Markets

Princess Cruises’ “Spellbound by Magic Castle,” an immersive speakeasy experience inspired by Hollywood’s Magic Castle, will debut on the new *Star Princess* in Fall 2025. Following its success on *Sun Princess*, this edition pays tribute to Cardini with themed spaces like the Cardini Bar offering innovative cocktails. Open to all guests for $45 (includes two cocktails and the show), Spellbound replaces dinner service with multiple nightly showtimes. The 4,300-guest *Star Princess* features diverse dining, entertainment, and itineraries including the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Alaska.

Santana Equestrian Private Financial (SEQP) plans a pilot program in Canal Point, Florida to cultivate açaí palms, aiming for the first US domestic production. SEQP will use its BioActivium™ organic soil technology to replicate Amazon growing conditions, addressing the challenge of fresh açaí’s perishability. Success could offer US consumers fresh “tree-to-bowl” açaí, reducing reliance on frozen imports. The early-stage initiative focuses on R&D, with no revenue projections. Potential benefits include sustainability and diversification, though success relies on replicating Amazon conditions.

A woman was sued for reposting a video of a child’s tantrum with a negative caption, which garnered over 300,000 likes. The court ruled in favor of the child’s guardian, ordering the woman to apologize and pay legal fees. This case highlights the importance of protecting minors’ image rights online, as children lack the understanding and capacity to consent to image dissemination. Unauthorized posting of their images can lead to legal repercussions, underscoring the need for careful consideration of legal boundaries in the digital space.

Raymond James Financial (RJF) has added a 16-member advisory team, formerly with M Financial Group, to its Raymond James Financial Services (RJFS) independent channel. Led by Thomas C. Rapp, Ronald J. Greenberg, and Patrick Maguire, the team manages approximately $1.8 billion in client assets. Based in Morristown, NJ, and West Palm Beach, FL, they specialize in wealth management strategies for ultra-high-net-worth families. This acquisition enhances Raymond James’ wealth management capabilities, bringing their total client assets to approximately $1.64 trillion as of June 30, 2025.

Lynk & Co. showcased its EM-P Super Range-Extended Electric Solution at the “CO:TALK” event in Zhengzhou. This hybrid system prioritizes electric driving and offers intelligent energy management for personalized experiences. The Lynk 08 EM-P, starting at RMB 192,000, is the first mid-to-large plug-in hybrid sedan from Lynk & Co., featuring standard all-wheel drive and advanced ADAS with the Thor chip, LiDAR, and Qianli Haohan H7 solution. It aims to redefine value in the hybrid sedan market.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang addresses AI anxieties, arguing AI will augment, not replace, humans. He believes AI lacks ingenuity and requires human input for creativity, ethics, and emotional intelligence. Huang emphasizes that the real threat is not AI itself, but people leveraging AI surpassing those who don’t. He dismisses doomsday scenarios regarding AI safety, advocating for robust engineering, redundant systems, and explainable AI, drawing a parallel to aviation safety practices. Transparency and ethical frameworks are crucial for maintaining public trust.

DLH Holdings (DLHC) secured a task order worth up to $46.9 million to provide IT services to the NIH’s Office of Information Technology. The three-year contract includes enterprise IT systems management, cybersecurity, software development, and cloud computing, supporting around 7,000 end-customers. DLH will implement a cloud migration strategy leveraging partnerships with Azure, AWS, and Google, focusing on digital transformation and system modernization. This strengthens DLH’s position in federal health IT and highlights its expertise in cloud and AI.

Sony officially exited the Russian market on August 11th, ceasing all business operations and closing its local office after 18 years. Documents for the closure were submitted in October 2024. This follows Sony’s suspension of operations in 2022 due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which included halting PlayStation shipments, closing the PlayStation Store, suspending film distribution, and shutting down Sony Music. Sony had provided free PlayStation Plus subscriptions to Ukrainians until the end of last year.

Geely Automobile Holdings reported strong first-half results with a 27% revenue increase to RMB 150.28 billion and a net profit of RMB 9.29 billion. Vehicle sales surged 47% to 1.409 million, driven by a 126% rise in electrified vehicle sales. The company has raised its full-year sales target to 3 million units and plans to launch five new NEV models. Geely emphasized its commitment to value, technology, and ethical practices, addressing concerns about “involution” and improving communication with users.

LICT Corporation reported its Q2 2025 financial results, with revenue increasing 2% to $34.4 million. Non-regulated revenue grew by 2% to $19.2 million, representing 56% of total revenue. Broadband and voice lines increased due to the acquisition of Manti Telephone Company. EBITDA for the quarter was $13.5 million, a decrease of 4.9% year-over-year. Joe Cecin was appointed as Chief Operating Officer. The company also announced the continuation of its Shareholder Designated Charitable Contribution Program, pending board approval.