Nestle’s shares dropped nearly 3% as the markets opened on Tuesday after the Swiss food and beverage giant dismissed its chief executive, Laurent Freixe, following an internal probe into an undisclosed relationship with a subordinate.

However, the stock was able to recover some losses by 10 am, and was down by about 1.5% at 10:15 am.

The company said the affair breached its code of business conduct, prompting his immediate removal late on Monday.

The abrupt ouster deepened concerns over leadership instability at the Vevey-based group, which has now replaced its top executive twice in little over a year.

The latest upheaval comes as Nestlé continues to struggle with weak sales and persistent investor dissatisfaction with its shares, having lost almost a third of their value over the past five years.

Nestlé named Philipp Navratil, head of its Nespresso business since July 2024 and a company veteran since 2001, as the new chief executive.

Freixe’s leadership: a turbulent chapter for Nestlé

Freixe had been appointed only the previous year, following the sudden departure of long-serving Chief Executive Mark Schneider.

However, his brief tenure failed to stem Nestlé’s slide, with the group’s shares declining a further 17% during his leadership.

Maurizio Porfiri, chief investment officer at Maverix, said Freixe’s tenure was marked by delays in restructuring.

“Another fresh start is needed, and it is time for more stability to return to the management at this global corporation,” he told Reuters.

“The market did not particularly like Freixe, and the restructuring goals were also put on the back burner,” Porfiri added.

The turmoil comes just months after Nestle launched a review of its vitamins and supplements business, signalling that divestments could be on the horizon following disappointing first-half results.

“Nestle has received much unwanted scrutiny over the past 13 months after the departure of Freixe’s predecessor—also unexpected—and the poor share performance of the preceding 2.5 years,” Bernstein analysts wrote in a note.

Investor sentiment remains cautious

The latest change is likely to leave questions unanswered about Nestle’s mid-term direction and “keep a lid on the equity story until we hear more about Mr Navratil’s plan,” JPMorgan analysts said in a research note.

They added that the latest move was unlikely to reassure investors, noting that it was the second time in a year that the company had chosen a new chief without a wide search process.

They also cautioned that Navratil risked being “boxed in” by his predecessor’s turnaround plans at a time when the market remained unconvinced about the group’s prospects.

Bernstein also expressed concern that Navratil would inevitably seek to put his own stamp on strategy despite initially signalling alignment with the company’s current direction.

“This adds an element of uncertainty around the future direction of the business in the near term, which is unlikely to be helpful toward investor sentiment,” the analysts said.

Analysts hope for a ‘generational reset’ with Navratil’s appointment

At 48, Navratil represents a generational shift in leadership and will be tasked with restoring investor confidence in a company whose shares have lost almost a third of their value over the past five years.

Analysts at Baader Helvea described Navratil’s appointment, alongside the planned succession of chair Paul Bulcke by former Inditex executive Pablo Isla in 2026, as a long-awaited generational handover.

“We see Mr. Navratil’s appointment–born 1976–, together with the change at the chairman position next year with Mr. Pablo Isla as the real generational step that should probably have happened 12 months earlier,” Baader Helvea’s Andreas von Arx said.

He added that Navratil could bring fresh ambition to underperforming divisions such as frozen foods, infant nutrition, generic milk products, and water.

“The reasons for these issues seem structural, but Freixe’s view was that they were due to mismanagement,” the analyst says.

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The Nio stock price rebounded in Hong Kong and in the premarket after the company published strong delivery numbers. It jumped to a high of $6.50, up by 120% from its lowest level in April this year, making it one of the best-performing companies in the EV space.

Nio deliveries are soaring 

Nio stock price jumped on Tuesday, helped by its strong vehicle delivery numbers as customers continued to buy its newly launched vehicles.

In a report, the company said that it delivered 31,305 vehicles in August, a record high that was a 55.2% increase from the same period last year. This surge brought its cumulative deliveries so far this year at 166,472, up by 30% from the same period last year.

Nio’s business has done well because of the recent product launches that have been received well by its customers. Its premium Nio brand sold 10,525 vehicles, while Onvo sold 16,434 vehicles, and Firefly had 4,346.

These numbers mean that customers are embracing its new vehicles, a trend that will continue in the coming months.

Most importantly, the deliveries came a few days after its top competitor like Byd published weak financial results, in which it blamed the rising competition and pricing factors for the weakness.

Nio is also doing well as the Chinese EV market becomes highly saturated. Some of the top companies in the country like Li Auto, XPeng, SAIC, and Cherry are all selling thousands of vehicles a month, with most of them relying on discounting.

Read more: Nio stock surges 11% as Morgan Stanley reaffirms bullish view after ES8 launch

Nio earnings ahead 

The next important catalyst for the Nio stock price is the upcoming earnings, which will come out shortly before the US market opens.

Its business delivered 72,056 vehicles in the quarter, up by 25.6% from the same period last year.

Therefore, using these numbers, analysts expect the upcoming results to show that its revenue rose by 13% YoY to CNY 19.74 billion, a higher growth rate than other companies like Tesla and Byd. 

Analysts also expect the upcoming results to show that its losses narrowed slightly during the quality. In this, the loss-per-share is seen coming in at CNY 2.0, down from CNY 2.21.

Nio’s guidance is that its revenue for the current quarter will be CNY 89.7 billion, up by 36.50% from the same period last year. This will lead to an annual revenue of CNY 89.72 billion last year, and will then be followed by CNY 116.25 billion next year.

Nio stock price technical analysis 

Nio stock chart | Source: TradingView

The daily chart shows that the Nio share price has been in a strong bullish trend in the past few months, moving from a low of $3 to $6.50 today, in line with we had predicted here and here.

The stock has moved above the upper side of the inverse head-and-shoulders pattern at $5.48. This is one of the most popular bullish reversal signs in technical analysis.

It has also formed a golden cross pattern as the 50-day and 200-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMA) have crossed each other.

Also, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) and the MACD indicators have continued rising, a sign that it is gaining momentum.

Therefore, the stock will likely continue rising as bulls target the next key resistance level at $7.67, up by 17% from the current level. A drop below the support at $6 will invalidate the bullish outlook.

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Tesla Inc.’s entry into India, one of the world’s fastest-growing auto markets, has turned out to be slower than anticipated.

Since opening sales in mid-July, the electric vehicle maker has received just over 600 confirmed orders, according to people familiar with the matter.

The number, which falls far below Tesla’s initial hopes, highlights the difficulties of expanding into a price-sensitive market while dealing with high import tariffs and strained trade relations.

For context, Tesla delivers more than 600 cars globally every four hours, underscoring how small the scale of its India debut is compared to its global output.

Orders and delivery targets in 2025

Tesla is now planning to ship between 350 and 500 cars to India this year. The first batch will come from its Shanghai factory and is scheduled to arrive in early September. Deliveries will begin in four major cities: Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, and Gurugram.

The shipment size is directly tied to the number of full payments received by Tesla. At present, the company’s operations are limited to locations where it has a physical presence, but plans to expand beyond these hubs could depend on future demand.

Tesla had originally aimed to use the full 2,500-car annual import quota for 2025, as reported earlier, but current figures suggest this target will not be reached.

Prices and tariffs weigh on demand

One of the biggest barriers is cost. Due to India’s high import tariffs—some as high as 110%—Tesla’s entry-level model is priced at more than 6 million rupees ($68,000).

By comparison, most EV sales in India occur at around 2.2 million rupees, according to data from auto intelligence firm JATO Dynamics. This pricing effectively restricts Tesla’s Model Y to a niche segment of wealthy consumers.

In the first half of 2025, just over 2,800 electric vehicles priced between 4.5 million and 7 million rupees were sold in India, JATO data shows. Tesla’s current sales figures, while disappointing compared to its global scale, fit within the size of India’s luxury EV market.

Global headwinds and trade friction

Tesla’s India results come at a time when the company is under pressure in its largest markets. Sales fell 13% last quarter in both China and the US, raising the risk of a second consecutive year of decline.

The carmaker had hoped India would ease import duties through trade talks with the US, allowing Tesla to lower its prices.

Instead, negotiations stalled after Donald Trump, now serving as US President, imposed 50% tariffs on Indian exports in retaliation for India’s continued purchase of Russian oil. This move has made it unlikely that Tesla will gain tariff relief any time soon.

Another potential channel, an India-Europe free trade agreement, would have allowed Tesla to import vehicles from its German plant at reduced duty rates. However, that deal remains under negotiation.

Competition and future expansion

Tesla’s cautious approach contrasts with Chinese rival BYD Co., which sold more than 1,200 Sealion 7 SUVs in India during the first half of 2025, despite facing the same import tariffs.

The BYD model is priced from around 4.9 million rupees, making it slightly more accessible to the high-end EV buyer.

Despite the slower-than-expected start, Tesla is still moving ahead with plans to establish a stronger presence in India. The company has already installed Superchargers in Mumbai and Delhi and is preparing to open a third experience centre in South India in 2026.

While crowds have visited Tesla’s showrooms, foot traffic has not converted into the scale of sales the brand expected.

The company’s strategy of relying on brand recognition and limited advertising, which works in markets such as the US and Europe, faces greater challenges in India where automakers invest heavily in marketing campaigns.

For Tesla, the next phase will depend on whether its premium pricing can sustain steady growth in a market still dominated by affordable cars.

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Opendoor stock price has surged in the past few months, moving from the year-to-date low of $0.5035 in July to $4.45 today. This surge has transformed its market capitalization from over $350 million in June to $3.27 billion today. 

Why the Opendoor stock price has surged

There are three primary reasons why the OPEN stock price has surged in the past few weeks. First, it has become a victim of a short-squeeze as companies like GameStop and AMC did a few years ago. 

It is an ideal for a short squeeze because, at its lowest level this year, the stock was down by over 90% from its all-time high. It also has one of the biggest short interest in the United States, with its figure standing at 21%. 

Opendoor’s stock price surged after Shrisha Radhakrishna, a company executive, bought 30,000 shares worth over $128,000 last week. This marks the first time that an insider has bought the shares in the last 12 months. In this period, executives have implemented 14 sell trades of over 2.56 million shares.

READ MORE: Can Opendoor stock really hit $82? The math behind it raises questions

Insider purchases are a good thing for a company, as they signal that the company is confident in itself since they often know more details than the broader investing community.

Opendoor share price also jumped after the company published better-than-expected financial results. Its revenue rose to $1.51 billion in the second quarter of 2024 to $1.567 billion in the most recent quarter. This growth happened even as the company sold 128 houses, lower than the 129 it sold in the same period last year.

Opendoor’s profit also continued to improve. While it dropped from $95 million last year to $69 million in the recent quarter, it has increased in the last three consecutive quarters. 

Analysts also expect that the company’s business will continue improving this year, with the annual revenue coming in at $4.05 billion, followed by $4.39 billion next year.

The annual revenue this year will be much lower than what it made last year as the weakness in the housing sector persists and its ongoing pivot from an iBuyer market to one that relies on agents. In a statement, the CEO said:

“With mortgage rates hovering in the high 6% range and affordability near all-time lows, buyer demand remains persistently weak. Only 12% of consumers expressed that it is a good time to buy a home, and sellers currently outnumber buyers by the widest margin in over a decade. This has led to low clearance rates and a decade high delistings.”

OPEN stock price analysis 

The daily timeframe chart shows that the Opendoor share price surged this year, reaching a high of $5.83 last month. This surge happened as it moved to the markup phase of the Wyckoff Theory, where demand surges. 

The stock then formed a golden cross as the 50-day and 200-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMA) crossed each other. This golden cross is one of the most bullish patterns in technical analysis. 

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) has formed a bearish divergence, while the MACD lines are nearing their crossover. Therefore, the stock will likely pull back as investors start to book profits, potentially to the support level at $3.

The risk, however, is that the company is still highly shorted, meaning that it can be a candidate for a short-squeeze.

READ MORE: Opendoor stock price is soaring as we predicted: what now?

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Great Britain’s pub industry is facing a severe crisis, with an estimated 378 pubs projected to close in 2025 across England, Wales, and Scotland, leading to over 5,600 direct job losses, according to the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA).

Great Britain is projected to see a pub closure every day throughout 2025, according to the latest BBPA data quoted in a CNBC report.

BBPA represents more than 20,000 pubs. 

Soaring costs and job losses

The industry faces a difficult period marked by decreased consumer spending and increased operational costs.

According to UK Hospitality, a trade organisation, the hospitality sector has shed approximately 89,000 jobs since the Autumn Budget. 

This accounts for over half of all job losses in the UK since last October, with contributing factors including rises in the minimum wage, National Insurance contributions, and business rates.

London’s worrying trend

London, a city renowned for its vibrant pub culture, is currently facing a worrying trend of significant pub closures. 

These closures are not merely the loss of drinking establishments, but rather the disappearance of vital community hubs that have long served as cornerstones of British social life. 

The traditional pub, once a guaranteed meeting point for locals, is now competing with a broader array of leisure activities and the convenience of at-home entertainment. 

This unfortunate trend has profound implications for the social fabric of London, eroding the sense of community and impacting the livelihoods of countless individuals employed within the pub industry. 

The closures signify a shift in the urban landscape and a challenge to preserve a cherished aspect of British heritage.

According to Tim Skinner, manager of The Devonshire Arms pub (located near Bond Street in central London), increased costs are significantly affecting his business.

He was quoted in the CNBC report:

The National Insurance increased directly, the business rates increased directly, and obviously, maintaining the level of VAT where it is means that a business like this needs to find around £30,000 (around $40,000) extra a year just to stay still.

Passing on increased expenses to consumers has become a common practice among publicans, as noted by Skinner.

Consequently, the average price of a pint of beer exceeded £5 this summer.

Skinner added:

We’re having to pass some of those costs on to the customers, but we’re very mindful of where we sit in the marketplace. It is still very competitive, and we’re having to fight for every pound that the customer is willing to spend. So we’re trying to make savings where we can, but we’re running out of opportunities to do that.

Economic importance

The British pub sector significantly contributes to the UK economy through direct revenue, employment, and its extensive supply chain. 

However, the industry’s decline and numerous closures are projected by the British Beer & Pub Association to have substantial ripple effects on the UK economy.

“From grain to glass, our sector supports over £30 billion being pushed into the economy, £18 billion in taxes, one million jobs,” Charlie Hall, a spokesman for the BBPA, was quoted in the report.

He warned that the anticipated closure of more pubs this year would severely disrupt the supply chain, impacting all stakeholders from hop growers to glass manufacturers.

British pub landlords are urging the government to take immediate action in the upcoming Autumn Budget to reduce business rates and VAT.

They highlight that pubs and breweries are among the most heavily taxed industries in the UK.

Mick Howard, operations director of Star Pubs, emphasised that reforms to business rates, a reduction in beer duty, and a freeze on National Insurance contribution increases are crucial for safeguarding the British pub industry. Failure to act could lead to further pub closures.

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More American workers are testing positive for fentanyl in randomised workplace drug screenings, a report by The Wall Street Journal said, which brings to the fore the persistent challenges the opioid epidemic poses for employers.

The rate of positive urine tests for fentanyl reached 1.13% in 2024, up from 0.91% in 2023 and more than double the rate seen in 2020, according to new data from Quest Diagnostics cited by WSJ.

The analysis reviewed more than eight million drug tests, making it one of the most comprehensive workplace drug-use studies in the country.

“We’re seeing trends that are outside of the norm that we see for other drugs historically,” said Suhash Harwani, senior director of science for workforce-health solutions at Quest Diagnostics.

The findings indicate that random tests reveal opioid use more accurately than pre-employment screenings, where candidates have time to prepare.

Fentanyl-positive results were more than seven times higher in random tests than in initial hiring screenings.

Overall drug positivity shows a decline

While fentanyl use is rising, Quest found that overall workplace drug positivity fell slightly in 2024, to 4.4% from 4.6% in 2023.

That decline follows three consecutive years of increases.

The continued prevalence of fentanyl use comes as the US grapples with an opioid crisis that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.

Deaths involving synthetic opioids fell slightly last year, down 2% to about 74,700, according to preliminary data from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

Still, fentanyl accounted for roughly seven in 10 US overdose deaths.

Source: Statista

Fentanyl use results versus marijuana use results

Employers in industries such as construction, mining and transportation have been particularly vulnerable to substance misuse in the workforce.

Unintentional overdoses from nonmedical drug and alcohol use in the workplace rose for the 10th straight year in 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The new findings suggest some workers may begin using fentanyl after passing pre-employment screenings, raising risks of on-the-job accidents, absenteeism, and overdoses.

In contrast, marijuana use trends lower in random tests compared to hiring screenings, with a 42% lower positivity rate in surprise testing over the past five years.

Why fentanyl slips through screenings

Experts note that fentanyl’s short lifespan in the body allows it to evade standard pre-employment detection more easily than other drugs.

“Fentanyl is shorter-lived than cannabis; it doesn’t stay in the bloodstream or remain detectable nearly as long,” said Alexandria Macmadu, assistant professor of epidemiology at Brown University.

“The drug can disappear from the system within hours versus up to three days for other substances.”

This means job candidates can abstain for a short period before interviews or tests and still pass screenings.

In some cases, candidates have reportedly attempted to substitute specimens to avoid detection.

Employers respond with expanded testing

The growing prevalence of fentanyl use has led more corporate clients to request that Quest Diagnostics include the drug in their testing panels.

“We’re starting to see a bit more of a shift into reasonable suspicion, random-type testing and post-incident testing,” said Janet LaQuintano, vice president of growth and strategic initiatives at staffing agency ManpowerGroup.

Human-resource professionals also report a shift away from narrow testing strategies.

“Companies are increasingly requesting a full suite of tests for all drugs rather than just marijuana,” said Julie Schweber, knowledge adviser at HR trade group SHRM.

As fentanyl continues to pose unique risks in the workplace, experts warn that employers may need to adopt even stricter monitoring and support programs to address the health and safety challenges stemming from the nation’s opioid epidemic.

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Nio Inc. posted some solid earnings in the second quarter in fiscal year 2025, with vehicle sales and revenue soaring well, in a good sign for the company.

Making steady profits is still tough, though, even if losses have come down a bit from before.

Analysts are happy to see more cars being delivered as it shows there’s real demand, but high operating costs are still a problem, making it hard for the company to stay consistently profitable.

Nio’s Q2 2025 performance

In Q2 2025, Nio delivered 72,056 vehicles, up 25.6% from a year ago and an impressive 71.2% compared with the previous quarter.

The jump shows growing demand for both its luxury models and newer mainstream EVs, ONVO and Firefly.

Revenue reached RMB 19,008.7 million (US$2,653.5 million), up 9% from last year and nearly 58% higher than the previous quarter.

Of the cars delivered, 47,132 were from Nio’s premium line, 17,081 from the family-oriented ONVO, and 7,843 from the compact luxury Firefly, helping the company expand its appeal across different segments.

Gross profit came in at RMB 1,897.5 million (US$264.9 million), up 12% from a year ago and more than double the previous quarter.

Gross margin edged up to 10% from 9.7% last year and 7.6% in Q1, suggesting operations are getting a bit more efficient.

Vehicle margins dropped to 10.3% from 12.2% a year ago, though they’re slightly better than last quarter.

On the whole, Nio’s operational loss narrowed to RMB 4,908 million (US$685.2 million), down about 6% from last year and 24% from Q1, showing the company is making some headway on controlling costs.

Strong demand for models like the ONVO L90 and the All-New ES8 helped boost results.

Management is now projecting Q3 deliveries of 87,000 to 91,000 vehicles, which could set a new record and represent 40–47% growth year over year.

At the same time, the company’s spending on new battery swapping stations and expanding its product lineup is still putting pressure on short-term profits.

What analysts say?

After the earnings release, Nio stock plunged over 3% in the premarket trading. Analysts are cautiously optimistic, even after Nio’s stock has jumped about 45% year-to-date through late August.

Wall Street had expected a loss of roughly $0.30–$0.31 per share for the quarter, with revenue around $2.76 billion, up about 15% from last year.

The company’s actual results came in close to or slightly above these forecasts, and stronger-than-expected vehicle deliveries helped Nio gain market share in China’s competitive EV market.

Still, cost pressures are keeping some of the excitement in check.

Analysts note that while Nio’s revenue growth is strong, vehicle margins are squeezed by price competition and higher operating costs, especially for R&D, staffing, and expanding the battery swap network.

In the past four quarters, Nio has missed EPS estimates three times, with only one beat, which has kept some investors cautious.

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Dow futures slipped about 300 points on Tuesday as investors pulled back ahead of key US economic reports this week, including the August jobs numbers.

Rising long-term Treasury yields and a recent court ruling on Trump-era tariffs added to the nervousness. August had been a good month for stocks, but September is often rough.

All eyes are now on the Fed and new data that could shift how investors are feeling.

5 things to know before Wall Street opens

1. A bunch of important economic data is coming out that could really move markets today. The ISM Manufacturing PMI is probably the biggest one as that will tell us whether factory activity is picking up or slowing down.

Construction spending numbers will give us a read on how the housing and infrastructure sectors are doing.

There is also the RCM/TIPP Economic Optimism Index, which tries to capture how consumers and businesses are feeling about the economy going forward.

These sentiment indicators can sometimes be just as important as the hard data because they influence spending and investment decisions.

2. Pre-market trading is showing investors are being pretty careful about their moves this morning. Tech and energy stocks are seeing the most action, which makes sense since those sectors have been the most unpredictable lately.

Several big-name companies are looking like they could swing either direction once regular trading starts, especially with some corporate updates expected later this week.

When investors know earnings or major announcements are coming, they tend to position themselves early, which can create some wild price swings.

3. The investors are going to be tuned to what Fed officials have to say today and throughout the week.

We have got multiple policymakers scheduled to speak, and investors are going to be hanging on every word they say about inflation, rates, and the economy.

Recent Fed comments have been all over the place, so people are trying to figure out what they’re actually planning to do at their next meeting.

Any hint about whether they’re leaning toward cutting rates or holding steady could really move markets.

4. Oil prices are still front and center as we come off the Labor Day weekend, with both Brent and WTI getting moved around by supply worries and all the geopolitical tensions happening around the world.

It’s one of those situations where every bit of news from oil-producing regions seems to move the needle.

But it’s not just oil that’s getting volatile. Metals, agricultural products, and pretty much every other commodity are bouncing around as investors worry about global trade getting more complicated.

5. The charts are telling an interesting story as we start September trading.

The S&P 500 is bumping up against a resistance level after doing pretty well in August, so technical analysts are watching to see if it can break through or if it’s going to hit a wall there.

The Nasdaq is still moving within its trend channel, which is good, but some of the momentum indicators are flashing overbought signals.

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China’s electric vehicle (EV) sector recorded a strong rebound in August as sales recovered from a mid-year slump, as per a CNBC report.

Leading automakers BYD, Nio, Xpeng, and Leapmotor posted delivery records following a challenging period of price cuts and intense competition.

The upturn signals renewed demand after months of volatility, with several new model launches and sub-brand expansions driving momentum.

Meanwhile, some companies struggled with declining deliveries amid public controversies.

The August numbers highlight how pricing strategies, product innovation, and brand perception continue to shape China’s crowded EV market.

BYD, China’s largest EV maker, shipped 371,501 vehicles in August. That marked nearly 22% growth compared with the same period a year earlier.

The figure underlined BYD’s ability to hold ground in the price war that unsettled the market during the summer.

Nio sets new record with 31,305 shipments

Nio reached a new monthly record with 31,305 deliveries in August. This marked a sharp recovery after July’s slowdown.

Much of the growth came from its family-focused sub-brand Onvo, which made 16,434 deliveries in August compared with just 5,976 in July.

Alongside this, Nio opened pre-orders for its ES8 SUV, priced from 308,800 yuan ($43,305), with deliveries also scheduled for later this month.

Leapmotor and Xpeng post all-time highs

Leapmotor delivered 57,066 vehicles in August, up 88% year on year and an increase on July’s 50,129 units.

The surge followed the July 24 launch of the B01 model, which sold more than 10,000 units in its first month.

Sales were further supported by a new colour release of the B10 model.

This was Leapmotor’s strongest monthly growth since March, when deliveries climbed from 25,287 in February to 37,095.

Xpeng also reported a record month with 37,709 deliveries in August.

Its new P7 model, launched on 28 August, was priced competitively from 219,800 yuan.

The lower price point positioned it among the most affordable EVs in the market, fuelling strong early demand.

Mixed results for other EV makers

Xiaomi maintained over 30,000 deliveries in August, though the company did not disclose exact figures.

The result followed momentum from the YU7 SUV launch in July.

Geely-owned Zeekr recorded 17,626 sales in August, slightly above July’s 16,977 units after plateauing in earlier months.

Li Auto, however, marked its third consecutive month of decline, delivering 28,529 vehicles in August versus 30,731 in July.

The fall came despite the launch of its Li i8 model on 29 July.

The company faced criticism after a video showed a collision test between the Li i8 and a truck from Dongfeng Liuzhou.

Online backlash suggested the test conditions were unfair.

Although Li Auto initially defended the marketing strategy, it later issued an apology to the truck maker.

Huawei-backed Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance, which includes brands Aito, Chery, and Maextro, also saw weaker results.

The alliance delivered 44,579 vehicles in August, down from 47,752 in July. No brand-specific breakdown was released.

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Super Micro Computer Inc (NASDAQ: SMCI) remains in focus today after Coatue Management founder Philipe Laffont revealed he’s pulled out of AI server company.

In its place, the hedge fund manager has made a substantial investment in a legacy tech company with deep roots in enterprise software and cloud infrastructure.

While Supermicro shares successfully avoided a delisting threat in 2025 – they have not been particularly exciting for investors in recent months.

At the time of writing, the AI stock is down roughly 30% versus its July high.

Why Laffont unloaded SMCI stock

Super Micro Computer has been riding the AI wave, but not without turbulence.

In mid-2024, the company faced allegations from Hindenburg Research, which raised concerns about its accounting practices and executive rehiring decisions. Although Supermicro ultimately filed its annual report without restating financials, the damage to investor confidence lingered.

Add to that weaker-than-expected earnings and guidance in August – partly due to tariff-related constraints and shifting customer specs – and the SMCI stock narrative became more complicated.

More importantly, the artificial intelligence server giant renewed concerns of inadequate internal financial controls last week, adding its remedial measures may fail to fully address the problem or avoid future inaccuracies.

Laffont, known for his tactical exits, may have seen enough red flags to justify locking in gains. While SMCI still trades at a modest valuation, its near-term outlook remains clouded by macro and regulatory risks.

Why Laffont loaded up on Oracle stock

Instead of chasing the flashiest AI names, Laffont turned to Oracle Inc (NYSE: ORCL), a company that’s been quietly reinventing itself for the artificial intelligence era.

Coatue acquired over 3.8 million shares in the second quarter, a stake worth north of $843 million. Oracle’s cloud infrastructure business is booming, with management forecasting 70% growth in fiscal 2026 after a strong 52% expansion the prior year.

CEO Larry Ellison emphasized Oracle’s unique position: “Our applications take all of your application data and make that data available to the most popular AI models.”

With its massive database footprint and enterprise relationships, Oracle stock is becoming a go-to platform for companies integrating AI into their operations.

Laffont’s bet reflects confidence in Oracle’s ability to scale AI solutions without the hype.

Should you invest in ORCL shares today

Oracle stock isn’t cheap – trading at roughly 34 times forward earnings – but its fundamentals are strengthening.

That’s why Wall Street currently rates ORCL shares at “overweight” with price targets going as high as $325, indicating potential upside of another 45% from current levels.

Additionally, Oracle stock does also pay a small dividend yield of 0.88% at the time of writing, which makes it even more attractive as a long-term holding.

While it may not deliver explosive returns like early-stage AI plays, Oracle’s blend of scale, profitability, and strategic positioning could make it a cornerstone in any tech-focused portfolio.

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