Tech Turmoil: Courts Hacked, Space IPO Soars & Tech Titans Tussle – Global Roundup (Aug 7–8, 2025)
Sony surprised investors by raising its profit forecast 4% to ¥1.33 trillion for the year, crediting a smaller-than-feared hit from U.S. trade tariffs reuters.com. The Japanese giant said tariff impacts were now estimated at ¥70 billion instead of ¥100 billion, as new trade deals eased pressure reuters.com. Sony’s PlayStation division also boosted the outlook—first-quarter PS5 console sales rose 4% to 2.5 million units amid strong demand for games and network services reuters.com. “Sony is further cementing its dominance in high fidelity gaming,” observed Serkan Toto of Kantan Games, adding “in my view, Sony is now competing with the PC more than the Xbox” reuters.com. The upbeat forecast and expert praise highlight Sony’s growing clout in entertainment even as it navigates geopolitical headwinds. China’s top chipmaker SMIC reported unexpected resilience despite escalating U.S. tariffs. The foundry said U.S. trade policy hasn’t caused the “hard landing” it once feared, thanks to contingency plans and surging domestic demand keeping its factories at full capacity until October reuters.com reuters.com. Co-CEO Zhao Haijun noted many clients stockpiled chips or found new suppliers, minimizing the tariff impact: “everyone has either stocked up enough inventory for this year and next year, or found other suppliers… So I
