“There’s a lot of uncertainty in the world, and when volatility rises, it’s natural to ask who might be affected and how,” said Spotify CEO Daniel Ek kicking off a call with analysts. “I see Spotify faring better than most.” “People want to be entertained,” he added after first quarter earnings, “and the engagement we are seeing now suggests we are becoming even more essential to people’s lives.” Companies globally are operating amid a trade war with the U.S. launched by the administration of Donald Trump ...

Spotify Technology SA (NYSE:SPOT) stock is 4.8% lower at $568.90 before the bell, after the streaming giant reported first-quarter operating income of 509 million euros, missing analyst estimates of 519.9 million euros, per FactSet. Revenue for the quarter came in at 4.2 billion euros, matching expectations, while monthly active users (MAUs) grew to 678 million -- in line with the company’s prior guidance. The streaming giant also issued a disappointing operating income forecast for the current quarter.Spot ...