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AI precision spraying: Why farmers are starting to treat weeds one plant at a time
AI-powered precision sprayers are using cameras, machine learning and individually controlled nozzles to distinguish weeds from crops while machinery moves through the field. Deere & Company says See & Spray covered more than five million acres in 2025, while Ecorobotix has passed 1,000 deployed ARA sprayers and CNH Industrial is embedding crop-sensing technology into commercial equipment. The technology can sharply reduce unnecessary chemical application, but economics still depend on weed density, recognition accuracy, crop algorithms and whether input savings justify increasingly sophisticated spraying systems.
Astra Space seeks $250 million at $1 billion valuation as Rocket 4 comeback reaches critical stage
Astra Space is seeking $250 million at a reported $1 billion valuation only two years after being taken private for $11.25 million. Satellite propulsion has rebuilt the commercial base, but Rocket 4 must now prove that Astra can turn a dramatic financial reset into a credible second act in responsive launch.
Standard Bank (JSE: SBK) profit rises 10% despite margin pressure as Africa growth bet enters new phase
Standard Bank lifted first-half headline earnings 10% to R26.1 billion despite narrower margins, as loan growth and African expansion shape the second-half test.
Grasim Q1 adjusted profit jumps 49% as Birla Opus and Birla Pivot scale, but net debt rises
Grasim Industries Limited delivered record Q1 FY27 EBITDA and a ₹365 crore standalone adjusted-profit swing as Birla Opus and Birla Pivot accelerated. Rising net debt and a back-loaded ₹3,157 crore capex plan now become the next tests.
Swissquote (SIX: SQN) near 52-week low as crypto income falls 66%
Swissquote cut 2026 guidance after crypto income fell 66%. Can record client assets and non-crypto growth support an SQN recovery?
Aviva plc’s £350m buyback reversed only 15% of the Direct Line shares it issued
Aviva plc issued about 378 million shares to help fund Direct Line and has since repurchased 56.7 million. The buyback has reversed only around 15% of that issuance, helping explain why H1 profit growth remains much stronger than per-share growth.
Reddit (NYSE: RDDT) jumps 12.6% as S&P 500 buying meets traffic risk
Reddit surged 12.6% before joining the S&P 500. Can 61% revenue growth and rising margins outweigh slower U.S. user growth?
Accelerant gets 98% of Q2 segment EBITDA from fee businesses. That helps explain Thoma Bravo’s $4bn bet
Accelerant Holdings generated $104.3 million of Q2 adjusted EBITDA from Exchange Services and MGA Operations, versus only $1.9 million from underwriting. The numbers reveal why a software-focused buyer may see more than an insurance company.
Boeing lands $636m Apache sustainment award as Mesa aftermarket franchise pushes past $1.1bn
Boeing wins $636.1m US Army Apache modification, lifting the contract past $1.1bn as Mesa sustainment work runs through April 2029. What comes next?
Aviva profit jumps 24% as Direct Line integration raises the bar for £7bn cash target
Aviva plc beat first-half profit expectations as Direct Line and Wealth accelerated growth, but softer insurance pricing and a lower Health outlook mean the next phase depends on converting greater scale into sustainable margins, capital and earnings per share.