Markets

Washington Trust, the oldest community bank in the U.S., celebrates its 225th anniversary in 2025. Founded in Westerly, Rhode Island in 1800, the bank has evolved into a regional financial powerhouse, offering diverse services while prioritizing the prosperity of New England. To commemorate the milestone, the CEO will ring the Nasdaq Opening Bell with branches hosting customer appreciation events. Washington Trust remains committed to its communities through financial support and volunteerism.

Boston Dynamics has upgraded its Atlas humanoid robot with end-to-end AI, enabling it to understand natural language commands and autonomously plan actions. This new capability, “Atlas MTS,” is powered by a Large Behavior Model (LBM) developed in collaboration with the Toyota Research Institute. Atlas can now handle unexpected disruptions, recalibrate to changes, and incorporate missing components into tasks. The upgrade involves a four-step process, and integrates a VR interface. This evolution coupled with the shift to electric power makes it well suitable for dynamic environments in the future of robotics.

Natera, Inc. announced the publication of over 300 peer-reviewed papers featuring its cell-free DNA testing technology. These publications, appearing in prominent journals, highlight breakthroughs in early disease detection and clinical decision-making across oncology, women’s health, and organ health. Key areas include Signatera’s utility in cancer management, advancements in non-invasive prenatal testing, and improved outcomes in transplant medicine. This milestone underscores Natera’s commitment to scientific validation and enhancing clinical care.

Allison Worldwide and Stagwell are bolstering their Asia Pacific presence by appointing Margaret Key as CEO of Allison Asia and Executive Director for Stagwell in APAC, effective October 1st. Key, formerly CEO of Publicis’ MSL Group in APAC, brings over 20 years of experience and a proven track record in driving growth and transformation. She will focus on expanding Allison’s APAC strategy and enhancing Stagwell’s regional market development. The move signifies a strategic effort to strengthen communications capabilities and better serve clients in the dynamic APAC market.

Shenyang has reinstated consumer electronics subsidies to boost local spending, running from August 22nd to October 8th. The program targets new smartphone, tablet, and smartwatch/band purchases via platforms like UnionPay and JD.com. Subsidies offer a 15% discount, capped at 500 yuan, on eligible products priced under 6,000 yuan. Consumers can claim subsidies daily on a first-come, first-served basis between 9:30 AM and 6:00 PM, with qualifications expiring at midnight.

Woodside’s Scarborough Energy Project has overcome its final Commonwealth environmental hurdle with the Federal Court upholding NOPSEMA’s approval of the Scarborough Operations Environment Plan. This allows Woodside to proceed with connecting and operating the Scarborough floating production unit. CEO Meg O’Neill emphasized the project’s economic benefits and role in providing low-carbon LNG to Asian markets and bolstering domestic gas supply. The project, 86% complete as of June 30, 2025, is expected to produce 8 million tonnes of LNG per year and contribute to Western Australia’s domestic gas supply. First LNG cargo is anticipated in H2 2026.

Dangdang founder Li Guoqing, 59, married Zhang Danhong in Beijing on August 16th, 2025. Zhang shared the wedding news on social media, expressing her love and gratitude. The event was attended by prominent figures like Sohu’s Charles Zhang and New Oriental’s Yu Minhong. Li revealed Zhang was his “unattainable dream” from university. He’d unsuccessfully courted her in the 90s, even offering material wealth, which she rejected. Their eventual marriage highlights resilience and a connection beyond material pursuits.

KT&G reported strong first-half results with revenue exceeding KRW 3 trillion, marking three consecutive quarters of growth. The global cigarette segment saw significant growth in revenue, profit, and sales volume. Reflecting a commitment to shareholder value, KT&G increased its interim dividend by 200 KRW to 1,400 KRW per share. The company has a history of consistent dividend growth and intends to actively manage shareholder returns through dividends, share repurchases and cancelations, and profit performance.

Avnet (AVT) announced a 6% increase in its quarterly cash dividend, raising it to $0.35 per share. Payable on September 26, 2025, to shareholders of record on September 17, 2025, this decision reflects confidence in Avnet’s financial health and robust cash flow, enabling shareholder rewards and simultaneous investment in strategic growth. CEO Phil Gallagher emphasized the company’s commitment to balancing shareholder returns with long-term investments amidst a dynamic technology landscape, including IoT, AI, and electric vehicles.

Power Integrations (POWI) is providing student teams in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge with the RDK-85SLR reference design kit, featuring InnoSwitch3-AQ IC with PowiGaN technology. This allows for a highly efficient (95% across loads) and compact 46-watt power supply, eliminating the need for heat sinks. The kit, inspired by ETH Zurich’s aCentauri team, helps students leverage energy-efficient technologies for sustainable designs. Solar car teams can receive the kit for free by registering online.