Markets

At the China Brand Festival, Gree’s Dong Mingzhu staunchly defended the Rose air conditioner against design criticisms. Priced at $4,500, this bio-inspired, rose-exterior model targets newlyweds, aiming to infuse romance into the home. Dong insists on its innovative value, despite mixed reactions, stating it is “the world’s first.” The Rose embodies Gree’s strategy to elevate appliances beyond mere functionality, exploring emotive design in a competitive market as China’s appliance industry seeks artistic differentiation.

Anbio Biotechnology has launched two products: a Chikungunya IgM/IgG Rapid Test to address rising cases of the mosquito-borne illness, and the AP-100 Ultra-Fast PCR system. The AP-100 is a point-of-care diagnostic tool delivering results in 15 minutes. This 668g device features an extraction-free workflow and covers multiple pathogens like COVID-19 and Flu A/B. Anbio plans to expand its testing portfolio to include diagnostics for tuberculosis and HPV.

A graduation photo of six Chinese female students was stolen and went viral with a caption offering them as “brides” with a price tag, sparking outrage. The perpetrator, Mr. Lu, created fan groups and assigned false attributes to the women. They sued, and the court ruled in their favor, ordering Lu to pay damages. However, collecting the debt has proven difficult, highlighting the challenges of enforcing online defamation judgments, even after the case was featured on national television.

Online rumors allege Wells Fargo, via a cross-border factoring program led by “Mao XX,” funneled billions overseas to Chinese firms like Xiaomi and Nio. Both Xiaomi and Nio have vehemently denied any involvement with Wells Fargo or “Mao XX,” stating they’ve never cooperated or had contact. They are pursuing legal action against those spreading the false claims. These unverified accusations have generated online debate regarding misinformation and accountability.

Scryb Inc. adjusted its stake in Cybeats Technologies on August 5, 2025, acquiring 9,788,450 shares to settle $978,845 in debt as part of a $1.5 million debt settlement. Post-settlement, Scryb holds 74,431,950 shares and 13,125,000 warrants, representing 38.59% ownership (42.50% partially diluted) of Cybeats, which has 192,880,745 shares outstanding. The acquired shares are subject to a four-month and one-day hold period. Scryb maintains flexibility to adjust its Cybeats stake in the future.

China is experiencing a fitness boom, with 540 million people (38.5%) exercising regularly. By the end of 2024, the country had 4.84 million sports venues, providing 3.0 square meters of sports facilities per capita. The national physical fitness qualification rate reached 84.8%, a significant increase since 2000. Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun’s fitness journey, aiming for 100 workout sessions in 2025, inspires many and mirrors China’s increasing focus on health and wellness, presenting opportunities for related businesses.

Conservative Broadcast Media & Journalism (CBMJ), parent of Patriot.TV, reports exceptional stock performance, surging +296.48% in the last month, outperforming major media competitors. The growth is attributed to its digital-first strategy, original programming launches under CEO JD Rucker, and a partnership with Evergreen Media Partners. Patriot.TV reached 1.6 million monthly viewers on Rumble, amid declines at traditional media outlets like Newsmax, Fox, and Disney. The company emphasizes delivering “fact-based, pro-America content.”

Weyerhaeuser (WY) declared a $0.21 per share quarterly cash dividend, payable September 12th to shareholders of record on August 29th. This reflects their capital allocation strategy targeting 75-80% of Adjusted Funds Available for Distribution (Adjusted FAD) to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. Weyerhaeuser, a major timberland owner and wood products manufacturer operating as a REIT, generated $7.1 billion in net sales in 2024. The announcement includes forward-looking statements subject to risks detailed in SEC filings.

FAT Brands (NASDAQ: FAT) debuts its first co-branded Round Table Pizza and Fatburger in Rancho Cordova, CA on August 9, 2025. The integration marks a strategic expansion, bringing Fatburger’s menu to an existing Round Table Pizza location. The grand opening features free Fatburgers for the first 100 customers and free fries with any purchase. The company plans further dual-brand locations across California, leveraging existing real estate for maximized revenue potential. The restaurant will operate daily, 11am-9pm (Sun-Thurs) or 10pm (Fri-Sat).

Social media rumors surfaced claiming tickets to Dangdang founder Li Guoqing’s wedding were being sold for 20,000 yuan ($2,800 USD), with opportunities for photos and videos with attendees. However, sources close to Li, and Li himself, have denied these claims, stating no tickets were issued or sold. This follows Li’s recent divorce settlement with his ex-wife after a seven-year legal battle. Li is set to marry Zhang Danhong in Beijing on August 16th, 2025.