Dup

Reporting season shows how consumers are responding to cost of living pressures and how retailers are respondingGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralians are buying less pizza but more weight-loss drugs. They love “dupes” but don’t enjoy writing letters.Here are five key takeaways from the August reporting season that show what consumers are buying as cost of living pressures reignite, and how retailers are responding. Continue reading...

• European equities opened higher amid a series of corporate updates, including EL FP launching a share buyback for up to 5 million shares and BGN IM considering an offer from BMPS IM. • Major credit agencies are reviewing the ratings of several nations, including France (Fitch), Portugal (S&P), Switzerland (Moody’s), and the Netherlands (Morningstar DBRS). • The UK government has decided to drop its 3% defense spending target, while various commodity futures for gold, silver, copper, and Brent oil expire today.

• The Swiss Federal Council is introducing clearer regulations for the transfer of real estate involved in international inheritances. • To enhance public safety, the government will strengthen police presence on public transport and authorize transport police to use tasers when necessary. • New guidelines will more precisely regulate the use of body cameras and define the conditions under which transport companies can activate real-time video surveillance.

• Venture capital firms, including Aramco Ventures, ARK Invest, Salesforce Ventures, Samsung Ventures, and Siemens, are actively funding startups as of August 25, 2026. • Rather than a general return of risk appetite, investors are aggressively targeting specific bottlenecks caused by the rapid deployment of artificial intelligence. • Key investment areas include electricity, semiconductor design, model security, autonomous logistics, licensed media, and specialized workflow software.

• Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Dr. Ekniti Nitithanprapas presented a strategic roadmap to revitalize the Thai economy and mitigate global uncertainties during the Thailand Focus 2026 conference. • A significant investment surge is targeting Thailand, with over $10.1 billion (THB 331 billion) allocated across 224 projects. • Roughly one-third of this capital is focused on printed circuit boards (PCBs) and electronic components to support the global scaling of AI hardware and semiconductor packaging.

• Tech Innovators has secured $50 million in funding from Venture Capitalist Alpha to drive advancements in artificial intelligence. • This investment occurs amidst a broader trend in Southeast Asia where EV startups have collectively raised US$622 million. • The shift in funding indicates that investors are moving beyond initial pitches to support pilot programs and tangible implementation.

• XPeng’s robotics unit secured over $900 million in its first external financing round on August 24, 2026. • The funding round valued the robotics division at more than $6 billion, marking it as the defining transaction of the period. • This surge in capital reflects a broader venture capital trend shifting toward the physical and financial infrastructure required for the next technology cycle.