all companies on the back of delays in deal closures and revenue conversion. “Accenture’s print and guidance confirms that weakness is not only in 1Q27, but also likely to bleed into 2QFY27,” the note said.

JPMorgan said growth acceleration is unlikely even for mid-cap firms over the medium term.

“Until we see AI inflation becoming a tailwind, we would prefer to be cautious on the pace of growth recovery, as well as structural growth for the industry.”

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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Scotland will be aiming to make World Cup history when they lock horns with Brazil in their third and final Group C fixture at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Wednesday. The two nations meet almost three decades on from their last World Cup clash in 1998, when the South American giants claimed a 2-1 victory en route to reaching the final.

Scotland’s Path to This Moment

Five days after securing an important 1-0 victory over Haiti in their opening match at the 2026 World Cup, Scotland suffered defeat by the same scoreline against Morocco last Friday in a tight contest decided by a goal scored just 70 seconds in by Ismael Saibari. Head coach Steve Clarke felt that Scotland were unfortunate not to be awarded at least one penalty during a spirited second-half performance. Nevertheless, the 62-year-old was pleased by how his players “showed we can compete against top-10 teams,” even though they failed to register a single shot on target.

What’s at Stake for Scotland

Securing their first-ever win over the mighty Brazil would guarantee a top-two finish in Group C, while a draw would most likely seal a top-three finish and progress to the last 32. Scotland could also reach the knockouts if they lose to Brazil, though they will be keen to avoid a heavy defeat in Miami.

A Lopsided Head-to-Head History

Scotland’s record against Brazil leaves a lot to be desired ahead of Wednesday’s contest, as they have lost six and drawn two of their previous eight international encounters, including three group-stage defeats at the World Cup between 1982 and 1998. They first met in 1974, playing out a goalless draw in West Germany. Since then, Brazil have won all of their World Cup encounters, securing victories in 1982, 1990, and 1998. The Tartan Army has only once secured a positive result against the Seleção — that 0-0 draw in 1974.

Brazil’s Own Path Through the Group

After being held to a 1-1 draw by Morocco in their opening Group C fixture, Brazil secured their first victory at the 2026 World Cup last Saturday by defeating Haiti 3-0, courtesy of a brace from Matheus Cunha and another first-half strike from Vinicius Junior. Head coach Carlo Ancelotti hailed his team’s “complete” performance post-match, and his Seleção side are now in a strong position to secure top spot in Group C. To guarantee advancing as group winners, they simply need to match or better Morocco’s result against Haiti when they take to the pitch against Scotland.

A Warning From History

Despite their strong recent form, Brazil cannot afford to take Wednesday’s match lightly. History serves as a warning, as Brazil’s last three defeats in the group stage at a World Cup have all been suffered on matchday three, including a surprise 1-0 loss against Cameroon in Qatar. As a result, the Seleção cannot afford to take anything for granted when they face a fired-up Scotland outfit on Wednesday.

Team News for Brazil

Ancelotti’s side will be without a key part of their attack in Miami, as Raphinha will be sidelined due to a hamstring injury. The Barcelona winger exited in the 40th minute of Brazil’s most recent match against Haiti. Reports in Spain suggest the setback could be more serious than initially feared. Either way, Raphinha won’t be in action on Wednesday, potentially opening the door for Bournemouth talent Rayan to earn his first World Cup start.

Neymar’s potential return has dominated much of the pre-match buildup. The veteran superstar has been forced to sit out of Brazil’s opening two group games with a calf injury sustained after Ancelotti controversially selected him in his 26-man roster. Neymar, surely competing at his last World Cup, has completed his first full training session ahead of Wednesday’s game and is expected to feature at some point against the Tartan Army, though Ancelotti has confirmed Neymar “will be available” without committing to him starting. Lucas Paquetá is set to continue in the No. 10 role, supporting Vinicius Junior and Cunha in attack, while Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhães, and Douglas Santos are all set to begin in defense behind midfield duo Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães.

Team News for Scotland

Dinamo Zagreb defender Scott McKenna is back in training after missing Scotland’s first two games with a calf injury. Aaron Hickey missed the last match against Morocco and remains a doubt against Brazil. Midfielder Lewis Ferguson is set to start despite being rested from training over the weekend. Kieran Tierney appeared to come off injured against Morocco but has since returned to training and looks set to feature.

Scotland’s predicted lineup: Angus Gunn; Andrew Robertson, Grant Hanley, Jack Hendry, Nathan Patterson; John McGinn, Scott McTominay, Lewis Ferguson, Ryan Christie, Ben Gannon-Doak; Che Adams.

Robertson’s Message to the Tartan Army

Scotland’s supporters, known as the Tartan Army, have been a highlight of this World Cup and have been praised for their passion by locals in Boston, Massachusetts, where the team played their first two group-stage matches. Scotland captain Andrew Robertson is hoping to give them something to celebrate in Miami. “We want to give them something to shout about. We want to give them something to be happy about, and obviously, also if we win the game, then we’ve created history,” he told reporters.

Match Details and How to Watch

The match kicks off at 6 p.m. Eastern Time, 22:00 GMT, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. In the United States, the match will be broadcast on Universo, FOX, FOX One, the Telemundo App, the Telemundo Network, and Peacock. UK viewers can watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

The Betting Markets and Statistical Models

Stats provider Opta predicted that Brazil has a 68.1% chance of winning in Miami on Wednesday. Their supercomputer saw a 19% chance of a draw and gave Scotland only a 12.9% chance of victory. Opta calculated that Brazil are the eighth most likely team to win the tournament overall.

The Current Group C Standings

Brazil and Morocco both have four points, with the Seleção sitting in top spot by virtue of a better goal difference. Scotland are third on three points, with Haiti fourth. The Caribbean nation were eliminated after losing to Brazil last week.

With Group C set to conclude after Wednesday’s match, the simultaneous fixture between Morocco and Haiti will play a direct role in determining the final group standings alongside the outcome in Miami. Scotland are aiming to reach the knockout stages of a major international tournament for the first time and are guaranteed to finish at least third in the group regardless of Wednesday’s result, but a win or draw against Brazil would significantly strengthen their position heading into the round of 32. For Brazil, a win or draw combined with Morocco failing to beat Haiti would secure top spot in the group outright, while any slip-up against a motivated Scotland side could complicate what has otherwise been a steadily improving tournament for Ancelotti’s squad.

By Jennifer Nash

According to the Census Bureau, new home sales were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 580,000 in May. This represents a 7.3% decline from April’s rate of 626,000 and a 6.8% drop from the previous

Operator

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Evertz Q4 Investor Conference Call. [Operator Instructions]

This call is being recorded on June 24, 2026. I would now like to turn the conference over to Brian Campbell, Executive Vice President of Business Development. Please go ahead.

Brian Campbell
Executive Vice-President of Business Development

Thank you, John. Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to Evertz Technologies conference call for our 2026 Fourth Quarter and Year ended April 30 with Doug Moore, Evertz’ Chief Financial Officer; and myself, Brian Campbell. Please note that our financial press release and MD&A will be available on SEDAR and on the company’s investor website. Doug and I will comment on the financial results and then open the call to your questions.

Turning now to Evertz results. I’ll begin by providing a few highlights, and then Doug will provide additional detail. First off, we had record annual sales in excess of $0.5 billion, coming in at $515.8 million for the year. This includes revenue in the international region of $148 million, up 16% from the prior year. Reoccurring software, services and other software revenue increased 8% year-over-year, totaling $240.7 million in the year.

Margin rates remain consistently strong, coming in at 59.3% versus 59.5% prior year and 58.8% 2 years ago. Total margin dollars were $306 million. Net earnings were $64.4 million, resulting in a fully diluted earnings per share of $0.83. Our sales base is well diversified with the top 10 customers accounting for approximately 44% of sales with no single

The Thai baht faces downward pressure due to a dovish central bank, widening US interest rate differentials, and regional investor caution. Recovery hinges on Middle East de-escalation, a Fed pivot, or improved Thai exports. Hedging is advised.

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Key Points

• The Thai baht faces short-term pressure, potentially testing 33.00-33.20 resistance. Factors like Middle East tensions, US rate hike expectations, and the Bank of Thailand’s dovish policy contribute to weakness.
• The baht’s appeal is diminished by a significant interest rate differential with the US, leading to capital outflows from Thai equities and bonds. This weakness is shared by other Asian net oil importers.
• A baht recovery hinges on a Middle East ceasefire, a US Federal Reserve pivot, or improved Thai export demand. Until then, hedging is advised, with the baht remaining in a downtrend unless it breaks through 32.00.

Baht’s Short-Term Challenges and Key Resistance Levels

The Thai baht is currently facing short-term pressure, with market strategists indicating it could test the 33.00–33.20 resistance band. This weakness is influenced by ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the Federal Reserve’s rate-hike expectations. However, a de-escalation of the Middle East conflict or signs of softening US economic data that dampen rate-hike anticipation could trigger a baht recovery towards the 32.50 support level. Krungthai Global Markets has established a weekly trading range for the baht at 32.50–32.20, with a tighter 24-hour band of 32.85–33.05. Earlier forecasts from Bank of America had projected baht weakness towards 33 per dollar by mid-2026, attributing this to the cumulative impact of elevated oil prices and a contracting current account buffer, especially during the seasonally weaker second quarter.

Domestic Policy and Regional Currency Pressures

The Bank of Thailand’s accommodative monetary policy is a significant contributor to the baht’s current predicament. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has implemented three rate cuts since October 2025, bringing the benchmark rate to 1.00%, its lowest point since September 2022, in an effort to stimulate economic recovery. With projected GDP growth at a mere 1.5% for 2026, significantly below potential due to US trade measures and energy shocks, and with core inflation expected to remain stable, the MPC is likely to maintain current interest rates at its upcoming meeting. This contrasts sharply with the US Federal Reserve’s higher rate of 3.50–3.75%, creating a substantial interest rate differential that makes the baht less attractive for foreign investment, leading to capital outflows.

Regional Vulnerabilities and Paths to Recovery

Thailand is categorized among the more vulnerable Asian currency markets, with bearish sentiment prevalent towards currencies of net oil importers like the Indonesian rupiah, Indian rupee, Philippine peso, and the Thai baht itself. While some regional central banks, like Bank Indonesia, have implemented aggressive rate hikes and direct market interventions, these measures have not entirely quelled bearish positions. In contrast, net energy exporters such as Malaysia and Singapore have seen their currencies perform better. For the baht to strengthen, a durable Middle East ceasefire reducing oil prices, a dovish shift in Fed policy, or a significant improvement in Thailand’s trade balance driven by tech exports are crucial. Until then, hedging strategies are advised, and the baht remains in a downtrend unless it can decisively reclaim the 32.00 level.

Source : Thai Baht Buckles Under the Weight of Oil Shock and a Hawkish Fed

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