Markets

Julian LeFay, a key figure behind *The Elder Scrolls* franchise, has died at 59 after a battle with cancer. His studio, OnceLost Games, announced his passing shortly after he retired to spend time with family. LeFay was the lead engineer on *Arena* and *Daggerfall*, shaping the series’ core mechanics. He later co-founded OnceLost Games, developing *The Wayward Realms*. Bethesda’s Todd Howard expressed deep sorrow, acknowledging LeFay’s vital role in building the studio.

At the 2025 OpenAtom conference, Huawei’s Zhang Xiaofeng highlighted OpenHarmony’s progress in community growth (over 9,000 contributors), technological advancements, and industry adoption with over 1,200 compatible products. OpenHarmony supports diverse sectors, from finance to transportation. Customized OS distributions like “YiHong” are driving digital transformation. Integration of HarmonyOS in government and enterprise office applications is accelerating, promoting efficient office experiences. Zhang Xiaofeng called for increased collaboration to build a thriving OpenHarmony ecosystem.

Neuralink, Elon Musk’s brain-computer interface company, plans a major expansion, aiming to implant BCI chips in 20,000 patients annually by 2031, generating $1 billion in revenue. The company intends to establish five clinics in six years, developing “Telepathy,” “Blindsight,” and “Deep” implants for communication, vision restoration, and neurological disorder treatment. US approval for “Telepathy” is expected by 2029, with “Blindsight” launching in 2030. Neuralink, valued at $9 billion, has secured $1.3 billion in funding.

Tharimmune (THAR) announced a $1.74 million registered direct offering consisting of common stock and warrants. Units are priced at $1.786, including one share or pre-funded warrant and a common warrant. President Street Global is the placement agent. Proceeds will fund working capital and general corporate purposes. The offering is expected to close around July 25, 2025. This funding aims to support Tharimmune’s work in immunology and inflammation therapies, including their clinical asset, TH104.

China’s Ministry of Public Security is increasing oversight of ADAS technologies amid growing adoption. New regulations and stricter scrutiny of automakers’ marketing claims are expected. The focus is on enhanced automaker accountability, refined legal frameworks for Level 0-2 ADAS, and public awareness campaigns emphasizing driver responsibility. Authorities will collaborate to clarify “human-machine co-driving” definitions and safety standards. The core message is that drivers are responsible for vehicle safety as current systems are not fully autonomous, and “hands-off, eyes-off” behavior carries risks.

Nutex Health Inc. (NASDAQ: NUTX) is defending itself against allegations made in a recent short seller report questioning its revenue collection process. The company maintains its billing practices are sound and disputes the report’s claims, calling them misleading and based on a misunderstanding of its business model. Nutex Health operates 24 micro-hospitals and outpatient departments across 11 states. Further details will be provided in the upcoming earnings release and Form 10-Q filing, due on or before August 14, 2025.

The U.S. EPA is reportedly drafting a document to ease restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions, claiming prior scientific conclusions were flawed and emissions are harmless, arguing that limitations harm human well-being. This move has sparked controversy. The potential shift echoes skepticism in the Chinese scientific community, with one academician recalling doubts raised in 2021 about Western commitment to emissions reduction, suggesting potential divergence in global climate action strategies.

WeChat Pay QR codes are now integrated into UnionPay’s Cloud QuickPass (Yunshanfu) system in China, allowing users to make payments by scanning WeChat Pay’s QR codes directly through the Cloud QuickPass app. This integration streamlines the payment process and simplifies expense tracking. With over 500 million users, Cloud QuickPass, developed collaboratively, supports various mobile payment services and enhances accessibility within the Chinese digital economy by also connecting to other e-commerce platforms. UnionPay aims to further collaborate with Tenpay and Alipay to improve user convenience.

Solaris Energy Infrastructure (SEI) reported strong Q2 2025 results, with revenue reaching $149 million, an 18% increase from Q1, and net income of $24 million. Adjusted EBITDA surged 29% to $61 million. The company raised its Q3 Adjusted EBITDA guidance to $58-$63 million. Solaris closed $155 million in senior convertible notes and the Stateline JV secured a $550 million loan facility. Solaris approved a Q3 dividend of $0.12 per share, marking its 28th consecutive dividend payment. CEO Bill Zartler highlighted the company’s growth in the Power Solutions segment.

Middlesex Water Company (MSEX) announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.34 per share, payable on September 2, 2025, to shareholders of record as of August 15, 2025. Middlesex, a leading water and wastewater utility, has been providing services to over half a million residents in New Jersey and Delaware since 1897. This dividend reflects the company’s commitment to providing value to its shareholders and appeal within the utilities sector.