Daily Strategic Briefing

GOP senators unveil $23B 'Golden Dome' missile defense plan

Summary: The legislation would create a nationwide system modeled after Israel's Iron Dome to counter threats from Iran, Russia and China., Description: Republican senators introduced legislation Tuesday authorizing $23 billion to construct a nationwide missile defense system modeled after Israel's Iron Dome, advancing President Donald Trump's vision for protecting the American homeland against advanced threats from Iran, Russia and China. The Ground and Orbital Launched Defeat of Emergent Nuclear Destruction and Other Missile Engagements Act,...

Zohran Mamdani defeats Andrew Cuomo in New York mayoral primary upset

Summary: According to NBC News, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has conceded to 33-year-old democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani in the Democratic primary for New York City mayor, with Mamdani's progressive platform and strategic advantage in the ranked-choice voting system overcoming Cuomo's significant financial backing and early polling lead in what analysts are calling a seismic shift in city..., Description: According to NBC News, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has conceded to 33-year-old democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani in the Democratic primary for New York City mayor, with Mamdani's progressive platform and strategic advantage in the ranked-choice voting system overcoming Cuomo's significant financial backing and early polling lead in what analysts are calling a seismic shift in city...

Historic Ax-4 mission launches first astronauts from 3 nations

Summary: India, Poland and Hungary will have government-sponsored astronauts visit the space station for the first time in over 40 years., Description: NASA, SpaceX and Axiom Space cleared the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station for launch early Wednesday morning, following weeks of delays caused by a leak in the Russian segment of the orbiting laboratory. Axiom Mission 4 is scheduled to lift off at 2:31 a.m. EDT from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying...

UK to buy nuclear-capable F-35A jets for first time since 1990s

Summary: Britain will purchase at least 12 F-35A fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear weapons, marking the biggest strengthening of UK nuclear posture in a generation., Description: The United Kingdom announced plans to purchase at least 12 F-35A fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear weapons, marking the first time British aircraft will have nuclear strike capability since the 1990s. Prime Minister Keir Starmer revealed the decision at a NATO summit in The Hague on Tuesday, describing the move as the "biggest strengthening of the UK's nuclear posture in a generation"....

Daniel Park dies in federal custody after fertility clinic bombing charge

Summary: Daniel Park was found unresponsive at a Los Angeles detention center and later pronounced dead at a hospital., Description: Daniel Park, a 32-year-old Washington state man charged with providing material support and explosive chemicals to Palm Springs fertility clinic bomber Guy Edward Bartkus, was found unresponsive at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles on June 24, 2025, and later pronounced dead at a local hospital, adding to a concerning pattern of inmate deaths at detention facilities across the...

China emerges as key mediator in Iran-Israel ceasefire

Summary: Beijing's diplomatic push is driven by its massive energy dependence on Iran, purchasing 80-90% of the country's crude oil exports., Description: As a fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel entered its second day Tuesday, China intensified diplomatic efforts to prevent renewed hostilities, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi conducting phone calls with regional counterparts to shore up the truce that President Trump announced over the weekend. The ceasefire, which took effect early Monday morning, has faced early tests with both sides...

Oregon becomes first state to offer unemployment to striking public workers

Summary: Gov. Tina Kotek signed legislation allowing all striking workers to collect benefits after two weeks, with payments limited to 10 weeks., Description: Oregon Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek signed legislation Tuesday making the state the first in the nation to provide unemployment benefits to striking public employees, capping a tumultuous legislative battle that required multiple votes and compromise to reach her desk. The measure allows all striking workers — both public and private — to collect unemployment benefits after two weeks on the...

FBI shifts focus from immigration to counterterrorism and cyber threats

Summary: The move comes amid heightened concerns about Iranian retaliation and cyber attacks after agents spent months focused on immigration enforcement., Description: According to multiple sources including ABC News and Reuters, the FBI is planning to reallocate potentially thousands of agents away from immigration enforcement to focus on counterterrorism and cyber threats, a shift prompted by heightened concerns about Iranian retaliation following U.S. strikes and an evolving threat landscape that had been deprioritized during a period when agents were...

Early US intel finds US strikes only delayed Iran nuclear progress

Summary: Defense Intelligence Agency assessment contradicts Trump's claims that Iran's nuclear facilities were "obliterated," finding significant uranium stockpiles and centrifuge capabilities remain intact., Description: According to an early intelligence assessment from the Defense Intelligence Agency and U.S. Central Command, the recent U.S. military strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities did not completely destroy the country's nuclear program and likely set it back only by months, contradicting President Trump's claims that the program had been "obliterated," as Iran retains significant uranium enrichment...

LA declares fiscal emergency, authorizes mass layoffs amid $1B budget crisis

Summary: The City Council's unanimous vote addresses a $1 billion budget deficit driven by overspending, labor contracts and wildfire impacts., Description: The Los Angeles City Council unanimously declared a fiscal emergency Tuesday, authorizing the layoff of 614 city employees as the nation's second-largest city grapples with a roughly $1 billion budget deficit that has strained municipal services and forced painful cuts across departments. The 14-0 vote, with Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez absent, represents a legal requirement that clears the...

How Synthflow AI is cutting through the noise in a loud AI voice category

Summary:

Synthflow is a no-code platform that lets enterprises build and deploy customized white-labeled voice AI customer service agents. The company was founded in 2023 and has amassed more than 1,000 customers and handled more than 45 million calls.

New data highlights the race to build more empathetic language models

Summary:

One sign of that focus came on Friday, when prominent open source group LAION released a suite of open source tools focused entirely on emotional intelligence.

In just 4 months, AI medical scribe Abridge doubles valuation to $5.3B

Summary:

Abridge nabbed a $300 million Series E led by a16z, months after it closed its previous $250 million fundraise. The 7-year-old Abridge is widely considered to be the leader in the increasingly crowded AI-powered medical scribe market, largely due to its early entry and integration with Epic Systems, the dominant health record software.

Wispr Flow raises $30M from Menlo Ventures for its AI-powered dictation app

Summary:

CEO Tanay Kothari noted that the startup will soon achieve profitability at the current rate of growth. Initially, he didn’t want to raise money, but he worried that Big Tech players with a massive distribution advantage could be a risk to the company. He wanted to rapidly multiply the company’s revenue and reach and decided to take the investment.

A federal judge sides with Anthropic in lawsuit over training AI on books without authors’ permission

Summary:

The ruling isn’t a guarantee for how similar cases will proceed, but it lays the foundations for a precedent that would side with tech companies over creatives.

BoK Warns of Rising Housing Market Risks in Seoul Area

Country: South Korea, Description: Persistent housing price increases in the Seoul metropolitan area could accelerate household debt and pose risks to South Korea’s financial stability, the Bank of Korea warned in its semi-annual report. Despite overall financial system stability in early 2025, the central bank is closely monitoring the rapid rise in Seoul real estate prices, which are highly sensitive to economic changes. The gap between metropolitan and non-metropolitan housing trends is widening, with regulations on multi-homeownership also pushing demand into Seoul’s preferred areas. Policymakers cautioned that falling interest rates may intensify price pressures and household lending, stating that the risk of financial imbalances related to the housing market in Seoul has recently risen again. While the risk index remains below COVID-era levels, the BoK stressed the need for macroprudential policies and confidence in stable housing supply.

Japan 10-Year Yield Steady as BOJ Stresses Caution

Country: Japan, Description: Japan’s 10-year government bond yield held around 1.4% on Wednesday after the Bank of Japan’s latest Summary of Opinions reaffirmed a cautious approach to policy normalization. Policymakers cited heightened uncertainty in the economic outlook and reiterated that any future rate hikes would depend on the realization of their growth and inflation forecasts. Several BOJ members underscored the need to maintain an accommodative stance amid persistent global trade tensions and geopolitical risks. The central bank also reiterated its intention to gradually reduce JGB purchases, aiming to allow long-term rates to be more market-driven. To manage the transition, the BOJ plans to slow its pace of JGB purchase reductions to JPY 200 billion per month starting in April 2026, with an interim review scheduled for June 2026.

Offshore Yuan End 4-Session Winning Streak

Country: China, Description: The offshore yuan weakened toward 7.17 per dollar on Wednesday, breaking a four-session winning streak, as positive sentiment toward China’s financial initiatives was clouded by ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Beijing unveiled fresh guidelines aimed at boosting domestic consumption through financial tools, with the goal of supporting employment, increasing household incomes, and stimulating broader economic growth. Investors are now turning their attention to the upcoming July Politburo meeting for potential indications of further economic stimulus. Meanwhile, the People's Bank of China injected CNY 300 billion into banks on June 25 via a one-year lending facility to maintain liquidity. On the geopolitical front, US President Donald Trump accused both Israel and Iran of violating a newly declared ceasefire, expressing particular frustration with Israel for launching major strikes on Iran. Earlier that day, Iran fired a barrage of missiles, resulting in four fatalities.

Australia 10-Year Yield Falls After Soft Monthly CPI Data

Country: Australia, Description: Australia’s 10-year government bond yield dropped to around 4.14% on Wednesday, hovering near its lowest level since early May, as investors reacted to weaker-than-expected monthly CPI data. Australia’s consumer prices rose by 2.1% year-on-year in May, coming in below market forecasts of a 2.3% increase and easing from a 2.4% growth in April. The softer inflation print, along with recently disappointing GDP figures, reinforces expectations of further rate cuts from the Reserve Bank of Australia. Markets are implying around an 80% chance the RBA will trim its 3.85% cash rate by 25bps in July, with a total of 73 bps of easing anticipated by year-end. Meanwhile, in the US, Fed Chair Jerome Powell stuck to his cautious approach during his testimony to Congress on Tuesday, reiterating that the Fed was in no rush to cut rates. On the geopolitical front, investors continue to monitor developments in the Middle East, particularly the fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel.

US 10-Year Yield Holds at 7-Week Low

Country: United States, Description: The yield on the US 10-year Treasury note hovered around 4.3% on Wednesday, holding near a seven-week low as investors weighed the outlook for Federal Reserve policy. In remarks on Tuesday, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said “many paths are possible,” keeping the door open for a potential rate cut in July. He emphasized a cautious approach but noted the Fed would move swiftly if signs of labor market weakness emerge. Other officials, including Governors Waller and Bowman, also signaled openness to easing policy soon. Meanwhile, the US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Iran appeared to be holding despite minor flare-ups, with oil prices retreating sharply from recent highs. However, intelligence reports suggested that US missile strikes did not completely destroy Iran’s key nuclear sites, only setting back Tehran’s nuclear program by a few months.

Yen Steady as BOJ Maintains Cautious Outlook

Country: Japan, Description: The Japanese yen held steady around 144.8 per dollar on Wednesday, near a one-week high, as markets digested the Bank of Japan’s latest Summary of Opinions. Policymakers maintained a cautious stance on future policy adjustments, citing heightened uncertainty in the economic outlook. The central bank reiterated that any rate hikes would depend on whether its projections for economic growth and inflation are realized, while several members stressed the importance of maintaining an accommodative stance amid ongoing global trade tensions and geopolitical risks. On the trade front, Japanese negotiator Ryosei Akazawa is reportedly preparing for his seventh trip to the US as early as June 26 to press for the removal of US tariffs. Meanwhile, the US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Iran appeared to hold despite isolated flare-ups. However, intelligence reports indicated that recent US missile strikes only partially damaged Iran’s nuclear facilities, delaying but not halting its program.

IMF Predicts Vietnam’s GDP Growth to Slow to 5.4% Amid High Tariffs

Country: Vietnam, Description: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects Vietnam's economic growth to slow to 5.4% this year, down from 7.09% last year, under a high-tariff scenario. The country has held several rounds of negotiations with the US to strike a deal and avoid the Trump administration’s proposed 46% tariff on its exports. “The outlook is heavily dependent on the outcome of trade negotiations and is constrained by elevated global uncertainty around trade policies and economic growth,” the IMF said in a statement on Wednesday. The agency noted that under the high-tariff scenario, economic growth would decelerate further next year, but added that “if global trade tensions subside, the economic outlook would improve significantly.” Last year, shipments to the US accounted for about 30% of Vietnam’s GDP. Vietnam’s GDP grew by 6.93% year-on-year in Q1 of 2025, easing from a 7.55% expansion in Q4 of 2024, while marking the softest pace of growth since Q1 of 2024.

China Unveils Financial Measures to Boost Consumption and Income

Country: China, Description: China released new guidelines on Wednesday to stimulate consumption using financial tools, aiming to support employment, raise household incomes, and stimulate the broader economy. Jointly drafted by six government agencies and published by the central bank, the plan calls for supporting eligible consumer-sector firms in raising funds via IPOs, bonds, and other channels. Financial institutions are urged to improve services, innovate credit products, and manage risks effectively to meet diverse consumer financing needs. The central bank pledged to “guide financial institutions” in strengthening services from both supply and demand sides and to use tools like reserve requirements, relending, rediscounting, and open market operations to ensure liquidity and lower financing costs. Further, the guidelines encourage the launch of consumer-focused ETFs and support REITs for qualified infrastructure projects. Boosting employment and incomes to restore consumer confidence is also a key focus.

New Zealand Dollar Gains for 3rd Day

Country: New Zealand, Description: The New Zealand dollar rose to around $0.603 on Wednesday, marking its third consecutive session of gains, supported by a broadly weaker US dollar amid optimism over a shaky ceasefire between Israel and Iran. Both countries signaled that the air war between them had ended, at least for now, after President Donald Trump publicly scolded them for violating a truce he had announced. Meanwhile, US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell maintained a cautious stance in his semi-annual testimony before Congress on Tuesday, reiterating that the Fed is in no hurry to cut rates. At home, data showed New Zealand’s trade surplus widened sharply in May compared to the same month last year, as export increased faster than imports. This followed last week’s release of better-than-expected Q1 GDP figures, which pointed to a strengthening economic recovery. These indicators supported the case that the Reserve Bank is nearing the end of its easing cycle.

Aussie Dollar Firms Despite Softer Inflation Data

Country: Australia, Description: The Australian dollar strengthened to around $0.650 on Wednesday, marking its third consecutive session of gains despite softer-than-expected inflation figures. Headline CPI rose 2.1% year-on-year in May, easing from 2.4% in the prior three months and below market forecasts of 2.3%. Core inflation also slowed to 2.4% from 2.8%, the lowest since November 2021, keeping price pressures within the Reserve Bank of Australia's 2–3% target band. Combined with the recent weaker-than-expected GDP data, these figures have bolstered expectations of a 25bps rate cut by the RBA in July, with markets now pricing in an 89% chance and a total of 73bps cuts by year-end. Meanwhile, the Aussie gained support from improved risk sentiment following US President Trump’s announcement of a ceasefire between Iran and Israel. However, caution remains as intelligence reports indicate recent US missile strikes failed to fully destroy key Iranian nuclear facilities, casting doubt on the ceasefire’s durability.

B2B maintenance services startup CLR Facility Services bags $15M from BII to expand workforce

With this capital infusion, CLR plans to more than double its workforce to 50,000 employees over the next five to seven years.

NRI-focused fintech Aspora closes $53M round to broaden reach

The fresh capital will support Aspora’s push into new markets, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and Singapore.

BRND.ME, formerly Mensa Brands, has sold men-focused content platform MensXP

Sale of MensXP is a part of a broader portfolio simplification excersise at Mensa Brands, now BRND.ME as it gears for a public listing.

PharmEasy founders launch home improvement venture All Home, raise seed round at $120M valuation

PharmEasy founders Dharmil Sheth, Dhaval Shah, and Hardik Dedhia have launched a one-stop shop for home improvement needs.

Broking platform Sahi raises $10.5M in Series A funding from Accel, Elevation Capital

Sahi will use the funding to enhance product capabilities with advanced automation, expand into new markets to reach more active traders across India, and grow the team.

[Weekly funding roundup June 14-20] VC inflow crashes to second lowest level for the year

Venture capital funding into Indian startups dropped to the second lowest level for the year till date. This is the fourth time that the total amount has fallen below $100 million level on a weekly basis.

Techfino raises Rs 65 Cr from Stellaris Venture Partners and Saison Capital

Techfino, a Bengaluru-based non-banking financial company (NBFC), has secured Rs 65 crore in funding from Stellaris Venture Partners and Saison Capital to ramp up its secured lending operations for underserved micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in India. The fresh capital will be used to

Mahaveer Finance bags Rs 200 Cr from Elevation Capital, BanyanTree, First Bridge

The company will use the funding to deepen its presence across South India, expand its technology infrastructure, and improve access to formal credit for small entrepreneurs currently reliant on informal moneylenders.

Oben Electric closes Rs 100 Cr Series A round with fresh capital infusion

The company said the funding will be used for Oben’s next growth phase—expanding to 150+ showrooms across 50+ cities by FY26 and ramping up production at its Bengaluru facility.

[Weekly funding roundup June 7-14] Indian startups see marginal rise in VC inflow

The weekly inflow of VC money into Indian startups over the past 12 weeks has largely hovered around the $100-200 million range, which does not augur well for the ecosystem.

HDFC Bank at ₹1960.9: ₹1.5L Cr Market Cap, P/E 21.2

HDFC Bank's LTP is 1960.9; market cap stands at ₹1500524.2 Cr. Trading volume hits 11312661; P/E ratio is 21.2; EPS at ₹92.5. Source: The Economic Times

Authum Delivers 1788% in 3 Yrs, Outpaces Sensex

Authum Investment shows strong returns with 134.1% YoY vs Sensex's 6.1%. PEG ratio at 0.23 indicates growth. Over 3 years, Authum achieved a 1787.6% return vs Sensex's 55.6%. Valuation metrics remain competitive in NBFC sector. Source: Marketsmojo

Union Bank, Hindalco, TaMo Lead Stocks to Watch Today

Union Bank, Hindalco, Vi, JB Chemicals, TaMo, Rites among stocks to watch. Indian markets may gain as Iran-Israel truce holds after US criticism. Source: Business Standard

Graphite India Q4 PAT Soars 212% to ₹50 Cr; Cash Reserves at ₹182 Cr

Graphite India reports Q4 FY24-25 PBT growth of 134.3%, PAT surges 212.5% to Rs 50 cr. Institutional ownership rises by 0.99% to 15.97%; cash position reaches Rs 182 cr. Source: Marketsmojo

Cigniti Tech Gains on 15% Profit Growth, Bullish Indicators

Cigniti Technologies sees evaluation adjustment due to positive financial trends like 15.1% net profit growth and Rs 530.3 crore in sales. Technical indicators show mixed but bullish trends; MACD, RSI, OBV suggest bullish momentum while ROE stands at 24.4%. Source: Marketsmojo

Indian Metals Rated 'Fair' as Metrics Show Mixed Performance

Indian Metals & Ferro Alloys revised valuation grade to fair amid mixed metrics. PE ratio at 11.1, ROCE 26.3%, 3-year return 210.6%, recent return 0.6%. Source: Marketsmojo

MAS Financial Profit Up 23.6%; Reports ₹437.6 Cr Sales

MAS Financial reports record net sales of Rs 437.6 crore, PBDIT Rs 313.8 crore. Profit rose 23.6%; strong institutional holdings at 23.3%, PBV ratio 2.1, ROE 12.7%. Source: Marketsmojo

India Pesticides Q4 Profit Jumps 39%, Sales Up 37%

India Pesticides reports 36.99% net sales growth in Q4 FY24-25, profits up 38.6%, with low debt-equity ratio. Technical indicators show mixed signals; MACD bullish weekly but bearish monthly, Bollinger Bands weekly bullish. Source: Marketsmojo

South Indian Bank Q2 Profit Jumps 65%, NPAs at 3.2%

South Indian Bank reports strong growth with low Gross NPA of 3.2% and Capital Adequacy Ratio of 15.3%. The bank achieved 65.6% net profit growth, outperforming BSE 500 with 8.4% annual return last year. Source: Marketsmojo

Camlin Fine to Acquire Majority Stake in Vinpai

Camlin Fine Sciences Ltd to acquire majority stake in Vinpai S.A. Subscription includes 3.3M convertible bonds; timeline extended to Sep 30, 2025. Source: ScoutQuest