Surges

• New Jersey sportsbooks generated $97 million in gross revenue during July, marking a 29.7% increase compared to the same month last year. • The surge was driven by $816.9 million in total wagers and an 11.9% hold rate, the highest reported by operators so far this year. • High betting activity tied to the FIFA World Cup knockout rounds and championship match served as a primary catalyst for the revenue growth.

• South Korea's KOSPI index surged 5.89%, reversing previous losses and boosting investor confidence. • The rally was primarily driven by SK Hynix's announcement of a massive $28.69 billion share buyback plan. • Additional support for the market came from easing U.S. Treasury yields, which helped spark a sharp rebound in chip-related stocks.

• On August 20, Asian markets saw a strong rebound, with South Korea's KOSPI Index surging 5.89% to 6,852.58 points and Japan's Nikkei 225 rising 1.36% to 66,216.79 points. • Major tech stocks led the rally, including SK Hynix (up over 12%), Samsung (up over 9%), and Kioxia (up over 6%), while the Korea Exchange activated a Sidecar mechanism to manage program buying. • The momentum is driven by Samsung's plan to announce a shareholder return exceeding 100 trillion won (~$71.9 billion) and a $120 billion conditional revenue agreement between Google and Marvell for custom AI chips.

• SanDisk has experienced a significant price surge, signaling a broader trend of renewed opportunities within the value stock sector. • The report identifies three industry-leading companies characterized by strong financial fundamentals and attractive current valuations for investors. • This analysis is supported by Steve, the Founder of Alpha Picks, who utilizes a data-driven, systematic approach to remove emotional bias from stock selection.

• The Kospi index surged 3.68% to close at 6,579.04 on August 12, gaining 233.51 points and nearly ending a seven-week losing streak. • The rally was driven by foreign investors net buying $2 billion, with semiconductor giants Samsung and SK Hynix leading the market gains. • Positive after-hours earnings from U.S. AI infrastructure firms CoreWeave and Supermicro dispelled fears regarding semiconductor demand, boosting investor sentiment in South Korea.

• On August 12, Japanese and South Korean stock markets closed higher, highlighted by a 3.68% surge in South Korea's KOSPI Index to 6,579.04 points. • The rally was driven by the semiconductor sector, with Samsung Electronics jumping 6%, SK Hynix gaining over 5%, and Kioxia rising nearly 4%. • Investor confidence was bolstered by reports that Singapore's Temasek plans to invest directly in South Korean semiconductor leaders, citing low valuations and high AI memory chip demand.

Calls for speed limiters or mandated helmet use after research into injuries at three paediatric trauma centres The number of children involved in crashes on e-scooters has soared in recent years, with some as young as nine involved in collisions, research has found.Researchers carried out a review of injuries among the under-16s at three specialist paediatric trauma centres – Alder Hey in Liverpool, and Sheffield and Royal Manchester children’s hospitals – between January 2019 and December 2024. Continue reading...