Markets

Wang Shuai, former Alibaba PR executive and honorary partner, is rumored to be returning as a consultant, potentially advising on Taobao Flash Sales. His social media activity and comments suggest a renewed engagement with the e-commerce giant he’s been associated with for twenty years, where he also serves as Vice Chairman of Alibaba Public Welfare.

Guardian Metal Resources plc has acquired the Pilot North Tungsten Project, comprising 59 BLM Lode Claims, just 15 km from its flagship Pilot Mountain Project in Nevada. This strategic expansion includes three historical tungsten mines, aiming to re-establish domestic US tungsten production. Initial fieldwork confirms promising skarn mineralization, with assays pending and further geological assessment planned.

Yonghui Superstores is combating corruption by restricting vendor onboarding to online procedures, banning private recommendations. It has also transformed 128 stores nationwide using the popular “Pang Dong Lai” model, aiming for 200 revamped stores by September. These changes have boosted sales and customer satisfaction.

Elon Musk has launched the “America Party” to challenge the US two-party system. This move follows his public break with Donald Trump, driven by disagreements over the “Big Beautiful Bill,” particularly its impact on EV subsidies and the national debt. Musk’s new party aims for Congressional seats in upcoming mid-term elections, facing significant hurdles in gaining ballot access and electoral viability. The venture risks retaliation against Tesla, with declining sales already a concern.

Tencent Music Entertainment (TME) briefly surpassed Baidu in market capitalization, highlighting a market re-evaluation. Investors favor TME’s proven “copyright-to-subscribers-to-revenue” model over Baidu’s AI investments, which await clearer commercial returns. This shift signals changing internet traffic dynamics and investment logic, with TME evolving into a dedicated content provider.

Faraday Future (FF) announced its Global Initial Launch of FX Super One, Super EAI F.A.C.E., and FF EAI Embodied AI Agent on July 17th. The company also expanded its B2B sales to Nevada with a 100-unit agreement and is launching B2C pre-orders soon. FF was added to the Russell 3000 Index. A private reception will be held in Washington D.C. to discuss industry topics. FF is preparing for a flawless launch.

Infineon Technologies has successfully developed scalable Gallium Nitride (GaN) production on 12-inch wafers, a significant advancement over the current 200mm standard. This technology offers higher power density and efficiency, promising broader applications. The company will begin delivering samples in Q4 2025. Notably, TSMC is exiting the GaN wafer foundry market, leaving Infineon as a key player.

An 18-year-old Australian man, Sonny Brendel, tragically died after a celebratory backflip went wrong. The incident occurred at a party marking his move into a new home. Despite initially feeling only dizzy, he later developed severe brain hemorrhages and stroke symptoms. Brendel passed away several days later, leaving his family devastated. They are now fundraising to repatriate his body for burial.

Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: PTEN) will release its second-quarter 2025 financial results on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. CT. The company will host a conference call and webcast to discuss its performance and outlook in the energy sector. Dial-in details and a webcast link are available on the company’s investor website.

A CCTV investigation reveals a thriving black market where “internet mercenaries” exploit account suspension threats for profit. Platforms like “Ju Xin” offer services for manipulating online engagement and orchestrating false accusations to get accounts banned, even targeting popular Chinese social media. This illicit trade has fueled organized “account banning guilds,” exploiting vulnerabilities for financial gain.