China’s Lithium Giants Tumble After First-Half Profit Warnings

The CEO of Thames Water admits it could take ten years to fix the struggling utility company, which just reported a staggering £1.65 billion loss. While they’re promising improvements, the future looks shaky—raising questions about service reliability and potential bill hikes for customers.

Editor’s Note: If you’re one of Thames Water’s 15 million customers, this isn’t great news. A decade is a long time to wait for a turnaround, especially when leaks, sewage spills, and financial instability keep making headlines. With regulators watching closely, this story matters because it could mean higher costs for households—or even a government rescue if things get worse.

Macau is gearing up for a summer packed with major concerts and events, featuring big-name stars like Sandy Lam, Aaron Kwok, Eason Chan, and South Korean actor Park Bo-gum. This star power is expected to draw crowds, boosting tourism and casino revenues in the second half of the year.

Editor’s Note: Macau isn’t just about casinos anymore—it’s becoming a hotspot for live entertainment, too. With A-list performers drawing in visitors, this could mean a much-needed economic lift for the city, especially after the pandemic slump. If you’re a fan of these artists, now’s the time to plan a trip (and maybe try your luck at the tables while you’re there).

Investors are keeping a close eye on today’s CPI report, which is expected to show inflation ticked up again in June. Meanwhile, S&P futures are climbing as markets brace for both the inflation data and a fresh round of bank earnings. It’s a classic "wait-and-see" moment—will hotter inflation numbers spook traders, or will strong earnings balance things out?

Editor’s Note: Inflation isn’t just a number—it’s a mood-setter for the economy. If prices keep rising faster than expected, the Fed might get more aggressive with rate hikes, which could rattle markets. But if banks post solid earnings, it could soften the blow. Basically, today’s numbers could set the tone for your 401(k)’s summer vibe.

LM Ericsson, the Swedish telecom giant, just posted earnings that blew past expectations—beating estimates by $1.25 per share—while also pulling in more revenue than analysts predicted. That’s a solid win for the company, especially in a competitive market where investors are watching every move.

Editor’s Note: Ericsson’s strong performance isn’t just a win for shareholders—it signals resilience in the telecom sector, which has been grappling with supply chain hiccups and slower 5G rollouts in some regions. If they keep this up, it could mean more confidence in the industry’s near-term growth.

Castellum, a major real estate company, is facing tougher times as their latest report shows more empty office spaces and a drop in property values. It’s a sign that the commercial real estate market might be cooling off, especially for big office buildings—likely due to shifts in remote work trends and economic uncertainty.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just about one company—it’s a snapshot of broader challenges in commercial real estate. If fewer businesses are leasing office space (hello, hybrid work), property owners could see more financial strain, which might ripple through investors, lenders, and even city budgets reliant on property taxes. Castellum’s struggles hint at deeper changes in how—and where—we work.