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Cracker Barrel assures customers its values remain the same amid logo uproar

Business 2 Mins Read

Cracker Barrel tried to reassure customers Monday that its values have remained the same after it received criticism following a new logo reveal and general brand refresh.

The company promised customers in a statement that while its logo may be different, its values — “hard work, family, and scratch-cooked food made with care’ — are not.

“You’ve shown us that we could’ve done a better job sharing who we are and who we’ll always be,” the statement read, adding that Cracker Barrel will remain “a place where everyone feels at home, no matter where you’re from or where you’re headed.”

Last week, the company unveiled a new logo that no longer features a man leaning against a barrel or the words ‘Old Country Store.’ Instead, it featured the company’s name, in a color scheme that it said was inspired by the chain’s scrambled eggs and biscuits.

The change was part of a ‘strategic transformation’ that aimed to update the chain’s visual elements, spaces, food and retail offerings. The company’s shares are down about 8.5% since the reveal ignited criticism, especially from those in conservative circles.

Donald Trump Jr., the president’s son, amplified a post Wednesday suggesting that the logo change was intended to erase the American traditions aspect of the branding and make it more general and lean into diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

On Monday, the chain also shared an update on the man in the original logo, Uncle Herschel, who is said is still featured on menus and road signs and in stores.

‘He’s not going anywhere — he’s family,’ the company said in the statement.

Cracker Barrel said its focuses remain country hospitality and generous portions of food at fair prices. The refresh, it said, was to ensure the restaurant will be there for the next generation.

‘That means showing up on new platforms and in new ways, but always with our heritage at the heart,’ it said.

‘We know we won’t always get everything right the first time, but we’ll keep testing, learning, and listening to our guests and employees.’

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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U.S. could take stakes in more firms, White House adviser says

Business 4 Mins Read

The U.S. government could take equity stakes in more companies, potentially through an American sovereign wealth fund, according to one of President Donald Trump’s top economic advisers.

National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett made the comments Monday, days after the United States took a nearly 10% stake in Intel. The government secured a piece of the semiconductor maker with money intended for grants as part of the CHIPS and Science Act, passed during the Biden administration.

Speaking about the new Intel position, Hassett told CNBC: “It’s like a down payment on a sovereign wealth fund, which many countries have.” Governments throughout Europe, Asia and the Middle East use such funds to invest in companies and other financial assets.

The federal government has taken ownership stakes in private companies before, but only under extraordinary circumstances, such as during the global financial crisis of 2008.

Hassett said the Intel investment was a ‘very, very special circumstance because of the massive amount of CHIPS Act spending that was coming Intel’s way.’

He added: “So I’m sure that at some point there’ll be more transactions, if not in this industry, in other industries.’

The CHIPS Act was established as a way for the government to provide financing and capital to foreign and domestic companies that manufactured semiconductors and related products in the United States.

Americans and the American economy received the benefit of more than $200 billion in private capital investments since the act was signed into law, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. Many companies also announced plans to create new U.S. manufacturing and construction jobs.

Hassett has said the money was ‘going out and disappearing into the ether.’

He has also said, ‘We’re absolutely not in the business of picking winners and losers.’ However, the United States is now Intel’s largest single shareholder. The administration has also taken a ‘golden share’ in U.S. Steel as part of approving its merger with Japan’s Nippon Steel. Trump also said he negotiated with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to take a 15% cut of the chipmaker’s revenue from some chips sold in China. He also has a similar deal with rival chipmaker AMD.

Later Monday, Trump said, ‘I want them to do well anyway, but I want them to do well in particular now.’

He added, ‘I hope I’m going to have many more cases like’ the Intel stake. Asked whether taking equity stakes in private companies was the new way of doing business in the United States, Trump responded: ‘So are tariffs.’

After Hassett’s interview, Trump said on Truth Social: ‘I PAID ZERO FOR INTEL, IT IS WORTH APPROXIMATELY 11 BILLION DOLLARS. All goes to the USA.’ He also said he would ‘help those companies that make such lucrative deals with the United States.’

It was unclear why Trump said the United States did not pay anything for the stake. The government purchased 433.3 million Intel shares at $20.47 each, which equates to $8.9 billion.

Trump has also pushed companies to change course on key products, such as when he pre-emptively announced that Coca-Cola would add cane sugar to an American version of its namesake product.

Trump has also threatened firms such as Amazon, Mattel, Hasbro and Walmart with retaliation for hiking prices as a result of his sweeping global tariff regime.

Trump intervention in private industry has sparked widespread criticism, some of it from Republicans. Trump’s former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley, a former Boeing board member, said on X: ‘Intel will become a test case of what not to do.’

After the CNBC interview, NBC News asked Hassett about setting up a sovereign wealth fund.

‘As we acquire things like Intel, then there’s sort of a question of where it goes and it’s held by the U.S. Treasury. And if the U.S. Treasury has more of that stuff, that is starting to look like [a] sovereign wealth fund, whether an official sovereign wealth fund is established is another question,’ he said.

‘But it’s not unprecedented for the U.S. to own equity’ in private companies, he added.

The United States took equity stakes in private companies during the global financial meltdown of 2008 and 2009.

Then, it bought troubled assets and took equity stakes in the likes of JPMorgan, Wells Fargo, Citigroup, Bank of America, AIG and other systemically important firms to stabilize the global financial system.

Trump has expanded his power over the business world, fueled by his view that the U.S. economy is like ‘a department store, and we set the price.’

‘I meet with the companies, and then I set a fair price, what I consider to be a fair price, and they can pay it, or they don’t have to pay it,’ Trump said in an April interview.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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Keurig Dr Pepper to buy Peet’s Coffee owner in $18 billion deal

Business 1 Min Read

Keurig Dr Pepper said Monday it will buy Peet’s Coffee owner JDE Peet’s in a deal worth about $18 billion (15.7 billion euro).

When the acquisition is complete, the company plans to split into two separate companies, one focused on coffee and the other focused on beverages including Dr Pepper, Canada Dry, 7Up and energy drinks.

The coffee business will have about $16 billion in combined sales and the beverage business about $11 billion.

“Through the complementary combination of Keurig and JDE Peet’s, we are seizing an exceptional opportunity to create a global coffee giant,” said Tim Cofer, Keurig Dr Pepper’s CEO.

In addition to Peet’s, Amsterdam-based JDE Peet’s brands include L’OR, Jacobs, Douwe Egberts, Kenco, Pilao, OldTown, Super and Moccona.

Once the two companies are separated, Cofer will become CEO of the beverage business, which will be based in Frisco, Texas, and Keurig Dr Pepper CFO Sudhanshu Priyadarshi will lead the coffee business, which will be located in Burlington, Mass., with its international headquarters in Amsterdam.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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HyProMag USA Commences Stockpiling of Feedstock

Investing 8 Mins Read

CoTec Holdings Corp. (TSXV:CTH)(OTCQB:CTHCF) (‘CoTec’) and Mkango Resources Ltd. (AIM/TSX-V: MKA) (‘Mkango’) are pleased to announce that Intelligent Lifecycle Solutions LLC (‘ILS’) has formally commenced its stockpiling of feedstock initiative pursuant to the recently announced feedstock supply and pre-processing site share agreement between HyProMag USA LLC (‘HyProMag USA’ or the ‘Project’) and ILS. Pre-processing of the feedstock is expected to commence prior to December 31, 2025.

The stockpiling and pre-processing will take place at both the ILS sites in Williston, South Carolina and Reno, Nevada (the ‘ILS sites’). ILS is a global electronics recycling company processing electronic waste. It is a full-service IT asset disposition, electronics recycling and scrap purchasing company and is fully compliant in ISO 14001:2015, ISO 45001:2018 and ‘Responsible Recycling R2v3 Recycler’ at its USA locations. Through ILS, HyProMag USA will provide full traceability on its products to support the ‘closed loop’ circular economy and critical mineral supply chains within the United States.

Julian Treger, CoTec CEO commented:‘This is another major milestone in the execution of the HyProMag USA project. Securing feedstock is key to the success of any recycling business and we are pleased to work with credible companies such as ILS. HyProMag USA’s target is to secure between 6 months and 12 months of feedstock prior to commissioning of HyProMag USA’s advanced stage rare earth magnet recycling and manufacturing plant to be located in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. HyProMag USA aims to become a major contributor to the USA supply chain of rare earth magnets, a critical input for accelerating the reshoring of the U.S industrial base.’

Will Dawes, Mkango CEO commented: ‘The agreement with ILS and commencement of stockpiling of NdFeB feedstock underpins the rapid deployment of Hydrogen Processing of Magnet Scrap (HPMS) and associated magnet manufacturing into the United States by HyProMag USA, with detailed engineering well underway following the positive feasibility study last year. These developments will catalyse development of a more robust rare earth supply chain, whilst unlocking new NdFeB scrap sources in the United States and generating significant value for HyProMag USA and its stakeholders.’

About HyProMag USA LLC.

HyProMag USA is owned 50:50 by CoTec and HyProMag Limited. HyProMag Limited is 100 per cent owned by Maginito (‘Maginito’), which is owned on a 79.4/20.6 per cent basis by Mkango and CoTec.

For more information, please visit www.hypromagusa.com

About CoTec Holdings Corp.

CoTec is a publicly traded investment issuer listed on the Toronto Venture Stock Exchange (‘TSX- V’) and the OTCQB and trades under the symbols CTH and CTHCF respectively. CoTec Holdings Corp. is a forward-thinking resource extraction company committed to revolutionizing the global metals and minerals industry through innovative, environmentally sustainable technologies and strategic asset acquisitions. With a mission to drive the sector toward a low-carbon future, CoTec employs a dual approach: investing in disruptive mineral extraction technologies that enhance efficiency and sustainability while applying these technologies to undervalued mining assets to unlock their full potential. By focusing on recycling, waste mining, and scalable solutions, the Company accelerates the production of critical minerals, shortens development timelines, and reduces environmental impact. CoTec’s strategic model delivers low capital requirements, rapid revenue generation, and high barriers to entry, positioning it as a leading mid-tier disruptor in the commodities sector.

For more information, please visit www.cotec.ca.

About Mkango Resources Ltd.

Mkango is listed on the AIM and the TSX-V. Mkango’s corporate strategy is to become a market leader in the production of recycled rare earth magnets, alloys and oxides, through its interest in Maginito Limited (‘Maginito’), which is owned 79.4 per cent by Mkango and 20.6 per cent by CoTec, and to develop new sustainable sources of neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium to supply accelerating demand from electric vehicles, wind turbines and other clean energy technologies.

Maginito holds a 100 per cent interest in HyProMag and a 90 per cent direct and indirect interest (assuming conversion of Maginito’s convertible loan) in HyProMag GmbH, focused on short loop rare earth magnet recycling in the UK and Germany, respectively, and a 100 per cent interest in Mkango Rare Earths UK Ltd (‘Mkango UK’), focused on long loop rare earth magnet recycling in the UK via a chemical route.

Maginito and CoTec are also rolling out HPMS recycling technology into the United States via the 50/50 owned HyProMag USA LLC joint venture company.

Mkango also owns the advanced stage Songwe Hill rare earths project in Malawi (‘Songwe’) and the Pulawy rare earths separation project in Poland (‘Pulawy’). Both the Songwe and Pulawy projects have been selected as Strategic Projects under the European Union Critical Raw Materials Act. Mkango has signed a Binding Combination Agreement with Crown PropTech Acquisitions to list the Songwe Hill and Pulawy rare earths projects on NASDAQ via a SPAC Merger.

For more information, please visit www.mkango.ca

Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014 (‘MAR’) which has been incorporated into UK law by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. Upon the publication of this announcement via Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of that term under applicable securities laws) with respect to Mkango and CoTec. Generally, forward looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as ‘plans’, ‘expects’ or ‘is expected to’, ‘scheduled’, ‘estimates’ ‘intends’, ‘anticipates’, ‘believes’, or variations of such words and phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results ‘can’, ‘may’, ‘could’, ‘would’, ‘should’, ‘might’ or ‘will’, occur or be achieved, or the negative connotations thereof. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur, which may cause actual performance and results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates or projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, without limiting the foregoing, the delivery and effectiveness of the HDD magnet separation system built by Inserma, the results of the Accelerated Pilot Programme at UoB, the availability of (or delays in obtaining) financing to develop Songwe Hill, the Recycling Plants being developed by Maginito in the UK, Germany and the US (the ‘Maginito Recycling Plants’), governmental action and other market effects on global demand and pricing for the metals and associated downstream products for which Mkango is exploring, researching and developing, geological, technical and regulatory matters relating to the development of Songwe Hill, the ability to scale the HPMS and chemical recycling technologies to commercial scale, competitors having greater financial capability and effective competing technologies in the recycling and separation business of Maginito and Mkango, availability of scrap supplies for Maginito’s recycling activities, government regulation (including the impact of environmental and other regulations) on and the economics in relation to recycling and the development of the Maginito Recycling Plants, and Pulawy and future investments in the United States pursuant to the proposed cooperation agreement between Maginito and CoTec, cost overruns, complexities in building and operating the plants, and the positive results of feasibility studies on the various proposed aspects of Mkango’s, Maginito’s and CoTec’s activities. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company and CoTec disclaim any intention and assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Additionally, the Company and CoTec undertake no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made by, third parties in respect of the matters discussed above.

For further information on CoTec, please contact:

CoTec Holdings Corp.
Braam Jonker
Chief Financial Officer
braam.jonker@cotec.ca
Canada: +1 604 992-5600

For further information on Mkango, please contact:

Mkango Resources Limited

William Dawes

Alexander Lemon

Chief Executive Officer

President

will@mkango.ca

alex@mkango.ca

Canada: +1 403 444 5979

www.mkango.ca

@MkangoResources

SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP
Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker
Jeff Keating, Jen Clarke, Devik Mehta
UK: +44 20 3470 0470

Alternative Resource Capital
Joint Broker
Alex Wood, Keith Dowsing
UK: +44 20 7186 9004/5

The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any equity or other securities of the Company in the United States. The securities of the Company will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the ‘U.S. Securities Act’) and may not be offered or sold within the United States to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons except in certain transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act.

Source

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Peabody Scraps Plans to Acquire Anglo’s Steelmaking Coal Portfolio

Investing 3 Mins Read

Peabody Energy (NYSE:BTU) has terminated purchase agreements with Anglo American (LSE:AAL,OTCQX:AAUKF) following a material adverse change (MAC) to the latter’s steelmaking coal assets.

In a Tuesday (August 19) announcement, Peabody said the decision follows an ignition event at Anglo’s Moranbah North mine in Bowen Basin, Queensland, an instance that made headlines in April.

ABC News Australia states that the ignition led to an evacuation following “dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.”

‘The two companies did not reach a revised agreement to cure the MAC that compensated Peabody for the material and long-term impacts of the MAC on the most significant mine in the planned acquisition,’ explained Peabody President and CEO Jim Grech, adding that the company’s portfolio is still well positioned moving forward.

Anglo CEO Duncan Wanblad said in a separate statement that the firm is confident in its belief that what happened at Moranbah “does not constitute a MAC” under the sale agreements with Peabody.

“Our view is supported by the lack of damage to the mine and equipment, as well as the substantial progress made with the regulator, our employees and the unions, and other stakeholders as part of the regulatory process towards a safe restart of the mine,” Wanblad said. Anglo recently signed a risk assessment that underpins the restart strategy.

Anglo announced the sale of its steelmaking coal portfolio to Peabody in November 2024 for US$3.78 billion.

The portfolio primarily consists of an 88 percent interest in the Moranbah North joint venture, a 70 percent interest in the Capcoal joint venture and an 86.36 percent interest in the Roper Creek joint venture.

“We are therefore very disappointed that Peabody has decided not to complete the transaction … We continue to reserve our rights under the definitive agreements, we are confident in our legal position and will shortly initiate an arbitration to seek damages for wrongful termination,” Anglo said in its Tuesday press release.

Peabody said it will continue to execute plans to create substantial value from its diversified global asset portfolio.

‘(Our) portfolio is very well positioned, with growing exposure to seaborne metallurgical coal highlighted by our new 25-year premium hard coking coal Centurion Mine, a low-cost seaborne thermal coal platform, and a leading U.S. thermal coal position capitalizing on rising power generation demand,’ noted Grech.

‘Moving forward, we intend to execute a four-pronged strategy for value creation.’

Securities Disclosure: I, Gabrielle de la Cruz, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Crypto Market Update: Dormant Whale Offloads US$2.7 Billion in Bitcoin, Market Cap Drops

Investing 5 Mins Read

Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Monday (August 25) as of 9:00 a.m. UTC.

Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ethereum and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.

Bitcoin and Ethereum price update

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$111,481, a 2.6 percent decrease in 24 hours. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$110,788, and its highest was US$114,779.

Bitcoin price performance, August 25, 2025.

Chart via TradingView

Bitcoin tumbled sharply on Sunday (August 24) after a whale dumped 24,000 BTC, triggering a flash crash that wiped out roughly US$550 million in long positions and drove prices briefly below US$111,000.

By Monday (August 25), markets recovered slightly but remained in a downtrend overall as broader crypto sell-offs and cautious sentiment prevailed.

ETH was priced at US$4,642.54, down by 2.7 percent over the past 24 hours. Its lowest valuation was US$4,538.58 and its highest was US$4,946.05.

Altcoin price update

  • Solana (SOL) was priced at US$198.05, down by 3.1 percent. Its lowest was US$195.54 and its highest as of Monday was US$212.69.
  • XRP was trading for US$2.95, up by 2.4 percent in the past 24 hours. Its highest valuation of the day was at US$3.12 and its lowest was US$2.93.
  • Sui (SUI) was trading at US$3.48, down by 3.9 percent over the past 24 hours. Its lowest valuation of the day so far was US$3.345 and its highest was US$3.84.
  • Cardano (ADA) was trading at US$0.8653, down by 3.3 percent over 24 hours. Its lowest valuation for the day was US$0.8575 and its highest was US$0.9587.

Today’s crypto news to know

Bitcoin whale selloff triggers US$80 billion market slide

Crypto markets turned sharply lower late Sunday after a dormant whale unloaded roughly US$2.7 billion worth of Bitcoin.

Onchain data shows the entity, inactive since 2019, moved 24,000 BTC originally linked to a withdrawal from the HTX exchange. The whale rotated into Ether, amassing more than 400,000 ETH while opening leveraged longs and staking positions.

The timing coincided with a shift in sentiment following Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s Jackson Hole remarks, which were initially read as dovish but left traders questioning how soon rate cuts might arrive.

By Monday, leveraged liquidations topped US$715 million, erasing more than US$80 billion from total crypto market capitalization. CME’s FedWatch tool still prices September cuts as highly likely, but analysts warn Powell’s speech was more cautious than markets first assumed. T

The pullback ended a brief rally that had lifted Ether nearly 10 percent and XRP over 5 percent earlier in the week.

Metaplanet enters FTSE Japan index, buys more Bitcoin

Metaplanet, the Tokyo-listed hotel operator that has rebranded as a Bitcoin treasury firm, will join the FTSE Japan Index following FTSE Russell’s September 2025 review.

The upgrade moves Metaplanet from small-cap to mid-cap status, with index inclusion set after markets close on September 19.

CEO Simon Gerovich called the milestone proof of the firm’s ambition to be Japan’s top Bitcoin holding company, while also confirming a fresh purchase of 103 BTC, lifting reserves to 18,991 BTC.

The company’s stock base expanded by 4.9 million shares last week after stock acquisition rights were exercised, which provided new funds for Bitcoin buys but diluting existing investors.

Bloomberg reported last week that Eric Trump, who joined as a strategic adviser in March, is expected at Metaplanet’s shareholder meeting in Tokyo next month.

Japan’s Finance Minister Backs Crypto in Diversified Portfolios

Japan’s Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato said Monday that crypto assets can serve as part of a diversified portfolio, even as he cautioned about their volatility.

Speaking at an event in Tokyo, Kato emphasized the government’s role in fostering innovation while avoiding excessive regulation. Contextually, his remarks come as Japan faces mounting public debt exceeding 200 percent of GDP, raising the likelihood of financial repression measures.

Notably, Japan has recently updated its stablecoin regulations and approved its first yen-denominated token.

Philippine lawmaker proposes Bitcoin Reserve to address national debt

A Philippine congressman has introduced legislation to create a sovereign Bitcoin reserve designed to pay down the country’s debt.

The Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act, filed by Rep. Miguel Luis Villafuerte, mandates the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to acquire 2,000 BTC annually over five years, totaling 10,000 BTC.

The holdings would be locked for two decades, with sales permitted only to retire government debt, and capped at 10 percent of assets in any two-year span thereafter. Villafuerte likened the reserve to the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve or Canada’s maple syrup stockpile, arguing it would diversify the Philippines’ financial base.

The country’s debt reached US$285 billion, or 60 percent of its GDP, as of January.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Kazatomprom Cuts 2026 Uranium Output as Market Tightens, Demand Seen Rising

Investing 5 Mins Read

Kazakhstan’s state-owned uranium giant Kazatomprom will scale back production in 2026, saying that current supply and demand dynamics do not justify a return to full capacity even as long-term prices hold firm.

The company, which accounts for more than one-fifth of the world’s primary uranium output, said it expects to lower production by roughly 10 percent compared with earlier targets, reducing its nominal output level from 32,777 metric tons of uranium (tU) to 29,697 tU.

That equates to a drop of around 8 million pounds of uranium, or about 5 percent of global supply. Most of the reduction will come from adjustments at its Budenovskoye joint venture.

“As the world’s largest producer and seller of natural uranium, Kazatomprom fully recognises the critical role the Company has in supporting the global energy transition,” Chief Executive Meirzhan Yussupov said, as the miner released its first half 2025 results.

Kazatomprom said the present market environment does not warrant lifting production to its previous 100 percent level. The long-term uranium price has remained stable at around US$80 per pound, despite volatility in spot markets and financial uncertainty tied to tariff disputes.

Instead, Kazatomprom said it plans to “exercise its downflex opportunity within the acceptable 20 percent deviation under the updated 2026 Subsoil Use production levels.” It added that the actual guidance for the 2026 output will be released in a later disclosure.

The company further added that supplies of sulphuric acid, a critical reagent for the in-situ recovery (ISR) mining method used across its operations, are expected to be stable in 2026.

Kazatomprom also pointed to Kazakhstan’s own nuclear energy ambitions. The government has floated plans for three nuclear power plants, each of which would require about 400 metric tons (1.04 million pounds) of uranium annually.

Financially, the announcement accompanied weaker half-year results. Kazatomprom reported a 54 percent fall in net profit to 263.2 billion Kazakhstani tenge (around US$489.5 million) in the first six months of 2025, compared with the same period a year earlier. Revenue further slipped 6 percent to 660.2 billion tenge due to lower sales volumes.

In August 2024, the company cut its 2025 uranium output forecast by 12–17 percent amid a sulfuric acid shortage. Its new acid plant won’t be ready until at least 2026, while higher mineral extraction taxes starting which commenced earlier this year are set to raise costs and erode its traditional competitive edge.

Even as it trims output targets, Kazatomprom stressed that it is pushing ahead with large-scale exploration programs across Kazakhstan. The initiatives are aimed at replenishing reserves and safeguarding the company’s status as the leading global supplier of nuclear fuel.

“Kazatomprom is currently undertaking a large-scale exploration in Kazakhstan, which is a top priority for replenishing its resource base and maintaining its leading position as a global nuclear fuel supplier,” Yussupov said.

Potential market deficit ahead

​Although Kazatomprom has seen a decline in profits, sector major Cameco (TSX:CCO,NYSE:CCJ) registered growth in Q2 2025, and is anticipating a broad uptick in global demand.

​“We believe that supportive government policies, the tangible actions of energy-intensive industries, and positive public conversations are all pointing to a global convergence: nuclear energy is a critical solution for providing clean, constant, secure and reliable power to electrify global economies, wrote Tim Gitzel, Cameco’s president and CEO.​​

​
Uranium’s key role in clean energy has prompted FocusEconomics analysts to forecast uranium prices to stay well above 2010s levels through the decade, with price projected in the US$65 to US$80 per pound range.

The World Nuclear Association (WNA) projects demand will rise 28 percent by 2030, outpacing an 18 percent supply increase, driven by emerging-market growth, AI-related power needs, modular reactor adoption and energy security concerns.

Primary uranium production from mines, conversion and enrichment plants meets most global reactor demand, with secondary supplies helping bridge short-term gaps.

‘However, secondary supply is projected to have a gradually diminishing role in the world market, decreasing from the current level in supplying 11-14 percent of reactor uranium requirements to 4-11 percent in 2050,’ notes the WNA’s recent Nuclear Fuel Report.

Despite the looming shortfall, FocusEconomics analysts don’t anticipate a return to 2024’s highs, when prices overshot fundamentals amid investor exuberance.

“Supply/demand dynamics are supportive of higher uranium prices: We forecast a structural supply deficit of ~20 million pounds in 2025 to grow to ~130 million pounds by 2040, or representing 40 percent-45 percent undersupply,’ an email from FocusEconomics stated. ‘This view is supported by increasing demand for uranium as the global nuclear fleet expands to support growing power needs amid a lack of meaningful potential supply to come online.”

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

Securities Disclosure: I, Georgia Williams, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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From American Eagle to Swatch, why brands seem to keep getting it so wrong

Business 3 Mins Read

From American Eagle to Swatch, brands appear to be making a lot of blunders lately.

When actress Sydney Sweeney’s jeans campaign came out last month, critics lambasted the wordplay of good “jeans” and “genes” as tone deaf with nefarious undertones.

More recently, an advert from Swiss watchmaker Swatch sparked backlash for featuring an Asian model pulling the corners of his eyes, in an offensive gesture.

Colgate-Palmolive’s ad for Sanex shower gel was banned in the U.K. for problematic suggestions about Black and white skin tones. And consumers derided Cracker Barrel’s decision to ditch its overalls-clad character for a more simplistic text-based logo as “sterile,” “soulless,” and “woke.”

The new Cracker Barrel logo.Wyatte Grantham-Philips / AP

Meanwhile, recent product launches from Adidas and Prada have raised allegations of cultural appropriation.

That has reignited the debate about when an ad campaign is effective and when it’s just plain offensive, as companies confront increased consumer scrutiny.

“Each brand had its own blind spot,” David Brier, brand specialist and author of “Brand intervention” and “Rich brand, poor brand” told CNBC via email.

He noted, however, that too many brands are attempting to respond to consumers with an outdated playbook.

“Modern brands are trying to navigate cultural complexity with corporate simplicity. They’re using 1950s boardroom thinking to solve 2025 human problems,” he continued.

“These aren’t sensitivity failures. They’re empathy failures. They viewed culture as something to navigate around rather than understand deeply.”

Some companies have had success in tapping into the zeitgeist — and, in some cases, seizing on other brands’ shortcomings.

Gap, for instance, this week sought to counter backlash against Sweeney’s advertisement with a campaign in which pop group Katseye lead a diverse group of dancers performing in denim against a white backdrop.

Brier said companies should consider how they can genuinely connect with consumers and be representative, rather than simply trying to avoid offense.

“No brand can afford to fake understanding. No brand can ‘committee its way’ to connection. No brand can focus-group its way to authenticity. In 2025, customers can smell the difference from a mile away,” he added.

Nevertheless, ads are meant to spark conversation, and at a time when grabbing and maintaining consumers’ attention — and share of wallet — is increasingly difficult, brands have a fine balance to tread.

“Brands live and die by standing out and grabbing attention. On top of that, iconic and culturally relevant brands want to stand for something and be recognized for it. Those are tough asks,” Jonathan A.J. Wilson, professor of brand strategy and culture at Regent’s University London.

In an age of social media and with ever more divided public opinions, landing one universal message can be difficult, Wilson noted. For as long as that remains the case, some brands may still see value in taking a calculated risk.

“It’s hard to land one universal message, and even if you try and tailor your message to various groups, others are watching,” he said.

“Controversy grabs attention and puts you at the front of people’s minds. It splits crowds and forces people to have a decision when otherwise they probably wouldn’t care. That can lead to disproportionate publicity, which could be converted into sales.”

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What’s the secret of their success? Summer camp

Business 1 Min Read

Summer camp: It’s for munching on s’mores, seizing victory in tug-of-war and making lifelong friends.

For this group of successful businesswomen, though, it’s also about trading tactical advice about managing boards of directors and selling companies. And fighting to get a piece of an investment world dominated by men.

Welcome to Camp Female Founders Fund, a coastal oasis in Montauk, New York, on eastern Long Island, where female business leaders broaden their networks, share their struggles and triumphs and have some fun.

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Trump flexes power over big business as U.S. takes 10% stake in Intel

Business 4 Mins Read

The Trump administration said Friday that it had taken a 10% stake in Intel, the president’s latest extraordinary move to exert federal government control over private business.

The United States will not seek direct representation on Intel’s board and pledged to vote with the current Board of Directors on matters requiring shareholder approval, ‘with limited exceptions,’ according to a joint release from the Trump administration and Intel. The move also comes as the United States vies with China in the race to dominate the artificial intelligence industry.

President Donald Trump announced the deal on his Truth Social platform Friday, praising the company’s CEO just two weeks after he called on the executive to resign over alleged China ties.

‘It is my Great Honor to report that the United States of America now fully owns and controls 10% of INTEL, a Great American Company that has an even more incredible future,’ he wrote. ‘I negotiated this Deal with Lip-Bu Tan, the Highly Respected Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The United States paid nothing for these Shares, and the Shares are now valued at approximately $11 Billion Dollars. This is a great Deal for America and, also, a great Deal for INTEL. Building leading edge Semiconductors and Chips, which is what INTEL does, is fundamental to the future of our Nation.’

While the U.S. held temporary stakes in firms at the center of the 2008-2009 global financial meltdown as part of a bailout, this move is unusual since the economy is not embroiled in a crisis. Congress published a study in 2003 that examined the impact of the federal government taking direct stakes in public companies, concluding that doing so would “not offer a free lunch” and expose taxpayers to “greater risk” alongside the upside potential.

The stake will be paid for through $5.7 billion in grants previously awarded to Intel under the 2022 U.S. CHIPS and Science Act, plus $3.2 billion awarded to the company as part of a program called Secure Enclave. It’s a formerly classified initiative that Congress appropriated funds for in 2024 after lobbying by Intel, Politico reported in 2024.

Including $2.2 billion in CHIPs grants Intel has received so far, the total investment is $11.1 billion, or 9.9%. Intel is valued at about $108 billion on the stock market.

Trump continues to bulldoze through long-held norms regarding government and business, departing from the free-market ethos that has long prevailed in both major U.S. political parties.

This month, Trump persuaded the chipmakers Nvidia and AMD to pay the U.S. government 15% of their revenues from some sales to China in return for securing export licenses there.

While those firms have seen their fortunes rise amid the larger artificial intelligence boom, a windfall from any of them is no sure thing. In the case of California-based Intel, the company has struggled to keep up with rivals in recent years, with its shares down some 60% from the highs seen during the pandemic.

But amid the ongoing artificial intelligence arms race — and the goal of making computer chips a national security priority — Trump officials zeroed in on Intel as a means of leveling up U.S. control over semiconductor production.

Earlier this week, Japan’s SoftBank also announced it would invest $2 billion in Intel to “deepen their commitment to investing in advanced technology and semiconductor innovation in the United States.’

Some Democrats signaled they were on board with the move.

‘U.S. leadership is critical for both our economy and national security,’ U.S. Senator Mark Warner, D-Virginia, said in a statement Friday evening.

‘Taking an equity stake in Intel may or may not be the right approach, but one thing is clear: allowing cutting-edge chips to flow to China without restraint will erode the value of any investment we make here at home. We need a strategy that protects American innovation, strengthens our workforce, and keeps the technologies of the future firmly in American hands.’

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