Markets

Belgravia Hartford Capital Inc. (BLGV) has announced its largest single-day Bitcoin purchase, acquiring 25.03 BTC funded entirely by a recent CAD $4,022,955.55 private placement. This increases Belgravia’s total BTC holdings to 40.7719114, yielding a 13% return since June 5, 2025. The purchases were executed via Coinsquare’s OTC desk. Belgravia plans further BTC acquisitions, deploying an additional USD $5M upon closing an agreement with Round13.

Tickets for Jackson Yee’s Shanghai concert sold out instantly on Damai, a Chinese ticketing platform, triggering frustration among fans. Demand was astronomical, with over 3.3 million users vying for only around 7,000 tickets, a 463:1 ratio. Damai cited high traffic for website slowdowns, attributing successful ticket acquisition to “pure luck.” The event highlights the challenges of managing high demand, combatting scalping, and ensuring positive fan experiences in China’s live entertainment market.

Fuyao University, founded by Fuyao Group’s Cao Dewang, successfully completed its 2025 undergraduate admissions, admitting 50 students with impressive scores, exceeding some established universities in certain provinces. Headed by Professor Wang Shuguo, the university’s high admission scores have sparked debate among netizens questioning the choice of a new institution over prestigious, well-established universities. One admitted student defended his decision, citing the unique educational approach and the reputation of the faculty, despite online criticism and falling short of his initial top choice, Zhejiang University.

DEFSEC Technologies Inc. (DFSC) announced the pricing of a CAD$6.8 million public offering consisting of units with common shares (or pre-funded warrants) and warrants. Each unit, priced at CAD$8.955, includes one share/warrant, with warrants exercisable at CAD$10.52 within five years. H.C. Wainwright & Co. is the placement agent. Closing is expected around July 25, 2025. Net proceeds will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes. The offering, while injecting capital, introduces potential dilution for existing shareholders.

Cotton Secret, founded by Xinba and with $465M in sales, faces allegations of health risks. Reports link its sanitary napkins to thyroid cancer in over 30 women, with thiourea, a Group 3 carcinogen, found in samples. Cotton Secret insists its products meet national standards and that internal assessments show no health risks under normal use. Independent testing by regulatory bodies support the company’s claims of adherence to safety standards.

Huawei’s MatePad Pro 12.2-inch, powered by HarmonyOS 5, introduces desktop-grade video editing with a full port of CapCut Pro. This advancement moves beyond feature-stripped mobile versions, offering professionals a powerful, portable editing experience. HarmonyOS enhances workflows with drag-and-drop functionality and AI-powered tools for subtitle generation, intelligent color grading, and AI sticker creation. This signifies a leap in tablet capabilities and a growing ecosystem synergy for HarmonyOS.

Questcorp Mining (QQCMF) reports positive developments at its La Union Gold-Silver Project in Sonora, Mexico. A 1,500-meter maiden drill program is planned for mid-August 2025. Exploration revealed stacked thrust faults and new intrusives. Surface samples showed high grades: 59.4 g/t gold, 833 g/t silver, and significant zinc, lead, and copper. The 2,520-hectare property, a carbonate replacement deposit (CRD), shows potential for large-scale gold and underlying porphyry copper mineralization.

China’s “996” work culture (9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week) is gaining traction in the U.S., particularly among Silicon Valley AI startups. Some companies openly advertise or require this demanding 72-hour workweek, with a readiness for “996” becoming a pre-screening factor for candidates. New York-based Rilla, an AI startup, explicitly requires over 70 hours per week. While extended hours are rising globally, American companies show more enthusiasm for this model than European ones, with some arguing even “996” is insufficient.

As extreme heat intensifies, Chinese businesses are integrating employee health and safety management. Companies like Haier and JD.com are providing cooling measures – drinks, medicine, and protective gear – to factory workers, delivery riders, and service personnel. This shift from summer perks to systematic support, driven by rising temperatures and government guidelines aims to protect workers, maintain productivity and mitigate risks of heat-related illnesses, ultimately impacting supply chain resilience and operational efficiency.

SK Hynix reported a record-breaking Q2 2025, driven by high demand for its memory solutions, especially HBM. Revenue surged 35% YoY to ₩22.232 trillion, with operating profit up 68% to ₩9.2129 trillion. This performance was attributed to strong DRAM and NAND flash memory shipments, particularly advanced HBM3E products benefiting from the AI boom. SK Hynix anticipates continued growth in H2 2025, focusing on server modules, high-capacity SSDs, and 321-layer NAND flash technology to solidify its market leadership.