Markets

General Dynamics will release its Q2 2025 financial results via a live webcast. Investors can expect a detailed overview of sales, profits, and strategy, with leadership discussing key drivers like global defense spending, technological advancements, and the company’s diverse business segments including aerospace, combat systems, and IT. This event offers valuable insights into the company’s performance and future growth potential within national security and aerospace.

Taobao Instant Delivery and Meituan engaged in an intense delivery war, offering deep discounts and subsidies. This aggressive competition led to a surge in orders for both platforms, benefiting merchants and delivery personnel. While stock prices saw initial dips, the overall impact suggests a dynamic market where new entrants can challenge established players. The rivalry highlights strategic differences, with Meituan focusing on food delivery and Taobao aiming for broader integration of online shopping and instant retail.

Dollar Tree, Inc. has sold its Family Dollar business to Sterling Capital Management and Macellum Capital Management for $1,007.5 million. This strategic divestiture allows Dollar Tree to focus on its core business, driving growth through expanded assortments, new stores, and attracting new customers. The company anticipates significant net proceeds and future economic benefits from tax deductions, repositioning for accelerated growth as a focused value retailer.

Hotel soundproofing often disappoints due to relaxed building codes, cost-saving construction methods like lightweight walls, and lenient standards for doors and windows. Locations in noisy urban areas, internal noise from HVAC and appliances, and plumbing layouts further contribute to the issue. Travelers may also be more sensitive to noise in unfamiliar surroundings. Tips for a quieter stay include choosing higher floors, rooms away from noisesources, and bringing earplugs.

Tsinghua University has integrated its campus shuttle bus routes into the Gaode Maps navigation system. This collaboration enhances mobility by providing real-time bus locations, estimated arrival times, and route planning for students, faculty, and visitors. Users can now seamlessly navigate both on and off-campus journeys via the popular mapping app.

Dassault Systèmes has provided a status update on its liquidity contract with Oddo BHF SCA. As of June 30, 2025, the contract held 857,760 shares and €6,017,034.60 in cash. Between January 1 and June 30, 2025, the contract actively managed liquidity, executing 17,751 purchase and 19,411 sale transactions, involving over 3.6 million shares for purchases and over 3.4 million for sales.

CCTV reports expose sophisticated scams targeting aspiring live streamers. Companies lure individuals with promises of income and training, then provide no support, leading to zero viewership. When streamers try to leave, they face fabricated contract breaches and demands for massive penalties. One streamer was threatened with a ¥500,000 penalty after seven days of no viewers. Victims often pay smaller fees to terminate contracts due to legal threats. Aspiring streamers are urged to scrutinize contracts and verify company backgrounds.

A sophisticated scam targeting ride-hailing drivers is circulating in China, as exposed by an automotive influencer. The “cash-for-damage” scheme involves staged accidents where drivers are deliberately caused to collide with other vehicles. Victims are then later sued for lost income and vehicle downtime, costs not usually covered by insurance. Perpetrators exploit traffic laws and delayed lawsuits to maximize fraudulent claims, making the scam highly effective. Drivers are advised to avoid admitting fault and insist on footage review by traffic police.

Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) supports Findell Capital’s push for board changes at Oportun’s 2025 meeting, citing poor governance and underperformance. ISS recommends voting for Findell’s nominee, Warren Wilcox, and withholding votes from CEO Raul Vazquez, who is blamed for a 55% stock decline since the IPO. ISS highlights Oportun’s value-destructive strategic pivot, governance misalignments, and board independence concerns, advocating for Wilcox’s experienced oversight.

Alibaba and Meituan ignited a fierce food delivery price war with deep discounts, driving massive user traffic and causing temporary outages for Meituan. Goldman Sachs projects this competition to peak in September, potentially leading to significant losses for major players but a strategic gain in user engagement for cross-selling. Pinduoduo is positioned as an opportunistic winner by abstaining from the promotion war.