Shock duo. Walmart joins forces with Microsoft in negotiations to buy TikTok, which ByteDance is said to be worth $30 billion for its US operations alone (rumors of a price of $20 to $30 billion are generally circulating). The distributor is interested in "TikTok's ability to integrate online commerce and advertising in a way that benefits creators and users in other markets". Almost mystical. More prosaically, the operation would allow the two contenders to get back an application that is widely used in the US market, by a population that is not necessarily the easiest for them to reach.

Reassured? Tiffany's results, which held up better than expected in the second quarter, is an argument for maintaining the LVMH buyback offer under the initial conditions, according to analysts. "The significant improvement in Tiffany's revenues and the constructive comments on current business conditions reduce the likelihood of a renegotiation of the buyback terms previously agreed with LVMH", said Luca Solca of Bernstein.

Greenwashing. Volkswagen plans to issue a €1 billion green bond in September, according to its Chief Financial Officer. To pay the fines related to the rigging of the emissions systems?

Obstacles on the way. Bayer conceded that there were obstacles in the implementation of the $11 billion agreement reached with a majority of plaintiffs in the Roundup case in the United States.

Rumor has it. Glencore prefers to sell its 73.1% majority stake in the Zambian Mopani copper mine to the state-owned ZCCM-IH rather than remain a minority shareholder, according to rumors.

In other news. Roche closes its Diabete Care production unit in Puerto Rico. Tencent is offering $1.5 billion in cash to purchase Leyou Technologies. U.S. purchases $750 million of Covid rapid tests from Abbott.