Daily Strategic Briefing

Dollar hits lowest level since 2022 amid Fed cut bets

Summary: The US Dollar Index fell to 97.3 as traders increased expectations for rate cuts and political uncertainty mounted over Fed leadership., Description: The US Dollar Index plummeted to 97.3 on Thursday, marking its lowest level since March 2022 as traders ramped up bets on Federal Reserve rate cuts amid mounting political uncertainty and economic concerns. The greenback has now lost approximately 10% of its value in 2025, putting it on track for its worst first-half performance since 1986. The dollar's decline accelerated after reports emerged...

NCAA uses Olympic funding as leverage for antitrust shield

Summary: College sports leaders promise to maintain programs that produce three-quarters of Team USA's roster while seeking congressional protection from lawsuits., Description: College sports leaders are leveraging promises to fund Olympic programs as a bargaining chip in their push for congressional antitrust protections, according to four people familiar with the negotiations who spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday. The strategy targets Democratic lawmakers whose votes would be needed to pass legislation in the Senate, offering assurances that schools will...

Asia's oil dependence exposed as Israel-Iran ceasefire holds

Summary: The 12-day conflict sent oil prices up 6% and highlighted the region's vulnerability, with 75% of imports coming from the Middle East., Description: The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran, now in its third day, has exposed Asia's vulnerability to Middle East oil supply disruptions, with energy experts warning that the region's heavy dependence on petroleum imports from the volatile region poses long-term economic risks. The 12-day conflict that began June 13 sent oil prices climbing and highlighted how quickly geopolitical tensions...

Brazil's top court orders Google, Meta, and TikTok to remove illegal content

Summary: The 8-3 ruling requires platforms like Google, Meta and TikTok to actively monitor hate speech and violence without waiting for court orders., Description: Brazil's Supreme Court finalized a decision Thursday that will require social media companies to actively monitor and remove illegal content posted by users, marking a departure from the country's decade-old internet governance framework that had protected platforms from liability for third-party posts. The 8-3 vote orders tech giants including Google, Meta and TikTok to immediately remove...

Masayoshi Son declares SoftBank will organize "artificial super intelligence era"

Summary: The Japanese conglomerate is leading the $500 billion Stargate project and aims to become the "organiser" of artificial super intelligence., Description: As reported by Reuters and Yahoo Finance, SoftBank Group is positioning itself to become the world's le SoftBank aims to establish itself as the dominant force in artificial super intelligence over the coming ten years. "We want to become the organiser of the industry in the artificial super intelligence era," Son told shareholders at the group's annual shareholder meeting. announcing a total...

Jeff Bezos courts Trump after Musk spat

Summary: Amazon founder met with president twice in June and invited him to Venice wedding as Blue Origin seeks government contracts., Description: As reported by The Wall Street Journal and others, Jeff Bezos is actively courting President Donald Trump following the president's public falling out with Elon Musk, meeting with Trump twice in June and even inviting him to his wedding in Venice as part of a strategic effort to secure more government contracts for his space company Blue Origin.

Slotkin unveils 'Economic War Plan' to unite Democrats

Summary: Michigan senator calls for party to refocus on middle-class concerns, proposing housing emergency declaration and corporate PAC ban., Description: Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin unveiled what she called an "Economic War Plan" for Democrats on Thursday, arguing that the party must refocus on middle-class economic concerns to counter both Donald Trump's policies and internal divisions that have left the party "like a solar system with no sun." Speaking at the Center for American Progress, Slotkin presented her vision as the first of three...

Gun control advocate and former US Rep. Carolyn Mccarthy dies at 81

Summary: The former congresswoman became the "gun lady" on Capitol Hill after her husband was killed in the 1993 Long Island Rail Road massacre., Description: Former U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, who became one of the nation's leading advocates for gun control after her husband was killed and her son wounded in the 1993 Long Island Rail Road massacre, has died at the age of 81, leaving behind a legacy that transformed her from a nurse with no political experience into a nine-term congresswoman known as the "gun lady" on Capitol Hill for her unwavering...

S&P 500 nears record high after 23% surge from April crash

Summary: The index closed just three points below its all-time high, recovering from tariff-driven turmoil that wiped $6 trillion in market value., Description: The S&P 500 closed Thursday within striking distance of its all-time high, capping a remarkable turnaround from the market turmoil that gripped Wall Street in April when sweeping tariff announcements sent stocks plummeting. The broad market index gained 0.8% to finish at 6,141.02, just three points below its record closing high of 6,144 set in February. The Nasdaq Composite rose 1% to...

Maersk halts shipments to Israeli settlement companies

Summary: The Danish shipping giant becomes the first global company to commit to such measures after sustained activist pressure., Description: Danish shipping giant Maersk announced this month it will halt shipments to and from companies linked to illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, marking the first time a global shipping company has committed to such measures after sustained activist pressure. The decision comes after more than a year of international campaigning by the Palestinian Youth Movement and represents a...

This AI-powered startup studio plans to launch 100,000 companies a year — really

Summary:

Henrik Werdelin has spent the last 15 years helping entrepreneurs build big brands like Barkbox through his startup studio Prehype. Now, with his new, New York-based venture Audos, he’s betting that AI can help him scale that process from “tens” of startups a year to “hundreds of thousands” of aspiring business owners. The timing certainly […]

Google launches Doppl, a new app that lets you visualize how an outfit might look on you

Summary:

Google is launching a new experimental app called Doppl that uses AI to visualize how different outfits might look on you.

Why a16z VC believes that Cluely, the ‘cheat on everything’ startup, is the new blueprint for AI startups

Summary:

Andreessen Horowitz explains why its new investment philosophy prioritizes the “build as you go” approach embodied by Cluely.

In just 3 months, CoreWeave CEO, once a crypto-mining bro, becomes a deca-billionaire

Summary:

CoreWeave remains a symbol of the AI industry in 2025: Massive revenue and investor enthusiasm built on an insatiable need for more.

Google Photos merges classic search with AI to speed up results

Summary:

The AI feature, first introduced at Google’s I/O developer conference last year, allows users to search across their collection of digital photos using natural language queries.

FX Updates: Swedish Krona Rises by 0.59%

Country: Currency, Description: Top currency gainers are Swedish Krona (0.59%), Norwegian Krone (0.42%), Swiss Franc (0.30%), Euro (0.14%), British Pound (0.13%), Dollar Index (0.07%) and Japanese Yen (0.18%). Biggest losers are Turkish Lira (-0.37%).

Italian Consumer Morale Weakens in June

Country: Italy, Description: The Italian consumer confidence index edged down to 96.1 in June 2025 from 96.5 in May, coming in below market expectations of 97. The overall weakening in sentiment was reflected in most of the index’s main components. In particular, the personal climate index declined to 94.8 from 96.1 in May, indicating a slight deterioration in households’ perception of their personal situation. Similarly, the current climate index fell to 97.9 from 98.6, while sentiment regarding the future climate remained stable at 93.7, showing no change compared to May. Notably, views on the general economic situation improved, with that component rising to 99.6 from 97.5, pointing to slightly more optimism about the broader economy.

S&P 500 Set to Extend Record High

Country: United States, Description: US stock futures rose on Friday, extending this week's momentum amid optimism of more relaxed trade policy and greater confidence that the Federal Reserve will deliver multiple rate cuts this year. Contracts attached to the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 pointed to opens at record highs, while the Dow was set to gain 150 points. Commerce Secretary Lutnick stated that the US reached a trade agreement with China, consolidating the relief of lower tariffs and preventing rare earth shortages. Officials also hinted at progress in a trade deal with India, suggesting that the White House grew some aversion to trade barriers. In turn, the Treasury removed the Section 899 tax from the upcoming tax bill, aiding foreign investment in the US. On the data front, new releases are set to show that PCE inflation ticked higher in May, while personal income and spending held April's growth. Nike futures were 10% higher on strong earnings, while tech benefited from the rebound in risk sentiment.

Slovakia Business Morale Lowest in Over a Year

Country: Slovakia, Description: The industrial confidence indicator in Slovakia dropped by 3.3 points month-over-month to -7.3 in June 2025, from -4 in the previous month. This marked the lowest reading since February 2024, mainly due to a decrease in the current level of orders (-17 vs -15) and an increase in finished goods stock (2 vs 0), particularly in the manufacture of textiles, clothing, leather and leather products (20 vs 11) and chemicals and chemical products (43 vs -1). Additionally, current assessments of production (10 vs 33) worsened while employment expectations (-3 vs 1) turned negative. Lastly, prospects for selling prices fell (-2 vs 7).

Hang Seng Jumps 3% This Week

Country: Hong Kong, Description: The Hang Seng lost 41 points or 0.2% to close at 24,284 on Friday, marking a second session of drop after a brief rise in morning trade. Sentiment turned cautious after data showed that China’s industrial output slumped 9.1% yoy in May, the first fall in three months, dragging year-to-date output down 1.1% amid deflation risks and tariff uncertainty. Traders were also worried ahead of June PMI data in China next week from official and private sources. Property stocks dipped, with losses from China Overseas Land (-3.9%), Henderson Land (-2.3%), and Longfor Group (-1.8%). Pharma names such as Akeso Inc. (-2.6%) and Innovent Biologics (-2.2%) also fell. In contrast, Xiaomi hit a record high after launching a new EV model with strong pre-orders. Still, the index surged 3.2% this week, reversing a prior weekly loss, boosted by easing Sino-U.S. trade tensions after a rare earth export framework deal, fresh support measures from Beijing to spur consumption, and robust Hong Kong’s IPO market.

Bulgaria Tourist Arrivals Hit 8-Month High

Country: Bulgaria, Description: The number of tourist arrivals in Bulgaria rose by 0.5% year-on-year to an eight-month high of 997.6 thousand in May 2025, following a 0.6% advance in the previous month. An increase was registered in trips for leisure and excursion purposes (8%) and business purposes (2%), while those for other purposes (-5.8%) declined. The EU constituted 59% of the total visits to Bulgaria, with Romania (41.6%) being the largest contributor, followed by Greece (-23.3%). Meanwhile, arrivals from the other European countries accounted for 34.5% of the total, mainly from Turkey (54.7%).

DAX Rises on Easing Tariff Concerns

Country: Germany, Description: Frankfurt's DAX rose 0.9% to surpass 23,800 on Friday, advancing for a second day, amid broad optimism across Europe. Market sentiment was buoyed by optimism over US trade progress with China and other partners, and further supported by the stability of the truce in the Middle East. Investors responded to White House remarks suggesting that the looming deadline for country-specific tariffs was “not critical” and could be extended. This was reinforced by Beijing’s confirmation of a trade deal reached in London earlier this month to accelerate rare earth exports to the US. Almost all sectors traded in the green, led by retailers, autos and pharma stocks. Adidas and Puma outperformed, climbing 4% and 3.1%, respectively. Porsche, Daimler Truck Holding, Sartorius, BMW, Bayer, Siemens, Mercedes Benz Group and Merck followed closely, with gains between 1.7% and 3.5%. For the week, the index is set to advance more than 2%.

Agricultural Commodities Updates: Cotton Drops by 3.43%

Country: Commodity, Description: Top commodity losers are Cotton (-3.43%), Rice (-1.66%) and Orange Juice (-0.90%). Gains are led by Sugar (2.14%), Rubber (2.13%) and Oat (1.44%).

Metals Commodities Updates: Iron Ore CNY Rises by 2.50%

Country: Commodity, Description: Top commodity gainers are Iron Ore CNY (2.50%) and Lithium Carbonate (0.91%). Biggest losers are Platinum (-2.18%), Silver (-1.71%) and Gold (-1.30%).

Czech Republic Q1 GDP Revised Lower

Country: Czech Republic, Description: The Czech Republic’s gross domestic product grew by 0.7% quarter-on-quarter in the first quarter of 2025, slightly below the second estimate of 0.8% and easing from an upwardly revised 0.8% rise in the previous three-month period. Household consumption experienced slower growth (0.5% vs 1% in Q4), while declines were seen for government spending (-0.2% vs 0.5%) and gross fixed capital formation (-0.2% vs 1.3%). Meanwhile, net trade contributed positively to the GDP, as exports (2.6% vs -1%) increased more than imports (1.9% vs -0.9%). On a yearly basis, the economy expanded by 2.4% in Q1, higher than estimates of 2.2% and compared to an upwardly revised 1.9% advance in the previous period.

GoKwik secures $13 M in round led by RTP Global

Ecommerce enablement platform GoKwik has raised $13 million in a growth round to support its international expansion and AI-offerings.

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.

Battery Smart raises $21M in ongoing Series B funding round

The battery swapping operator raised $65 million in June last year led by LeapFrog Investments with participation from Blume Ventures and British International Investment, among others.

Wiom raises $40M in growth funding led by Bertelsmann India, Accel

In an exclusive interview with YourStory, Wiom Founder Satyam Darmora shared the company’s growth plans following its $40 million fundraise.

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.

Flipspaces raises Rs 50 Cr from Asiana Fund to expand global footprint

Flipspaces also aims to invest in its proprietary technology platform and explore strategic acquisitions in new markets and adjacent categories.

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.

Fine jewellery brand GIVA raises Rs 530 Cr in Series C funding led by Creaegis

GIVA will use the capital to scale its retail and digital footprint, enhance tech-enabled supply chain capabilities, deepen its offerings in lab-grown diamond jewellery, and expand into new categories.

Coralogix raises $115M in Series E funding at $1B valuation

Coralogix will allocate a substantial share of the capital to its operations in India, one of its three largest markets worldwide. The investment will be used to expand its presence, with a focus on BFSI, IT and telecom, logistics, and edtech sectors.

EKA Mobility raises Rs 200 Cr from ENAM Holdings

The company intends to use majority of the funds to set up its plants, ramp up production of its passenger and goods carrier vehicles, and expand its product portfolio over the next two years.

Nuvoco Vistas Hit with ₹10.03 Cr GST Demand; Expects No Major Impact

Nuvoco Vistas faces Rs.10.03 crore GST demand over FY19-FY24 discount credit notes. Company anticipates no significant financial impact owing to available certificates. Source: ScoutQuest

Hindalco Q1 FY26 Results on Aug 12; Trading Window Shut Until Aug 14

Hindalco's board meeting on August 12, 2025, to approve Q1 FY2026 financial results. Trading window will remain closed from July 1 to August 14, 2025, as per regulations. Source: BSE

Evans Electric Names Rajesh Dhekane CEO Starting June 2025

Evans Electric appoints Rajesh Dhekane as CEO from June 27, 2025. Dhekane brings 30 years' leadership experience in scaling revenues and operations. Source: ScoutQuest

Unison Metals Extends Rights Issue Deadline to July 2025

Unison Metals extends rights issue closing date to July 4, 2025. Shareholders get more time; no changes in offer document terms except dates. Source: ScoutQuest

GSK Pharma Hit with ₹3.39 Cr GST Demand, Reviewing Next Steps

GlaxoSmithKline Pharma faces Rs. 3.39 cr GST demand for Apr 2017-Mar 2018. Demand includes Rs. 1.69 cr tax and Rs. 1.69 cr penalty; company reviewing response. Source: ScoutQuest

Gujarat Gas to Announce Q1 FY25 Results on Aug 5

Gujarat Gas Ltd's board to meet on Aug 5, 2025 for Q1 FY25 results. Trading window to stay closed from July 1 to Aug 7, 2025 as per SEBI norms. Source: BSE

DoT Fines Airtel ₹1.13M for Verification Breach

DoT fined Bharti Airtel Rs. 1.13M for subscriber verification violations. Airtel accepted penalty without contesting, citing licensing non-compliance. Source: ScoutQuest

360 ONE WAM, Amber Added to NSE F&O; Stocks Jump Post Announcement

360 ONE WAM, Amber, KFin Tech, PG Electroplast added to NSE F&O segment today. 360 ONE WAM rose 3%, Amber 1.5%, KFin 2.6%, PG Electroplast 0.6% post announcement. Source: Zee Business

New India Assurance Hit with ₹2,298 Cr GST Demand, Plans to Contest

New India Assurance faces ₹2,298 crore GST demand for FY18-23. The insurer plans to contest the notice, citing strong merits and expert advice. Source: The Hindu BusinessLine

Ganges Securities Seeks ₹15 Cr Loan Nod; Plans ₹13 Cr Chambal Fertilisers Buy

Ganges Securities plans Rs.15 crore loan to Morton Foods, needs shareholder nod. It aims Rs.13 crore equity in Chambal Fertilisers via open market purchase. Source: ScoutQuest