Business
(VIDEO) BTS Concert in Paris Draws Record 92,000 Fans as President Macron Attends Historic Show
BTS drew the largest crowd of the group’s career Friday night, performing before 92,000 fans at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, just north of Paris, in what marked the biggest single-night audience the K-pop supergroup has ever played to since debuting in 2013.
The concert, part of the European leg of the group’s Arirang World Tour, filled France’s largest stadium beyond its listed 80,000-person capacity, with fans packed in for roughly 150 minutes of continuous performance. More than 90,000 members of the group’s fan base, known as ARMY, had gathered outside the venue as early as an hour before the show began, chanting the group’s traditional cheering call listing each member’s Korean name. When the seven members emerged onstage amid red smoke, the crowd erupted, with some fans reportedly fainting or needing assistance from safety staff amid the overwhelming noise and emotion, and others moved to tears simply from seeing the group perform in person.
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, were among those in attendance, seen on broadcast cameras holding light sticks known as ARMY bombs throughout the performance. Macron later shared a video of the concert filmed on his phone to his Instagram account, writing simply, “Welcome to Paris.”
The set list moved through material spanning the group’s career, opening with “Hooligan” before running through the “Arirang” album’s title tracks, with fans singing along fluently in Korean. The show also featured longtime fan favorites including “FAKE LOVE,” “Not Today,” “IDOL,” “Butter” and “Dynamite,” along with two surprise additions for the French crowd: “A Song Dedicated to the Small Things” and “JUMP.” Throughout the performance, fans stood and sang continuously without sitting or resting, a display of stamina and devotion that reporters covering the show described as remarkable given the concert’s length.
The production leaned heavily on elements of Korean cultural heritage, incorporating stage design and performance references tied to traditional tal masks, the Buddhist seungmu dance, the Taegeuk symbol, the circle dance known as ganggangsullae, and Gyeonghoeru Pavilion at Gyeongbokgung Palace. Pyrotechnic elements inspired by sparklers and traditional Korean fire rituals accompanied songs including “FYA” and “Burn It,” adding to the visual spectacle throughout the night.
The international makeup of the crowd stood out as one of the evening’s defining features. Fans from across Europe and beyond, including from Spain, Portugal, Italy, Norway, England, Ukraine, Argentina, the Philippines and Turkey, waved their national flags throughout the show, creating an atmosphere reporters compared to a World Cup or Olympic event. French fans were spotted waving a hybrid flag combining France’s tricolor with South Korea’s Taegeuk symbol, while women wearing hijabs waved light sticks alongside others dressed in traditional Korean hanbok attire. When an image of Spanish fans waving their flag appeared on the venue’s screens, French fans, still processing France’s recent World Cup semifinal loss to Spain, responded with a good-natured chorus of jeers.
Members of BTS addressed the crowd directly throughout the night, expressing gratitude for what they described as an unusually passionate reception even by the standards of their global tour. Jungkook, the group’s youngest member, spoke in French, telling fans he had spent a happy evening with them and would never forget the memory. Jin, the group’s oldest member, referenced his experience carrying the Olympic torch in Paris in 2024, saying he had again enjoyed a wonderful day surrounded by fans. V attempted a French greeting despite acknowledging uncertainty about his pronunciation, drawing cheers after mentioning his fondness for croissants and snails. RM, the group’s leader, also spoke in French, expressing happiness at returning to Paris while forming a heart shape with his hands.
Suga, who had previously said the Paris stop was the tour date he anticipated most, drew a direct comparison to the group’s history at the venue, noting that BTS had performed at the same stadium seven years earlier to roughly half Friday’s crowd size, calling Paris the largest and most passionate audience of the tour. Jimin echoed that sentiment, describing the show as the largest audience in the group’s history, while J-Hope asked the crowd in French whether they had enjoyed themselves before calling Paris the city with the best ARMY fan base.
Beyond the celebrity attendees, the concert drew broad coverage from French media outlets. Le Monde published an extensive online feature tracing the group’s journey from their 2013 debut to the present, noting that the members’ mandatory military service, which many observers had speculated could strain the group, instead appeared to have left them more unified and confident in their identity.
Fans in attendance brought handmade signs and artwork reflecting years of devotion to the group, with messages referencing more than a decade of fandom and long journeys to reach the concert, including at least one sign noting a 3,000-kilometer drive to attend. Attendees also displayed artistic tributes depicting the band members in styles ranging from Renaissance portraiture to superhero-inspired illustrations.
The Paris show capped what has already been a milestone year for BTS following the group’s return from an extended hiatus tied to mandatory military service. The “Arirang” album, released in March, previously became the most-streamed K-pop album in Spotify’s history, and the group’s music video for the single “NORMAL” similarly broke Spotify’s single-day streaming record for a K-pop video earlier this month. With the European leg of the tour now concluding, BTS is scheduled to perform at additional stops in the coming days before joining Madonna, Shakira and Justin Bieber as co-headliners of the FIFA World Cup final halftime show Sunday, July 19, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Business
Axis Bank Q1 FY27 slides: profit surges 23% as NIM hits cycle low

Axis Bank Q1 FY27 slides: profit surges 23% as NIM hits cycle low
Business
Google, Tesla, Intel To Headline Earnings Next Week
Get ahead of the market by subscribing to Seeking Alpha’s Wall Street Week Ahead, a preview of key events scheduled for the coming week. The newsletter keeps you informed of the biggest stories set to make headlines, including upcoming IPOs, investor days, earnings reports, and conference presentations.
Wall Street opened in deep red on Friday as a global semiconductor selloff intensified on concerns over elevated AI spending and stretched valuations. Technology stocks remained under pressure as semiconductor shares across global markets traded lower. Meanwhile, tensions in the Middle East remained elevated as concerns over a fresh crude oil supply crunch persisted.
The economic calendar is relatively lighter next week with earnings in full swing. The only major data scheduled are initial jobless claims on Thursday and S&P Global PMI data for July on Friday.
Alphabet (GOOG) (GOOGL), Tesla (TSLA), and Intel (INTC) are among the major firms reporting their results next week. _______________________________________________________________
Earnings spotlight: Monday: Domino’s Pizza (DPZ), AMC Entertainment (AMC). See the full earnings calendar.
Earnings spotlight: Tuesday: Novartis (NVSEF), 3M (MMM), Halliburton (HAL). See the full earnings calendar.
Earnings spotlight: Wednesday: Alphabet, Tesla, Philip Morris (PM). See the full earnings calendar.
Earnings spotlight: Thursday: Intel. See the full earnings calendar.
Earnings spotlight: Friday: American Express (AXP). See the full earnings calendar.
Volatility watch: Sandisk (SNDK) and Western Digital (WDC) have seen options volatility increase over the last week. The most overbought stocks per their 14-day relative strength index include Crinetics Pharma (CRNX), AstroNova (ALOT), and CareDx (CDNA). The most oversold stocks per their 14-day Relative Strength Index include Standard Lithium (SLI) and Rithm Property Trust (RPT).
Dividend watch: Companies that have an ex-dividend date coming next week include Caterpillar (CAT), Colgate-Palmolive (CL), Dell Technologies (DELL), and Pfizer (PFE).
IPO watch: No IPOs are expected to price and
Business
EIDO: Indonesia Not Benefiting From Commodity Price Gains (NYSEARCA:EIDO)
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IWN: This Small-Cap Value ETF Offers Greater Returns With A Low-Risk Factor (NYSEARCA:IWN)
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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Business
Earnings call transcript: Axis Bank Q1 2026 profit rises as margins tighten

Earnings call transcript: Axis Bank Q1 2026 profit rises as margins tighten
Business
Kevin Durant Trade Rumors Intensify as Rockets Star’s Future in Houston Faces Fresh Questions This Offseason
Kevin Durant’s standing with the Houston Rockets continues to generate speculation across the NBA this offseason, with fresh reporting suggesting the two-time champion could once again find himself at the center of trade rumors just one year after Houston acquired him in a blockbuster deal with the Phoenix Suns.
Durant, who turns 38 in September, joined the Rockets last summer with expectations that he would help push Houston into championship contention. Instead, the team’s first season with Durant ended in disappointment, with the Rockets eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers in six games during the first round of the 2026 playoffs. Durant appeared in just one game of that series, while Houston’s Luka Doncic missed the entire matchup and Austin Reaves was sidelined for most of it because of injury. Even shorthanded, LeBron James helped Los Angeles build a 3-0 series lead before Houston managed to extend the matchup to six games.
According to ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel, the Rockets never viewed the Durant acquisition as a guaranteed long-term commitment, despite the scale of the trade that brought him to Houston. Siegel reported that many around the league remain skeptical the Rockets will keep Durant through the remainder of his current contract, which runs through the 2027-28 season. Houston, according to Siegel’s reporting, viewed the move primarily as a way to upgrade from Jalen Green and bridge gaps in the roster as the team pushed to contend in a crowded Western Conference, rather than as a foundational piece for a multi-year rebuild.
Adding to the uncertainty surrounding Houston’s roster this offseason, veteran forward Josh Okogie is departing the Rockets in free agency to sign with the Utah Jazz, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. While Okogie’s departure is unrelated directly to Durant’s situation, it adds to a broader sense of roster turnover surrounding the team as it enters the 2026-27 season.
Much of the speculation around Durant’s future has centered on the Detroit Pistons, driven in part by reporting that Durant has expressed a desire to play alongside Pistons guard Cade Cunningham. Siegel has reported that Durant has spoken highly of Cunningham dating back to the guard’s early years in the league, having publicly called him a “special talent” on multiple occasions. Separate reporting has indicated Durant may be willing to leave Houston specifically to team up with Cunningham, who recently signed a max rookie extension reportedly worth $269 million and has emerged as Detroit’s franchise cornerstone. A photo Durant posted on social media earlier this month showing himself wearing a Detroit-branded hat further fueled speculation about his interest in the Pistons, even as such gestures remain open to interpretation.
Beyond Detroit, several other franchises have been mentioned in connection with Durant’s name throughout the summer. The Minnesota Timberwolves have been consistently linked to Durant, with the team already having made one major offseason move by acquiring guard LaMelo Ball from the Charlotte Hornets. A hypothetical trio of Anthony Edwards, Ball and Durant has been floated by analysts as a potentially unguardable combination, though any deal sending Durant to Minnesota would likely need to include center Rudy Gobert, the four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, given the assets Houston would presumably seek in return.
The Boston Celtics have also emerged in trade speculation following the team’s own significant roster shakeup this offseason, which saw Boston trade Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Paul George and multiple draft picks. Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix suggested Celtics president Brad Stevens could look to use those newly acquired picks as trade capital to pursue a star player such as Durant, writing that Boston’s picks carry real value even amid uncertainty about how they will ultimately be used. “The Celtics can spin that the pair of first rounders they picked up have value. And they do,” Mannix wrote. “The 2028 one will likely end up as the Clippers’, who are beginning a rebuild with an Aspiration-sized anvil over their head.”
The Washington Wizards have also been mentioned as a potential landing spot, with reporting indicating the franchise held interest in trading for Durant as far back as April, though no formal talks have been confirmed. Meanwhile, the Miami Heat’s chances of landing Durant have been characterized by some reporting as unlikely, with one recent Sporting News piece describing the Heat’s odds as “as bad as you’d imagine.”
Not everyone in league circles believes a trade is imminent. Some analysts have noted that Rockets general manager Rafael Stone has given no public indication the team is actively shopping Durant, and Durant himself has previously said he hoped to finish his career in Houston following last summer’s trade from Phoenix. That stated preference adds a layer of uncertainty to how seriously any of the reported interest from other teams might translate into an actual move before the start of the 2026-27 season.
Durant’s history with trade requests also looms over the current speculation. Over the course of his career, Durant has requested trades on multiple occasions, most notably during his final seasons with both the Brooklyn Nets and the Phoenix Suns, each of which ultimately resulted in him being moved to a new team. That pattern has left some around the league watching closely for any sign that his relationship with the Rockets could follow a similar trajectory, particularly given the disappointment of Houston’s first-round playoff exit and the reported skepticism among rival executives about whether the partnership will last through the length of his current contract.
For now, no formal trade request has been reported, and the Rockets have not confirmed any active effort to move Durant on the open market. But with reporting linking him to Detroit, Minnesota, Boston and Washington, and with questions persisting about how committed Houston is to building around him long-term, Durant’s situation appears likely to remain one of the NBA’s most closely watched storylines as training camps approach later this year.
Business
Locking In Generational Yields While Wall Street Fixates On The Fed
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HDFC Bank, RIL, and Eternal among top 10 stock holdings of HDFC Mutual Fund in June
HDFC Mutual Fund held top positions in ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, RIL and Eternal in June. Check the fund house’s top 10 stock holdings and portfolio changes.
Business
Gold Prices Are Falling Below $4,000/Oz, But I Keep Buying Because Of This Rationale!
Gold Prices Are Falling Below $4,000/Oz, But I Keep Buying Because Of This Rationale!
Business
Honda Confirms 2026 Japan Launch Dates for Retro Inline-Four CB400 Super Four and CBR400R E-Clutch Bikes
Honda has confirmed production and delivery dates for two long-anticipated small-capacity motorcycles, the CB400 Super Four E-Clutch and the fully faired CBR400R Four E-Clutch, both of which will begin arriving at select Japanese dealerships later this summer, marking the revival of one of the company’s most iconic naked-bike platforms.
According to Honda Japan, the naked CB400 Super Four E-Clutch will reach select “Dream” dealerships first, on August 21, with the sportier CBR400R Four E-Clutch following roughly one month later, on September 18. Pricing for the two models has also been confirmed, with the CB400 Super Four E-Clutch set at 998,800 Japanese yen, or roughly £4,600, while the more expensive CBR400R Four E-Clutch will carry a price tag of 1,199,000 yen, approximately £5,500. That places the CBR400R Four E-Clutch in similar pricing territory to competitors such as QJMotor’s SRK 421 RR, which retails for £5,299 in comparable markets.
Both motorcycles are built around a newly developed, liquid-cooled 399cc inline four-cylinder engine, a configuration that has become increasingly rare at this displacement, since singles and twins are far more common among smaller-capacity motorcycles today. According to figures reported by Gear Patrol, the engine produces a claimed 57.2 horsepower at 11,500 rpm and 28 lb-ft of torque at 9,750 rpm, with the CBR400R Four E-Clutch weighing in at roughly 412 pounds. Japanese motorcycle outlet Webike Plus reported the engine’s output as 58 PS, describing it as a 2 PS improvement over the previous-generation CB400 Super Four powerplant.
Both models are paired with Honda’s E-Clutch system, a semi-automatic clutch technology the company first introduced in 2024 and has since rolled out across a range of models, from the larger Transalp adventure bike to the smaller Rebel 300 cruiser. E-Clutch allows riders to pull away from a stop and shift gears without manually operating a clutch lever, while still preserving the feel and control of a traditional manual gearbox for riders who prefer to operate the clutch themselves. The system is paired with a throttle-by-wire setup on both new models, giving Honda’s engineers additional flexibility over power delivery and rider-assist features. Both bikes also share a five-inch, full-color TFT display equipped with Honda’s RoadSync connectivity function, allowing riders to pair their smartphones for navigation, call and music integration while riding.
The CB400 Super Four nameplate carries significant history within Honda’s lineup. The original version of the motorcycle first went on sale in 1992 and remained in production for three decades, until it was discontinued in October 2022. During that run, the CB400 Super Four became one of the most popular motorcycles in Japanese history, a success driven in large part by the country’s licensing and tax regulations, which favor motorcycles with engine displacements under 400cc. That regulatory backdrop continues to make the 400cc class commercially significant in Japan today, giving Honda a clear incentive to revive the platform even as larger-displacement motorcycles have dominated headlines in other global markets.
Honda first previewed both new models as concept motorcycles at the 42nd Osaka Motorcycle Show earlier this year, under the banner “Next Stage CB,” a design philosophy aimed at bringing Honda’s classic naked-bike styling into a modern era while preserving key visual elements from the original 1992 model, including its round headlight and exposed frame styling. The naked CB400 Super Four draws additional styling inspiration from Honda’s larger CB1000F model, while the fully faired CBR400R Four takes a more aggressive design approach, with sharper bodywork intended to position it as a direct rival to the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4R, a bike that has largely had the small-capacity four-cylinder sportbike segment to itself in recent years.
Despite strong interest from enthusiasts, Honda has not yet confirmed whether either model will be sold outside Japan, including in the United Kingdom, where demand for smaller-capacity motorcycles has grown steadily in recent years. A Honda spokesperson told Motorcycle News the company had “no comment to make at the moment on possible future additions to our European line-up,” leaving open the possibility that both bikes could eventually reach additional markets without confirming any specific timeline.
Industry observers have pointed to the current strength of the small-capacity segment in markets like the United Kingdom as a reason Honda could ultimately look to expand availability beyond Japan. The Honda GB350S, a smaller-capacity model already sold in the UK, has been one of the most popular bikes in its category across all motorcycle segments over the past two years, suggesting a receptive market exists for additional small-displacement Honda models should the company choose to expand distribution. Rising interest in the broader small four-cylinder category, fueled in part by bikes like the Kawasaki ZX-4RR and the upcoming QJMotor SRK421RR, has further strengthened the case that UK dealers could see meaningful customer demand for the CB400 Super Four E-Clutch and CBR400R Four E-Clutch if Honda ultimately brings them to market outside Japan.
Both motorcycles are also closely related to versions of the platform already sold in China at a slightly larger 502cc displacement, according to reporting from Motorcycles.News, with Honda having filed related trademarks in multiple markets worldwide, another signal that broader international availability remains a possibility even without a confirmed release plan.
For now, Japanese buyers will be the first to gain access to both new models, with the naked CB400 Super Four E-Clutch arriving in dealerships next month ahead of the more aggressively styled CBR400R Four E-Clutch in September. Whether the rest of the world eventually gets a chance to buy either motorcycle remains an open question, one that will likely depend on how strongly the bikes perform in their home market and how much international demand continues to build in the meantime.
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