Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Alibaba and Tencent earnings. China’s tech giants are both under the microscope, as investors fret about the US-China trade war and a slowing Chinese economy. Alibaba is trying to diversify away from e-commerce into cloud computing, while Tencent is still struggling in the aftermath (paywall) of a government video game crackdown.
Germany releases GDP figures. The economy is expected to have grown 0.4% in the first quarter, a slight pickup, but confidence is lagging (paywall) due to fears the US-China trade war will spill over.
China and the US report industrial production and retail sales. Production numbers from both countries are expected to slow (paywall) due to—you guessed it—the US-China trade war, with a more muted impact on consumer spending.
While you were sleeping
A drone attack on Saudi oil facilities ratcheted up Middle East tension. Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility, causing a spike in oil prices a day after several Gulf tankers were allegedly damaged by sabotage. The Trump administration claims Iran and its proxies are planning more violence against the US and its allies.
US markets rebounded as Trump soft-pedaled his trade war. Major indices rose more than 1%, regaining some of the ground lost since US-China tensions rose last week, as the US president dismissed the tit-for-tat tariff battle as “a little squabble.” A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said the countries would “continue pursuing relevant discussions.”
Disney took full control of Hulu. A deal with minority owner Comcast guarantees a $5.8 billion payout by 2024, when the cable giant can sell its stake in the streaming video firm. Disney expects the company behind shows like The Handmaid’s Tale to become a crucial asset in its fight against Netflix.
Walmart matched Amazon’s free one-day shipping offer. By the end of the year, 75% of US consumers will be able to get orders over $35 for 220,000 of the mega-chain’s most popular products within a single day. Amazon said last month it plans to spend nearly a billion dollars on its own one-day shipping upgrade for Prime members.
Quartz Obsession
Doorbells: With the dawn of the electric era came a new domestic anxiety—the piercing buzz of a visitor at the door. Now, new hyper-connected digital versions have only amplified the unease, raising complicated questions about data security, community dynamics, and surveillance. Eyeball the story in today’s Quartz Obsession.
Membership
Today we explore the question that is surely keeping people at Boeing awake: Will passengers ever feel good about the 737 Max again? Meanwhile, over at Private Key, we dive into theories about why crypto is surging.
Matters of debate
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Noisy coworkers are the most disruptive office distractions. It’s not the temperature or the traffic noise—it’s us.
Long-distance relationships are getting closer. Advances in technology make the dreaded status more bearable.
Bitcoin profits from market volatility. Amid widespread turmoil, investors are betting on crypto once again.
Surprising discoveries
Hershey’s chocolate bars will feature emoji imprints. And yes, the poop one is included.
Laptop screens are entering the folding fold. Lenovo saw Samsung’s foldable smartphone and raised it an entire computer screen.
Jumpsuits are going mainstream. Long associated with revolution and newness, the one-piece garment is now turning up in white-collar boardrooms.
New Zealand’s PM returned a $5 bribe from the dragon lobby. An 11-year-old wanted Jacinda Ardern to fund research on the mystical reptiles.
A condom maker has a new baby-preventing product. Skyn’s “baby blocker” tool lets users erase photos of their friends’ kids on social media.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, baby photos, and emoji chocolates to hi@qz.com. Join the next chapter of Quartz by downloading our app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was written and edited by Adam Pasick and Susan Howson.