Markets

AI search adoption is surging, with Google integrating AI Overviews, yet Google’s ad revenue surprisingly increased by 14%. This is because Google embeds ads within AI responses, potentially undermining the purpose of AI search – avoiding ads. While websites in AI results gain traffic, overall click-through rates to content websites decrease. Google defends against claims of declining traffic. The long-term impact includes a potential decline in high-quality content and increasing margin of error as AI uses AI-generated content for learning, and possible antitrust conflicts.

BNY Mellon Alcentra Global Multi-Strategy Credit Fund, Inc. (XALCX) will liquidate and terminate operations around August 29, 2025, its sixth anniversary. The Board of Directors approved the decision, aligning with the Fund’s Charter. Final NAV calculation will occur on the termination date, with distributions expected the week of September 2, 2025. BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, part of BNY Investments (managing $2.1T in assets), oversees the fund’s strategy. BNY, founded in 1784 with $55.8T in assets under custody/administration, trades on the NYSE as BK.

Standard Premium Finance Holdings (SPFX) anticipates record financial results for fiscal year 2025. Net income is projected to increase 13% year-over-year, exceeding $1 million. The company expects return-on-equity above 15% and basic earnings per share of $0.34. SPFX’s loan portfolio is projected to grow to over $75 million, a 15% increase from 2024. They attribute success to strategic expansion, operational efficiencies, and disciplined expense management, maintaining a 7% preferred dividend rate.

Xiaomi’s Q2 2025 earnings report reveals a 66.2% year-over-year revenue increase in its smart home appliance segment, with air conditioner shipments exceeding 5.4 million units. Despite intense price competition, Xiaomi President Lu Weibing emphasized the company’s commitment to core technologies over short-term rankings. He expressed confidence in Xiaomi’s major appliance business and predicted its air conditioners will be among China’s top two by 2030. Xiaomi aims to elevate its air conditioner ranking to third this year.

Natural Grocers will close its Austin – Arbor Walk location on Oct. 2, 2025, due to unsuccessful lease renewal negotiations. A storewide clearance sale starts Sept. 2, offering 25% off all inventory. This location has served the Austin community since 2010. The company is providing transition assistance to employees. Other Austin Natural Grocers locations will remain open. Natural Grocers operates 169 stores in 21 states, offering natural and organic groceries and supplements.

Herbalife’s CEO and CFO will participate in a fireside chat at the Barclays Global Consumer Staples Conference on September 2, 2025. A live webcast will be available on Herbalife’s Investor Relations website, with a replay for six months. The discussion is expected to cover Herbalife’s strategies, market position, and responses to evolving consumer trends in the health and wellness sector. Herbalife, a global nutrition company present in over 90 markets, offers products and entrepreneurial opportunities through its independent distributor network.

BingEx (FLX) reported Q2 2025 revenue of RMB1,024.6 million (US$143.0 million), down from RMB1,176.7 million YoY, due to market competition. However, gross profit margin improved to 12.0% from 10.8%. Net income was RMB53.5 million (US$7.5 million). The company fulfilled 64.8 million orders and repurchased approximately 0.8 million ADSs for US$2.6 million under its share repurchase program. They maintain a strong cash position of RMB827.8 million (US$115.6 million).

Haier holds the leading refrigerator market share in Southeast Asia as of H1 2025, experiencing over 50% growth in the large refrigerator segment. Building on this momentum, Haier launched its Wave Series refrigerator in the region, adapting the successful domestic model to local needs. The Wave Series features advanced preservation technology, space-saving design (crucial for smaller Southeast Asian kitchens), and Smart Ice technology, catering to the region’s hot climate and beverage preferences. The refrigerator aims to continue Haier’s growth in the area.

Ahead of Xiaomi’s EV entry, Lei Jun consulted Li Auto CEO Li Xiang for advice, revealed on a Chinese business show. Their two-hour phone call covered Tesla, BYD, and Huawei, with Li Xiang urging Lei Jun to be fully involved. Li Xiang also mentioned frequent gatherings with other EV leaders like Nio’s William Li and Xpeng’s He Xiaopeng, emphasizing “mutual candor” and open communication within China’s competitive EV market, including sharing beneficial, albeit sometimes uncomfortable, advice.

A Yubico survey reveals significant cybersecurity habit disparities across major U.S. cities. Nearly half of Americans reuse passwords, while only 3% favor hardware security keys. Seattle and San Francisco lead in MFA and passkey adoption, while Denver lags. The survey exposes a disconnect between perceived and actual security, with many experiencing cyber incidents despite believing they can identify phishing. Yubico advocates for robust, phishing-resistant authentication methods like YubiKeys.