Markets

Sinclair Broadcast Group is partnering with the American Cancer Society for “Sinclair Cares: Help Drive Out Cancer,” a campaign running July 14-27. It aims to raise awareness and support for ACS’s Road To Recovery®, providing free rides to cancer treatment. Sinclair stations will broadcast content, including a special on July 26th and 27th featuring volunteer drivers and patients. The campaign encourages volunteering, donations, and seeking help through SinclairCares.com, leveraging Sinclair’s reach to address transportation challenges faced by cancer patients.

Xiaomi Group is gaining recognition and expanding its smart home capabilities. It was named a “Top 100 Enterprise in China’s Light Industry of Science and Technology” and designated an “Artificial Intelligence Enterprise” in Wuhan. Xiaomi’s first dedicated smart home appliance factory in Wuhan, its third major smart manufacturing facility, is nearing completion and will begin mass production by the end of the year, starting with air conditioning products. This factory will enable Xiaomi to independently develop and manufacture its appliances.

An unusual heatwave in Northeast China since late June has triggered an unprecedented surge in air conditioner sales. Heilongjiang experienced a staggering 817.68% YoY increase in offline sales in late June, followed by Jilin’s explosive growth. Xiaomi and Midea reported significant sales jumps. This demand overwhelmed supply chains, causing shortages, delivery delays, and straining installation services. Companies are deploying resources to address bottlenecks. Jingdong Logistics reported a 300% increase in air conditioner deliveries, peaking in early July with a 400% YoY order increase.

Mines d’Or Orbec (BLUE) completed a 2,000+ meter drilling campaign at its Muus property in Quebec’s Abitibi Greenstone Belt, focusing on the Lac Bernard area. Drill holes intersected silicified and pyrite-bearing zones, geological indicators of gold mineralization. The property is near IAMGOLD’s Nelligan Deposit. The company awaits assay results in approximately 6 weeks. Additionally, Orbec granted stock options for 4,150,000 common shares at $0.06 per share, expiring July 11, 2030.

A Chinese travel blogger on Xiaohongshu, “Pushing My Wife to See the World,” reported the theft of their entire trailer caravan in San Sebastián, Spain. The loss is estimated at nearly 500,000 RMB ($69,000 USD) and included all belongings, even life-sustaining medication for the blogger’s disabled wife. Witnesses saw individuals hitching the trailer to a French-plated vehicle. RV theft is reportedly an organized crime in the region with a low recovery rate. The blogger warns other travelers to be cautious in Europe.

Kanye West’s Shanghai stadium concert has been met with widespread criticism due to organizational issues and perceived poor performance quality. Attendees are complaining about the late start, West’s early exit due to “personal reasons,” and an extended instrumental interlude, resulting in a short performance. The high ticket prices are seen as unjustified. Social media is flooded with negative comments, with the hashtag “Kanye Loses Credibility After Shanghai Stunt” trending.

Battery Mineral Resources (BTRMF) filed its Q1 2025 financials on SEDAR+ (July 11, 2025) and anticipates trading to resume around July 15, 2025, pending cease trade order revocation. Keith Spano was appointed to the Board of Directors and as Head of the Audit Committee, replacing Joe Tuso in that role (Tuso remains a Director). Spano brings financial and audit experience from Yorktown Partners. The company focuses on copper production and has projects including the Punitaqui Mining Complex in Chile.

Pantene’s “3 Minute Miracle” shampoo is trending in China due to consumer confusion over whether the name is a trademark or a product claim. Local media revealed the name is primarily a registered trademark, although customer service asserts data supports the “3 minutes to repair three months of accumulated damage” claim. Third-party experiments showed improvement in damaged hair after three minutes. However, product descriptions include a disclaimer that results may vary, sparking debate on branding versus marketing.

The AI browser landscape is evolving, with Perplexity introducing Comet, an “AI Agent powered” browser. Comet aims to shift browsing from information access to understanding and application, transforming disparate tabs into a unified intelligent environment. It features a “Comet Assistant” for contextual awareness and agent execution, enabling complex tasks. Comet’s radical “environmental reconstruction” approach, priced at $200/month initially, faces challenges in user adoption due to its steep learning curve and departure from conventional browsing habits, despite its potential to redefine the human-information relationship.

Waters Corporation and BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) have announced a definitive agreement to merge BD’s Biosciences & Diagnostic Solutions business with Waters, creating a leading life science and diagnostics company. The deal, valued at $17.5 billion structured as a Reverse Morris Trust, is expected to double Waters’ addressable market to $40 billion and generate $345 million in annualized EBITDA synergies by 2030.The combined company anticipates approximately $6.5 billion in 2025 sales and mid-teens adjusted EPS growth over five years, with the transaction boosting adjusted EPS within the first year.