GMT EIGHT - Commercial - Investment&Financing

Cyberspace Authority Summons NVIDIA Over H20 Chip Security Vulnerabilities

Hong Kong Opens Stablecoin Licensing Window as Note-Issuing Banks Poised to Lead the Charge

China Resources Beer to Divest Additional Brewery Assets, Closing Three Plants Over Three Years

July Manufacturing PMI Slips to 49.3% Amid Seasonal Slowdown and Adverse Weather Conditions

A+H Listing Momentum Accelerates as Market Eyes Potential Valuation Threshold Revisions

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.

Boeing Revenue Hits 6-Year High Amid Signs of Recovery

Boeing reported $22.7 billion in Q2 2025 revenue—its highest in six years—as it ramps up production and regains market confidence following years of safety concerns and operational setbacks.

Meta's AI Ascent: A Trillion-Dollar Bet on Superintelligence and Strong Q2 Outlook

Meta Platforms is making aggressive moves into AI superintelligence with its new Meta Superintelligence Labs, attracting top talent. This significant investment aligns with Wall Street's bullish outlook for Meta's Q2 earnings, driven by robust ad revenue and the promising integration of AI capabilities across its platforms.

Baker Hughes Nears $13.6B Acquisition of Chart Industries

Baker Hughes is close to acquiring Chart Industries in an all-cash deal worth $13.6 billion, aiming to expand its presence in the LNG and clean energy tech sectors. The move would terminate Chart’s prior $19 billion merger agreement with Flowserve and could signal renewed consolidation in the U.S. energy industry.

Samsung’s $16.5 Billion Tesla Win Buoys Hopes - But Execution Risks Keep Investors Guarded

Samsung Electronics shares surrendered early gains after Monday’s euphoria over a headline-grabbing $16.5 billion deal to supply artificial-intelligence chips to Tesla. Analysts welcome the marquee customer, seeing it as a potential inflection point for Samsung’s loss-making contract-manufacturing arm.

Taiwan’s Tech-Fueled Resilience Faces a Fresh Tariff Test

Taiwan’s economy looks set to chalk up a second straight quarter of brisk expansion, buoyed by unrelenting global demand for advanced chips and other electronics. Economists polled by Reuters expect headline growth to accelerate to roughly 5.7 % year-on-year in the April-to-June period, after a 5.48 % gain in the first quarter.

Stellantis Navigates Headwinds: H1 2025 Losses Amidst Recovery Efforts and Tariff Challenges

Stellantis reported a net loss of (€2.3) billion in H1 2025, with net revenues down by more than 10%, impacted by tariffs. New CEO Antonio Filosa is implementing recovery strategies, including product launches and U.S. investments. The company forecasts a gradual recovery in H2 2025 with increased revenues and improved cash flow, despite ongoing economic headwinds.

Cracks in the Coverage: Health Insurers Face Rising Costs and Scrutiny

Health insurers are battling escalating medical claims, impacting profitability and stock performance. Centene and Elevance Health reported higher benefit payout ratios, particularly in government programs. UnitedHealth Group faces similar cost pressures and a federal probe into its Medicare Advantage billing, adding to sector volatility as companies adapt to rising utilization.

Tesla’s Profit Slide Continues Amid Weak Sales and Stiff Competition

Tesla reported its third consecutive quarterly profit decline, with Q2 net income falling to $1.2 billion amid sluggish sales and intensifying competition from global EV makers. While the company presses ahead with robotaxi ambitions, weak demand, policy headwinds, and missed product deadlines continue to weigh on its core vehicle business.

Tech Stocks Cool as Fed Tensions Rattle Markets

Global markets paused as megacap tech stocks pulled back and political pressure on the U.S. Federal Reserve increased. Major names like Nvidia and Apple slipped amid valuation concerns and pre-earnings caution. President Trump’s public criticism of Fed Chair Jerome Powell added uncertainty, sparking speculation about Powell's future.

Bank of America Flexes Balance-Sheet Strength With $40 Billion Buyback

Bank of America’s board has approved a fresh $40 billion share-repurchase program that will replace the roughly $9 billion remaining under its 2021 authorization. Coming less than a month after the bank passed the Federal Reserve’s stress tests, the move signals management’s confidence in future earnings, capital buffers and credit quality while offering a meaningful tail-wind to per-share metrics at a time when the stock still trades below its post-pandemic highs.

Tariffs Take Toll as G.M. Profits Drop 34.5% in Q2

General Motors reported a steep 34.5% decline in second-quarter profits to $1.9 billion, citing over $1 billion in tariff-related costs. While EV sales and China operations showed promise, the automaker is under pressure to cut costs and re-shore production as policy-driven headwinds weigh on margins.

AstraZeneca's Dual Leap: Cancer Breakthroughs & a $50 Billion U.S. Investment Drive Future Growth

AstraZeneca recently revealed significant progress in lung cancer treatment with Tagrisso, improving overall patient survival. Concurrently, the company announced a substantial $50 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing and R&D by 2030, a strategic move aimed at boosting revenue, strengthening domestic supply chains, and aligning with U.S. economic policies.

Chevron Secures Strategic Win with $53 Billion Hess Acquisition

After a prolonged legal standoff with Exxon Mobil, Chevron has secured approval to acquire Hess for $53 billion, unlocking a critical stake in Guyana’s booming offshore oil field. The acquisition enhances Chevron’s global asset base but comes amid market volatility and rising pressure to adapt to shifting energy demands.

Japanese Yen Rallies as Political Stability Prevails Despite Election Setback

Despite Japan's ruling coalition losing its upper house majority, the yen strengthened as markets had priced in a worse outcome. Political uncertainty and looming U.S. tariff deadlines could test this stability. Global markets are also watching U.S. tech earnings and central bank decisions, contributing to a complex financial landscape.

Ryanair’s Profit Soars on Robust Bookings and Higher Fares, Eyes Strong Summer Performance

Ryanair (RYA.I) more than doubled its Q1 net profit to €820 million, driven by strong last-minute bookings, Easter holiday timing, and a sharp rebound in fares. The airline expects continued strength through the summer despite sector-wide uncertainties and macro risks.

China's Leadership in EV Battery Safety Innovations

China is leading the global electric vehicle industry's focus on battery safety by developing advanced solid-state, sodium-ion, and improved LFP battery technologies, alongside stricter regulations, to achieve a future of "no fire, no explosion" EVs.

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