Markets

Snowflake announced general availability on AWS Africa (Cape Town) Region, expanding its AI Data Cloud reach in South Africa. This offers local businesses data residency, sovereignty, and AI-driven insights, aligning with POPIA and the National Policy on Data and Cloud. Companies like Carry1st are already leveraging Snowflake for cost reduction and faster insights. The deployment provides regional clients added flexibility. Snowflake is also collaborating on the One Million Minds initiative to boost AI skills, fostering digital transformation in Africa.

XPeng Inc. (XPEV) reported record-breaking August 2025 deliveries of 37,709 Smart EVs, a 169% YoY increase and 3% MoM growth. Year-to-date deliveries reached 271,615 units, up 252% from 2024. The surge was bolstered by the launch of the new XPENG P7 and strong adoption of the XNGP autonomous driving system, achieving an 85% urban driving monthly active user penetration rate.

UU Paotui, a delivery service, has accused Taobao Flash Delivery of plagiarizing its rider uniform design. In an open letter, UU Paotui highlighted similarities in color scheme (black and orange), design architecture (slim fit, angled lines), and functional details (reflective strips) between Taobao’s new uniforms and their own “Hurricane Series” launched in 2023. While acknowledging the designs aren’t identical, UU Paotui claims the overlaps have caused public confusion and damaged its brand image.

FTI Consulting has appointed Steven Casey as Senior Managing Director in its Economic Consulting segment in Australia. Based in Sydney, Casey brings nearly 20 years of experience advising governments, regulators, and executives. He specializes in public policy, economics, regulatory reform, and public investment strategy, leveraging data & AI. Casey will support clients facing fiscal challenges and enhance FTI’s economics platform in the Asia-Pacific region. Previously, Casey held leadership roles at Quantium Telstra and KPMG Australia, also serving as a senior advisor to Commonwealth ministers.

Hooker Furnishings (HOFT) will hold its fiscal 2026 second-quarter earnings call on September 11, 2025, at 9:00 AM ET. The call will discuss performance from May 5 to August 3, 2025. Access is available via webcast on the investor relations site or by phone after registration. Hooker Furnishings, now in its 101st year, has a diverse brand portfolio including Hooker Furniture, Bradington-Young, and Home Meridian, serving various furniture and home décor markets.

BlackRock Inc. has increased its stake in Freedom Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: FRHC) to 0.85%, valued at approximately $89 million, making them the second-largest shareholder. This investment reflects a growing confidence in Freedom Holding, also shared by other institutional investors like State Street Corp. Freedom Holding operates in 22 countries, providing a financial and digital ecosystem including Freedom Bank and Freedom Broker. Freedom Holding’s CEO, Timur Turlov, views this as validation of their business model and strategic value.

NVIDIA’s GTC 2026, a key event for GPU technology and data center innovation, will be held in San Jose, California, from March 16-19. The conference is expected to showcase the debut of the Rubin GPU and Vera CPU, focusing on their performance and capabilities. GTC 2025 unveiled future GPU hardware plans, including Blackwell Ultra and the Vera Rubin architecture, along with software initiatives like NVIDIA Dynamo and Isaac GR00T N1. The industry anticipates insights into how these advancements will shape NVIDIA’s competitive edge.

Tourmaline Bio’s Phase 2 TRANQUILITY trial of pacibekitug demonstrated significant hs-CRP reductions in patients with elevated hs-CRP and chronic kidney disease. The 50mg quarterly dose achieved >85% hs-CRP reduction, a first for an IL-6 inhibitor. Statistically significant reductions were also observed in cardiovascular risk biomarkers like lipoprotein(a) and fibrinogen. These results support planned Phase 2 AAA study and Phase 3 ASCVD cardiovascular outcomes trial.

Amarin Corporation presented new *in vitro* data at ESC Congress 2025 regarding VASCEPA®/VAZKEPA® (EPA). The research demonstrated EPA’s potential to reduce inflammation in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) by modulating the ATP-P2X7 axis and NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages. Additionally, EPA inhibited lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] oxidation, mitigating oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory protein expression in endothelial cells. These findings suggest cardiovascular benefits of EPA may extend beyond triglyceride reduction, potentially offering further risk mitigation.

The ThundeRobot ZERO 16 Pro, powered by the Core Ultra 7 255HX and RTX 5070Ti, aims for unparalleled gaming. Its 20-core processor with AI enhancements and Blackwell architecture GPU deliver exceptional performance and realistic visuals. The 2.5K 360Hz display offers crisp, fluid gameplay, while the advanced cooling system ensures stability during intense sessions. Features like DDR5 RAM, PCIe 5.0 SSD, and customizable RGB keyboard further enhance the user experience. Its quality visuals will greatly benefit AAA/eSports gamers.