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Mercury NZ Lifts Q4 Margin 33%

Mercury NZ posted a 33% year-on-year jump in Q4 trading margin to NZ$390 million, supported by generation of 2,344 GWh as renewable output rose. The company advanced its renewable pipeline with all Kaiwera Downs Stage 2 turbines installed, Kaiwaikawe start of generation, fast-track consent for Puke Kapo Hau, a $75 million appraisal drilling commitment, and the launch of Flex Rates for customers.

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First Financial Bancorp Records Q2 Earnings, Plans Merger

Both FVCBankcorp and First Financial Bancorp reported strong Q2 2026 results, with FVCB delivering margin expansion and a solid ROAA while FFBC posted record earnings and moved forward with an all-stock merger with Finward Bancorp alongside a dividend increase. FVCB also declared a $0.07 quarterly dividend and beat earnings estimates, with activity around deposits, valuation signals, and ongoing efficiency gains shaping the stock narrative.

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Hancock Whitney Posts Strong Q2 Earnings Growth

Hancock Whitney reported Q2 2026 net income of $127 million ($1.55 per diluted share), up from $47.4 million in Q1 after excluding a prior $98.6 million restructuring charge, with 10% linked-quarter loan growth and 8% deposit growth. The bank expects to close the One Florida Bank acquisition on August 1, 2026, maintain mid-single-digit loan and deposit growth, and project continued NII growth and efficiency improvements as it integrates the new footprint.

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GoHealth Emerges From Bankruptcy, Becomes Private

GoHealth completed its prepackaged Chapter 11 restructuring on July 21, 2026, with ownership transferring to its lenders, reinstating preferred equity, paying trade payables in full, and moving to operate as a private company under new governance and financing arrangements. Despite emerging from bankruptcy, the company faces continued delisting and weak financials, as reflected by a Hold on GOCOQ and external assessments citing high leverage, significant losses, and dilution risk under the new lender-owned structure.

6 sources

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Alaska Air Posts Q2 Loss, Downgrades Q3 View

Alaska Air posted a second-quarter loss and forecast third-quarter earnings near or below Wall Street expectations as jet fuel costs stay high amid renewed Iran-related tensions, pressuring margins. The airline is diversifying fuel sourcing and raising fares to offset costs, with Q3 guidance ranging from break-even to about $1 a share and continued attention on fuel-driven earnings pressure.

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Apple Launches Klarna-backed Upgrade Leasing

Apple is launching the Apple Upgrade device-leasing program, backed by Klarna, set to debut in the U.S. on July 28 with 24-month leases for iPhone and Apple Watch and 36-month leases for Mac and iPad, allowing early upgrades, payoff, or returns as it phases out the current iPhone Upgrade Program. The move, aimed at expanding financing options and customer access to the latest devices, accompanies exclusions such as AppleCare and some devices, and signals Klarna’s growing role in Apple’s device-financing strategy.

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iPower Plans AI Hardware Leasing Subsidiary

iPower Inc. is forming a dedicated AI subsidiary, iPower AI LLC, to pursue AI hardware leasing and compute resource distribution with preliminary customer interest but no definitive agreements yet. The filings also indicate the subsidiary joining a guaranty tied to its senior secured convertible note facility as part of ongoing financing arrangements.

6 sources

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Ocado to build large European automated CFC

Ocado announced a large, highly automated Customer Fulfilment Centre for a fast-growing European national retailer, using its Re:Imagined technology like 600s bots and an automated freezer, with go-live slated for FY28 and initial operations at just over half capacity. The deal, part of ongoing expansion alongside its Asda agreement, is not expected to have a material impact on FY26 and Ocado remains focused on achieving cash-flow positive performance in the near term.

9 sources

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Vivakor Plans 300k Bbl/Month Crude Deals; $700M Annual

Vivakor announces four recurring physical crude oil transactions that lift marketed volumes to 300,000 barrels per month (3.6 million annually) and an estimated $289 million in annualized commercial activity, with trading across the Cushing and Midland hubs. When added to existing programs, total recurring commercial activity reaches about $709 million annually and 8.1 million barrels of marketed crude oil, signaling expanded integration of marketing with its transportation, terminaling and storage assets.

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Sunteck Realty Q1 Profit Up; ₹2,250-Crore Fundraise Planned

Sunteck Realty posted a robust Q1 FY27, with net profit up 25.5% to ₹41.96 crore on revenue of ₹191.56 crore and total income of ₹202.03 crore, aided by an EBITDA of ₹66.8 crore and a 34.9% margin. The board also approved an enabling resolution to raise up to ₹2,250 crore through a mix of debt and equity to fund expansion, with specifics to be decided later.

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Alpha DaRT Pembrolizumab Combo Shows 100% Response

Alpha Tau Medical reported positive data from a single-center study of Alpha DaRT combined with pembrolizumab in elderly patients with locally advanced or metastatic head and neck cancer, achieving a 100% systemic objective response rate and an 18.2-month median overall survival with no serious Alpha DaRT-related adverse events. The results, presented at the AHNS conference in Boston, exceeded historical pembrolizumab benchmarks and support continued trials and the company’s strategic push in immuno-oncology, with analyst notes highlighting a Buy rating for DRTS.

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Cadrenal Launches Cardiac Acute Care Franchise, Seeks Partners

Cadrenal Therapeutics has reorganized its clinical portfolio into a Cardiac Acute Critical Care Franchise and is launching a structured process to secure strategic out-licensing, portfolio monetization, or commercial co-development partnerships for its late-stage assets, including CAD-1005, frunexian, and tecarfarin. The move aims to maximize asset value through a partnership-driven model, supported by Phase 2 data showing more than a 25% reduction in thrombotic events and by orphan drug designations, with exploration of expanded indications such as Kawasaki disease in pediatrics and broader cardiorenal applications.

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Paragon Banking closes £200m Green Tier 2 bond

Paragon Banking Group PLC upsized a £200 million Green Tier 2 bond to meet strong demand, at a 6.5% coupon maturing in 2036 and priced 205 basis points over gilts, with the deal supporting low-carbon residential and motor-vehicle funding. It also announced the early redemption of £150 million of Tier 2 notes due 2031, and completed a new £250 million green Tier 2 issue at 4.25% coupon with a 10-year maturity, underscoring an active reshaping of its capital structure toward sustainable financing.

6 sources

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Venu Secures $20M Bridge Loan for Sunset Amphitheater

Venu Holding has secured a $20 million bridge loan from Ryan, LLC to fund construction of the 20,000-seat Sunset Amphitheater in McKinney, Texas, with permanent financing expected in the third quarter of fiscal 2026 to cover remaining costs and an opening targeted for early 2027. The financing is non-dilutive and part of Venu’s growth strategy via public-private partnerships, supported by Ryan’s tax and incentives services, as the company continues expanding its entertainment venues.

5 sources

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Ceragon Secures Five-Year, $70 Million APAC Network Deal

Ceragon announced a five-year, approximately $70 million deal with a Tier-1 Asia-Pacific mobile operator to supply transport solutions and deploy IP-50 series and E-band technologies for nationwide 4G/5G networks, along with dedicated technical support and potential expansion to Ceragon Insight managed services. The deal strengthens Ceragon’s APAC footprint and attracted investor attention, with shares rising on the news and trading around $2.24.

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Wickes Q2 Sales Growth Reinforces Full-Year Outlook

Wickes posted a 2.3% rise in Q2 group revenue with Retail back to growth and TradePro expanding, while the Design & Installation arm maintained five straight quarters of delivered sales growth and click-and-collect/delivery up as customers stay cautious on large bespoke kitchens. The retailer kept its FY26 adjusted profit guidance intact, reinforced by a strong balance sheet with about £152 million net cash, ongoing store refurbishments and planned openings, and expectations of productivity gains and lower business rates supporting profitability.

7 sources

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Marston's World Cup Surge Drives Growth

Marston’s reported a strong World Cup trading period with England matchdays delivering 22% like-for-like sales growth and Grandstand pubs up about 170% year-on-year, while newer formats like Grandstand conversions are delivering around 30% LFL growth; however, year-to-date sales are 1.6% lower due to softer off-peak conditions. The company outlined plans to accelerate investment with around 100 Grandstand conversions in FY2027, target leverage near 4x, and resume shareholder returns via buybacks as conditions allow.

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Billington Announces £28m Contract Wins Across Three Sectors

Billington Holdings reports three contract wins totaling about £28 million, spanning a North-West London education campus, an energy-from-waste project in Eastern England, and a defence-sector initial instruction slated for delivery in 2027, reinforcing its focus on high-quality, complex structural steel projects. The updates come amid a challenging market with weak demand in the structural-steel sector, and alongside news of a potential closure of the Yate facility, underscoring pressure on profitability and the need to align capacity with subdued demand.

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Galliford Try Secures £9.5bn CPC Framework

Galliford Try has been appointed to the Crescent Purchasing Consortium Construction and Capital Works framework worth £9.5 billion, spanning all five regional lots across England, Wales and Scotland for up to eight years and covering education and wider public sector projects from new-builds to refurbishments. The appointment strengthens its position in UK public infrastructure and expands the visibility of future revenues through a steady pipeline of core contracts.

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China plans tighter AI model, chip export controls

China is weighing tighter export controls on AI models, training data, model weights, and advanced semiconductor designs, with MOFCOM consulting major domestic AI and chip firms to curb overseas access and restrict foreign acquisitions of strategic tech companies. The discussions, involving Alibaba, ByteDance, Zhipu AI, and other players, could reshape global AI collaboration and semiconductor supply chains, but no final rules have been issued.

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CM.com reports 14% revenue, 55% EBITDA growth

CM.com posted stronger first half 2026 results, with Q2 revenue up around 14% year-on-year and EBITDA up 55%, alongside record messaging volumes and growth in ARR driven by HALO and the new Customer Context Platform. MedCap AB reported robust Q2 2026 growth, with net sales up 16% and EBITA up 38% (adjusted EBITA up 28%), supported by acquisitions such as Biopsafe and continued margin improvement in all segments.

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Metropolitan Bank Plans $0.35 Quarterly Dividend, Payable Aug 11 2026

Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp. announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.35 per share, up from $0.25, payable August 11, 2026 to holders of record as of July 31, 2026, signaling stronger cash flow and a shareholder-friendly capital return. While the bank trades with a modest valuation around a 12x P/E and a roughly $1.22 billion market cap, coverage notes include insider selling in the prior three months, which may temper enthusiasm despite the higher dividend.

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AST SpaceMobile Plans $1B Convertible Notes Due 2034

{"summary": "AST SpaceMobile unveiled plans to raise up to $1 billion in convertible senior notes due 2034, with an option to sell up to $150 million more, to fund growth, secure launch capacity, and pursue partnerships or acquisitions while financing capped call transactions. The move comes as the company carries substantial liquidity but faces investor concerns about cash burn and potential dilution, even as it aims to support its space-based cellular network expansion.", "summary_sources": ["https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/26/07/60485919/ast-spacemobile-stock-tumbles-on-1-billion-offering", "https://www.tipranks.com/news/catalyst/ast-spacemobile-sinks-after-massive-debt-raise-plan", "https://www.stocktitan.net/sec-filings/ASTS/8-k-ast-space-mobile-inc-reports-material-event-d73bdb8682f3.html", "https://www.stocktitan.net/news/ASTS/ast-space-mobile-announces-proposed-private-offering-of-1-0-billion-k7kffvmgauo0.html", "https://www.benzinga.com/news/26/07/60484598/ast-spacemobile-plans-offer-1b-senior-notes-due-2034"]}

11 sources

Google Images Launches Pinterest-Style Redesign with AI

Google Images is undergoing a Pinterest-style redesign that turns the site into a browsable, real-time gallery with personalized collections, while also adding built-in AI image generation in AI Overviews to support prompt-based creation. The updates are part of a broader 25th-anniversary overhaul that emphasizes discovery and staying within Google’s ecosystem for image inspiration.

9 sources