First summer int'l anime month kicks off in Shanghai

The first Shanghai Summer International Anime Month opened in the eastern Chinese city on Friday, marking the first time the country's three major industry events are linked: the China International Cartoon and Game Expo (CCG Expo), Bilibili World, and the China Digital Entertainment Expo and Conference.

Running from July 4 to August 10, this event will transform Shanghai into a vibrant anime metropolis for fans of anime, comics, and gaming from around the world this summer.

Organizers announced several features, including a limited-edition "City ACG (Anime, Comic, Games) Passport" that allows access to all three events and digital shopping coupons that can be used at various commercial areas and hotels in Shanghai.

"The nation's three well-known ACG festivals are gathering in Shanghai and collaborating for the first time. The significance extends beyond mere traffic aggregation and scale. Still, I think, it's a great integration, or even an upgrade, for the whole industrial ecosystem," said Wang Jian'er, Vice President of Shanghai Media Group.

"We will hold six highly engaging ACG concerts in July and August this year. The fusion of animation and commerce will extend across 13 commercial districts in the city, creating vibrant online and offline consumption scenarios for anime enthusiasts to enjoy," said Yang Yinyu, an official of the Publicity Department of the CPC Yangpu District Committee.

The Anime Month has already lined up participation from global giants, including Disney, Lego, and Bandai Namco. Anime artists, directors, and voice actors will attend autograph signings and fan interaction events.

First summer int'l anime month kicks off in Shanghai

U.S. stocks ended lower on Tuesday as climbing U.S. Treasury yields continued to weigh on investor sentiment.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 322.24 points, or 0.65 percent, to 49,363.88. The The Standard and Poor's 500 sank 49.44 points, or 0.67 percent, to 7,353.61, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index shed 220.03 points, or 0.84 percent, to close at 25,870.71.

A primary source of downward pressure came from the fixed-income market. The yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note climbed back above 4.6 percent, while the 30-year Treasury yield nearly touched 5.2 percent, marking its highest level in nearly 19 years.

The high-yield environment acted as a drag on high-valuation growth sectors, which are particularly sensitive to elevated interest rates. Six of the 11 primary The Standard and Poor's 500 sectors closed in negative territory, with materials and communication services leading the declines by dropping 2.27 percent and 1.58 percent, respectively. In contrast, the healthcare sector gained 1.09 percent and the energy sector advanced 1.03 percent.

Market participants are also focusing on Wednesday's upcoming after-hours earnings release from Nvidia.

U.S. stocks close lower amid rising yields