Markets

Hemostemix (HMTXF) has contracted Empire Market Ventures (EMV) to boost its market awareness. EMV, a New York-based consulting firm specializing in investor relations and strategic communications, will develop and implement investor engagement strategies using digital media and market intelligence. EMV will operate independently to provide unbiased counsel and ensure regulatory compliance. The goal of the partnership is to increase Hemostemix’s visibility and growth within the capital markets. The announcement was made on August 12, 2025.

China Evergrande faces delisting from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) after failing to meet resumption guidance. Trading of its shares has been suspended since January 29, 2024. The HKEX Listing Committee made the decision, and Evergrande does not intend to seek a review. This marks the end of Evergrande’s 16-year run as a public company, following a liquidation order issued in January 2024, highlighting the severity of its debt crisis.

TikTok responded to complaints from Li Auto regarding negative online content targeting the EV maker and its customers. TikTok’s Douyin Blackboard announced it removed misleading and abusive content related to “Li Auto owners” and accounts exploiting the controversy, citing violations of community guidelines. This followed Li Auto CEO Li Xiang’s allegations of a coordinated smear campaign by a rival company, a recurring issue during new car launches, orchestrated by online influence agencies.

ETHZilla (formerly 180 Life Sciences) announced it has accumulated 82,186 ETH, valued at approximately $349 million, with an average purchase price of $3,806.71. The company also maintains $238 million in USD cash equivalents. ETHZilla plans to generate yield from its ETH holdings through staking strategies managed by Electric Capital. The company is pivoting towards software-enabled gaming and entertainment, aiming to be a leader in on-chain treasury management and will provide regular updates on its progress.

Reports suggest NVIDIA has secured a deal with Samsung for its 12-layer stacked HBM3E memory, potentially for use in liquid-cooled server systems. The initial order is rumored to be 30,000-50,000 units. Samsung has neither confirmed nor denied the agreement. While previous validation claims proved premature, Wall Street analysts are optimistic that Samsung will complete certification by the end of August and begin shipments to NVIDIA in Q4. Samsung aims to reduce HBM3E production costs and expects increased HBM profitability.

Former President Trump pledged to address homelessness and crime in Washington, D.C., proposing to relocate homeless individuals and jail criminals. Prompted by an attempted carjacking, the administration deployed federal law enforcement and considers National Guard deployment. Trump claims D.C. is dangerous, vowing to make it safer. Mayor Bowser disputes claims of a crime surge, noting collaboration with federal law enforcement. The plan’s legal basis and implementation details remain unclear, raising questions about federal authority in the District.

Tencent Music Entertainment (TME) reported strong Q2 2025 results, with revenue up 17.9% year-over-year to RMB 8.44 billion and adjusted net profit surging 33.0% to RMB 2.64 billion. While MAUs dipped slightly to 553 million, paying subscribers for online music climbed 6.3% to 124.4 million. Monthly ARPPU for online music services increased 9.3% to RMB 11.7. TME is focused on content and platform development, including collaborations with labels and product innovation to enhance user engagement.

Merck’s KEYNOTE-905 (EV-303) trial showed positive results for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) patients ineligible for cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The study combined KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) and Padcev (enfortumab vedotin-ejfv) before and after surgery, demonstrating statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in event-free survival (EFS), overall survival (OS), and pathologic complete response (pCR) compared to surgery alone. This represents the first systemic therapy to improve survival in this population, potentially establishing a new standard of care. The treatment’s safety profile was consistent with existing data.

A hot pot restaurant in Inner Mongolia was fined ¥100,000 (approximately $13,700 USD) for operating a “dual menu” system, charging tourists higher prices than locals for the same dishes. The controversy began when a blogger exposed the practice at Mengyuan Niumen Flame Traditional Hot Pot. The Hailar District Market Supervision Administration investigated and issued the fine for misleading pricing tactics. Authorities are committed to a “zero tolerance” approach to such violations. The incident highlights a trend of unfair pricing targeting tourists.

Adidas is facing accusations of cultural appropriation after releasing its “Oaxaca Slip-On” shoe, designed in collaboration with Chavarria. Critics allege it resembles the traditional Mexican “huarache” sandal, handcrafted by Zapotec artisans in Oaxaca. Mexican officials, including President Sheinbaum, have condemned the design and demanded reparations for affected artisans. Adidas and Chavarria have issued apologies, and discussions are underway regarding compensation and legislative reforms to protect traditional crafts, which significantly contribute to the Mexican economy.