Consumer

• Venture capitalists in Southeast Asia are reducing funding for consumer startups as investment focus shifts heavily toward artificial intelligence. • Struggling firms are seeking alternative financing or pivoting business models, such as livestreaming platform Kumu launching a paid data annotation service. • The trend is highlighted by significant market exits, including a coffee chain that shuttered operations in Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea in 2023.

• The Euro zone economy grew faster than anticipated in the most recent quarter, driven by increased spending on artificial intelligence and rising consumer confidence. • Key economies including Germany, France, and Italy each expanded by 0.2%, while the Netherlands grew by 0.4%, doubling previous expectations. • Spain continued its trend as the bloc's top performer, recording a 0.7% growth rate, which surpassed the projected 0.6%.

• The euro zone economy grew faster than anticipated in the last quarter, driven by increased investment in artificial intelligence, robust government spending, and confident consumers. • Key regional performers included Spain, which grew by 0.7% (beating the 0.6% forecast), and the Netherlands, which expanded by 0.4%, double the expected rate. • Major economies including Germany, France, and Italy each recorded a quarterly growth rate of 0.2%.

• The Indian stock market rallied on July 29, 2026, with the Sensex jumping over 820 points and the Nifty 50 surpassing the 24,220 mark. • The surge was primarily driven by strong performance in the IT, consumer, and telecom sectors, supported by favorable global market cues. • This rally occurred as global investors remained cautious while awaiting a critical interest rate decision from the U.S. Federal Reserve scheduled for later in the day.

• Brokerages have identified several top stock picks for today's trade, including SBI Life, SBI Cards, Adani Energy, Tata Consumer, and Shriram Finance. • ACC is undergoing a merger with Ambuja Cements, where ACC shareholders will receive 328 Ambuja shares for every 100 ACC shares held. • Financial forecasts for an unspecified entity show a significant earnings trim of 28% for FY27E and 2% for FY28E, with the target price lowered to Rs310.

• Prediction market odds on Manifold have surged to 63% that a consumer AI will perform a hack for a user by 2027. • This spike follows recent security incidents, including a breach of OpenAI's Hugging Face account and Kimi K3 Redis zero-day vulnerabilities. • The trend highlights growing concerns over the potential for large language models to be weaponized for cyberattacks.

• A Washington Post investigation published July 24, 2026, reveals significant regulatory gaps in how U.S. states oversee medspas and the sale of peptide injections. • The report found that wellness clinics selling amino acid chains for weight loss and longevity often face less oversight and fewer inspections than local restaurants or hair salons. • This lack of regulation matters because it leaves consumers vulnerable to unsafe practices and unverified medical claims within the rapidly growing peptide market.

• PolitiFact, a project of the Poynter Institute, has launched "Well Informed," a new service designed to provide reliable health information to consumers and news organizations. • The initiative utilizes research-backed stories and social videos to help the public distinguish credible medical evidence from health-related misinformation. • This launch addresses the growing need for verified health data to combat the spread of misleading personal health claims across digital platforms.

• Economic activity saw a slight overall expansion, driven primarily by growth in the construction and real estate sectors. • Several districts reported a specific increase in the development of data centers, contributing to the broader growth trend. • Financial conditions remained stable, with modest increases observed in both commercial and consumer loan volumes.

• The S&P 500 rose 0.37% to 7,542.79 on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, driven by a cooler-than-expected June Consumer Price Index (CPI) report. • Market gains were supported by resilient second-quarter profits from major financial institutions, including JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, and Bank of America. • Gains were tempered by volatility stemming from escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and a shift in tech spending toward AI hardware.

Despite spending increase in June, Barclays says most people still pessimistic about economyRelentless sunshine and the World Cup coaxed consumers to spend more on beer and online shopping last month, with purse strings expected to remain loose as England fans gear up for Wednesday’s semi-final.Most people remain pessimistic about the UK economy, according to data from Barclays Bank based on debit and credit card transactions. Continue reading...

• Several major stocks, including HDFC Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Yes Bank, Axis Bank, Dabur, and Godrej Consumer Product, are expected to be in focus during Thursday's trading session. • Vedanta Power reported a significant 38% year-on-year surge in power sales for the first quarter, totaling 5,225 million units. • These updates are critical for investors as they signal growth trends and operational performance for key players in the banking and energy sectors.

FCA’s review into how tech will reshape financial services warns about amplified risks of cyber-crime and fraudBusiness live – latest updatesMinisters have been urged to toughen the City regulator’s powers to protect consumers against the potential risks of AI, according to a landmark review.The Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Mills review, which looked at how AI will reshape financial services from 2030 onward, found that companies are already starting to shift from human-led activities towards AI-enabled services for everyday consumers. Continue reading...

• Eurozone consumer prices increased by 2.8% in June, indicating a continued rise in inflation across the region. • The report comes amid a broader economic landscape where the FTSE 100 closed lower and Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) data showed a cooling trend. • These figures are critical for policymakers as they determine the pace of interest rate adjustments to stabilize the economy.

• The Dow Jones Industrial Average reached new highs on Tuesday as investors extended a "risk-on" rally leading into the Independence Day 2026 holiday. • Technology stocks drove the growth, with chipmakers reporting their strongest three-month gains on record to close out the second quarter. • The rally was supported by new survey data indicating that consumers are recovering from previous energy shocks and feeling more confident about the broader economy.

• Consumer spending across Asia is recovering as a result of easing inflation, rising asset prices, and stronger overall incomes. • The recovery remains uneven, with specific vulnerabilities identified in the Philippines and other regional economies. • Key risks to domestic demand include weak income growth, thin household buffers, and a slowdown in remittance inflows for the Philippines.

• The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index rose by 0.6 points in June, reaching 91.2 from a revised May figure of 90.6. • Despite the slight increase, consumer write-in responses remain pessimistic, with a continued focus on the impact of high prices. • Concerns regarding oil and gas costs have decreased in frequency but remain elevated, signaling ongoing inflationary pressures on households.

• Premier Li Qiang chaired a State Council meeting focused on accelerating breakthroughs in AI, including the development of ultra-large computing clusters and the acquisition of high-quality data and talent. • The initiative highlights Beijing's strategy to drive growth through technology and exports to offset a significant slump in domestic consumer spending. • These high-level discussions serve as a precursor to a high-stakes economic growth assessment scheduled for the Politburo next month.

• Consumer sentiment in the United States has increased in recent weeks, reversing a downward trend seen earlier this year. • According to a University of Michigan survey, the decline began following U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran in February and was exacerbated by soaring energy costs. • This shift indicates a positive change in how Americans perceive the economy after a period of instability and rising prices.

• U.S. consumer sentiment has increased from a previous low of 44.8, according to recent data from the University of Michigan. • Mohamed A. El-Erian, president of Queens' College at the University of Cambridge, noted that while households are feeling more optimistic, sentiment remains below optimal levels. • This trend is significant as it indicates a gradual recovery in economic confidence among U.S. consumers despite starting from a very low base.

• The Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index has dropped to 44.8, marking a new low in consumer confidence. • Despite this decline in sentiment, stock markets are rallying and consumer spending continues to climb. • This divergence suggests a disconnect between how consumers feel about the economy and their actual purchasing behavior.

• The University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index has surpassed both previous readings and market forecasts, signaling stronger-than-expected economic resilience. • This index is a critical metric for investors and policymakers as it tracks consumer attitudes that directly influence national spending and saving behaviors. • The unexpected rise in sentiment may spark increased market optimism and could potentially shift current investment strategies.

• Crude oil futures have rebounded to pre-conflict levels as markets anticipate the resumption of shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, despite current flows remaining low. • Consumer fuel costs remain elevated, with U.S. gasoline prices 33% higher and UK petrol prices 10% higher than pre-war levels. • May data from the U.S. indicates that consumers are drawing down their savings to compensate for negative real income growth.

• Asian tech stocks plummeted on Friday, led by a 12% drop in SoftBank, following reports that Apple and Microsoft are passing rising AI chip costs to consumers. • Major semiconductor players were hit hard, with South Korea's SK Hynix and Samsung both falling over 4%, while Japan's Advantest and Tokyo Electron dropped 6% and 2% respectively. • The market volatility stems from growing fears that the escalating cost of AI hardware is squeezing the profit margins of Big Tech companies.

• India has emerged as the leader in AI adoption within the Asia Pacific region, according to the 16th annual Adobe AI and Digital Trends Report published on June 25. • A significant 60% of Indian consumers expressed a desire to build their own personal AI agents to manage complex tasks. • This trend highlights a shift toward "agentic AI," where systems move beyond simple responses to autonomously executing sophisticated workflows.

• Global consumer market M&A is projected to remain stable and selective through 2026, focusing on strategic portfolio rebalancing and securing new capabilities. • Key examples of this trend include Mars' acquisition of Kellanova, completed in December 2025, which expanded its global brand reach. • The proposed Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern rail merger, one of 2025's largest deals, highlights a shift toward consolidation to improve supply-chain reliability and e-commerce fulfillment.

• Fluctuations in interest and exchange rates are identified as primary financial indicators directly influencing consumer decision-making and investment strategies. • Changes in interest rates prompt individuals to adjust savings plans or reallocate funds to more effective investment channels to meet financial goals. • Exchange rate volatility impacts a broad spectrum of economic activity, including import-export operations, commodity pricing, and individual purchasing power.

Fashion house pays tribute to Chinese style with its 75th anniversary catwalk show in Shanghai“New York may be the city that never sleeps, but Shanghai doesn’t even sit down.” For the British designer Ian Griffiths, who encountered this line in the New Yorker, it summed up why China’s biggest city was the right place to celebrate Max Mara’s 75th anniversary.“Max Mara is a product for metropolitan women, and it would be patronising to assume that a metropolitan wardrobe should be western-centric,” Griffiths said. Continue reading...