Earnings season. Royal Bank of Canada, Recruit Holdings, Splunk, Polymetal, Eiffage, Ambu, Aroundtown, Emmi AG, Elekta, Encavis and Ramsay Générale de Santé are among companies posting their results today.

Results overview:

Elekta: the Swedish company achieved a 42% increase in Ebit in the second quarter, despite lower revenues, well above expectations. Covid-19 reduced sales and boosted profits for the medical equipment manufacturer.

Emmi AG: The Swiss company posted sales up 6.6% to CHF 1.773 billion in the first half of the year, with Ebit up 6.4%. For the year as a whole, caution is the watchword, with a reduced organic growth target of between 0.5 and 1.5% and a confirmed but ambitious Ebit forecast of between CHF 255 and 265 million, with a focus on the lower end of the range.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise: the annual forecast is better than expected, which is worth a post-Wall Street gain of around 3%.

Intuit: 6% gain in the evening after strong results for the period ended July 31. The group confirms its status as an indispensable player in the tax process for American SMEs.

Salesforce: the share price rises after the close after very good results. The company learned yesterday that it will join the prestigious Dow Jones on August 31. A "huge overshoot" of forecasts, Jefferies points out (purchase, target raised from 235 to 285 USD).

Toll Brothers: results are under pressure but the stock reacts rather well after the session, thanks to an improving outlook.

No love at the office. At McDonald's, the investigation into the former CEO's love affair extends to determine if other "inappropriate behaviors" were not covered. The group said the ongoing investigations now also include allegations of potential misconduct in the company's human resources department.

The shadow of a doubt. The suspense remains intact about the purchase of Tiffany by LVMH, with analysts believing that the transaction should be completed, but that the final price remains uncertain. The jeweler's stock was trading at USD 121.99 at the close yesterday, down 4%. The deadline has been postponed to November 24.

Pricing agreement. The U.S. Department of Justice charges Teva Pharmaceutical USA with cartel in three generic drug cases. The actions of Teva and other incriminated companies are alleged to have resulted in additional costs of $350 million between 2013 and 2015 for the patients involved. Some of the companies involved have already settled, such as Sandoz (Novartis), which agreed in March to pay $195 million.

In other news. Facebook News is expanding, especially in France, and promises revenue to international media. American Airlines could cut 19,000 more jobs in the absence of additional government support. Costa Cruises (Carnival) will test every passenger before boarding its ships. Solvay is placing a €500 million perpetual hybrid bond issue. Palantir will arrive on the NYSE by direct listing. Positive phase III data for Novartis' asciminib for myeloblastic leukemia.