August

• Most Asian economies saw manufacturing growth in August 2026, though Indonesia and China experienced contractions. • Japan's Manufacturing PMI rose to 54.9 from 54.5 in July, while Indonesia's index fell to 49.8. • These shifts indicate diverging factory conditions across the region, specifically affecting the ASEAN bloc which represents 98% of the area's manufacturing value-added.

• The consumer price index showed persistent inflation in August, providing the final major data point before the Federal Reserve's policy meeting next week. • Dow Jones consensus expectations projected a 0.4% rise in the all-items index and a 0.2% gain for core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy costs. • These figures may influence the Federal Reserve's decision to hike interest rates during its vote concluding next Wednesday.

• Inflation remained high in August 2026 due to rising energy prices caused by the war in Iran. • Economists attributed the stubborn inflation rates to increased costs for gasoline and other energy sources. • Consumers will likely face continued financial pressure and higher living costs as Middle East tensions persist.

Annualized inflation rate was 3.4%, same as July, and core inflation, which omits energy and food prices, was up to 2.4%US consumer prices remained stubbornly high in August as the end of the ceasefire between the US and Iran pushed energy prices up, according to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics released on Friday.The annualized inflation rate was 3.4%, the same as it was in July. The most recent peak was seen in May, when the inflation rate hit a three-year high at 4.2%. Core inflation, which strips out volatile energy and food prices, increased to 2.4% in August. Continue reading...

• The FDA approved six cancer drugs in August 2026, including a new pill for pancreatic cancer called Rasonque. • Patients taking Rasonque lived a median of 13.2 months compared to 6.7 months for those on chemotherapy, reducing the risk of death by roughly 60%. • This approval provides a significant survival increase for pancreatic cancer patients in a disease where gains are typically measured in weeks.

• Thirty-three cybersecurity-related merger and acquisition deals were announced by companies in August 2026. • The deals involved major companies such as Brinqa, Cribl, Echo, Fortinet, Kiteworks, Palo Alto Networks, and Visa, indicating a trend of consolidation in the cybersecurity industry. • This surge in M&A activity suggests that companies are looking to strengthen their cybersecurity capabilities through strategic acquisitions, which could impact the market and competition.

• Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates shared their views on AI in August 2026, with Zuckerberg being hopeful and Gates being cautionary. • The views of these CEOs were part of several manifestos and editorials published in August, highlighting the ongoing debate about AI's impact. • The discussion around AI is particularly relevant for businesses, as highlighted by the founder and CEO of PTP in a follow-up article on AI and cybersecurity.

• Investors committed billions of dollars to startups in artificial intelligence, defense technology, robotics, nuclear energy, and battery storage during August 2026. • Companies like Valar Atomics, Base Power, and Form Energy received funding to develop technologies that increase electricity supply and grid reliability. • This investment trend reflects a growing need for power generation to support rising electricity demands from AI infrastructure and data centers.

• The Supreme Court issued several landmark judgments and legal updates during August 2026, including new training requirements for civil judges and expanded legal protections for live-in relationships. • The court extended the application of Section 498-A of the IPC, which deals with cruelty toward women, to include partners in live-in relationships. • These rulings establish new legal precedents for domestic partnerships and create standard operating procedures to prevent "digital arrests," where scammers trick victims into staying on video calls.

• Thailand’s SET Index closed at 1,595.16 points at the end of August 2026, marking a 26.6 percent gain since the end of 2025. • Listed companies reported a 22.2 percent year-on-year increase in net profit for the first six months of 2026. • Middle East tensions pushed crude oil prices near 90 USD per barrel, creating market pressure that led to a 1.8 percent dip in the index from July.