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BYD And Xiaomi Shares Rally As June Deliveries Reinforce Confidence In China’s EV Leaders

Shares of China’s leading electric vehicle makers rallied in Hong Kong on Thursday after stronger-than-expected June delivery figures reinforced investor confidence that demand remains resilient despite intensifying competition. BYD gained about 9%, while Xiaomi rose roughly 5%, as the latest sales data shifted attention back to operational performance.

Xiaomi Extends Its Delivery Momentum

Xiaomi recorded its third consecutive month of more than 30,000 vehicle deliveries in June, highlighting the steady expansion of its EV business. Total deliveries for the first six months of the year exceeded 180,000 vehicles, equivalent to around 33% of the company’s 2026 target of 550,000 units, according to Citi.

The bank believes the stock could receive another boost in August with the expected launch of Xiaomi’s YU9 luxury sport utility vehicle. Citi also pointed to another potential catalyst outside the automotive business, saying signs that memory prices are approaching a peak, supported by higher capital expenditure from major Chinese memory manufacturers, could further improve investor sentiment.

BYD Builds On Its Scale Advantage

BYD also delivered another strong month, reporting June sales of 403,472 vehicles, up 5.46% from 382,585 a year earlier. The result reinforces the company’s position as the world’s largest EV manufacturer by volume and suggests demand has remained resilient even as competition across China’s electric vehicle market continues to intensify.

Deutsche Bank noted that BYD’s second-quarter sales rose 58% from the previous quarter to 1.1 million vehicles. On the back of that performance, the bank expects second-quarter net profit to increase 145% quarter on quarter to RMB 10 billion, supported by higher sales volumes and improved operating leverage.

Investors Reward Execution

The latest share-price gains highlight what continues to drive valuations across China’s EV sector. Rather than broad optimism about the industry, investors are placing greater emphasis on measurable execution, including delivery growth, new product launches and profitability.

Xiaomi remains focused on scaling its automotive business, while BYD continues to benefit from its manufacturing scale and operational efficiency. June’s delivery figures reinforced confidence that both companies are executing against their growth plans, giving investors fresh reasons to remain optimistic despite a more competitive market.

Clive Owen Films Scorpion In Cyprus In One Of The Island’s Biggest Productions

Cyprus Secures Another High-Profile Production

Oscar-nominated British actor Clive Owen is filming Scorpion in Cyprus, a new action thriller from Copper Island that is understood to have one of the highest daily production budgets ever recorded for a film shoot on the island.

Filming began in Cyprus on July 6 and is scheduled to conclude later this month in Bulgaria. The production marks another high-profile international project to choose Cyprus as a filming location.

A Cast Built For International Sales

Alongside Owen, the film stars Alex Pettyfer (Magic Mike, The Butler, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare) and Reda Elazouar (Sex Education, The Family Plan). The cast also includes Ronan Summers, Jake Ryan, Mark Rhino Smith, Joey Ansah, Alex Cooke and Luke Bouchier.

The screenplay is by Richard Hughes and Bennett Fisher. Copper Island’s Matt Murphy, David Mansfield and Luke Bouchier are producing, while WestEnd Films is handling international sales. The company is expected to present the first footage at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.

A Survival Thriller

Scorpion follows Jason, a rookie police officer assigned to an elite special operations unit made up of Afghanistan war veterans. After arriving at an isolated farmhouse, the team is cut off from the outside world and given an ultimatum: every 30 minutes one member will die unless someone reveals the truth about a covert military operation carried out years earlier.

Cyprus’ Role In The Production

The production credited the Cyprus Film Commission for its support, with Copper Island founder Matt Murphy thanking both the commission and the local crew.

Owen also praised the experience of filming in Cyprus, describing the local crew as highly professional and highlighting the island’s diverse filming locations.

Copper Island Expands Its International Portfolio

Limassol-based Copper Island has worked on several international productions, including The Leader, which premiered at Tribeca, as well as Gus Van Sant’s Dead Man’s Wire and Ron Howard’s Eden.

The company is also supporting Cypriot productions, including Apart by Stelana Kliridou and The Well by Marios Piperides, which is completing post-production in Limassol.

Matt Murphy is also serving as executive producer of the upcoming Anxious People, starring Angelina Jolie.

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