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On July 1, the commodities market concluded the first half of 2026, with precious metal prices mostly retreating after earlier highs. Spot gold has fallen over 7%, dropping more than $1,500 from its historical peak reached earlier this year. Spot silver has seen a cumulative decline of about 18%, with its price more than halved from its historical high this year. Spot platinum has dropped over 24%, and spot palladium has decreased nearly 25%. In contrast, base metals like copper reached a new high this year, with a cumulative increase of 7% in the first half; aluminum rose by 3.7%. Despite a significant pullback from its peak due to geopolitical tensions, oil prices have maintained their gains for the year, with WTI crude oil up 21.6% and Brent crude oil up 20%.

On July 1, Michael Burry, the inspiration behind the movie "The Big Short," disclosed a new round of bearish bets focused on the artificial intelligence and semiconductor sectors. He stated that he has shorted Tesla (TSLA.O) at around $416.22 per share, describing this as part of his assessment of an 'AI bubble.' Additionally, he has established short positions on Nvidia (NVDA.O), Caterpillar, Applied Materials, and a semiconductor ETF. Burry mentioned that these trades are part of his overall hedging strategy against the overheated valuations in AI and semiconductors, but he did not disclose specific sizes, only indicating that he entered the short position after a rebound in Tesla's stock. The market showed clear divergence in response, with related tech stocks generally rising during the trading session.

The signing of this agreement marks significant progress for the company in expanding its retail channels and is expected to provide a stable source of income. This cooperation will further enhance the coverage of Branchout Food products in major retail channels. By leveraging the large membership base and sales network of warehouse clubs, it is expected to significantly drive up the sales of the company’s related products. This project demonstrates market recognition of the company’s innovative food solutions and provides strong support for its future performance growth. Through deep collaboration with major retailers, Branchout Food will continue to expand its brand influence and consolidate its market position in the food technology sector. This strategic move is expected to have a positive impact on the company’s financial performance and create long-term value for shareholders.