Big tech dominates overnight trade…Microsoft shares tumble in after-hours trading as investors ignore the forecast-beating Q2 numbers and focus on the slowing growth of the software giant’s Azure unit, as the cloud business sees revenue growth dip below 50 per cent. Tesla posts a profit for the fourth consecutive quarter, countering factory shutdowns during lockdown with strong orders and cost cuts. The full year of profitability means the electric carmaker is now eligible to be listed on the S&P 500. Earnings are also front and centre in Europe. Swiss pharma group Roche sees profits and sales fall in the first half, but says a turnaround has already begun. German car giant Daimler’s sales plunge in the second quarter, amid a severe downturn in the autos market due to the pandemic. A potential Covid-19 vaccine deal and progress in virus stimulus bill talks in Congress push the Dow Jones above the 27,000-point level for the first time since June. However, Asian markets are down on news that President Trump may shut more Chinese missions following his order to close the Houston consulate over spying allegations.

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