Daily Strategic Briefing

This Patch Tuesday, SAP is the worst offender and Microsoft users can kinda chill

ERP giant patches flaw that allows total takeover of NetWeaver, Microsoft has nothing under attack for once September’s Patch Tuesday won’t require Microsoft users to rapidly repair rancid software, but SAP users need to move fast to address extremely dangerous bugs.…

Mega-and-MAGA deals position Oracle's Larry Ellison to overtake Elon

Big Red's profits are flat, but its order book is phat Larry Ellison moved a lot closer to being the world's richest man on Tuesday after Oracle saw a huge leap in its stock price, the largest single day's improvement in decades, thanks to a pipeline stuffed full of big deals.…

Google Cloud CEO sees sunny days ahead thanks to AI demand

We're making billions on AI, how about you? Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian says the Chocolate Factory's rental computing business has $106 billion of unfulfilled contracts, and he expects Google Cloud will be able to realize about half of that in revenue within two years.…

More packages poisoned in npm attack, but would-be crypto thieves left pocket change

Miscreants cost victims time rather than money During the two-hour window on Monday in which hijacked npm versions were available for download, malware-laced packages reached one in 10 cloud environments, according to Wiz researchers. But crypto-craving crims did little more than annoy defenders.…

Apple's 'Awe Droppings' fall close to the tree

iPhone 17 Air shows company lightening up Apple on Tuesday showed off its iPhone 17 lineup at a media event dubbed, "Awe Dropping," favoring timeworn self-adulation over a more literal pun like "Four Play."…

Sources: AI training startup Mercor eyes $10B+ valuation on $450 million run rate

Summary:

The two-year-old startup has been in discussions with investors for a Series C round.

From mixers to pitch-offs — your brand event belongs at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025

Summary:

Each Side Event can unlock new opportunities for the hosts: investor deal flow, talent connections, and brand exposure with the startup community.

Microsoft to lessen reliance on OpenAI by buying AI from rival Anthropic

Summary:

The move to diversify its AI partnerships by tapping the shoulder of OpenAI’s top rival comes as the AI company also pursues independence from Microsoft with its own AI infrastructure and a potential LinkedIn competitor.

Apple’s new iPhone 17 devices don’t have an AI-powered Siri yet. It doesn’t matter.

Summary:

Until now, Apple has only released what could be considered baseline AI features for its devices, like AI writing tools, summarization, generative AI images, live translation, visual search, and Genmoji, among others.

Watch Apple’s AirPod Pro 3 live translation feature in action

Summary:

Get a look at the real-time translation the new AirPods Pro 3 bring to your ears, which you can prompt through a gesture. Powered by Apple Intelligence, it uses noise cancellation to reduce the volume of the speaker to elevate the provided translation to the user. It came as one of several updates to the […]

Interior design firm Flipspaces raises $50M to expand, boost AI tech

The fresh capital came from investors, including UAE-headquartered CE-Invests, Singapore-headquartered Panthera Growth Partners, and Japan-headquartered SMBC Asia Rising Fund.

ElevenLabs begins $100M employee tender at $6.6B valuation

The transaction is being led by existing backers Sequoia Capital and ICONIQ Growth, with participation from Andreessen Horowitz, Smash Capital, World Innovation Lab and others.

FirstClub secures $23M to push quality-first quick commerce platform

Backed by Accel and RTP Global, FirstClub is betting that India’s quick commerce boom will shift from speed to standards, with families paying more for quality everyday essentials.

PlatinumRx is betting on generic substitutes to cut India’s soaring medicine bills

The Bengaluru-based online pharmacy, which has raised $6 million funding led by Stellaris Venture Partners, wants to break India’s branded generics cartel with cheaper, vetted substitutes for chronic care patients.

Venture Catalysts raises Rs 150 Cr to launch new funds, expand leadership

The round was backed by public-market veterans, corporates, and Bollywood family offices.

Loyal Equipments Slips Amid Sector Woes, Trails Sensex

Loyal Equipments faces selling pressure with notable stock price decline. Consecutive losses and underperformance vs Sensex signal sector challenges. Source: Marketsmojo

ICICI Sec Starts Indegene at 'Add', Sets ₹630 Target

ICICI Securities initiates coverage on Indegene with an Add rating. Target price set at Rs 630, citing growth via key clients and tech focus. Source: ScoutQuest

Sensex Up 403 Pts, Nifty Near 25K; Bajaj Auto, Sun Pharma Shine

Sensex gains 403 pts in pre-open, Nifty approaches 25,000. Bajaj Auto, Sun Pharma attract focus; India-US trade talks advance. Source: Business Standard

Kotak Bank Sees ₹6,256 Cr Trade as SMBC Plans Exit

Kotak Mahindra Bank shares worth ₹6,256 crore traded as SMBC plans exit. Source: ScoutQuest

Institutions Hold 42% of Titan, Taming Price Moves

Institutions hold 42% of Titan Company, significantly influencing its share price. Top 3 shareholders control over 54%, with Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corp owning 28%. Source: Simply Wall Street

Indonesia Stocks Rebound After 3-Day Slide

Country: Indonesia, Description: The IDX Composite rose 62 points, or 0.8%, to 7,690 in morning trade on Wednesday, halting losses from the previous three sessions. The rebound came as traders took profit after the index hit a four-week low the previous day, following the replacement of the finance minister (FM). The broader index also tracked gains on Wall Street overnight, as disappointing US jobs data raised expectations of interest rate cuts later this month. Traders shifted focus back to economic indicators while awaiting US inflation data, which could offer further clues on the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy path. However, gains were capped by fresh domestic data showing that consumer confidence in August fell to its lowest level in nearly three years. Investors also continued to monitor the policy direction of the new FM, while assessing Chinese CPI data. Almost all sectors traded in the green, led by financials. Top gainers included: BBRI (2.4%), BRIS (2.4%), BBCA (2.3%), and BMRI (2.1%).

Silver Firms Up on Fed Rate Cut Bets

Country: Commodity, Description: Silver climbed above $41 per ounce on Wednesday, holding near 14-year highs as traders increased wagers on US Federal Reserve rate cuts. On Tuesday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the US economy likely added 911,000 fewer jobs in the 12 months through March, or about 76,000 fewer per month, underscoring a weaker labor market than previously estimated. Together with last week’s soft August jobs report, the data reinforced expectations for a 25 basis point cut next week, though some investors are betting on a larger 50 basis point move. Attention now turns to key inflation figures this week, with the August producer price index due Wednesday and the consumer price index on Thursday. On the industrial side, steady demand from solar, electric vehicles, and electronics has kept the physical silver market tight at a time when supply constraints persist.

Hong Kong Stocks Rise for 4th Session

Country: Hong Kong, Description: Shares in Hong Kong climbed 464 points or almost 1.0% to 26,187 around midday on Wednesday, extending gains for the fourth straight session and holding at their highest level in four years amid broad-based advances. Sentiment was lifted by record closes on Wall Street’s S&P 500 and Nasdaq, with traders positioning for likely Fed rate cuts next week and awaiting key U.S. inflation data. Risk appetite was also supported by a renewed bilateral currency swap agreement between China and several European central banks, seen as a boost to cross-border trade flows. Tech stocks led the rally, up over 1%, followed by financials and property. Still, upside momentum was capped by signs of persistent deflation risks in China, with fresh data showing consumer prices posted their sharpest fall in six months while producer prices contracted for the 35th consecutive month, though at a slower pace. Notable gainers included Trip.com (2.8%), China Unicom (2.7%), Meituan (2.5%), and Lenovo Group (2.1%).

Indonesia Consumer Mood Lowest in Near 3 Years

Country: Indonesia, Description: Indonesia's consumer confidence declined to 117.2 in August 2025, down from 118.1 in July, which had been the highest level since April. This marked the lowest reading since September 2022, as five of the six sub-indices deteriorated: economic outlook (down 0.4 points to 129.2), overall job availability (down 2.2 points to 122.8), job availability compared to six months ago (down 2.1 points to 93.2), perceptions of current economic conditions (down 1.5 points to 105.1), and current income levels (down 0.9 points to 116.9). However, an increase was seen in income expectations for the next six months, which rose 0.3 points to 136.7.

US 10-Year Yield Steadies Ahead of Inflation Data

Country: United States, Description: The yield on the 10-year US Treasury note held near 4.08% on Wednesday after touching a five-month low earlier in the week, as investors awaited key inflation releases that could influence the Federal Reserve’s policy outlook. The producer price index is due later today, followed by the consumer price index on Thursday. On Tuesday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said the economy likely added 911,000 fewer jobs in the 12 months through March, or about 76,000 fewer per month, indicating a weaker labor market than previously thought. Together with last week’s disappointing August jobs report, the data reinforced expectations for a 25 basis point Fed rate cut next week, though some traders are betting on a larger 50 basis point move. In total, markets are pricing in 66 bps of easing this year.

FCC moves to revoke Chinese labs' testing credentials

Summary: Seven Chinese government-controlled facilities face formal proceedings as regulators target vulnerabilities in America's electronics authorization process., Description: The Federal Communications Commission has launched proceedings to revoke recognition from seven testing laboratories owned or controlled by the Chinese government, marking the latest escalation in Washington's efforts to secure America's electronics supply chain from foreign adversary influence. The move represents the first enforcement action since May, when the FCC voted to finalize rules...

Mexico proposes tariffs on 1,400 products amid US pressure

Summary: New import taxes would target countries without trade treaties, generating $3.76 billion in revenue while reducing Chinese imports., Description: Mexico's government on Tuesday submitted a budget proposal that would impose new import taxes on over 1,400 products, targeting trade imbalances and generating an estimated 70 billion pesos ($3.76 billion) in additional revenue as the nation faces mounting pressure from the United States to limit economic ties with China. Treasury Secretary Édgar Amador said during a press conference following...

Korea gets world's first approval for nuclear cargo ship

Summary: The 174,000-cubic-meter LNG carrier would use molten salt reactor technology to eliminate fossil fuel propulsion entirely., Description: Korea has received world's first regulatory approval for a nuclear-powered LNG carrier, marking a potential breakthrough in maritime decarbonization efforts. The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) and Samsung Heavy Industries obtained approval in principle from the American Bureau of Shipping and Liberian flag administration for their revolutionary vessel design powered by a small...

Video shows U.S. missile 'bouncing off' unknown object

Summary: Classified footage from Yemen shows Hellfire missile apparently striking unidentified aerial target without stopping its flight path., Description: A dramatic video of a U.S. military missile apparently failing to damage an unidentified object off the coast of Yemen has reignited congressional calls for greater transparency about unexplained aerial phenomena. The footage, disclosed Tuesday during a House Oversight Committee hearing, shows what appears to be a Hellfire missile striking an unknown target only to have the object continue on...

Judge blocks Trump from firing Fed Governor Lisa Cook

Summary: Federal judge grants temporary restraining order, allowing Cook to participate in crucial September interest rate meeting despite mortgage fraud allegations., Description: A federal judge on Tuesday blocked President Donald Trump from firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, delivering a significant legal setback in an unprecedented battle over central bank independence. U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb granted Cook's request for a temporary restraining order, allowing her to remain in position while challenging Trump's attempt to remove her over allegations of...