China State Investors Pledge Further Stock Purchases

China’s state-backed capital operators, China Reform Holdings Corp (CRHC) and China Chengtong Holdings Group, have intervened in the domestic stock market following a sharp sell-off. According to statements released by the firms, they have collectively deployed billions of yuan to stabilize share prices of centrally administered state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and technology firms, citing confidence in … Read more

Fender Escalates Stratocaster Copyright Lawsuit Against Yamaha

Fender has expanded its legal campaign to protect the body shape of its Stratocaster electric guitar by sending a notice letter to Yamaha. This move follows a German court ruling that granted Fender copyright protection for the Stratocaster design within the European Union, a decision that has triggered industry-wide backlash and countersuits from retailers like … Read more

SK Hynix Shares Surge in US Debut Amid AI Boom

SK Hynix shares jumped 14% during their Nasdaq debut on July 10, following a $26.5 billion share sale. The South Korean chipmaker opened at $170 per American Depositary Receipt (ADR), significantly above the $149 offering price. This move provides the company with direct access to U.S. capital markets and funds for future factory construction, signaling … Read more

SK Hynix’s US Debut: A Key Test for AI Demand

SK Hynix completed a U.S. trading debut on Friday, pricing its American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) at $149 each following a $26.5 billion share sale. This listing, which was oversubscribed more than seven times, provides the South Korean memory chipmaker direct access to U.S. investors and capital to fund new factory construction, according to reports confirmed … Read more

SoftBank and PayPay Eye Investment in Seven & i

SoftBank Corp and mobile payments operator PayPay are in preliminary talks to invest several hundred billion yen into retail giant Seven & i Holdings, according to a report by Bloomberg News. The potential deal may also include a stake from Sumitomo Mitsui Card, a subsidiary of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, though none of the involved … Read more

DeepSeek Developing Proprietary AI Chip, Sources Say

Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek is developing its own custom inference chips to decrease its reliance on Nvidia and Huawei hardware. According to three people familiar with the matter, the company has ramped up its recruitment of chip-design engineers and is currently in discussions with foundry and memory partners to support its semiconductor ambitions. Why … Read more

Foxconn Q2 Revenue Surges Despite Geopolitical Warnings

Foxconn, the world’s largest contract electronics manufacturer, reported a 39.8% year-on-year revenue increase for the second quarter, reaching T$2.513 trillion ($78.71 billion). According to the company’s official statement, the surge was driven primarily by strong demand for artificial intelligence hardware, cementing its position as Nvidia’s biggest server maker. Why AI demand is driving Foxconn’s growth … Read more

Indonesia Weighs $2B Cut to Prabowo’s Free Meal Program

Indonesia is preparing to scale back President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship free meals programme, with officials weighing a budget cut of more than $2 billion and reductions in both kitchens and beneficiaries. According to two sources and an internal presentation, the National Nutrition Agency (NNA) is targeting a reduction of at least 15% to address mounting … Read more

Oil Prices Drop Amid Rising Middle East Supply

Oil prices for Brent and WTI crude reached their lowest levels since February 27 as Middle Eastern supply returns to the global market. According to Reuters, rising expectations of increased oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz are outweighing record-low U.S. crude stocks, pushing Brent to $72.52 and WTI to $69.32 per barrel. Why are … Read more

5,000+ People Trapped in Myanmar Scam Centers, Rights Group Reports

More than 5,300 people remain trapped in forced-labor online scam hubs near the Myanmar-Thai border, according to the Civil Society Network for Human Trafficking Victim Assistance (CSNHTV). The organization, which monitors human rights abuses in the region, reports that these victims are being held in four distinct compounds controlled by the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army … Read more