Markets

Comedian Guo Degang intends to pass Deyun She to his son, Guo Qilin, but the latter prefers acting. According to Tianyancha, Beijing Deyun She is 99% owned by Guo Degang’s wife, Wang Hui, who is also the legal representative. Guo Qilin is not listed as an executive. Established in 2006, the company has a diverse business scope ranging from traditional comedy to retail and cultural exchange programs. Wang Hui is associated with 13 companies and is the legal representative for other Deyun She branches.

China’s semiconductor industry achieved a milestone with the rollout of the first domestically produced 28nm Critical Dimension Electron Beam Metrology equipment in Wuxi. Developed by Wuxi Gonsin Instruments, the CD-SEM features complete self-reliance in key components. This advancement addresses critical challenges in semiconductor metrology and inspection, filling a vital gap in China’s integrated circuit industry and enhancing self-sufficiency in high-end chip equipment. Gonsin aims to provide comprehensive CD-SEM solutions for diverse semiconductor manufacturing needs.

Columbia Banking System, Inc. (COLB) announced its Board of Directors has approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.36 per common share. The dividend is payable on September 15, 2025, to shareholders of record as of August 29, 2025. Columbia Bank, a leading regional bank in the Western U.S. with over $50 billion in assets, rebranded from Umpqua Bank on July 1, 2025, and fully operates under the new name as of September 1, 2025.

A video showing Insta360’s founder, Liu Jingkang, throwing cash at employees after the A1 drone launch went viral, sparking online debate. While some criticized the method as ostentatious, Insta360 clarified it was a playful team-building exercise to reward the R&D team’s hard work. The company expressed regret over the leaked video and unintended misinterpretations, vowing to use more effective and innovative recognition methods in the future.

WSTS forecasts a strong semiconductor market with $180 billion in sales for Q2 2025, a 19.6% year-over-year increase. This marks the sixth consecutive quarter of over 18% YoY growth. Nvidia leads the ranking of top semiconductor companies (excluding foundries and companies like Apple) with a projected $45 billion in revenue. Memory giants Samsung and SK Hynix follow. Nvidia’s stock surge, driven by AI demand, has significantly increased CEO Jensen Huang’s net worth, placing him among the world’s wealthiest individuals.

China’s new parental subsidy program (¥3,600 annually per child under three) is set to launch in 2025. However, scammers are already exploiting the initiative, using deceptive tactics on social media to lure parents with fake notifications. WeChat warns against clicking suspicious links or downloading files from unsolicited messages, as they may contain malware granting remote access for data theft. Official application portals will be available in late August; verify information through official government channels.

H World Group (HTHT) announced Board of Directors changes effective August 15, 2025. Justin Martin Leverenz, ex-CIO at Invesco Developing Markets Fund, joins as a director. Yi Zhang (Bonnie Yi Zhang), SINA Corporation’s CFO, becomes an independent director and Audit Committee chairwoman. Lei Cao joins the Compensation Committee. Tong Tong Zhao transitions to Board observer. Jian Shang departs from independent director and committee roles. These changes aim to bolster H World’s strategic growth with diverse financial and emerging market expertise.

To mark its 20th anniversary, 360 Group announced its “All In Agent” strategy, shifting focus to AI and intelligent agents. Founder Zhou Hongyi emphasized AI’s transformative power, highlighting 360’s developed AI search engine and Nano AI Multi-Agent Swarm. The company launched the “Intelligent Agent Factory” and aims to reshape its products and processes with intelligent agents, encouraging employees to develop AI literacy. 360 also updated its mission, vision, and core values to align with its AI-driven future.

A Chinese student, identified as Zeng, has gone viral on Chinese social media for her striking resemblance to Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun. The unexpected fame began after a commenter pointed out the similarity, prompting Zeng to create a video that quickly spread. Zeng stated she was unfamiliar with Lei Jun before this incident. While her daily life remains largely unaffected, her parents are reportedly thrilled with her newfound internet attention.

Viomi Technology (VIOT) anticipates H1 2025 revenue exceeding RMB 1.4 billion, a 70%+ year-over-year increase. This growth is fueled by strong sales of household water purification equipment, supported by Chinese government subsidies and increasing consumer demand for cleaner water. CEO Xiaoping Chen cites disciplined execution and rising health consciousness as drivers for long-term growth. However, the results are preliminary and unaudited, and reliance on subsidies presents a potential risk.