Markets

Aleksandar Janković, the U20 coach, has been appointed interim coach of the Chinese national football team to lead them in the East Asian Cup. This follows the termination of the previous coach’s contract due to the team’s failure to advance in World Cup qualifiers. With a history of success leading youth teams, including recent tournament wins, Janković faces the challenge of stabilizing a team marked by frequent managerial changes, the current appointment is the 14th in 23 years.

Ira Subaru of Danvers, MA, is donating $41,038 and employee volunteer time to Essex County Habitat for Humanity. This initiative supports the organization’s mission of providing safe and affordable housing. The contribution, part of Group 1 Automotive’s community commitment, includes a check presentation and volunteer work for a home-building project. The event will take place on June 18, 2025, at 436 Asbury St., Hamilton, MA.

Kite Realty Group Trust (KRG) announced a $300 million senior notes offering by Kite Realty Group, L.P., consisting of 5.200% Senior Notes due 2032. The notes are offered at 99.513% of face value, yielding 5.281% to maturity, with semi-annual interest payments. Proceeds will be used to repay debt and for general corporate purposes. Closing is expected on June 27, 2025. KRG, a REIT focused on grocery-anchored properties, owns 180 shopping centers.

Eyenovia, Inc. is pivoting into the digital asset space with a $50 million private placement to acquire over 1,000,000 HYPE tokens from Hyperliquid, becoming the first U.S.-based public company to hold a substantial amount. This investment, coupled with the appointment of a Chief Investment Officer, positions Eyenovia as a top-tier validator. Simultaneously, Eyenovia will continue ophthalmic technology development, reflecting a dual strategy to create value, while also launching a HYPE staking program. The company is planning to change its name and ticker.

EIG Asset Management LLC decreased its stake in Diversified Energy PLC (DEC), reducing its total voting rights from 20.21% to 18.20%, a change equivalent to 14,330,718 shares. The transaction, reported on June 17, 2025, occurred on May 27, 2025. EIG’s holdings are distributed through multiple entities, with EIG Energy Fund XVI, L.P. holding the largest individual position. This impacts shareholder influence, based on a total issued share capital of 78,757,014.

JD.com founder Liu Qiangdong revealed his intent to enter China’s food delivery market, signaling a major competitive challenge to Meituan. He hosted a dinner with key industry figures, including Meituan’s founder Wang Xing, to announce his plans. JD.com launched its food delivery service focusing on quality and lower commissions. It also provides full social security and insurance for its delivery workforce, aiming to attract talent and disrupt the market.

Dorvi, a feminine hygiene brand co-founded by Huang Zitao, addressed consumer concerns about black specks in its products. The brand clarified these are harmless byproducts of the manufacturing process, exceeding industry visual inspection standards. Dorvi is offering replacements, emphasizing transparency and inviting feedback. Huang Zitao also issued a statement, inviting media and customers to observe the production, including online oversight for all existing customers.

VEON Ltd. and Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation are partnering to create Ukraine’s first large language model (LLM), trained exclusively on Ukrainian data. This project, fueled by VEON’s $1 billion infrastructure investment, aims to develop a secure, culturally relevant AI ecosystem. The LLM will power AI-driven tools tailored to Ukrainian needs, specifically in sectors like government and healthcare. The first version is expected by December 2025, led by Kyivstar, aiming to enhance digital sovereignty and economic growth.

JD.com’s CEO, Richard Liu, discussed parallels between JD.com’s operational philosophy and a successful retail chain’s employee-focused approach. He highlighted prioritizing employee well-being, fair treatment, and customer service. This retailer’s model emphasizes no sales targets, significant profit allocation to employees, and generous benefits like short workdays, ample paid leave, and store closures, fostering a positive work environment.

JD.com CEO Xu Ran revealed impressive earnings for the company’s food delivery riders. Full-time riders in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen now average nearly RMB 13,000 monthly, a significant increase. This increase comes despite comprehensive benefits. JD.com’s delivery arm is rapidly expanding, with over 120,000 riders and processing over 25 million daily orders, highlighting the company’s commitment to sustainable growth in the food delivery sector.