Daily Strategic Briefing

VMware finally porting Cloud Foundation to Arm – in baby steps

Because AI, like everything else this year EXCLUSIVE  VMware will port its flagship hypervisor and Cloud Foundation suite to the Arm processor architecture.…

Nvidia touts Jetson Thor kit for real-time robot reasoning

GPU modules for AI and robotics take aim at latency Nvidia has released a new brain for humanoid robots called Jetson Thor that promises more compute power and more memory than its predecessor.…

Trump made Intel an offer it couldn't refuse

10 percent equity and maybe that $8.9 billion in CHIPS funds you're waiting on doesn't get lost in red tape Comment  We know US President Donald Trump isn't a fan of the US Chips Act. But, turn a government handout into a tit-for-tat transaction and the self described "master dealmaker" is singing a different tune.…

VMware before Broadcom was ‘A unicorn in fluffy cloudland’

The CEO of VMware’s most ardent partner – Yves Sandfort of comdivision – on what’s gone well, and where Broadcom needs to do better In the 20 months since Broadcom took over VMware, Yves Sandfort has become the most ardent and prolific commentator on the acquisition. The CEO of Germany-headquartered VMware partner Comdivision Consulting has created almost 300 videos and still has plenty to say about where VMware went wrong, and where Broadcom needs to improve.…

Linux Foundation says yes to NoSQL via DocumentDB

PostgreSQL implementation of document-oriented NoSQL datastore adopted under permissive MIT license The Linux Foundation on Monday welcomed Microsoft's DocumentDB into its stable of open source projects, waving the document database's permissive MIT license as if it were an "Open for Business" sign.…

Next set of VC judges locked in for Startup Battlefield 200 at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025

Summary:

The Startup Battlefield 2025 judging panel is getting even stronger. Our first wave of VCs brought serious firepower, and now we’re adding more top investors who will grill founders, unpack the big questions, and help crown this year’s $100,000 champion at TechCrunch Disrupt, October 27–29 in San Francisco’s Moscone West.

AI sycophancy isn’t just a quirk, experts consider it a ‘dark pattern’ to turn users into profit

Summary:

Experts say that many of the AI industry’s design decisions are likely to fuel episodes of AI psychosis. Many raised concerns about several tendencies that are unrelated to underlying capability.

NotebookLM’s Video Overviews feature now supports 80 languages

Summary:

NotebookLM’s Video Overviews now supports 80 languages, including French and Spanish.

Elon Musk’s xAI sues Apple and OpenAI, alleging anticompetitive collusion

Summary:

According to Musk, Apple and OpenAI are colluding to stifle competition from other AI companies.

Silicon Valley is pouring millions into pro-AI PACs to sway midterms

Summary:

The new pro-AI super-PAC network dubbed Leading the Future aims to use campaign donations and digital ads to advocate for favorable AI regulation and oppose candidates that the group thinks will stifle the industry.

Goldiam raises Rs 202 Cr to scale lab-grown diamond retail play

The Mumbai-based exporter goes deeper into consumer jewellery, with plans for up to 90 ORIGEM stores, in one of India’s largest fundraises for lab-grown diamonds.

[Weekly funding roundup Aug 9-16] VC inflow into Indian startups on the rise

Venture capital funding into Indian startups sees a steady rise, driven by a few large deals and certain high-value transactions.

Boundless Ventures launches Rs 200 Cr fund to invest in Indian AI startups

Boundless Ventures' new fund will invest at the seed and pre-seed stages, and has already invested in six startups.

R for Rabbit raises $27M in Series B round led by Filter Capital and 3one4 Capital

The company plans to use the fresh capital to expand distribution, invest in product development, and strengthen digital initiatives.

[Weekly funding roundup Aug 16-22] A single large deal keeps the VC momentum afloat

The $170 million deal of Weaver Services provided the boost to VC funding this week; otherwise, the number would have declined steeply.

Sun Pharma Falls 2% on BofA Negative Report

Sun Pharma shares drop over 2% after negative report by BofA Securities. Source: ScoutQuest

No AGR Relief for Vodafone Idea, MoS Confirms

Telecom MoS denies relief to Vodafone Idea on AGR dues. Debt converted into equity for Vodafone Idea recently. Source: The Times of India

HFFC Highlights 15.5% CAGR in Affordable Housing Loans

Home First Finance Company (HFFC) shared an investor presentation highlighting its growth in affordable housing finance. The presentation emphasized HFFC's scalable tech-driven model, 15.5% CAGR in housing finance, and 83% AUM as housing loans. Source: BSE

UPL Sees ₹71 Cr Block Deal at ₹723

UPL witnessed a block deal with 9.8 lakh shares traded at ₹723. The total value of the deal amounted to ₹71 crore. Source: ScoutQuest

Home First Sees ₹140-250Bn Housing Market, 10-12% CAGR Ahead

Home First Finance shared insights on affordable housing's 140-250bn market size forecast. Sector CAGR of 10-12% expected; focus on tech, rapid loan approvals, and funding diversification. Source: ScoutQuest

Silver Rises as Trump Fires Fed’s Cook

Country: Commodity, Description: Silver prices climbed above $38.7 per ounce on Tuesday, rebounding from the previous session’s losses after US President Donald Trump announced the removal of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook over alleged mortgage fraud. The move fueled concerns about the Fed’s independence and its ability to maintain monetary policy free from political influence. Analysts noted that Cook’s dismissal could raise the likelihood of earlier interest rate cuts, given Trump’s persistent pressure on the central bank to lower borrowing costs. On the industrial side, silver demand was underpinned by strong photovoltaic sector data from China. Recent figures showed that Chinese solar cell exports surged more than 70% in the first half of the year, driven largely by robust demand from India. This came after China installed over 93 gigawatts of solar capacity in May, a record high and a 300% year-on-year increase, ahead of policy changes that will make it more difficult to connect new panels to the grid.

Japan 10-Year Yield Hits 17-Year High

Country: Japan, Description: Japan’s 10-year government bond yield climbed above 1.62% on Tuesday, its highest level since 2008, as investors ramped up bets on further Bank of Japan interest rate hikes. Speaking at the Federal Reserve’s Jackson Hole conference on Saturday, BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda said wages in Japan are expected to rise further amid a tightening labor market, signaling growing confidence that conditions for another rate increase are coming together. The BOJ has paused its rate hike cycle in recent months, reflecting concerns over the impact of US tariffs on Japan’s export-driven economy. Still, at its July meeting, the central bank left rates unchanged while raising its inflation forecasts and delivering a more upbeat economic outlook. Traders are also watching a series of domestic economic releases later this week, including industrial production, retail sales, and consumer confidence data, for further policy signals.

Japan 10Y Bond Yield Hits 17-year High

Country: Japan, Description: Japan 10 Year Government Bond Yield increased to 1.63%, the highest since July 2008. Over the past 4 weeks, Japan 10Y Bond Yield gained 5.69 basis points, and in the last 12 months, it increased 74.61 basis points.

Indian Rupee Pressured as Tariff Concerns Mount

Country: India, Description: The Indian rupee edged lower to below 87.65 per dollar on Tuesday, marking its fourth consecutive session of losses, as market sentiment remained clouded by tariff concerns. Markets are bracing for the implementation of steep US tariffs, with an additional 25% duty on Indian goods set to take effect Wednesday, a move expected to keep pressure on the rupee. Signs that progress towards a Ukraine-Russia peace deal has stalled also reinforced expectations that the US will proceed with the tariffs, with little chance of talks averting them. Adding further pressure, traders flagged the possibility that the Reserve Bank of India could allow the currency to weaken strategically to cushion exporters and preserve competitiveness. Still, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra reassured that the central bank has not lost sight of its growth mandate, highlighting that around 45% of export sectors remain unaffected by US measures.

US 10-Year Yield Rises as Traders Eye PCE Data

Country: United States, Description: The yield on the 10-year US Treasury note climbed to around 4.3% on Tuesday, extending gains for a second straight session as investors awaited the release of the PCE price index later this week, the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of inflation. The economic calendar for Tuesday also includes durable goods orders, consumer confidence, the Case-Shiller Home Price Index, and the Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index. Political developments added to market volatility after President Donald Trump announced the removal of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook over alleged mortgage fraud. The move heightened concerns about the Fed’s independence and its ability to set monetary policy free from political interference. Analysts suggested that Cook’s dismissal could increase the chances of earlier interest rate cuts, given Trump’s persistent pressure on the Fed to ease borrowing costs. Futures markets currently imply an 83% probability of a 25 basis point rate cut at the September meeting.

Trump threatens tariffs on countries with digital taxes and regulations

Summary: President warns of "substantial additional tariffs" and export restrictions against nations regulating U.S. tech companies like Meta and Google., Description: President Trump issued a fresh warning Monday that countries imposing digital taxes or regulations on American technology companies will face "substantial additional tariffs" on their exports to the United States, marking the latest escalation in his administration's trade confrontation with international partners over tech policy. In a Truth Social post, Trump declared he was putting "all...

Bayrou causes a sharp drop in French markets

Summary: The Prime Minister announced a vote of confidence on September 8, causing the CAC 40 to drop by 1.59%., Description: Prime Minister François Bayrou created a surprise on August 25 by announcing that he would seek a vote of confidence for his government in the National Assembly on September 8. This decision, made in a context of budgetary and political tensions, immediately triggered a strong negative reaction from the French financial markets.

SpaceX's weekend split: Dragon soars, Starship scrubbed

Summary: Dragon cargo mission reached ISS successfully while Starship's tenth test flight was halted 17 minutes before launch due to ground system issues., Description: SpaceX faced a challenging weekend as the company prepared for two major missions: the tenth test flight of its Starship megarocket and a successful Dragon cargo delivery to the International Space Station. While one mission proceeded flawlessly, the other encountered last-minute setbacks that highlighted the continuing challenges facing the world's most ambitious rocket program. The Dragon...

Trump expresses interest in meeting Kim Jong Un later this year

Summary: South Korean President Lee called Trump the only leader who can make progress with North Korea during their White House summit., Description: President Donald Trump expressed his desire to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "this year" during his first White House summit with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Monday, signaling renewed diplomatic interest in the Korean Peninsula amid strained regional relations. "I'd like to meet him this year," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, adding, "I look forward to meeting...

Sinaloa Cartel co-founder 'El Mayo' pleads guilty

Summary: Ismael Zambada García faces mandatory life sentence after admitting to trafficking 1.5 million kilograms of cocaine over five decades., Description: Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada García, the 77-year-old co-founder of Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel, pleaded guilty Monday to federal drug trafficking charges in Brooklyn federal court, marking the end of a criminal career that spanned more than five decades. The plea comes after prosecutors announced they would not seek the death penalty, with Zambada facing a mandatory life sentence scheduled for January...