Couchbase Inc. $BASE recorded a significant jump of 29% in after-hours trading following confirmation of a definitive agreement to be acquired by Haveli Investments. The all-cash transaction assigns the enterprise software firm an equity value of approximately $1.5 billion, marking a substantial valuation uplift for shareholders.

Shares of leading chipmakers fell sharply following reports that the U.S. Department of Commerce may revoke key export exemptions for companies operating semiconductor facilities in China. The move, spearheaded by Jeffrey Kessler, head of export enforcement at the Commerce Department, could mark a pivotal escalation in U.S. efforts to curtail Beijing’s access to advanced chipmaking tools.

Lipella Pharmaceuticals Inc. $LIPO saw its stock plunge by 23% following the company’s removal from the Nasdaq Capital Market due to non-compliance with listing regulations tied to private placement transactions. The biotech firm, currently in the clinical stage, is now facing intensified scrutiny from investors and regulators.

Marin Software Inc. $MRIN experienced a 12.2% drop in after-hours trading following its disclosure of a pending delisting from Nasdaq, driven by prolonged reporting deficiencies. The digital marketing software provider failed to meet mandatory filing obligations with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), prompting regulatory action.

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.

Apple Inc. $AAPL is holding early-stage internal talks over a possible acquisition of Perplexity AI, a rapidly scaling startup in the generative AI space. The discussions, involving top executives including M&A lead Adrian Perica and Services chief Eddy Cue, reflect growing urgency inside Apple to reinforce its AI capabilities. The potential deal, though not yet formalized, would mark Apple’s largest AI-related move and one of its most significant acquisitions to date.

Tesla Inc. $TSLA announced plans to invest approximately $8 billion in U.S.-based infrastructure and production during the current fiscal year. The update, released Friday evening on social media platform X, reinforces the company’s long-standing strategy to localize capital expenditure and deepen its industrial footprint across the United States. The electric vehicle (EV) maker stated that since its inception, it has deployed roughly $44 billion in U.S. capital investments, including $10 billion in the last fiscal year alone. The upcoming $8 billion allocation is poised to support new manufacturing lines, facility expansions, and technology upgrades.

Kroger Co. $KR announced on June 20 its intention to shut down 60 retail stores over the next 18 months, citing operational streamlining and a need to reallocate capital more efficiently. Although the company did not provide a list of the specific locations, the closures represent approximately 2% of its 2,731 stores across 35 U.S. states, as reported at the beginning of the fiscal year. This development marks a shift in Kroger's physical retail strategy, reflecting both changing consumer behavior and rising cost pressures across the grocery industry.

Kretto Syscon Ltd. $KRETTOSYS.BO has scheduled a board meeting on July 15 to evaluate corporate actions for the fiscal year 2024–25, including the possibility of a bonus share issue or a final dividend payout of up to 100%, according to a filing with the stock exchange. The decision will be contingent upon the availability of distributable reserves, and subject to requisite legal and shareholder approvals. The move signals a shift in capital allocation strategy as the company positions itself for both investor returns and operational growth.

The momentum behind stablecoin-based payments is gaining attention across the global commerce landscape. Reports suggest that Amazon $AMZN and Walmart $WMT are evaluating the launch of proprietary tokens, while Shopify $SHOP has begun supporting USDC $USDCUSD payments in over 30 countries. This marks a notable shift in how major retail players view blockchain-based settlement infrastructure. However, not all observers are convinced that this trend poses a disruptive threat to legacy networks like Visa $V and Mastercard $MA.

Coinbase $COIN has officially introduced Coinbase Payments, a three-tiered infrastructure designed to simplify the integration of USDC $USDCUSD transactions for commerce platforms. This strategic rollout positions Coinbase as a central payments enabler in the growing stablecoin economy, offering turnkey tools that bypass the need for direct blockchain deployment.

UBS $UBS has reiterated its negative outlook for the lithium mining industry, warning that the current oversupply and weak spot price, now below $600 per tonne, are likely to persist. Despite recent cost optimizations and industry consolidation, the investment bank sees little near-term relief for producers, citing muted market signals and structural rigidity within the supply chain.