Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

U.S. private equity giant KKR will take management control of a new $1.3 billion renewable energy platform in South Korea, deepening its bet on growing demand for clean power from chipmakers and artificial intelligence data centers.

KKR and SK Inc. said Wednesday they will launch what they described as South Korea's largest renewable energy platform, valued at 2 trillion won ($1.3 billion), integrating wind, solar and fuel cell assets previously held across the conglomerate's businesses.

The platform will start with 1.7 gigawatts of operating capacity before scaling to 10 gigawatts — enough to power 100 large-scale, 100-megawatt data centers simultaneously, the companies said in a statement.

KKR will hold initial management control in the venture, bringing together renewable businesses and assets from several subsidiaries under SK Group, including SK Innovation, SK ecoplant, and SK eternix. SK will participate as an equity investor and retains the option to seek control rights through future talks.

The new venture will help South Korea meet the surging demand for clean power from AI data centers, semiconductor production lines, and other large industrial needs, KKR said in a statement.

The announcement came after South Korea announced on Monday three massive investment projects spanning semiconductors, physical AI and AI data centers. SK Group, the country's second-largest conglomerate, said it planned to invest an average of 100 trillion won a year to expand semiconductor production and build AI data centers.

"Korea is one of Asia's most attractive renewable energy markets, underpinned by strong corporate demand for clean power from the semiconductor, data center, and manufacturing sectors," said Keith Kim, a KKR partner.

KKR is funding the deal through its Asia Pacific infrastructure strategy, which has invested more than $31 billion into energy transition and renewables globally since 2011.

The Korea platform adds to KKR's renewable energy portfolio in the region, which includes investments in India-based Serentica Renewables and Australian companies CleanPeak Energy and Zenith Energy.

The deal also came as SK Group continued to push through its years-long "value-up plan," including selling assets and restructuring efforts to reduce debt leverage. SK said the platform is part of a broader effort to sharpen its portfolio and improve capital efficiency.

NiCE’s CX AI solution supports digital sovereignty and EU data residency requirements

HOBOKEN, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NiCE (Nasdaq: NICE) today announced it has been named a launch partner for the Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS) European Sovereign Cloud, a new independent cloud for Europe. The announcement marks a further expansion of the strategic relationship between NiCE and AWS, with NiCE making its agentic AI-powered customer experience solution available on the AWS European Sovereign Cloud.

Through this collaboration, organizations will be able to deploy NiCE’s advanced AI capabilities while supporting their data residency, operational autonomy, and digital sovereignty requirements within the European Union (EU). Building on the companies’ previously announced partnership to accelerate AI-powered customer service innovation, this newest alliance extends the reach of NiCE’s agentic AI solution to its growing European customer base, particularly organizations operating in highly regulated industries such as public sector, financial services, and healthcare.

The AWS European Sovereign Cloud is a fully featured, independently operated sovereign cloud backed by strong technical controls, sovereign assurances, and legal protections designed to meet the needs of European governments and enterprises. The AWS European Sovereign Cloud infrastructure is entirely located within the EU and operates independently from existing AWS Regions. Customers using the AWS European Sovereign Cloud benefit from the full power of AWS, including the same service portfolio, security, availability, performance, familiar architecture, APIs, and innovations such as the AWS Nitro System. By making NiCE’s agentic AI solution available on the AWS European Sovereign Cloud, organizations in highly regulated industries can accelerate AI adoption and unlock greater business value while maintaining control over sensitive data and meeting digital sovereignty requirements.

Advancing Agentic AI for Regulated Markets
NiCE is a leader in CX AI, unifying AI agents and human agents to orchestrate intelligent, goal-oriented outcomes across the customer journey. With its agentic AI solution planned for availability on AWS European Sovereign Cloud, European organizations will be able to deploy AI agents, real-time copilots, workflow automation, and AI-powered analytics capabilities in an environment designed to meet digital sovereignty needs and support customer requirements.

For example, a European financial institution could deploy NiCE’s AI agents on AWS European Sovereign Cloud to automate routine service requests, support human agents with real-time guidance, and personalize customer interactions while maintaining operational autonomy and keeping customer data within the EU.

“What sets NiCE apart is enterprise-grade agentic AI engineered for the world’s most regulated organizations, purpose-built with reliability, security, compliance, and privacy that organizations can’t compromise on,” said Dorothy Copeland, Chief Partner Officer at NiCE. “By extending our agentic AI solution to the AWS European Sovereign Cloud, NiCE enables Europe’s most regulated organizations to deploy next-generation AI capabilities on an independent cloud infrastructure located within the EU, supporting their digital sovereignty needs while accelerating AI-first customer experience transformation.”

Supporting Europe’s Digital Sovereignty Priorities
Data governance and compliance remain top priorities for organizations operating under EU regulatory frameworks. NiCE’s sovereign cloud strategy, including existing deployments in the EU, U.K., and Australia, reflects its continued commitment to delivering secure, scalable, AI-driven CX solutions that support customers’ regional and regulatory requirements. The addition of the AWS European Sovereign Cloud gives customers an uncompromising choice: achieving total digital sovereignty while continuing to innovate at pace.

"As AI governance becomes a strategic priority across Europe, sovereign cloud environments are evolving from a compliance requirement to a key enabler of innovation. Organizations increasingly need solutions that not only meet stringent data residency and regulatory obligations, but also deliver the agentic AI, automation, and real-time insights required to transform customer experience,” said Oru Mohiuddin, Research Director, IDC. "The combination of NiCE's agentic AI capabilities with the AWS European Sovereign Cloud addresses a growing market need: enabling regulated organizations to pursue AI-led transformation while maintaining control over data, operations, and governance within the EU."

Thomas Pöppe, CIO, AOK Bayern: “As we operate in an increasingly complex regulatory and competitive environment, especially around the use of AI, we see sovereignty as becoming essential to our long-term AI strategy. The combination of NiCE's agentic AI capabilities and the AWS European Sovereign Cloud offers a compelling path forward, allowing us to innovate while meeting evolving requirements around data residency, governance, and operational control.”

About NiCE
NiCE (NASDAQ: NICE) is transforming the world with AI that puts people first. Our purpose-built AI-powered platforms automate engagements into proactive, safe, intelligent actions, empowering individuals and organizations to innovate and act, from interaction to resolution. Trusted by organizations throughout 150+ countries worldwide, NiCE’s platforms are widely adopted across industries connecting people, systems, and workflows to work smarter at scale, elevating performance across the organization, delivering proven measurable outcomes.

Trademark Note: NiCE and the NiCE logo are trademarks of NICE Ltd. All other marks are trademarks of their respective owners. For a full list of NICE's marks, please see: www.nice.com/nice-trademarks.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements, including the statements by Ms. Copeland, are based on the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the management of NICE Ltd. (the “Company”). In some cases, such forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as “believe,” “expect,” “seek,” “may,” “will,” “intend,” “should,” “project,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “estimate,” or similar words. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results or performance of the Company to differ materially from those described herein, including but not limited to the impact of changes in general economic and business conditions; competition; successful execution of the Company’s growth strategy; success and growth of the Company’s cloud Software-as-a-Service business; rapid changes in technology and market requirements; the implementation of AI capabilities in certain products and services, decline in demand for the Company's products; inability to timely develop and introduce new technologies, products and applications; difficulties in making additional acquisitions or difficulties or effectively integrating acquired operations; loss of market share; an inability to maintain certain marketing and distribution arrangements; the Company’s dependency on third-party cloud computing platform providers, hosting facilities and service partners; cyber security attacks or other security incidents; privacy concerns; changes in currency exchange rates and interest rates, the effects of additional tax liabilities resulting from our global operations, the effect of unexpected events or geo-political conditions, including those arising from political instability or armed conflict that may disrupt our business and the global economy; our ability to recruit and retain qualified personnel; the effect of newly enacted or modified laws, regulation or standards on the Company and our products and various other factors and uncertainties discussed in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). For a more detailed description of the risk factors and uncertainties affecting the company, refer to the Company's reports filed from time to time with the SEC, including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise them, except as required by law.

Space Exploration Technologies' (SPCX +4.06%) recent IPO was a massive success. However, serious questions remain about the company's outlook and its eventual ability to turn a profit. Much of that will depend on SpaceX's biggest growth driver, Starlink, which provides internet connectivity services through a constellation of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. But SpaceX could also make progress in its space segment, leading to much better margins and profits. And a potential milestone it could reach within 15 days will tell us more about whether SpaceX can meaningfully improve the economics of its space business.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

SpaceX's next-gen rocket SpaceX has transformed the space travel industry thanks to its pioneering work with reusable rockets. But there remains plenty of work to be done. The company's next-gen rocket, Starship, is currently in the test flight phase. Starship is central to SpaceX's long-term ambitions. Unlike the company's already highly successful Falcon 9 rocket, Starship was developed to be fully reusable. It could help decrease launch costs by 95% compared to Falcon 9. Starship is also much taller and has a much larger payload capacity.

SpaceX has completed 12 Starship flight tests, with the latest one introducing the newest version, dubbed V3, of the rocket. Right before the company's IPO about three weeks ago, SpaceX's COO, Gwynne Shotwell, said the 13th Starship flight test would take place in about a month -- which puts us at roughly mid-July at the latest. Shotwell also said she expects regular monthly flights for the rocket thereafter.

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Is SpaceX stock a buy? Another successful Starship flight test would bolster the bull case for SpaceX. However, there are reasons to remain skeptical about the company's future. Here are three of them. First, the company is not consistently profitable. In 2025, it posted a net loss of $4.9 billion, far worse than the $791 million in net income reported in 2024. Unprofitable companies can be attractive if their growth prospects look strong, which brings us to our second point: Average revenue per user (ARPU) within SpaceX's most important segment, Starlink, is declining. In the first quarter of 2026, Starlink's ARPU was $66, down from $86 in Q1 2025, and significantly lower than the $99 it recorded in 2023.

While Starlink subscribers continue to grow at a good clip, the declining ARPU may eventually lead to lower margins, especially as the company starts facing more competition and pricing pressure. One possible solution is for SpaceX to reduce the cost of launching LEO satellites. So the situation is by no means hopeless. Still, investors need to monitor Starlink's declining ARPU. Third, SpaceX might face significant regulatory headwinds over the long run, especially given that it relies on contracts from the U.S. federal government for 20% of its revenue.

So, what's the verdict? SpaceX could deliver life-changing returns if it can make significant progress with Starship and other initiatives, but the stock remains highly risky, especially at current levels. I'd wait for a major pullback before initiating a position.

Agreement confirmed following the successful commercial operation of the SB 13-2 project developed by PowerBank Corporation under an Engineering, Procurement and Construction agreement

, /PRNewswire/ - PowerBank Corporation (NASDAQ: PBK) (Cboe CA: PBK) (FSE: 103) ("PowerBank" or the "Company"), a leader in independent energy development and asset ownership in North America, is pleased to announce its wholly owned subsidiary Abundant Solar Power Inc. has executed an Operations and Maintenance Services Agreement (the "Agreement") with Honeywell International Inc. (NASDAQ: HON) ("Honeywell" or "HON") to provide operations and maintenance services for a 21 MW portfolio of three projects named SB 13-1, SB 13-2, and SB-14 (the "Projects"). The Projects are built on an industrial brownfield owned by Honeywell, which is regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The Projects have been moved from Honeywell International Inc. to Honeywell Aerospace Inc., following the planned spinoff of Honeywell Aerospace on June 29, 2026.

The Agreement outlines the roles, responsibilities, and performance standards governing the long-term management of the Projects. It establishes requirements for routine inspection, maintenance, repair, and operational monitoring to ensure the Projects function effectively and in compliance with applicable regulations. The Agreement also defines reporting obligations, cost responsibilities, and coordination protocols between the parties, while setting clear expectations for environmental protection, safety, and system reliability over the term of the Agreement.

PowerBank's President and Chief Operating Officer Andrew van Doorn commented, "Securing the O&M agreement on the Honeywell portfolio is a natural extension of the work our team has been executing from day one. When you develop, permit, build, and commission a project, you know it better than anyone, and that knowledge is exactly what makes for reliable long-term operations. This agreement reflects the strength of our full-cycle platform, and the trust Honeywell has placed in PowerBank to deliver not just megawatts, but lasting performance."

In September 2023, the Company completed the sale of the Projects to Honeywell and entered into an engineering, procurement, and construction ("EPC") agreement to build the Projects through to commercial operation. The Agreement follows the announcement of the successful commissioning of the SB 13-2 project.

The Agreement for the portfolio of Projects with Honeywell demonstrates PowerBank's vertically integrated business model, offering services across development, EPC, and Operations and Maintenance to provide megawatts of power. Having now developed and constructed over 100 megawatts of clean energy projects across North America, with a pipeline exceeding one gigawatt, PowerBank is increasingly well-positioned to serve not only traditional utility and community solar offtakers, but also the rapidly growing demand for reliable, on-site power generation driven by AI compute infrastructure and modular data centers.

About PowerBank Corporation

PowerBank Corporation is a vertically integrated and independent North American energy company helping to power the digital economy. The Company develops, builds, owns, and operates solar and battery energy storage systems that deliver reliable, resilient, and behind-the-meter power to the electricity grid, commercial and industrial clients, and municipal and residential off-takers. As AI and digital infrastructure drive unprecedented electricity demand, PowerBank is uniquely positioned to deliver the speed, scale, and energy independence that the next generation of power consumers requires, without waiting years for grid interconnection. The Company has a potential development pipeline of over one gigawatt and has developed energy projects with a combined capacity of over 100 megawatts built. To learn more about PowerBank, please visit www.powerbankcorp.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information ‎within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking ‎statements") that relate to the Company's current expectations and views of future events. ‎Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, ‎objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, through the ‎use of words or phrases such as "will likely result", "are expected to", "expects", "will ‎continue", "is anticipated", "anticipates", "believes", "estimated", "intends", "plans", "forecast", ‎‎"projection", "strategy", "objective" and "outlook") are not historical facts and may be ‎forward-looking statements and may involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties ‎which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in ‎such forward-looking statements. In particular and without limitation, this news release ‎contains forward-looking statements pertaining to the Company's expectations regarding its industry trends and overall market growth; the energy capacity of the Projects; the details of the Agreement and its benefits to PowerBank; potential revenues; and the size of the Company's development pipeline. No assurance ‎can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking ‎statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. These ‎statements speak only as of the date of this news release.‎

Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of the experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate, and are subject to risks and uncertainties. In making the forward looking statements included in this news release, the Company has made various material assumptions, including but not limited to: obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals; that regulatory requirements will be maintained; execution of definitive agreements for suitable solar or BESS sites; that power is available to be sufficient to support a modular data center; general business and economic conditions; the Company's ability to successfully execute its plans and intentions; the availability of financing on reasonable terms; the Company's ability to attract and retain skilled staff; market competition; the products and services offered by the Company's competitors; that the Company's current good relationships with its service providers and other third parties will be maintained; and government subsidies and funding for renewable energy will continue as currently contemplated. Although the Company believes that the assumptions underlying these statements are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect, and the Company cannot assure that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Given these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

Whether actual results, performance or achievements will conform to the Company's expectations and predictions is subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, including those listed under "Forward-‎Looking Statements" and "Risk ‎Factors" in the Company's most recently completed Annual Information Form, and other public filings of the Company, which include: the Company may be adversely affected by volatile solar power market and industry conditions; failure to execute definitive agreements for suitable solar or BESS sites; power availability may not be sufficient to support a modular data center; the execution of the Company's growth strategy depends upon the continued availability of third-party financing arrangements; the Company's future success depends partly on its ability to expand the pipeline of its energy business in several key markets; governments may revise, reduce or eliminate incentives and policy support schemes for solar and battery storage power; general global economic conditions may have an adverse impact on our operating performance and results of operations; the Company's project development and construction activities may not be successful; developing and operating solar Project exposes the Company to various risks; the Company faces a number of risks involving Power Purchase Agreements ("PPAs") and project-level financing arrangements; any changes to the laws, regulations and policies that the Company is subject to may present technical, regulatory and economic barriers to the purchase and use of solar power; the markets in which the Company competes are highly competitive and evolving quickly; an anti-circumvention investigation could adversely affect the Company by potentially raising the prices of key supplies for the construction of solar power projects; foreign exchange rate fluctuations; a change in the Company's effective tax rate can have a significant adverse impact on its business; seasonal variations in demand linked to construction cycles and weather conditions may influence the Company's results of operations; the Company may be unable to generate sufficient cash flows or have access to external financing; the Company may incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future; the Company is subject to risks from supply chain issues; risks related to inflation and tariffs; unexpected warranty expenses that may not be adequately covered by the Company's insurance policies; if the Company is unable to attract and retain key personnel, it may not be able to compete effectively in the renewable energy market; there are a limited number of purchasers of utility-scale quantities of electricity; compliance with environmental laws and regulations can be expensive; corporate responsibility may adversely impose additional costs; the future impact of any global pandemic on the Company is unknown at this time; the Company has limited insurance coverage; the Company will be reliant on information technology systems and may be subject to damaging cyberattacks; the Company may become subject to litigation; there is no guarantee on how the Company will use its available funds; the Company will continue to sell securities for cash to fund operations, capital expansion, mergers and acquisitions that will dilute the current shareholders; and future dilution as a result of financings.

The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any ‎forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or ‎otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors emerge from time to time, and it ‎is not possible for the Company to predict all of them, or assess the impact of each such ‎factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to ‎differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Any forward-‎looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by ‎this cautionary statement.‎

SOURCE PowerBank Corporation

Bittensor cut its emissions in half in December, and roughly 70% of the supply is locked in staking. The supply side looks tight, but a halving only moves price if demand shows up to meet it.

Summary

Bittensor (TAO) ran its first halving on Dec. 12, 2025, cutting daily emissions from 7,200 to 3,600 TAO against a fixed 21 million cap, the same hard-cap design Bitcoin uses. TAO trades near $250 as of late June 2026, roughly 65% below its early-2024 record near $757, ranked around #27 to #37 with a market cap close to $3 billion and only about 11 million tokens in circulation. The bull case rests on a tightening float: with around 70% of supply staked for roughly 10% yield, the halved emissions slowly thin out sell-side pressure, which can lift price if demand holds or grows. The bear case is that a halving is a supply event the market already knew about, and TAO’s real problem is proving its subnets capture lasting value instead of riding AI-narrative momentum that fades. Analyst forecasts for 2026 run wide, from Gate near a $236 average to Coinpedia eyeing a $500 reclaim, with the outcome hinging on subnet revenue, ETF flows, and the broader AI trade more than on the halving alone. Bittensor’s first halving is already in the past. It happened on Dec. 12, 2025, and the daily issuance of TAO dropped from 7,200 tokens to 3,600 overnight. So the live question for 2026 is not whether the halving will happen. It is what a halving actually does to a token whose price sits 65% below its record, whose technical picture is bearish, and whose deeper story is still unproven. The supply math is real. Whether it matters depends on demand, and that is the harder part of the forecast.

This piece walks through how the Bittensor halving works, why a supply cut takes months to filter into the market, the demand-side question the halving does not answer, what the charts say at current levels, the institutional wildcard around a possible spot ETF, and where analysts think TAO could trade in 2026. It closes with bull, base, and bear scenarios and a short FAQ.

How the Bittensor halving actually works Bittensor is an open marketplace for machine intelligence. Models, compute, and data compete inside specialized markets called subnets, and the network scores their output through a mechanism known as Yuma Consensus.

TAO is the settlement token that pays for useful work and secures the network through staking. The protocol was started in 2019 by AI researchers Ala Shaabana and Jacob Steeves, and its token design borrows directly from Bitcoin: a fixed cap of 21 million coins and a halving schedule that cuts new issuance over time.

The December 2025 halving was the first of these events. Daily emissions fell from 7,200 TAO to 3,600. In plain terms, the network now mints half as much new TAO each day as it did before. Miners and validators who earn TAO for their contributions receive a smaller flow of new tokens, which over time means less fresh supply hitting the market. The mechanism is the same logic that underpins Bitcoin halvings, where reduced issuance has historically preceded periods of price strength, though the cause and effect is never as clean as the charts make it look in hindsight.

The key difference between a halving in theory and a halving in practice is timing. Issuance dropped instantly on the halving date, but the effect on circulating supply is gradual. The tokens already in circulation do not disappear, and the slower drip of new supply only changes the balance of buyers and sellers over weeks and months, not in a single candle. That is why the halving is better understood as a structural shift in the background rather than a switch that flips price higher on the day.

Why the supply cut takes months to bite The most important number for the supply thesis is not the emission rate. It is how much TAO is locked away and cannot be sold. Roughly 70% of the circulating supply is staked by validators and delegators, who earn an annual yield in the region of 10% for securing the network. Staked tokens are not idle, but they are also not sitting on exchange order books waiting to be dumped. That combination, halved emissions plus a high staking ratio, is what makes the Bittensor float look unusually thin compared with most tokens of similar size.

Here is the chain of logic the bulls lean on. New supply has been cut in half. A large majority of existing supply is staked and earning yield, so holders are paid to keep it locked. If demand for TAO stays flat or rises while the liquid, sellable float shrinks, the price pressure shifts upward over time. This is the classic supply-shock argument, and on paper it is coherent. With only about 11 million of the 21 million cap in circulation and most of that staked, the genuinely tradable supply is a fraction of the headline number.

The honest caveat is that supply shocks are slow and conditional. The phrase doing the heavy lifting is “if demand stays flat or rises.” Reduced emissions cannot lift a price by themselves if buyers walk away faster than sellers do. Through the first half of 2026, that is roughly what happened: TAO slid toward $200 in early June before rebounding, even though the halving was months in the rearview mirror. The supply setup was already in place, and it did not stop the drawdown. The lesson is that the halving loads the spring, but something on the demand side has to pull the trigger.

The demand side the halving does not solve This is the part of the forecast that actually decides where TAO goes, and it has nothing to do with the halving. Bittensor’s value depends on whether its subnets capture real, durable economic demand for machine intelligence, or whether TAO is mostly a high-beta proxy for AI enthusiasm that rises and falls with the narrative.

There is a real case to make. The subnet ecosystem has expanded past 120 active markets, each handling a specialized task such as inference, compute, data, or prediction. The network reported around $43 million in Q1 2026 revenue from AI services, which is a concrete sign that money is moving through the system instead of just speculation.

The Dynamic TAO, or dTAO, upgrade lets subnets allocate emissions based on real demand instead of fixed rewards, which is meant to price intelligence by the market and push Bittensor from a research project toward actual economic activity. The ambition is large: to be the settlement layer for intelligence itself, the place where models, compute, data, and incentives meet in one market.

The bear reading is that this is still unproven, and the network has shown it can break. In April 2026, a high-profile subnet exit triggered a roughly 25% price drop, exposing how much concentration and governance fragility sit underneath the optimistic story. The market punished the weak decentralization signal fast.

The deeper worry is value capture: even if subnets generate revenue, it is not yet clear how much of that value flows back to the TAO token itself rather than to the subnet operators or token holders downstream. An AI token can have busy subnets and still struggle to translate that activity into sustained token demand.

When AI excitement runs hot across the market, TAO tends to jump, and when attention rotates elsewhere, it tends to fade. That correlation is the bear case in one sentence: if TAO is mostly AI-hype beta, the halving will not save it.

NEW: $TAO rallies 30% in 12 hours after Anthropic AI model suspension. The move highlights interest in decentralized AI alternatives like Bittensor pic.twitter.com/YrNJDKlks3

— crypto.news (@cryptodotnews) June 16, 2026 What the charts say right now At current levels near $250, TAO sits in a bearish-to-neutral technical posture. Through June, it traded below the cluster of 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day exponential moving averages sitting roughly between $256 and $270, which means the medium-term trend has been pointing down and that band overhead acts as resistance. Momentum readings have hovered in weak-to-neutral territory, with relative strength index values in the mid-30s to mid-50s depending on the day, not oversold enough to scream reversal and not strong enough to confirm one.

TAO daily price chart — June 30 | Source: crypto.news The levels traders watch are clear. On the downside, the $200 area has acted as a line in the sand through June, and a decisive break below it opens the door toward the February low near $163. On the upside, the first hurdle is reclaiming that $256 to $270 moving-average band, and above it the structure points toward $352 and then $396, the levels several analysts flag as the gateway to a larger move.

The longer-term chart frames the whole range: an accumulation floor around $160 to $200 and a distant ceiling near the $720 to $760 zone that produced the record in early 2024. TAO has cycled inside that channel before, finding demand at the lows and heavy profit-taking at the highs.

The takeaway from the charts is that TAO is not in a breakdown, but it is not in an uptrend either. It needs to reclaim its moving averages before the supply thesis gets any technical confirmation, and until it does, the halving narrative is a fundamental tailwind fighting a bearish trend.

The institutional wildcard The most underpriced catalyst in the TAO forecast may be the one that has nothing to do with the chart. Grayscale filed an S-1 for a Bittensor trust on Dec. 30, 2025, and its Grayscale Bittensor Trust is already live over the counter, giving accredited investors a regulated wrapper for TAO exposure. Bitwise has also filed for a spot TAO product, with a U.S. regulatory decision expected around August 2026. The exact timing is not guaranteed, and approval is not certain, but the direction of travel matters.

The reason this is a wildcard rather than a sure thing is the corridor it opens. Once an asset is treated as ETF-eligible, it stops being dismissed as a pure speculation and starts being treated as infrastructure exposure that funds can hold without touching spot crypto directly. Bitcoin went through this in its earlier institutional phase, and Ethereum followed.

TAO is now entering the same corridor as the leading decentralized-AI asset. Anticipation alone can move price, because spot buyers tend to position early when future access looks credible.

There is a broader narrative tailwind too. When confidence in centralized AI wobbles, capital has flowed toward decentralized alternatives, and one such episode pushed an estimated $2.87 billion into AI crypto tokens inside a single week. TAO is the default beneficiary of that rotation given its position as the category leader by market cap. The flip side is that this same dependence on the AI narrative is exactly the fragility the bears point to: flows that arrive on a narrative can leave on one too.

What analysts forecast for TAO in 2026 Forecasts for TAO in 2026 span an enormous range, which is itself the honest signal: the outcome depends on variables no model can pin down. The figures below are third-party projections, presented as a spread of views, not as targets this publication endorses.

On the cautious end, Gate’s model centers 2026 around an average near $236, with a projected low close to $130 and a high around $318, essentially expecting TAO to hold near current levels with wide swings. Coindataflow’s experimental forecast sits in a similar low band, with a 2026 high near $281. In the middle and higher, Changelly’s analysis points to a 2026 range of roughly $388 to $472 with an average near $402, while Cryptopolitan’s technical read frames a $134 to $570 band with an average around $475.

Coinpedia takes a more constructive technical view, arguing that if TAO clears resistance at $352 and $396 in the 1st half of the year, the path opens toward a $500 reclaim. Looking further out, long-term projections from several of these firms cluster in a $900 to $3,000 range for 2030, premised on decentralized AI demand expanding and TAO holding its category lead.

The width of that spread, from a low near $130 to highs above $570 in the same year, is not a failure of analysis. It is an accurate reflection of how much hinges on whether subnet demand compounds, whether an ETF arrives, and whether the AI trade stays in favor. The halving sets the supply backdrop. These other forces decide the magnitude.

How the Bittensor halving compares with Bitcoin’s The halving thesis borrows its emotional weight from Bitcoin, where four-year supply cuts have lined up with major bull runs. The comparison is useful, but it breaks down in ways that matter for the forecast. Bitcoin’s halving reduces the new supply paid to miners who secure a settlement network whose demand driver is, broadly, monetary: people want to hold Bitcoin as a store of value.

Bittensor’s halving reduces the new supply paid to miners and validators who produce and verify machine intelligence, and TAO’s demand driver is supposed to be usage of that intelligence through subnets. Those are different engines.

The practical consequence is that a Bittensor halving cannot lean on the same reflexive narrative. Bitcoin’s halvings work partly because a huge population of holders believes they work, which makes the belief partly self-fulfilling. TAO does not yet have that scale of conviction, and its price has shown it: the token fell after the December halving instead of rallying on it, because the AI-token market cared more about subnet performance and the broader risk environment than about a supply chart. The halving is real and structurally helpful, but anyone modeling TAO on a clean Bitcoin-style post-halving curve is importing an assumption the data has not yet earned.

There is also a proportionality difference. Bitcoin’s reduced issuance is a small fraction of its already-large circulating supply, so the supply effect is gradual while the narrative effect is immediate.

For TAO, the emission cut is proportionally larger against a much smaller circulating base, which should make the mechanical supply effect more potent over time, yet the narrative effect is weaker because fewer participants treat the halving as gospel. The net is a token where the fundamentals of the halving may matter more than they do for Bitcoin, while the storytelling matters less.

The deeper design point sits underneath all of this. Bittensor was built by Ala Shaabana and Jacob Steeves in 2019 around Yuma Consensus, the mechanism that scores and rewards useful machine-intelligence work. That design is what lets the network claim it pays for output instead of raw hardware uptime, and it is the foundation of the value-capture argument. The halving sharpens the supply side of that design, but it does not resolve whether the scoring turns into durable token demand, which remains the open question the price keeps asking.

What to watch through the rest of 2026 For readers tracking TAO instead of chasing headlines, a short list of signals will reveal which scenario is unfolding well before the price confirms it. The first is subnet revenue: the roughly $43 million reported for the first quarter is the number to watch for growth, because rising real revenue is the strongest evidence that the value-capture story is working instead of stalling. The Second is the moving-average band between $256 and $270; reclaiming and holding above it would be the first technical sign the bearish trend has turned.

The third is the ETF timeline, with a U.S. decision expected around August 2026. An approval, or even rising odds of one, would open the institutional corridor the bull case needs, while a denial or a delay removes a catalyst the market has started to anticipate.

The fourth is governance stability: after the April subnet exit that triggered a 25% drop, any repeat of concentration or governance trouble would confirm the fragility the bears emphasize and could undo months of recovery in days. The fifth is the health of the broader AI trade, since TAO has behaved as a high-beta proxy for AI sentiment, and a rotation out of AI tokens would pressure it regardless of its own progress.

Watched together, these five tell a more reliable story than any single price target. If subnet revenue climbs, the moving averages flip, and the ETF path advances, the supply setup from the halving finally has demand to work with, and the bull case gains real footing. If revenue stalls, governance wobbles, and the AI trade cools, the thin float will amplify the downside instead of cushioning it. The halving set the stage in December. These signals decide whether anyone shows up to use it.

Bull, base, and bear scenarios for TAO The scenarios below combine the supply setup with the demand and institutional variables that actually drive the outcome. They are illustrative ranges built from the third-party forecasts above and current market structure, not guarantees.

Bull case In the bull scenario, the halving thesis works as designed and demand shows up to meet the tightening float. Subnet revenue keeps climbing from the $43 million Q1 pace, dTAO routes emissions toward markets with real usage, and the value-capture question starts to resolve in TAO’s favor. A spot ETF decision lands favorably or looks likely, pulling regulated capital into a thin float where roughly 70% of supply is staked and out of reach. TAO reclaims the $256 to $270 moving-average band, breaks $352 and $396, and runs toward the $500 area that Coinpedia and others flag, with the more aggressive long-term models pointing higher into 2027 if the AI trade stays hot. This case depends on the AI narrative staying strong and the network avoiding another governance shock.

Base case In the base scenario, the halving slowly does its quiet work but no single catalyst fires hard. Subnet activity grows unevenly, the ETF path advances but without a clean approval inside 2026, and the AI trade runs warm instead of euphoric. TAO spends the year chopping inside its broad trading channel, roughly between the $200 floor and the low-$400s, with the average landing near the $236 to $402 zone that the Gate and Changelly models bracket. The thin float keeps downside contained on dips, but the unproven value-capture story caps rallies. This is the “constructive but unconfirmed” outcome where the supply setup helps at the margin without overpowering a cautious market.

Bear case In the bear scenario, the halving is revealed as a supply event the market already priced, and TAO behaves as AI-hype beta. The value-capture question stays unanswered, another subnet exit or governance dispute dents confidence the way April’s did, and the broader AI trade rotates out. TAO loses the $200 floor and slides toward the February low near $163 or lower, with the bearish low-end forecasts near $130 coming into view. In this case, the staking lockup offers little protection, because holders unwind positions when yield no longer offsets falling token value, and the thin float that amplifies rallies amplifies declines just as efficiently.

Frequently Asked Questions When was the Bittensor halving and what changed? The first Bittensor halving took place on Dec. 12, 2025. Daily TAO emissions were cut in half, from 7,200 tokens to 3,600. The network follows a Bitcoin-style design with a fixed 21 million supply cap, so issuance steps down over time. The supply effect is gradual, filtering into circulating supply over months instead of moving price on the halving date itself.

Does a halving guarantee TAO goes up? No. A halving reduces the rate of new supply, which can support price if demand holds or grows, but it cannot lift a token on its own. TAO slid toward $200 in the months after the December halving before rebounding, which shows that reduced emissions do not override weak demand or a bearish trend. The halving loads the supply side, but demand has to do the rest.

Why is roughly 70% of TAO staked, and why does it matter? Holders stake TAO to help secure the network through validators and delegators, and they earn an annual yield around 10% for doing so. Staked tokens are locked and not readily available to sell, which thins the liquid float. Combined with halved emissions, the high staking ratio is the core of the supply-shock argument, since it shrinks the genuinely sellable supply.

What is the biggest risk to the TAO forecast? The biggest risk is that TAO is valued mostly on AI-narrative momentum instead of durable demand for its subnets. The subnet ecosystem generates revenue, but how much value flows back to the TAO token is unproven, and a high-profile subnet exit in April 2026 triggered a roughly 25% drop. If the AI trade cools or governance fragility resurfaces, the supply setup will not protect the price.

Could a spot TAO ETF change the picture? Possibly. Grayscale’s Bittensor Trust is already live over the counter, Grayscale filed an S-1, and Bitwise has filed for a spot product, with a U.S. decision expected around August 2026. A favorable outcome would open a regulated channel for institutional capital into a thin float, which the bull case leans on. Approval and timing are not guaranteed, so it remains a catalyst to watch instead of a certainty.

Where do analysts think TAO could trade in 2026? Third-party forecasts span a wide range. Cautious models such as Gate center near a $236 average with a low around $130, while higher views from Changelly and Cryptopolitan point to averages around $400 to $475 and Coinpedia flags a possible $500 reclaim if key resistance breaks. Long-term 2030 projections from several firms cluster between $900 and $3,000. The spread reflects genuine uncertainty about subnet demand, ETF flows, and the AI trade.

Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or trading advice. Cryptocurrency prices are highly volatile, and price predictions are speculative estimates that may not occur. Nothing here is a recommendation to buy or sell any asset. Always do your own research and consider consulting a licensed professional before making financial decisions. Figures are accurate as of June 30, 2026, and will change.

The Solana wallet is bringing on the three-person team behind a pre-IPO perpetuals platform, deepening its push into derivatives.

Phantom, the largest Solana wallet by market share, said the team behind Ventuals is joining the company this week, weeks after the Hyperliquid-based perpetuals venue shut down.

The hires are Ventuals co-founders Alvin Hsia and Emily Hsia, along with engineer Aris Samad, Phantom said in an announcement on its X account and a company blog post. The deal is not a purchase of the company or its product.

Ventuals wound down its onchain pre-IPO trading platform in mid-June, reporting more than $650 million in lifetime trading volume and over 500,000 HYPE raised across its run.

The move folds talent from one of Hyperliquid's earliest pre-IPO perpetuals builders into a consumer wallet that has been expanding aggressively into derivatives. Phantom added in-wallet perpetual futures, powered by Hyperliquid, in July 2025, and has since extended into equity and pre-IPO-style markets. Hiring the Ventuals founders gives Phantom people who built and operated their own markets on Hyperliquid.

HYPE, the token underpinning Hyperliquid, traded around $65, down about 2% over 24 hours, roughly in line with Bitcoin's 2.8% slide over the same period, and up about 6% over the past week, according to CoinGecko.

Phantom has not said what the Ventuals founders will build at the company or whether the hire signals a deeper move into pre-IPO or equity perpetuals.

A Team With Hyperliquid PedigreeVentuals described itself as the first onchain derivatives protocol for private, pre-IPO company valuations, with each market tracking a synthetic price rather than a claim on shares. Alvin Hsia was the company's chief executive and Emily Hsia its chief technology officer; both previously worked at Goldfinch and Airbnb, and earlier co-founded a project called Shadow.

The team built its markets through Hyperliquid's HIP-3 framework, which lets outside developers deploy and run their own perpetual-futures markets backed by a HYPE stake. Ventuals' flagship contracts let traders take leveraged positions on the valuations of OpenAI and Anthropic, neither of which is publicly traded. In the wind-down, those markets were frozen at their trailing 24-hour average prices and settled, and the team confirmed there would be no Ventuals token.

Phantom's Derivatives PushPhantom is the dominant wallet in the Solana ecosystem, with roughly 39% of Solana wallet market share and 15 million to 20 million monthly active users, and a $3 billion valuation set in a January 2025 Series C led by Sequoia Capital and Paradigm. The wallet has moved well beyond storage, adding swaps, staking, a prediction-market feature and, since mid-2025, perpetuals.

Phantom's perps product runs on Hyperliquid and surpassed $10 billion in cumulative trading volume within months of its July 2025 launch, the company has said. It has since added equity perpetuals deployed through HIP-3. The Ventuals founders' background in deploying and running such markets maps directly onto that roadmap, though Phantom did not detail the team's specific roles.

Bitcoin (BTC) could see a short-term relief from heavy selling pressure as quarter-end portfolio rebalancing could potentially revive spot BTC exchange-traded funds (ETFs) inflows, according to a K33 report on Tuesday.

The firm stated that aggressive ETF selling has become one of the biggest drivers of Bitcoin's recent weakness, noting that five-day net ETF flows plunged to -34,267 BTC last week, marking the second-largest five-day outflow on record.

1-Week Flow BTC ETFs. Source: K33Bitcoin ETF selling pressure could ease due to quarter-end rebalancingDespite the outflows, the firm noted that quarter-end portfolio rebalancing could offer temporary relief in the coming weeks.

"As we await the end of yet another quarter of significant BTC underperformance, rebalancing may once again push flows from negative to positive over the coming week," K33's Head of Research Vetle Lunde wrote.

The firm stated that in nine of the past 18 months, ETF flows diverged from the prevailing trend for the rest of the month during the six trading days around month-end.

In several instances, periods when Bitcoin underperformed the S&P 500 were followed by stronger ETF inflows as investors increased their Bitcoin exposure during portfolio rebalancing.

Bitcoin Monthly Returns Relative to SPX vs ETF Flows +-3 Days From Month End. Source: K33However, K33 cautioned that the relationship has not been consistent enough to be viewed as a reliable market signal. The firm stated that the other nine months failed to follow the same pattern, indicating that rebalancing is only one of several factors influencing ETF demand.

"If this relationship persists, quarter-end rebalancing could provide a well-needed relief for Bitcoin during the first few trading days of July," the report said.

K33 also examined recent changes at Strategy, saying the company's expanded liquidity reserve reduces immediate concerns about forced Bitcoin sales while introducing a new source of uncertainty.

The report noted that Strategy increased its USD reserve to $2.55 billion, extending preferred dividend coverage from roughly 10 months to more than 17 months.

The company also established a Bitcoin Monetization Program, allowing it to sell up to $1.25 billion in Bitcoin to fund obligations and share repurchases.

"The possibility of BTC sales from its 847,363 BTC holdings remains a risk to market sentiment, particularly if investors continue to worry about a potential doom loop in which Strategy ultimately suspends dividends on its preferred securities,” K33 added.

Wintermute suggests downside could persist before a market bottomWintermute analysts shared a similar sentiment in a report made public on Tuesday, arguing that although several indicators point to an advanced stage of Bitcoin's bear market, a definitive bottom has yet to form.

Wintermute pointed to deeply depressed sentiment, with the Crypto Fear & Greed Index remaining in extreme fear territory and an increasing share of Bitcoin's circulating supply now being held at a loss.

The firm also viewed Strategy's newly announced capital framework as reducing the risk of a disorderly unwind while underscoring the current market environment.

"A Bitcoin treasury company now reserving the right to sell Bitcoin to cover its dividends tells you something about where we are in the cycle," Wintermute wrote.

Wintermute analysts noted that Bitcoin has historically not bottomed during the summer months, as thin trading volumes limit meaningful accumulation.

The firm expects further downside into September or October before a potential recovery, depending on macroeconomic conditions.

Bitcoin is trading at $58,690, down 2% over the past 24 hours at the time of writing.

According to blockchain data, major RLUSD burns took place on the XRP Ledger (XRPL) on Tuesday. The market cap of the token has now shrunk to just $1.4 billion, CoinGecko data shows. 

Roughly 146 million tokens have been destroyed within hours, the data shows. The burns were significant enough for Ethereum to overtake the XRPL as the primary network for RLUSD issuance.

At its peak, the stablecoin's total market capitalization reached nearly $1.9 billion.  

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Fresh competition The decline has notably coincided with the arrival of Open USD (OUSD), which is a new major USD stablecoin. 

As reported by U.Today, Ripple announced that it had joined a consortium of more than 140 financial, technology, and crypto companies that will adopt the new dollar-pegged cryptocurrency with a shared governance model.

The initiative includes major names such as BlackRock, Mastercard, Google, Visa, and Stripe. Open USD will be operated by the independent Open Standard organization, which sets it apart from other offerings. 

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USDC will aspire to solve longstanding issues surrounding scalability, governance, and incentives.  

The development has prompted discussion within the XRP community about how Open USD could affect Ripple's own dollar-pegged stablecoin.

X user @nietzbux welcomed Ripple's participation, arguing that a consortium-backed stablecoin could accelerate crypto adoption and actually benefit XRP.  

I'm happy Ripple didn't buy Circle.

Open USD is fantastic for crypto adoption. Because this is an actually neutral stable, everyone will use it, & crypto rails will become ubiquitous for the public.

The bigger the pie grows, the better for $XRP.

Happy Ripple is a partner.

— nietzbux (@nietzbux) June 30, 2026 Others questioned the implications for RLUSD. Anodos CEO Panos Mekras noted that Open USD would inevitably compete with Ripple's existing stablecoin, which is also quite obvious.  

Yes, but OUSD also competes with RLUSD so where does this leave RLUSD?

— Panos 🔼🇬🇷 (@panosmek) June 30, 2026 Circle shares remain under pressure The announcement appears to have affected Circle, which had its blockbuster IPO earlier this year. 

Shares of Circle fell more than 15% after the introduction of the major competitor.

However, analysts at William Blair described the selloff as an overreaction, arguing that USDC's established liquidity and market position would be difficult for any newcomer to replicate.

"We welcome continued innovation and competition in the space and look forward to remaining laser-focused on building the best stablecoin infrastructure possible and driving more customer and partner success," Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire stated in a recent social media post. 

Stablecoins represent one of the largest market opportunities in the world as the internet transforms the infrastructure for storing and moving money. We deeply believe in this, and it’s why we both founded Circle and why we’ve invested to build the largest regulated stablecoin…

— Jeremy Allaire - jerallaire.arc (@jerallaire) June 30, 2026

, /PRNewswire/ -- XPeng Inc. ("XPENG" or the "Company,"NYSE: XPEV and HKEX: 9868), a leading global AI mobility technology company, today announced its vehicle delivery results for June and the second quarter of 2026.

XPENG delivered 40,126 vehicles in June 2026, bringing total second-quarter deliveries to 103,295 units. Additionally, deliveries of GX reached 6,739 units in June and the model's 10,000th unit rolled off the production line today.

The Company expects to debut the XPENG MONA L03 in China on July 2, 2026, with presale to commence the same day, followed by a global market launch in July.

XPENG's electric vehicles delivered from January to June 2026 are expected to reduce life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions by more than 2.66 million tons compared to internal combustion engine vehicles — equivalent to the carbon absorption of 43.92 million young trees over 10 years.

About XPENG

XPENG is a leading Chinese Smart EV and NEV company that designs, develops, manufactures, and markets Smart EVs and NEVs that appeal to the large and growing base of technology-savvy middle-class consumers. Its mission is to become a smart technology company trusted and loved by users worldwide. In order to optimize its customers' mobility experience, XPENG develops in-house its full-stack advanced driver-assistance system technology and in-car intelligent operating system, as well as core vehicle systems including powertrain and the electrical/electronic architecture. XPENG is headquartered in Guangzhou, China, with main offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Silicon Valley, Amsterdam, and Munich. The Company's Smart EVs and NEVs are mainly manufactured at its plants in Zhaoqing and Guangzhou, Guangdong province. For more information, please visit https://www.xpeng.com/.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about XPENG's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: XPENG's goal and strategies; XPENG's expansion plans; XPENG's future business development, financial condition and results of operations; the trends in, and size of, China's EV market; XPENG's expectations regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, its products and services; XPENG's expectations regarding its relationships with customers, suppliers, third-party service providers, strategic partners and other stakeholders; general economic and business conditions; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in XPENG's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this announcement is as of the date of this announcement, and XPENG does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

Contacts:

For Investor Enquiries:

IR Department
XPeng Inc.
Email: [email protected]

Jenny Cai
Piacente Financial Communications
Tel: +1 212 481 2050 / +86 10 6508 0677
Email: [email protected]

For Media Enquiries:

PR Department
XPeng Inc.
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE XPeng Inc.

Tessenderlo Group's investment reflects its strategy of making cornerstone minority investments in high-quality companies Investment enables FMC to achieve approximately $1 billion debt paydown target FMC concludes strategic options review FMC maintains focus on delivering on its operational and strategic plan , /PRNewswire/ -- FMC Corporation (NYSE: FMC), a leading global agricultural sciences company, and Tessenderlo Group (XBRU: TESB), a Belgian-based industrial group, today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Tessenderlo Group will make a strategic minority equity investment in FMC Corporation of approximately $400 million USD at a price of $13.30 per share. Upon completion of the transaction, Tessenderlo Group will own approximately 20.0% of the outstanding shares of FMC common stock.

"Our investment in FMC perfectly aligns with Tessenderlo Group's strategy to expand our agro platform through strategic cornerstone investments whereby we take a minority position in high-quality companies. FMC offers an attractive opportunity to invest in a business with meaningful long-term potential driven by a new generation of proprietary molecules that are renewing its portfolio and strengthening its competitive position," said Luc Tack, chief executive officer, Tessenderlo Group.

"This agreement follows a comprehensive and deliberate process, and our Board is confident that entering into this agreement is the best path forward for our company and its shareholders," said Pierre Brondeau, chairman, chief executive officer and president.

This transaction represents the conclusion of the FMC Board of Directors' exploration of strategic options, which was announced in February 2026. FMC intends to use the funds to pay down debt, allowing the Company to reach its approximately $1 billion debt paydown target. With this investment, FMC is well positioned to execute on its operational and strategic plan as an independent company, which includes advancing its R&D pipeline and accelerating the commercialization of its innovations.

In addition to the investment by Tessenderlo Group, over the past several months, FMC has taken a number of steps toward its goals of unlocking capital, sharpening its strategic focus and improving financial flexibility, including:

Amended its Revolving Credit Facility to achieve significant covenant relief;   Raised $1.2 billion in a secured high-yield bond offering; Signed an agreement to sell the Company's India commercial business for $252 million; Entered into a strategic supply and license agreement with Corteva, Inc., which includes an initial prepayment of $200 million; and Signed a framework agreement for a $114 million sale & leaseback of its Newark, Delaware property. Brondeau concluded, "We believe the strategic and operational actions taken by FMC over the last several months, combined with our significantly improved leverage and liquidity position, will deliver value to our shareholders, putting FMC on a path to growth as we strongly serve our customers and markets."

The closing of the transaction is subject to customary conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals.

BofA Securities and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC are serving as financial advisors and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP is serving as legal counsel to FMC Corporation.

Stibbe BV/SRL and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP are serving as legal advisors to Tessenderlo Group NV.

About FMC
FMC Corporation is a global agricultural sciences company dedicated to helping growers produce food, feed, fiber and fuel for an expanding world population while adapting to a changing environment. FMC's innovative crop protection solutions – including biologicals, crop nutrition, digital and precision agriculture – enable growers and crop advisers to address their toughest challenges economically while protecting the environment. FMC is committed to discovering new herbicide, insecticide and fungicide active ingredients, product formulations and pioneering technologies that are consistently better for the planet. Visit fmc.com to learn more and follow us on LinkedIn®.

About Tessenderlo Group
Tessenderlo Group is an industrial group that focuses on agriculture, valorising bio-residuals, machinery, mechanical engineering, electronics, energy, and providing industrial solutions with a focus on water. With its headquarters in Belgium, the group is active in over 100 countries and it has a global team of approximately 7,000 employees. Its belief that "Every Molecule Counts" is at the heart of the strategy of the group: Tessenderlo Group continually strives to valorise its products and processes to the maximum and to add value to everything it does. In 2025, Tessenderlo Group recorded a consolidated revenue of 2.8 billion EUR. Tessenderlo Group is listed on Euronext Brussels and is part of the Next 150 and BEL Mid indices. Financial News wires: Bloomberg: TESB BB - Reuters: TESB.BR - Datastream: B:Tes. For more information about Tessenderlo Group, its people, its brands, and its results, please visit www.tessenderlo.com.

FMC Disclaimer
Statement under the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:  FMC and its representatives may from time to time make written or oral statements that are "forward-looking" and provide other than historical information, including statements contained in this press release, information regarding the proposed transaction, the ability to negotiate a leaseback agreement, any impact on FMC's research operations, and the expected timing of and proceeds from the proposed transaction.

In some cases, FMC has identified these forward-looking statements by such words or phrases as "outlook", "will likely result," "is confident that," "expect," "expects," "should," "could," "may," "will continue to," "believe," "believes," "anticipates," "predicts," "forecasts," "estimates," "projects," "potential," "intends" or similar expressions identifying "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including the negative of those words or phrases. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current views and assumptions regarding future events, future business conditions and the outlook for the company based on currently available information. The forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by any forward-looking statement, including risks relating to the proposed transaction and the risk that the proposed transaction is not successfully completed. These statements are qualified by reference to the risk factors included in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 (the "2025 Form 10-K"), the section captioned "Forward-Looking Information" in Part II of the 2025 Form 10-K and to similar risk factors and cautionary statements in all other reports and forms filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). We wish to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made.  Forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by the above cautionary statement.

We specifically decline to undertake any obligation, and specifically disclaims any duty, to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements that have been made to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events, except as may be required by law.

Tessenderlo Group Disclaimer
This document may contain forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the views of management regarding future events at the date of this document. Furthermore, they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be different from any results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Tessenderlo Group provides the information in this press release as at the date of publication and, subject to applicable legislation, does not undertake any obligation to update, clarify or correct any forward-looking statements contained in this press release in light of new information, future events or otherwise. Tessenderlo Group disclaims any liability for statements made or published by third parties (including any employees who are not explicitly mandated by Tessenderlo Group) and, subject to applicable legislation, does not undertake any obligation to correct inaccurate data, information, conclusions or opinions published by third parties in relation to this or any other press release it issues.

SOURCE FMC Corporation

By PYMNTS  |  June 30, 2026

 | 

American Express U.S. card members can now use their Membership Rewards points on everyday purchases by redeeming the points directly within Apple Pay’s checkout experience.

This capability is enabled by American Express’ new “Use Pay with Points with Apple Pay” feature, the company said in a Tuesday (June 30) press release.

Eligible card members can pay with points by shopping online or in apps on iPhone or iPad, selecting Apple Pay at checkout, choosing an eligible American Express Membership Rewards card, selecting “Use Rewards,” entering the amount to apply toward the eligible purchase, and completing the Apple Pay transaction, according to the release.

Points can be used to cover all or part of the purchase, per the release.

“Card Members want rewards that fit naturally into how they shop and spend,” Lisa Kalhans, executive vice president of U.S. Consumer Cards at American Express, said in the release. “With this launch, we’re making it easier than ever for Card Members to use Membership Rewards points on the purchases they make every day.”

Jennifer Bailey, vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet at Apple, said in the release that users want choices when shopping online and that the partnership with American Express will provide a new way to redeem rewards.

“The feature makes it incredibly simple and convenient to use points with the seamless, secure experience users know and love from Apple Pay,” Bailey said.

The PYMNTS Intelligence report “Embedded Offers: The Billion-Dollar Opportunity Inside Recent Consumer Spending” found that consumers indicate that convenience is as important as the reward itself and that it’s important to make incentives easy to access.

American Express reported in April that during the first quarter, the company saw steady gains in card spending, broad engagement across categories and a custom base that continues to tilt younger.

In May, American Express expanded further into sports and loyalty with a new partnership that ties payments, rewards and fan engagement together. The company partnered with licensed sports merchandise company Fanatics to launch a co-branded credit card, add sports-focused rewards options and deepen its presence across Fanatics’ commerce and events ecosystem.

Kaspa Crosses Into Programmable TerritoryKaspa's Toccata hard fork went live on mainnet on June 30, 2026, marking what the project describes as the biggest upgrade in its history. The hard fork activated at DAA score 474,165,565, roughly at 16:15 UTC. The upgrade draws a clear line between what Kaspa was and what it is now becoming: a chain that started as a high-speed payments network and is now reaching for full programmability at the base layer.

Toccata marks the point where Kaspa's high-frequency monetary base layer meets programmability in two layered forms: native L1 covenant systems, and based zero-knowledge systems built on top of the same foundations. That is a significant departure from Kaspa's original identity as a pure proof-of-work payments chain.

What Toccata Actually DeliversThe consensus-changing upgrade introduces native L1 covenant support and transaction introspection, allowing for expressive stateful contracts on $KAS, alongside an OpZkPrecompile for trustless L1 ZK proof verification and partitioned sequencing commitments to support ZK applications.

The upgrade introduces native KRC-20 tokens, covenant programming via SilverScript, and zero-knowledge verification directly on the base layer, designed to shift the network's appeal from pure transaction speed toward supporting application development and privacy-enhanced use cases.

The fork does not, however, ship finished applications. It lays the protocol infrastructure that developers need to build on top. The upgrade activates the protocol infrastructure for covenant-based Layer-1 applications and zero-knowledge systems anchored to Kaspa's BlockDAG. The race now begins for what actually gets built.

The hard fork brings new utility, which means new SDKs and APIs will increasingly target a new developer audience, while classic Kaspa APIs should continue working without change. For node operators and miners, the operational story is straightforward: upgrade nodes, and everything that already works should keep working.

Toccata follows Kaspa's Crescendo hard fork, which in May 2025 increased block production from one block per second to ten blocks per second, achieving one of the highest base-layer throughputs in the proof-of-work space. The question now is whether Toccata's programmability layer can attract the developer activity needed to match that technical foundation.

Sources:
Kaspa Official Toccata Upgrade Guide, kaspanet/rusty-kaspa on GitHub
Kaspa Covenants++ Toccata Hard Fork Outlook by Michael Sutton, Medium
Kaspa Toccata Hard Fork Deep Dive, Gate Blog

Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH - Free Report) closed the most recent trading day at $60.67, moving -2.19% from the previous trading session. This change lagged the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.79%. Elsewhere, the Dow saw an upswing of 0.26%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq appreciated by 1.52%.

Heading into today, shares of the defense contractor had lost 26.2% over the past month, lagging the Business Services sector's loss of 0.14% and the S&P 500's loss of 1.82%.

The upcoming earnings release of Booz Allen Hamilton will be of great interest to investors. The company's earnings report is expected on July 24, 2026. The company's earnings per share (EPS) are projected to be $1.49, reflecting a 0.68% increase from the same quarter last year. In the meantime, our current consensus estimate forecasts the revenue to be $2.8 billion, indicating a 4.24% decline compared to the corresponding quarter of the prior year.

For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates project earnings of $6.23 per share and a revenue of $11.41 billion, demonstrating changes of -4.3% and +1.74%, respectively, from the preceding year.

Any recent changes to analyst estimates for Booz Allen Hamilton should also be noted by investors. These revisions help to show the ever-changing nature of near-term business trends. As a result, upbeat changes in estimates indicate analysts' favorable outlook on the business health and profitability.

Research indicates that these estimate revisions are directly correlated with near-term share price momentum. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model.

The Zacks Rank system, spanning from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), boasts an impressive track record of outperformance, audited externally, with #1 ranked stocks yielding an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, there's been a 0.43% fall in the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. Booz Allen Hamilton presently features a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

Looking at valuation, Booz Allen Hamilton is presently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 9.95. Its industry sports an average Forward P/E of 11.13, so one might conclude that Booz Allen Hamilton is trading at a discount comparatively.

Investors should also note that BAH has a PEG ratio of 3.54 right now. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. The Consulting Services industry currently had an average PEG ratio of 0.9 as of yesterday's close.

The Consulting Services industry is part of the Business Services sector. This group has a Zacks Industry Rank of 181, putting it in the bottom 26% of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the vigor of our specific industry groups by computing the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks incorporated in the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Ensure to harness Zacks.com to stay updated with all these stock-shifting metrics, among others, in the next trading sessions.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. JASON REDMOND/AFP via Getty Images Microsoft is planning to announce job cuts soon as the tech giant continues efforts to control costs, according to people familiar with the situation.

The cuts are expected to impact thousands of roles, including sales and consulting, in addition to jobs at the Xbox gaming division, the people said.

This round will be smaller than similar layoffs last year. This time, the cuts will be less than 2.5% of the company's 220,000-person workforce, the people added. They asked not to be identified discussing sensitive matters.

The company is planning to announce the layoffs next week, although the exact timing could change. Some affected employees will be offered new roles immediately, one of the people said.

In previous years, Microsoft has sometimes cut jobs around the start of its new fiscal year on July 1. Last year, the company eliminated 6,000 roles in May and an additional 9,000 employees, or about 4% of the company's workforce, in July.

The plans underscore Microsoft's moves to rein in costs as it ramps up spending on AI. The company has also been under pressure from Wall Street over concern that AI could replace software services, including, in theory, some Microsoft offerings. The stock has slumped about 17% in the past month.

Microsoft earlier this year announced a voluntary retirement program offering buyouts to employees level 67 and below in the US who had 70 or more years of age and service. About 7% of Microsoft's 125,000 US workforce, or nearly 9,000 employees, was eligible.

About one-third of eligible employees took the buyout, in line with expectations, one of the people said. That allowed Microsoft to cut a lower percentage of its workforce compared to last year, this person added.

Sales employees with commission-based compensation were excluded from this retirement buyout offer, according to an internal document viewed by Business Insider.

Xbox layoffs have been expected since new gaming CEO Asha Sharma sent a memo to employees calling for a "reset" for this business.

Have a tip? Contact this reporter via email at [email protected] or Signal at +1-425-344-8242. Use a personal email address and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

Netflix (NFLX - Free Report) closed at $71.40 in the latest trading session, marking a -3.23% move from the prior day. This change lagged the S&P 500's 0.79% gain on the day. Meanwhile, the Dow gained 0.26%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, added 1.52%.

The internet video service's stock has dropped by 14.06% in the past month, falling short of the Consumer Discretionary sector's loss of 0.73% and the S&P 500's loss of 1.82%.

Analysts and investors alike will be keeping a close eye on the performance of Netflix in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company's earnings report is set to go public on July 16, 2026. The company is forecasted to report an EPS of $0.79, showcasing a 9.72% upward movement from the corresponding quarter of the prior year. Simultaneously, our latest consensus estimate expects the revenue to be $12.57 billion, showing a 13.48% escalation compared to the year-ago quarter.

For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates project earnings of $3.6 per share and a revenue of $51.41 billion, demonstrating changes of +42.29% and +13.77%, respectively, from the preceding year.

Investors might also notice recent changes to analyst estimates for Netflix. Such recent modifications usually signify the changing landscape of near-term business trends. With this in mind, we can consider positive estimate revisions a sign of optimism about the business outlook.

Our research reveals that these estimate alterations are directly linked with the stock price performance in the near future. To exploit this, we've formed the Zacks Rank, a quantitative model that includes these estimate changes and presents a viable rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, stretching from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), has a noteworthy track record of outperforming, validated by third-party audits, with stocks rated #1 producing an average annual return of +25% since the year 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has witnessed an unchanged state. Netflix currently has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

Looking at its valuation, Netflix is holding a Forward P/E ratio of 20.5. This indicates a premium in contrast to its industry's Forward P/E of 13.04.

It is also worth noting that NFLX currently has a PEG ratio of 0.94. This popular metric is similar to the widely-known P/E ratio, with the difference being that the PEG ratio also takes into account the company's expected earnings growth rate. The Broadcast Radio and Television industry currently had an average PEG ratio of 1.09 as of yesterday's close.

The Broadcast Radio and Television industry is part of the Consumer Discretionary sector. At present, this industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank of 106, placing it within the top 44% of over 250 industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank is ordered from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

To follow NFLX in the coming trading sessions, be sure to utilize Zacks.com.

In the latest trading session, Occidental Petroleum (OXY - Free Report) closed at $48.57, marking a -1.06% move from the previous day. The stock fell short of the S&P 500, which registered a gain of 0.79% for the day. Meanwhile, the Dow experienced a rise of 0.26%, and the technology-dominated Nasdaq saw an increase of 1.52%.

The oil and gas exploration and production company's stock has dropped by 16.68% in the past month, falling short of the Oils-Energy sector's loss of 4.84% and the S&P 500's loss of 1.82%.

The investment community will be paying close attention to the earnings performance of Occidental Petroleum in its upcoming release. In that report, analysts expect Occidental Petroleum to post earnings of $1.85 per share. This would mark year-over-year growth of 374.36%. Meanwhile, our latest consensus estimate is calling for revenue of $7.23 billion, up 11.96% from the prior-year quarter.

OXY's full-year Zacks Consensus Estimates are calling for earnings of $5.95 per share and revenue of $25.57 billion. These results would represent year-over-year changes of +169.23% and +0.5%, respectively.

It is also important to note the recent changes to analyst estimates for Occidental Petroleum. These latest adjustments often mirror the shifting dynamics of short-term business patterns. As a result, upbeat changes in estimates indicate analysts' favorable outlook on the business health and profitability.

Our research shows that these estimate changes are directly correlated with near-term stock prices. To capitalize on this, we've crafted the Zacks Rank, a unique model that incorporates these estimate changes and offers a practical rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, which varies between #1 (Strong Buy) and #5 (Strong Sell), carries an impressive track record of exceeding expectations, confirmed by external audits, with stocks at #1 delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Within the past 30 days, our consensus EPS projection has moved 8.08% higher. Occidental Petroleum currently has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

From a valuation perspective, Occidental Petroleum is currently exchanging hands at a Forward P/E ratio of 8.25. This expresses a discount compared to the average Forward P/E of 18.15 of its industry.

The Oil and Gas - Integrated - United States industry is part of the Oils-Energy sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 179, which puts it in the bottom 27% of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank is ordered from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Be sure to use Zacks.com to monitor all these stock-influencing metrics, and more, throughout the forthcoming trading sessions.

Strike just threaded the needle. The Bitcoin-focused payments app, founded by Jack Mallers, announced that its European subsidiary, Zap (Strike) Europe Limited, has received full authorization as a crypto-asset service provider from Malta’s Financial Services Authority. The timing is not subtle: the EU’s MiCA transitional period ends on July 1, 2026, meaning any firm without proper authorization will be forced to stop operating across the bloc.

The MiCA bottleneck The Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation is the EU’s first attempt at building a unified rulebook for crypto service providers across all 27 member states. MiCA covers authorization requirements, consumer protections, and operational conduct standards, replacing the prior system of fragmented national rules.

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Out of more than 1,200 registered crypto entities across the EU and European Economic Area, only around 230 to 244 have actually secured full MiCA authorization as of June 2026. That’s roughly a 20% pass rate. The European Securities and Markets Authority made clear there would be no extensions to the transitional period. July 1 is a hard wall, meaning roughly 1,000 previously registered entities are staring down forced operational wind-downs.

Strike’s authorization through Malta’s MFSA gives it passporting rights across the entire bloc. One license, 27 countries.

Strike’s European play Strike began serving eligible European customers back in April 2024, operating under the pre-MiCA patchwork of national regulations. This new authorization replaces that prior arrangement with a single, standardized credential.

The app specializes in Bitcoin-specific services: buying, selling, and payments, with a particular focus on the Lightning Network for faster, cheaper transactions. Jack Mallers has long positioned Strike as a bridge between traditional finance and Bitcoin’s payment rails, particularly through Lightning Network integration. The European authorization extends that thesis to a market of roughly 450 million people.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.

SAN FRANCISCO, June 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Roblox Corporation (NYSE: RBLX) faces a securities class action lawsuit after its April 30, 2026 Q1 2026 report indicating a surprisingly large sequential decline in daily active users (“DAUs”) tempered by its age-check rollout. The news drove the price of Roblox shares down $10.13 (-18%) the next trading day and erased over $6.7 billion from the company’s market capitalization.

The lawsuit seeks to represent investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Roblox common stock between October 30, 2025 and April 30, 2026.

National shareholder rights firm Hagens Berman is investigating the legal claims that Roblox and its co-defendants violated the federal securities laws. The firm encourages Roblox investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.

Class Period: Oct. 30, 2025 – Apr. 30, 2026
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Aug. 7, 2026
Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/rblx
Contact the Firm Now: [email protected]
844-916-0895

Roblox Corporation (RBLX) Securities Class Action:

The primary focus of the litigation is on the propriety of Roblox’s disclosures about the impact on its business and prospects of the age-check verification rollout aimed at increasing safety within certain social features on its platform. The rollout began in November 2025.

Throughout the Class Period, Roblox has characterized its rollout as the “gold standard” intended to be implemented with “no friction.” The company has also touted its high year-over-year DAU growth and related revenue and bookings growth.

As recently as February 5, 2026, during Roblox’s Q4 2025 earnings call, CEO David Baszucki responded to an analyst’s question about additional detail about the age-check rollout, assuring investors that “[w]e’re very excited and proud of the way our age verification rollout has gone” and “we found so many other opportunities for optimization that I’m very pleased and happy about the way the rollout has gone.”

The complaint alleges that Roblox made false and misleading statements while failing to disclose important information to investors about the true state of the company’s growth potential. More specifically, the complaint alleges that Roblox would see significant growth slowdown as enrollments in its age-check rollout would quickly taper, compounding the resulting slowdown in on-line platform communication and resulting in app store rating reductions and a swift reduction in organic growth.

The truth entered the market on April 30, 2026. That day, Roblox reported its Q1 2026 financial results, revealed a steep deceleration in year-over-year and sequential DAU growth, slashed its 2026 revenue guidance (reflecting ongoing shrinkage in DAU growth), and severely cut its 2026 bookings growth midpoint from 24% to just 10%.

The company blamed its adverse situation on just 51% of Roblox global DAUs having age checked and further revealed that “as a result of age check […] we have seen a reduction in app store ratings, and we believe this may be contributing to a reduction in organic sign-ups that typically flow from app stores.” Roblox also said its lowered prospects are the result of “continued friction” resulting from the age-check rollout.

“We’re focused on when Roblox and its management knew of the adverse consequences of the age-check rollout and whether they intentionally misled investors,” said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the firm’s investigation.

If you invested in Roblox and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that will assist the firm’s investigation, submit your losses now.

If you’d like more information and answers to other frequently asked questions about the Roblox case and the firm’s investigation, read more.

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Roblox should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email [email protected] .

About Hagens Berman
Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs’ rights complex litigation firm focusing on corporate accountability. The firm is home to a robust practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and other wrongdoings. Hagens Berman’s team has secured more than $2.9 billion in this area of law. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw. 

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in any future case.

Contact:
Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895

In the latest trading session, Cameco (CCJ - Free Report) closed at $101.86, marking a -1.56% move from the previous day. This change lagged the S&P 500's 0.79% gain on the day. On the other hand, the Dow registered a gain of 0.26%, and the technology-centric Nasdaq increased by 1.52%.

Heading into today, shares of the uranium producer had lost 8.1% over the past month, lagging the Oils-Energy sector's loss of 4.84% and the S&P 500's loss of 1.82%.

Market participants will be closely following the financial results of Cameco in its upcoming release. The company's upcoming EPS is projected at $0.36, signifying a 29.41% drop compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Simultaneously, our latest consensus estimate expects the revenue to be $534.36 million, showing a 15.69% drop compared to the year-ago quarter.

For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $1.21 per share and revenue of $2.39 billion, which would represent changes of +17.48% and -4.07%, respectively, from the prior year.

It's also important for investors to be aware of any recent modifications to analyst estimates for Cameco. These revisions help to show the ever-changing nature of near-term business trends. As a result, upbeat changes in estimates indicate analysts' favorable outlook on the business health and profitability.

Our research suggests that these changes in estimates have a direct relationship with upcoming stock price performance. To capitalize on this, we've crafted the Zacks Rank, a unique model that incorporates these estimate changes and offers a practical rating system.

The Zacks Rank system ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell). It has a remarkable, outside-audited track record of success, with #1 stocks delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has shifted 0.69% downward. Currently, Cameco is carrying a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

Investors should also note Cameco's current valuation metrics, including its Forward P/E ratio of 85.75. This valuation marks a premium compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 17.88.

One should further note that CCJ currently holds a PEG ratio of 1.89. The PEG ratio is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but this metric also takes the company's expected earnings growth rate into account. The Alternative Energy - Other industry had an average PEG ratio of 2.1 as trading concluded yesterday.

The Alternative Energy - Other industry is part of the Oils-Energy sector. This industry, currently bearing a Zacks Industry Rank of 164, finds itself in the bottom 33% echelons of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our individual industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Make sure to utilize Zacks.com to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and more, in the coming trading sessions.

The perpetuals exchange will start burning the LIT it buys with revenue and tap its token reserve to keep staking yields flowing.

Lighter, one of the largest decentralized perpetuals exchanges by trading volume, said it will start permanently burning the LIT tokens it buys back with exchange revenue and will fund staking rewards from its ecosystem token reserve.

Lighter has bought back about 15.5 million LIT — roughly 6.3% of circulating supply — using exchange revenue since its token generation event, the company said in an X post Tuesday. Those tokens will now be withdrawn from the exchange and sent to a burn address on Ethereum mainnet, with the first burn set for the weeks after the end of the second quarter.

Separately, Lighter will begin paying staking rewards from its remaining ecosystem tokens, targeting an initial 6% annualized yield. With about 125 million LIT staked, that yield would distribute roughly 7.5 million LIT a year from a remaining reserve of 250 million.

The changes pull in two directions on supply. Burning bought-back tokens removes them from circulation, while paying staking yield from the reserve releases tokens that were not yet circulating, partly offsetting the burns. The update also answers requests from holders for clarity on what happens to the LIT the protocol repurchases, a recurring question across perpetuals exchanges that run buybacks.

Lighter briefly overtook Hyperliquid in monthly perpetuals volume around its December launch, when airdrop incentives pulled traders to its zero-fee order book. Activity has since cooled as those incentives wound down, which puts more weight on whether the token's economics can sustain demand on their own.

LIT rose about 2% over 24 hours and is up roughly 20% over the past week and about 39% over the past 30 days, outpacing Bitcoin, which fell almost 3% over the past day and about 20% over the past month, according to CoinGecko. The token trades near $1.84, about 77% below its record high. Its market capitalization is around $461 million; its fully diluted valuation, which counts the full one billion token supply against the 250 million now circulating, is roughly $1.84 billion.

Buybacks Become BurnsLighter had been buying LIT on the open market with exchange revenue since its token launch at the end of December, but had not committed to destroying the tokens. It said Tuesday that the buybacks will now reduce supply permanently through burns, executed by sending LIT to an Ethereum burn address.

The exchange flagged one mechanical caveat: the tokens it burns may be undistributed LIT rather than the exact tokens it repurchased, an approach it said is economically equivalent for holders and cheaper to administer.

The buybacks are funded by trading activity. Lighter has generated about $2.87 million in protocol revenue over the past 30 days and roughly $53 million since launch, according to DefiLlama.

Continued Exchange RevenueThe burn program depends on continued exchange revenue to fund the buybacks, and revenue has been modest relative to the token's valuation.

Funding staking from the 250 million-token reserve also draws down a finite pool; that reserve could deplete faster if revenue weakens or staking participation climbs, and the 6% target is not fixed.

Lighter said it will execute the first burn in the weeks after the close of the second quarter, a milestone holders will be able to verify onchain.

Staking Shifts to the ReserveLighter launched its staking program in January and has distributed about 3.72 million LIT to stakers so far, including roughly 170,000 LIT from a fee-credits program.

Those rewards were bootstrapped with pre-launch revenue while exchange income was directed entirely toward buybacks. Effective immediately, the protocol will instead draw on ecosystem tokens, which it said is a more aligned use because the rewards flow to holders with the longest time horizons.

The targeted 6% yield is denominated in LIT and can be adjusted at the team's discretion based on market conditions, protocol performance and sustainability, Lighter said. At about 125 million LIT staked, roughly half of circulating supply is committed to the program.

Lighter laid out four priorities for managing its treasury going forward: rewarding long-term stakers, reducing supply through burns, preserving tokens for future partnerships and growth programs, and stewarding the reserve for long-term value. The company said its ecosystem tokens exist to grow the protocol, deepen liquidity and reward users.

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE) (“St. Joe” or the “Company”) announces the highly anticipated opening of elevated and new-to-market retailers at Watersound Town Center, the Company’s growing open-air lifestyle center located at the entrance to the Watersound Origins® community in Inlet Beach, Florida. National and regional brands including FP Movement, Hemline, Monkee’s and Sunset Shoes & Lifestyles recently opened their doors, with Johnnie-O expected to follow later this summer. To meet growing demand from other national apparel brand stores, two additional buildings are planned to break ground this year at Watersound Town Center. Retailers planned for these buildings will be announced in the near future.

“We’re excited to welcome retailers of this stature and celebrate what their openings represent for the future of Watersound Town Center,” said William Brock, St. Joe Vice President of Commercial Real Estate. “Established brands like these are deliberate in their site selection process. Their decision to invest in this Center is a strong validation of our market and contributes to the continued momentum occurring here.”

The recent activity at Watersound Town Center extends beyond apparel retail. Jersey Mike’s Subs and Lagree 30A have opened, expanding dining and wellness offerings, while national homebuilder Fischer Homes has opened an office and showroom. Art-of-Fact(s) has also joined the lifestyle center’s growing collection of businesses, offering curated home décor, gifts and artwork.

“The recent openings bring new energy and consumer traffic to Watersound Town Center and continue to create the vibrant shopping and dining experience we envision,” said Rebecca Waters, St. Joe Director of Commercial Sales and Leasing. “Our team remains committed to thoughtfully growing the tenant mix and creating a destination that will continue to evolve alongside the community and broader region it serves.”

Watersound Town Center currently features approximately 160,000 square feet of retail, restaurant, service and office space and is 98% leased. Plans call for the center to grow to approximately 400,000 square feet. Supporting that growth, the nearby Watersound Origins, Watersound Camp Creek® and Watersound Origins Crossings® residential communities continue to expand, with more than 1,700 completed homes, townhomes and apartment units and additional homesites in various stages of development. For more information about current businesses and leasing opportunities, visit www.watersoundtowncenter.com

Important Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements,” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Exchange Act, including statements regarding future development in Watersound Town Center. These forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by cautionary statements and risk factors set forth in St. Joe’s filings with the SEC, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 and subsequent current report filings as well as (1) the ability of Watersound Town Center to complete the proposed construction as currently contemplated and (2) the interest of prospective tenants and customers of Watersound Town Center and homeowners and residents in the Watersound Origins, Watersound Camp Creek and Watersound Origins Crossings communities.

About The St. Joe Company

The St. Joe Company is a diversified real estate development, asset management and operating company with real estate assets and operations in Northwest Florida. The Company intends to use existing assets for residential, hospitality and commercial ventures. St. Joe has significant residential and commercial land-use entitlements. The Company actively seeks higher and better uses for its real estate assets through a range of development activities. More information about the Company can be found on its website at www.joe.com.

©2026 The St Joe Company. “St. Joe®,” “JOE®,” the “Taking Flight” Design®,” and “St. Joe (and Taking Flight Design)®,” “Watersound®,” “Watersound Camp Creek®”, “Watersound Origins®” and “Watersound Origins Crossings®” are registered service marks of The St. Joe Company.

More News From The St. Joe Company

, /PRNewswire/ -- Old Republic International Corporation (NYSE: ORI) – today announced the results of the special meeting of the members of Everett Cash Mutual Insurance Co. ("ECM") held this morning at which members approved, among other matters, the conversion of ECM from a mutual insurance company to a stock insurance company named ECM Insurance Company and the acquisition of ECM Insurance Company and its subsidiaries (the "ECM Group") by Old Republic. In addition, Old Republic completed its offering of shares of its common stock for cash on a subscription basis to certain of the ECM members, employees, and non-employee directors. Old Republic received subscriptions of approximately $25 million through the sale of shares at a purchase price of $25.80 per share, which represented a 35.0% discount to the volume-weighted average trading price of $39.70 for the 10-trading day period ending June 29, 2026.

Pursuant to the terms of the Plan of Conversion, upon the filing of ECM's amended and restated articles of incorporation with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on July 1, 2026, Old Republic will deliver up to approximately 956 thousand shares of its common stock, which represents the maximum number of shares to be sold in the offering, and complete its acquisition of the ECM Group.

Old Republic President & CEO Craig R. Smiddy commented, "We are excited to welcome the ECM Group and its employees and customers to Old Republic. ECM has built a strong reputation over many decades serving the commercial agricultural market with deep expertise and a commitment to disciplined underwriting. Those attributes are at the core of our specialty strategy, and we are excited about the opportunities ahead as we work together to build on that foundation."

About Old Republic
Old Republic is a leading specialty insurer that operates diverse property & casualty and title insurance companies. Founded in 1923 and a member of the Fortune 500®, we are a leader in underwriting and risk management services for business partners across the United States and Canada. Our specialized operating companies offer significant expertise in their fields, enabling us to provide tailored solutions that set us apart. For more information, please visit www.oldrepublic.com.

At Old Republic:

At Financial Relations Board:

Craig R. Smiddy: President and Chief Executive Officer

Investors: Joe Calabrese/[email protected]

SOURCE Old Republic International Corporation

NEW YORK, June 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Certara, Inc. (“Certara” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: CERT).  Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Certara and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. 

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On May 11, 2026, Certara reported its first quarter 2026 financial results.  Certara disclosed that services revenue declined 4% year-over-year to $57.2 million, while services bookings declined 14% year-over-year to $66.6 million.  In discussing the quarter, Certara said that it saw “softer performance from Tier 1 customers in MIDD services” and that services performance was “mixed.”  The Company also announced its exit from the regulatory business in their service segment. I n response to a question about consistency between software and services performance, Certara said that there had been “a lot of inconsistency and back and forth” over the last few quarters.  

On this news, Certara’s stock price fell $1.18 per share, or approximately 19%, to close at $5.13 on May 11, 2026. 

Then, on June 17, 2026, Certara announced that John Gallagher, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, had notified Certara of his intent to resign from his office effective as of the end of the day on July 14, 2026. 

On this news, Certara’s stock price fell $0.49 per share, or 8.13%, to close at $5.54 per share on June 18, 2026.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.  

CONTACT:
Danielle Peyton
Pomerantz LLP
[email protected]
646-581-9980 ext. 7980

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Papa John's International, Inc. (Nasdaq: PZZA) (“Papa Johns©”) will release its second quarter 2026 financial results before the market opens on Thursday, August 6, 2026, with a conference call to follow at 8:00 a.m. ET.

Participants on the call will include Todd Penegor, President and Chief Executive Officer, Chris Collins, interim Chief Financial Officer, SVP, Corporate Finance and Principal Accounting Officer, and Heather Hollander, SVP Strategy, Investor Relations, and Financial Planning and Analysis.

To listen to the webcast, participants should register online at https://ir.papajohns.com/news-events/ir-calendar. Participants are requested to register a day in advance or at least a minimum 15 minutes before the start of the call. A replay of the webcast will be available approximately two hours after the call and archived on the same web page.

About Papa Johns

Papa John’s International, Inc. (Nasdaq: PZZA) opened its doors in 1984 with one goal in mind: BETTER INGREDIENTS. BETTER PIZZA.® Papa Johns believes that using high-quality ingredients leads to superior quality pizzas. Its original dough is made of only six ingredients and is fresh, never frozen. Papa Johns tops its pizzas with real cheese made from mozzarella, pizza sauce made with vine-ripened tomatoes that go from vine to can in the same day and meat free of fillers. It was the first national pizza delivery chain to announce the removal of artificial flavors and synthetic colors from its entire food menu. Papa Johns is co-headquartered in Atlanta, Ga. and Louisville, Ky. and is the world’s third-largest pizza delivery company with more than 6,000 restaurants in approximately 50 countries and territories. For more information about the company or to order pizza online, visit www.PapaJohns.com or download the Papa Johns mobile app for iOS or Android.

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, /PRNewswire/ -- Select Medical Holdings Corporation (the "Company" or "Select Medical," "we," "us," or "our") (NYSE: SEM) today announced the completion of its acquisition by an entity affiliated with a consortium led by Robert A. Ortenzio, Executive Chairman, Co-Founder and Director of Select Medical, Martin F. Jackson, Senior Executive Vice President of Strategic Finance and Operations of Select Medical, and Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe ("WCAS" and, together with Mr. Ortenzio and Mr. Jackson, the "Consortium") pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of March 2, 2026 (the "Merger Agreement").

The previously announced purchase price of $16.50 per share represents a premium of approximately 18% over Select Medical's unaffected share price as of November 24, 2025, the last trading day prior to a publicly disclosed proposal being submitted by Mr. Ortenzio to the Company's Board of Directors, and a premium of approximately 25% over Select Medical's 90-day volume-weighted average closing share price for the period ending on that date, and values the Company at approximately $3.9 billion.

The Company filed a Certificate of Merger, pursuant to which the acquisition will become effective as of July 1, 2026 at 12:01 am. With the completion of the acquisition, Select Medical's common stock will cease trading and Select Medical will no longer be listed on the New York Stock Exchange as of July 1, 2026. The Consortium maintains effective and operational control of the Company and its subsidiaries and now has a majority of the economic interest in the Company.

Select Medical's current officers, including Mr. Ortenzio and Mr. Jackson, will continue to lead the business in their respective roles following the closing.

Select Medical's stockholders, including the unaffiliated stockholders, voted to approve the transaction at our Special Meeting of Stockholders on June 26, 2026.

Advisors

J.P. Morgan and Wells Fargo are serving as joint lead arrangers and joint lead bookrunners in connection with the committed debt financing of the Consortium. Goldman Sachs is serving as the exclusive financial advisor, and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is serving as legal counsel to the Special Committee of disinterested and independent directors of the Board of Directors of the Company. Dechert LLP is serving as legal counsel to Select Medical. Wells Fargo and J.P. Morgan are serving as financial advisors, and Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP is serving as legal counsel to the Consortium. Barclays is serving as financial advisor, and Ropes & Gray LLP is serving as legal counsel to WCAS. Paul Hastings LLP is serving as legal counsel to the debt financing sources.

About Select Medical

Select Medical is one of the largest operators of critical illness recovery hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, and outpatient rehabilitation clinics in the United States based on number of facilities. Select Medical's reportable segments include the critical illness recovery hospital segment, the rehabilitation hospital segment, and the outpatient rehabilitation segment. As of March 31, 2026, Select Medical operated 103 critical illness recovery hospitals in 28 states, 41 rehabilitation hospitals in 15 states, and 1,912 outpatient rehabilitation clinics in 37 states and the District of Columbia. At March 31, 2026, Select Medical had operations in 38 states and the District of Columbia. Information about Select Medical is available at www.selectmedical.com.

About WCAS

WCAS is a leading U.S. private equity firm focused on two target industries: technology and healthcare. Since its founding in 1979, the firm's strategy has been to partner with outstanding management teams and build value for its investors through a combination of operational improvements, growth initiatives, and strategic acquisitions. The firm has raised and managed funds totaling over $33 billion of committed capital. For more information, please visit www.wcas.com.

Media inquiries:
Shelly Eckenroth
Senior Vice President, Chief Communications Marketing & Branding Officer
717-920-4035
[email protected]

Investor inquiries:
Robert S. Kido
Senior Vice President and Treasurer
717-972-1100
[email protected]

SOURCE Select Medical Holdings Corporation