Google and Microsoft missed their earnings expectations for the second quarter.

Google reported profits of $9.7bn (£6.4bn), up 16% from a year ago but less than analysts were expecting.

Microsoft made $4.5bn in the second quarter, but announced that it would take a $900m charge relating to poor sales of its Surface tablet.

Shares in both  fell by more than 4% in after-hours trading.

Analysts seem to make or break a company nowadays, and yet they have no commercial input in the companies operation.