Markets

Maoyan apologized for accidentally releasing Jay Chou concert tickets during a load test, leading to cancellations and user backlash. The platform cited a simulation error for the premature sale. While offering ¥200 vouchers as compensation, many users found the explanation and compensation insufficient, questioning fairness and contractual principles.

Online discussions, sparked by Indian netizens, focused on China’s slow trains versus high-speed rail. However, these “poverty alleviation” trains, operating for decades with extremely low fares, are vital social welfare services. They connect impoverished counties, serve as lifelines for rural communities in mountainous regions for education, healthcare, and trade, and are a crucial part of China’s inclusive development strategy, despite operating at a loss.

BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust will not distribute a dividend for the quarter ending June 30, 2025. This is due to negative Per Barrel Royalty calculations, driven by low WTI prices and high costs. The Trust ceased operations on December 31, 2024, and its units will be delisted from the NYSE and commence trading on OTC Pink on July 1, 2025, facing reduced liquidity. All operations are now in the process of winding down.

Wabtec has acquired Evident’s Inspection Technologies division for $1.78 billion. This strategic move significantly expands Wabtec’s Digital Intelligence segment, integrating advanced non-destructive testing and remote visual inspection technologies. The acquisition is expected to enhance customer productivity, reliability, and safety, accelerate growth, and double Wabtec’s addressable market for its Digital Intelligence business to $16 billion.

The U.S. Senate has removed proposed tax provisions targeting litigation finance from its draft budget reconciliation bill. Burford Capital, a leader in law-focused finance, confirmed these provisions were deemed ineligible for inclusion and have been excluded from the adopted legislation.

Investor Peter Thiel suggests Elon Musk has shifted focus from the political vision of Mars colonization to a purely technological endeavor, stating Musk “stopped believing in Mars” as a political solution in 2024. While Musk still champions interstellar expansion for civilizational survival, his approach is now seen as more engineering-centric. SpaceX continues its Starship development for Mars missions, with robots planned for surface exploration by 2027.

Shell plc executed significant on-market share buybacks on July 1, 2025, as part of its ongoing repurchase program. These transactions, managed by BNP PARIBAS SA, aim to enhance shareholder returns and optimize capital structure, adhering to market regulations and previously announced parameters.

K-pop is currently dominated by girl groups, as male groups struggle to match the popularity of previous generations. Factors contributing to this include perceived declines in visual appeal and musical depth, along with a series of misconduct incidents involving male idols that have eroded consumer trust. This trend presents significant challenges for the future of South Korean boy groups, necessitating reinvention.

JD Logistics is expanding its premium courier service, Jingzunda, to Tianjin, Chongqing, and Suzhou. The service focuses on high-value goods, including luxury fashion and gifts, offering professional handling, custom packaging, and scheduled deliveries. This expansion aims to capture a larger premium delivery market share, building on Jingzunda’s success during peak gifting seasons.

SharpLink Gaming expanded its Ethereum holdings by acquiring 9,468 ETH, bringing its total to nearly 200,000 ETH. The company funded this through its ATM facility and plans further Ethereum accumulation, viewing it as a foundational currency for digital commerce. SharpLink also appointed Elevate IR as its investor relations agency to communicate its evolving strategy.