Carnival Corporation $CCL delivered robust financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, surpassing Wall Street’s December projections across critical performance indicators. Pre-market trading reflected this momentum, with shares advancing 1.91% to $24.50, extending gains from the prior session’s 1.14% rise.
Davis Commodities Limited $DTCK, a Singapore-based agricultural trading company, has outlined a strategic shift aimed at integrating blockchain applications and digital asset structures into its business model. The company is preparing to raise $30 million to support the development of a dual framework: a treasury-focused digital asset strategy and a blockchain-powered platform for real-world asset (RWA) tokenization. This initiative reflects a broader ambition to modernize commodity financing through technological innovation, enhancing operational transparency and efficiency while expanding its role in the evolving digital asset ecosystem.
Vodafone Idea Ltd. $IDEA.NS has signed a partnership agreement with AST SpaceMobile Inc. $ASTS to deploy satellite-powered mobile connectivity across India’s underserved areas. The move reflects a growing shift among telecom providers toward integrating non-terrestrial networks to reach regions where traditional infrastructure is economically or physically unfeasible. AST SpaceMobile offers a distinctive advantage with its low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite system, capable of connecting directly to unmodified smartphones. This eliminates the need for additional equipment or user intervention, an essential factor in scaling access in rural markets.
Jio BlackRock Asset Management Pvt Ltd, a 50:50 collaboration between Jio Financial Services Ltd $JIOFIN.NS and U.S.-based BlackRock Inc. $BLK, has launched the Aladdin platform in India. This move follows the company’s recent approval from SEBI to operate as an asset manager. The rollout signifies a strategic alignment of local digital reach and global portfolio technology.
Harley-Davidson Inc. $HOG has announced the recall of 82,117 motorcycles sold in the United States following a mechanical issue linked to the rear shock absorber adjuster. The defect, outlined in a June 12 report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), may cause unintended contact between the tire and the frame, increasing the likelihood of tire pressure loss and road instability.
Indian equity markets ended Thursday’s session with notable losses, in sync with risk aversion across global markets. The BSE Sensex (SENSEX), comprising 30 blue-chip stocks, declined by 823.16 points, or 1%, closing at 81,691.98. During intraday trading, the index touched a low of 81,523.16, marking a deeper drop of 991.98 points or 1.20%. The broader NSE Nifty 50 $^NSEI mirrored the trend, falling by 253.20 points (-1.01%) to settle at 24,888.20.
Recently, Tether’s $USDTUSD CEO Paolo Ardoino clarified the company’s stance on initial public offerings (IPO) amidst market valuation discussions. According to reports from BlockBeats, Ardoino asserted that Tether has no current intentions to initiate an IPO, a statement that sheds light on the strategic vision of one of the most prominent players in the cryptocurrency sphere.
Didi Global Inc. $DIDI has made significant strides in financial recovery, recording a triple increase in net profit to 2.4 billion yuan for the March quarter. Revenue also climbed by 8.5% to 53.3 billion yuan ($7.4 billion USD), primarily driven by aggressive international expansion efforts. These promising financial results come as Didi, often referred to as the Chinese counterpart to Uber Technologies Inc. $UBER, prepares for a potential Hong Kong listing.
Signet Jewelers Ltd. $SIG, the company behind Kay Jewelers and Zales, adjusted its full-year financial outlook upward. The revised projections underscore the retailer’s confidence in the strategic direction shaped by its new executive team, alongside continued consumer readiness to spend in the jewelry segment—despite broader market turbulence.
Shares of NetEase Inc. $9999.HK, a major force in interactive entertainment, are trading just 7% below their 2021 historical peak—suggesting the company is on the cusp of setting a new price benchmark after more than four years. NetEase, the studio behind viral sensations like Eggy Party, has emerged as a top gainer among Chinese technology firms and leading global gaming equities, a distinction amplified in recent months.
In the past quarter, Marks & Spencer Group Plc $MKS.L registered a significant 12.3% year-on-year increase in food sales, outperforming the 4.2% average expansion across the UK supermarket segment, as reported by research firm Kantar. This momentum persisted even as M&S grappled with a major cyberattack that temporarily hampered certain operational systems.
Xiaomi Corp. $1810.HK faces mounting pressure to meet, if not surpass, investors’ bullish forecasts as it prepares to release quarterly earnings. The Hong Kong-listed shares of the Chinese electric vehicle and smartphone manufacturer have rallied nearly 90% over the past six months, making it the top-performing constituent of the Hang Seng Tech Index. The company’s valuation now stands at 28 times estimated forward earnings, a premium rarely matched within the sector and indicating heightened expectations for ongoing high growth and profitability.
