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Southern Water’s credit outlooks upgraded by Moody’s and S&P
Moody’s shifts outlook to positive, S&P revises to stable, as degearing and shareholder support bolster credit profile ahead of 2029 targets.

Akastor shares surge 40% on Q2 2026 earnings as NAV rises
Norwegian investment firm posts NOK 94 million EBITDA, approves fifth consecutive quarterly dividend, and highlights portfolio gains from HMH IPO and asset sales.

BizLink posts Q2 2026 revenue, EPS beat on margin recovery
Taiwanese connector maker BizLink International reported a 37% YoY revenue jump and record EPS, citing robust AI-driven demand and sequential margin expansion. Shares rose 1.1% on the news.

China’s offshore trust tax crackdown forces wealthy investors to reassess holdings
New 20% levy on offshore trusts and stricter reporting rules prompt China’s super-rich to unwind structures, liquidate assets or seek alternative offshore arrangements amid broader tax enforcement push.

Barclays downgrades Renault to Equal Weight citing tough competition
Analysts cut price target and earnings estimates after stock gains; cost savings target deemed unrealistic amid competitive pressures.

European stocks end week near July lows as oil, bonds weigh
Stoxx 600 closes down 0.6% for the week; Brent crude hits one-month high on geopolitical risks while German 10-year bund yields near 2011 peaks.

Graubündner Kantonalbank posts 18% profit jump in H1 2026, lifts outlook
Swiss regional lender Graubündner Kantonalbank reported an 18.2% rise in H1 net profit to 137.2 million francs, with operating income up 11.2% to 286.3 million. The bank raised its full-year earnings guidance above 2025 levels.

Optima Health sets Sept. 22 AGM, releases 2026 annual report
Healthcare services provider Optima Health scheduled its annual general meeting for Sept. 22 and issued its 2026 annual report to shareholders. Shares closed at 238 pence on Aug. 20.

Gore Street urges shareholders to reject Saba’s AGM resolutions
Fund warns resolutions to wind up the company or halt its investment strategy could disrupt asset sales and destroy value. Saba holds an 18% stake.

ServisFirst Bancshares hits 52-week low at $43.64
Regional lender’s shares fall to a year low despite strong annual and YTD returns, meeting earnings and revenue forecasts for Q2 2026.

AAC Technologies posts 8.9% revenue rise in H1 2026 on heat management demand
Core net profit up 37.4% as acoustics and precision mechanics segments drive growth, with heat dissipation revenue surging 400% year-over-year.

German DAX steadies after four-day slide, Euro Stoxx 50 gains
The DAX recovers 0.1% to 26,013 points after holding its 21-day line, while the Euro Stoxx 50 rises 0.2%. Asian and U.S. markets show mixed signals ahead of the weekend.

Global economic calendar for Aug 21, 2026: PMI, retail sales and business surveys
Key economic releases include S&P Global PMIs for the euro zone, U.S. and U.K., plus German retail sales and French business sentiment. Borussia Dortmund reports preliminary FY25/26 figures.

NIBE posts six straight quarters of growth, lifts Q2 2026 outlook
Swedish industrial group reports 8.7% organic revenue growth and upgrades full-year margin guidance after strong second-quarter results.

NHTSA opens probe into engine failures in nearly 1 million GM vehicles
U.S. safety regulator launches engineering analysis of post-recall engine failures in Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Yukon models equipped with GM's L87 engines.

Trump-backed IndyCar race in D.C. secures Boeing, Starlink, Delta as sponsors
The Freedom 250 Grand Prix, a 250-mile race through downtown Washington, D.C., has attracted major corporate backing including Boeing, SpaceX’s Starlink, and Delta Air Lines, with President Trump set to attend.

U.S., Iran escalate rhetoric as new sanctions set for Monday rollout
Washington and Tehran exchange threats ahead of Washington’s announcement of sweeping new economic penalties on Iran, while oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz remain near halt.

Bidco’s Pinewood.AI takeover support falls to 46.72% amid share sales
Support for U.K. Piston Bidco’s recommended acquisition of Pinewood Technologies Group plc has declined as Feoh Investments UK LLP reduced its stake. The current backing covers 53.78 million shares.

Gamma confirms talks with Waterland on potential buyout
U.K. telecoms provider Gamma says preliminary discussions with Waterland Private Equity could lead to a full acquisition. A binding offer or withdrawal is due by Sept. 18, 2026.

Montea secures 95% of €1.15 bln Track27 plan, leasing volume hits 255k sqm
Belgian logistics REIT reports H1 2026 EPRA EPS up 5% YoY, portfolio occupancy at 99.4% and Track27 investment pipeline 95% funded.

Coldcard tightens seed generation with firmware upgrade after $112M hack
Coinkite’s latest firmware update requires user-supplied entropy to strengthen seed phrase generation on Coldcard devices, following a $112 million exploit in August.

SNB’s Tschudin warns AI could fuel near-term inflation pressures
Swiss National Bank board member cites redirected investment flows and chip shortages as potential short-term drivers of price gains, though long-term impact remains uncertain.

Judge dismisses most of Ben & Jerry’s lawsuit against Unilever
Manhattan judge narrows case alleging Unilever sought to silence activism and withheld payments, shifting focus to missed settlement funds.

Gray Media refinances $750 mln debt at 7.5% to cut costs
Media group issues senior secured notes due 2034 to refinance higher-cost 2029 debt and reduce revolving credit exposure. Proceeds total $750 million.

