ASML Plans €20,000 One-Time Bonus for Employees
On July 18, reports emerged that ASML Holding is set to grant a one-time award of €20,000 to its global workforce. The company stated that stock awards will be issued on January 1, 2027, contingent on employees remaining with the company throughout the vesting period, with full vesting scheduled for early 2030.
Apple Surpasses Nvidia, Reclaims World’s Top Market Cap After 3 Months
On July 17, Apple overtook Nvidia to become the world’s most valuable publicly traded company. Nvidia’s stock slid 3.2%, shrinking its market cap to approximately $4.86 trillion. Riding a recent strong rally, Apple’s market cap swelled to around $4.90 trillion, reclaiming the global No. 1 spot after a three-month hiatus.
ofo’s Dormant Account Posts After 5 Years, Sparking Deposit Refund Demands
Recently, ofo’s official WeChat account, which had been silent since August 26, 2021, suddenly published a post titled “Urgent Assistance for 200 Patients with Vitiligo/Psoriasis – Apply Today!” The article quickly went viral, with countless users flooding the comments to demand refunds for their long-stuck deposits. Back in 2018, ofo was first reported to be unable to immediately refund user deposits. By 2019, media reports indicated that nearly 16 million users were still waiting for their money. According to corporate data, ofo’s parent company, Beijing Baikeluoke Technology Co., Ltd., remains legally active but is entangled in numerous lawsuits, enforcement actions, and consumption restriction orders.
Zhongji Innolight Poised to Become Hong Kong’s Biggest IPO This Year
Zhongji Innolight announced its H-share listing plan in November 2025, submitted a confidential listing application to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in April 2026, recently completed the overseas listing filing process with Chinese regulators, and passed the listing hearing this week. The H-share listing is jointly sponsored and underwritten by CICC, GF Securities, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley.
On July 17, citing market sources, China Securities Journal reported that the company has raised its Hong Kong IPO fundraising target to $7 billion (approximately HK$54.6 billion), a significant jump from the initial $5 billion estimate. The primary driver for the increase is strong institutional demand. If fully subscribed, Zhongji Innolight is set to become the largest IPO in Hong Kong this year.
Didi: Female Drivers Can Choose Whether to Join “She Plan”
On July 17, Didi issued a statement refuting rumors. Recently, an unverified account spread false information about Didi’s “She Plan” (a feature allowing passengers to request female drivers). After verification, Didi stated the content is severely inaccurate and misleading, causing a negative impact. The original video has been taken down by the relevant content platform. Didi reserves the right to take legal action for the serious consequences caused by the rumor.
Didi emphasized that passenger fares and driver earnings for all “She Plan” orders are calculated using the platform’s existing billing rules, with no difference in driver pay or pricing for these orders. Additionally, joining or leaving the “She Plan” is entirely voluntary, and female drivers can decide for themselves whether to participate. The rules for managing driver trip refusals are the same as for all other drivers on the platform.
Soaring Storage Costs Force Smartphone Makers to Pivot Overseas
On July 16, as reported by People’s Finance, Realme will pause product updates in China and focus its new product launches on overseas markets to better integrate group resources and achieve global product strategy synergy. OnePlus’ product updates in China remain unchanged. Both Realme and OnePlus will continue to focus on gaming and performance segments. This move signals that Realme, a brand that originally grew overseas, is refocusing on international markets amid a storage price boom.
Realme isn’t the first company to adjust its product focus during the storage price surge. In February, Meizu also announced it would suspend new phone releases in China due to fierce market competition and rising memory prices. Meanwhile, its overseas phone business, AI glasses, and PANDAER tech lifestyle brand will begin market-oriented operations. The company is shifting from a hardware-centric model to an AI-driven software-focused direction, effectively phasing out Meizu phones from the domestic market. ZTE’s decision to partner with ByteDance to create an AI phone is another example of proactive adaptation in a hyper-competitive landscape.
EU Reportedly Set to Approve Gaming Giant Electronic Arts Acquisition
On July 17, reports indicated that the European Union is poised to approve a consortium’s acquisition of Electronic Arts, the developer behind hit games like “Battlefield” and “The Sims.” The consortium includes Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), Affinity Partners, and private equity firm Silver Lake.
Insiders said the European Commission is expected to greenlight the deal after concluding its preliminary review under the Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR), with a decision anticipated by July 30.
Electronic Arts announced in September last year that it had reached a definitive agreement to be acquired by the PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners consortium in an all-cash deal valued at approximately $55 billion.
