GMT EIGHT - Commercial - Investment&Financing

Trump Administration Explores Government Equity Investment in Intel; Shares Soar Nearly 9%

Accelerated Integration of Greater Bay Area Financial Markets Strengthened by Central Bank Policy

Use of OTA to Conceal Defects Prohibited; Implying Assisted Driving as Autonomous Driving Banned—Assessing the Impact of New Regulatory Measures

International Capital Enthusiastic About A+H Placements: Hong Kong Stocks Signal a New Market Trend; Leading Companies Favored and Emphasis on Pricing Power

Countdown to Evergrande’s Delisting: HK$350 Billion in Liabilities, Only HK$2 Billion Recovered

Oil Prices Hold at Weekly Highs Ahead of Trump–Putin Summit

Oil prices hovered near one-week highs on Friday ahead of the Trump–Putin summit in Alaska, with Brent at $67.00 and WTI at $64.10. Markets are watching for potential geopolitical impacts on Russian oil exports amid tensions over Ukraine. Japan’s stronger-than-expected GDP growth also supported demand outlook, while concerns over U.S. interest rates capped gains.

Berkshire Hathaway Sells $3.6 Billion in Apple Stock, Invests in UnitedHealth

Berkshire Hathaway sold a significant portion of its Apple stock while making a surprising new investment in the struggling UnitedHealth Group, all while building a record cash reserve of $344 billion.

HSBC to Drastically Boost Surveillance in New London HQ

HSBC is planning a major security enhancement for its new London headquarters, slated for 2027. The plan involves a significant increase in surveillance, including more than four times the number of CCTV cameras and twice the biometric access points. This initiative is part of a "global security strategy" to address security concerns amid evolving work patterns and reduce the bank's global footprint by over 40%.

Australia's Fortescue Secures $2 Billion Yuan-Denominated Loan for Green Energy Initiatives

ortescue (FMG.AX) secured a yuan-denominated loan of 14.2 billion yuan ($1.98 billion) to advance its decarbonisation initiatives after halting green hydrogen projects in the U.S. and Australia.

Emerging Markets Attract Second-Largest Monthly Inflows in Four Years

Emerging markets saw about $55.5 billion in net inflows in July, the second-highest in four years, driven by strong demand for Chinese bonds and non-Chinese equities. Robust market performance, attractive yields in countries like Brazil, Mexico, and South Africa, and expectations of U.S. rate cuts supported investor appetite, while EM currencies remained up nearly 6% for 2025.

JD.com Beats Q2 Revenue Forecasts as 618 Promotions Drive Growth

JD.com beat second-quarter revenue expectations as aggressive promotions, the 618 shopping festival and targeted subsidies pulled in value-conscious shoppers. Revenue rose 22.4% year on year to 356.66 billion yuan, topping the 331.63 billion yuan consensus, while GMV during 618 climbed 15.2% to a record 855.6 billion yuan. Profitability, however, lagged the top line, with net income to ordinary shareholders slipping to 6.2 billion yuan from 12.6 billion yuan a year earlier; U.S.-listed shares rose about 3% in premarket trading after the release.

Manus’s Singapore Shift: US Venture Money and the Splintering of China’s AI Scene

An AI start-up once celebrated in China has become a flashpoint for both Beijing and Washington after it took U.S. venture backing and shifted abroad. Manus, maker of a popular autonomous “agent” app, drew a $75mn round led by Benchmark and then moved core operations to Singapore, prompting criticism in China for “abandoning” the market even as U.S. officials examined whether the deal conflicted with new controls on outbound investment into Chinese AI. The case illustrates how geopolitical guardrails are now reshaping funding and location decisions for frontier AI companies.

Golden Dome Missile Shield: A $175 Billion Project with Unresolved Core Details

The U.S. "Golden Dome" missile shield project, estimated at $175 billion, is facing uncertainty regarding its fundamental architecture and costs, despite plans for a complex four-layered defense system that would incorporate new interceptors and a surprise missile site in the Midwest.

China and Hong Kong Command One-Third of Global IPO Proceeds in H1 2025

China and Hong Kong captured roughly one-third of global IPO proceeds in the first half of 2025. Issuers gravitated to these markets for scale and certainty as large, policy-aligned flotations and industrial listings met steady domestic demand. At the same time, overseas windows were uneven, leaving Hong Kong and the mainland well-positioned to present a predictable path to market for companies in capital-intensive sectors.

Diversified Energy Defies Volatility with Robust Q2 Performance and Strategic Expansion

Diversified Energy delivered a robust Q2 2025, with revenue surging to over $500 million. The company reported strong production growth and adjusted EBITDA, supported by the Maverick acquisition and a new $2 billion partnership with The Carlyle Group. This performance, combined with a declared 29-cent dividend, reinforces its strategic growth and commitment to shareholder returns.

Soaring Duolingo Stock Gets Halted by OpenAI's GPT-5 Reveal

Duolingo's Q2 earnings report showed strong growth in users, revenue, and profitability, leading to a significant stock price increase. However, a demo of OpenAI's new GPT-5 model, which can build a language-learning app, caused the stock to pull back. The company remains optimistic, raising its full-year guidance and expanding into new product areas like music and math.

Unprecedented Alliance: NFL Takes Equity Stake in ESPN in a Bid to Dominate the Streaming Era

The NFL has acquired a 10% equity stake in ESPN in a groundbreaking deal. In exchange, ESPN will gain ownership of the NFL Network and distribution rights for RedZone. This partnership is a strategic move to boost ESPN's upcoming direct-to-consumer streaming service and expand the NFL's global reach, positioning both companies for long-term success in the evolving media landscape.

Microsoft Hits $4 Trillion Valuation Amid Market Rally

Spurred by investor confidence in its AI investments, Microsoft's market capitalization has soared past the $4 trillion mark, buoying the broader market alongside other major tech companies.

Joby to Acquire Blade’s Passenger Division in $125 Million Deal

Joby Aviation will acquire Blade Air Mobility’s passenger operations for $125 million in cash or stock, gaining access to key infrastructure and customer routes. The move positions Joby to scale ahead of its planned 2026 commercial launch of electric air taxis.

Hugo Boss Surpasses Profit Expectations Despite Currency Headwinds and Global Uncertainty

Hugo Boss reported a stronger-than-expected Q2 operating profit of 81 million euros, driven by cost-cutting measures. While a strong euro led to a small dip in overall revenue, the company confirmed its full-year outlook. Despite a volatile market, Hugo Boss remains focused on brand-building and profitability.

U.S. Dollar Plunges Amid Fed Rate-Cut Bets and Leadership Shake-ups

A weak U.S. jobs report and the resignation of a Fed governor have fueled speculation of imminent rate cuts. This has caused the U.S. dollar to tumble against major currencies. Market analysts are now more than doubling their bets on a September rate cut, leading to significant shifts in global currency markets and altering the outlook for the dollar's strength.

Hong Kong Fintech Fundraising Surges Amid Stablecoin Boom

Hong Kong-listed fintech firms raised over $1.5 billion in July to accelerate their expansion into cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, and blockchain infrastructure. Major players such as OSL Group and SenseTime capitalized on the city’s newly implemented stablecoin licensing regime, which has boosted investor confidence and regulatory clarity.

Amazon's Earnings Beat Fails to Impress Wall Street Amid AI and AWS Scrutiny

Amazon reported strong second-quarter results, surpassing revenue and earnings expectations. Despite this, the stock declined due to its cloud division, AWS, missing high market expectations and a wide range in its operating income guidance for the third quarter. The company's focus on AI and its plan to introduce advertising to its Alexa+ service signal its strategy for future growth.

Reddit Rockets After Crushing Q2 Estimates, Fueled by AI and Ad Growth

Reddit's second-quarter results have investors excited, with the company beating revenue and earnings expectations. The social media platform's revenue grew by more than 75% year-over-year, its fastest growth in three years, driven by its advertising business and a significant jump in its data licensing segment fueled by AI partnerships. This strong performance, along with a bullish Q3 outlook, has caused the stock to rally.

Ford Joins Auto Industry Downturn as Tariffs Weigh on Earnings

Ford reported a $36 million second-quarter loss, reversing a $1.8 billion profit from a year earlier. Despite revenue growth, rising tariff costs weighed heavily on earnings.

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