Markets

A social media dispute arose in Guangdong, China, after a customer claimed a Meituan “Pin Haofan” driver disparagingly called their order “dog food.” The driver allegedly defended the remark as commonplace. However, Meituan customer service stated they could not verify the order or driver, casting doubt on the complaint. This incident occurs as Meituan invests in transparency for the value-priced “Pin Haofan” service, which boasts over a million merchants and 35 million daily orders, including a “Million Open Kitchens” initiative.

Endeavour Mining plc (LSE:EDV, TSX:EDV) announced the repurchase of 18,456 ordinary shares on August 20, 2025, as part of its buy-back program announced on March 20, 2025. Shares were bought at prices between 2,403.71 and 2,450.00 GBp, with a volume-weighted average price of 2,409.24 GBp. Following cancellation, Endeavour will have 241,478,712 ordinary shares in issue and no shares in treasury. Transactions occurred on the TSX and LSE, including a block trade of 15,000 shares on the TSX at 2,403.71 GBp.

SharkNinja (SN) announced the pricing of a secondary offering of 5,500,000 ordinary shares at $116.00 per share by selling shareholders affiliated with Chairperson CJ Xuning Wang. Underwriters have a 30-day option to purchase an additional 825,000 shares. SharkNinja will not receive any proceeds from the offering, expected to close on August 22, 2025. J.P. Morgan and BofA Securities are the joint lead book-running managers. The offering is made via a registration statement filed with the SEC.

Alibaba’s auction platform features increasingly unusual assets. Following the viral auction of a seized tabby cat, the Second People’s Court of Zhongshan City is auctioning a batch of live crocodiles for ¥168,000. The buyer is responsible for capturing, weighing, loading, and transporting the breeding reptiles after payment. The announcement advises against electric shock during capture of the crocodiles from “China’s First Female Crocodile Tamer,” whose business faltered.

Republic Technologies (CSE:DOCT) held its Annual General and Special Meeting on August 19, 2025. Shareholders approved all resolutions, including electing Daniel Liu, Hongming Luo, Tianrui Zhang, and Litong Cao to the board. Charlton & Company, CPA, was appointed auditor. A new 20% rolling long-term incentive plan was approved, and updated Articles of Association were endorsed. The updated Company Articles are available on SEDAR+.

Eagle Plains Resources clarified its property sale agreement with Trident Resources, involving four Saskatchewan claim blocks (16,245 hectares) sold for $14,730. Eagle Plains retains a 2% Net Smelter Royalty. The deal is classified as non-arms length due to a common director, Tim Termuende. Exemptions from formal valuation and minority shareholder approval were granted under MI 61-101 because the transaction value is less than 25% of Eagle Plains’ market capitalization. The TSX Venture Exchange still considers it a reviewable transaction.

STMicroelectronics (STM) released its IFRS 2025 Semi-Annual Accounts on August 20, 2025, for the period ending June 28, 2025. The reports, prepared according to IFRS-EU standards, are accessible on the company’s website (www.st.com) and the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) website (www.afm.nl). STM, a global semiconductor leader, employs 50,000 innovators and is committed to carbon neutrality.

C&F Financial Corporation (CFFI) announced a $0.46 per share quarterly cash dividend, payable October 1, 2025, to shareholders of record on September 15, 2025. C&F operates 31 banking and 5 commercial loan offices in Virginia. Through subsidiaries, it offers wealth management, mortgage services, and vehicle financing across the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and Southern U.S.

French “torture streamer” Raphaël Graven (Jean Pormanove), who gained a large following by broadcasting his abuse, died during a livestream at 46. He endured violence, sleep deprivation, and toxic substance ingestion for content. This has sparked outrage and scrutiny of online platforms like Kick for inadequate moderation and unchecked violent content. French officials are investigating, highlighting the legal responsibilities of platforms to prevent illegal material. The incident reignites debate about platform accountability and content moderation in the digital age.

On August 20, 2025, Shell plc repurchased 1,373,940 shares across LSE, Chi-X, BATS, XAMS, and CBOE DXE, as part of its ongoing buyback program that runs from July 31 to October 24, 2025. LSE transactions ranged from £26.3250 to £26.6550, while European venue transactions ranged from €30.6650 to €30.9500. HSBC Bank plc independently manages the program within pre-established parameters, adhering to UK and EU market regulations.