Canadian cannabis company Aurora Cannabis has secured a US patent for its groundbreaking research on auto-flowering technology in cannabis. This innovation could revolutionize cannabis cultivation, particularly in high-latitude regions, by allowing plants to automatically transition to the flowering stage, independent of light cycles. Aurora’s research also focuses on improving potency, yield, and overall efficiency in cannabis production.
Icahn Enterprises stock climbed higher on Tuesday following a 14% jump the previous day. The boost came after a U.S. District Court judge dismissed a class action lawsuit against the company, finding that the claims made by short seller Hindenburg Research lacked merit. This positive news comes on the heels of a settlement with the SEC regarding disclosures about Icahn’s personal margin loans.
Microsoft announced a 10% dividend increase and a massive $60 billion share repurchase program, sending its stock price up on Tuesday. The move reflects the tech giant’s strong financial position and confidence in its future prospects.
MicroStrategy continues its aggressive Bitcoin buying strategy, holding a staggering $9.45 billion worth of the cryptocurrency. While its stock has seen significant gains, technical indicators suggest a potential slowdown or correction in the near term.
Schlumberger, a leading oilfield services company, has launched its Lumi data and AI platform, integrating advanced AI across the energy value chain. The Lumi platform offers a secure and open data environment for collaboration and improved decision-making. It leverages the latest large language models and SLB’s domain-specific models to facilitate AI adoption throughout the energy sector.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is basking in the success of its first private spacewalk, while Boeing faces multiple challenges, including a worker strike and the grounding of its Starliner spacecraft, leaving NASA astronauts stranded. This situation has led Musk to publicly criticize Boeing’s performance and cost-effectiveness compared to SpaceX.
Gold prices remain resilient, holding near record highs driven by the weakening US dollar and anticipation of a substantial interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve. Market sentiment is favoring gold as a safe haven asset, with geopolitical events and the potential easing of US monetary policy fueling demand.
The Red Chickz, a popular fast-casual hot chicken chain known for its West Coast twist on Nashville hot chicken, is expanding its reach to New Jersey. The brand has signed a 3-unit development deal, bringing its signature crunchy and flavorful chicken to Mantua Township, Washington Township, and Gloucester Township. This move marks The Red Chickz’s first foray into the Garden State and underscores its commitment to nationwide expansion.
Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (MMSI) announced the acquisition of Cook Medical’s lead management portfolio for $210 million. The deal, expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2024, will strengthen Merit’s presence in the cardiac intervention market and expand its offerings in the electrophysiology and CRM business.
Windracers, the manufacturer of the self-flying cargo aircraft ULTRATM, has secured a contract to provide two ULTRA aircraft to NORCE, a Norwegian research institute, for scientific survey missions in Antarctica. These aircraft will support the Troll Observing Network (TONe), a comprehensive research initiative aimed at understanding the complex environmental processes occurring in Antarctica.
