Half 2026

• Economists identify a chain of interlocking global risks for the second half of 2026, with the fragile peace between the US and Iran serving as the primary volatility factor. • Oxford Economics predicts central banks will be more dovish than markets expect, unless supply stress occurs in AI-input prices or shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is disrupted. • The immediate focus is on the Federal Reserve's upcoming rate decision led by chair Kevin Warsh, following a soft jobs report in June.

• North American startup funding reached an all-time high in the first half of 2026, totaling $392 billion according to Crunchbase data. • This record-breaking surge was primarily driven by massive late-stage "megarounds" targeting leaders in the artificial intelligence industry. • The trend follows a historic first quarter where OpenAI secured the largest venture round in history, signaling an unprecedented investor appetite for AI.

• Argentina defeated Egypt 3-2 after scoring three unanswered goals starting in the 79th minute to secure a comeback victory. • Lionel Messi extended his historic record by scoring in eight consecutive World Cup matches, a streak continuing from Argentina's 2022 championship run. • In other tournament action, Switzerland advanced past Colombia via penalty kicks, while Belgium eliminated the United States from the competition.

• North American startup funding reached record-breaking levels during the first half of 2026, primarily propelled by the rapid growth of the artificial intelligence sector. • The surge in capital is being directed toward critical areas including research, the acquisition of top-tier talent, and the expansion of compute infrastructure. • This trend underscores the massive scale of investment required to sustain technical breakthroughs and the deployment of next-generation AI models.

• Nasdaq's Nordic exchanges emerged as leaders in Europe's listing landscape during the first half of 2026, attracting global issuers and growth companies seeking liquidity. • Key listings on Nasdaq Helsinki included the circular-economy firm Lassila & Tikanoja and financial platform Easor following partial demergers. • In April 2026, the Finnish industrial owner and compounder Auroora Group Plc officially entered the Main Market.

• Investors are advised to consider resilient, non-cyclical stocks like Carriage Services (NYSE: CSV) to hedge against potential market sell-offs in the second half of 2026. • Carriage Services operates funeral homes and cemeteries, providing essential services that maintain steady demand regardless of economic downturns or recessions. • The company has recently pivoted back to growth after reducing debt, highlighted by a May acquisition in the Knoxville market.

• The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved 22 novel drugs during the first half of 2026, expanding treatment options across various medical specialties. • Key approvals include copper histidinate (formerly CUTX-101) for Menkes disease, supported by two open-label studies involving 129 patients treated with subcutaneous administration for up to 3 years. • The FDA also granted approval for a new treatment targeting mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) based on phase 3 clinical trial data from both adult and pediatric populations.

• The South Indian film industry has faced a turbulent first half of 2026, marked by a series of high-profile legal battles and public controversies. • Key conflicts include a censorship row surrounding Vijay's film ‘Jana Nayagan,’ disputes involving ‘Drishyam 3,’ and a crisis within the South Indian Artists' Association (AMMA). • These events highlight systemic issues within the industry, ranging from copyright infringements and personality rights lawsuits to personal scandals and messy divorces.

• Shares of chipmakers fueling the AI boom experienced massive growth in the first half of 2026, with some companies seeing their valuations triple. • This surge in semiconductor stock prices has driven a sharp upward trend across Asia Pacific stock markets. • The growth highlights the critical role of hardware infrastructure in sustaining the global artificial intelligence expansion.

Value of some chip manufacturers have tripled, or more, driving Asia Pacific stock markets sharply higherShares in chipmakers have surged in the first half of this year as investors piled into companies that make the hardware underpinning the AI boom, according to analysis.Investors have driven up the value of semiconductor and memory chip manufacturers, whose profits have soared during 2026, at the expense of some large software companies, which have fallen out of favour this year. Continue reading...

• France defeated Norway 4-1 in a World Cup 2026 qualifying match held in Boston. • Ousmane Dembélé dominated the game by scoring a hat trick during the first half to secure the victory. • The win is significant as it allows France to claim the top spot in Group I.

• Turkey faced the USA in a Group D match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California. • Turkey managed to turn the game around before half-time, with Arda Guler and Orkun Kokcu both scoring critical goals. • This result is significant as it shifts the momentum of the Group D standings and puts Turkey in a strong position during the tournament's group stage.

• BTS is expected to perform at the halftime show for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, held at MetLife Stadium. • Fans are generating significant social media hype, predicting the performance will be a career-defining moment for the group. • The event is viewed as a strategic opportunity for BTS to expand their global reach and introduce their music to an even wider international audience.

• For the first time in history, the 2026 World Cup final will feature a full-scale halftime musical show, mirroring the format of major U.S. sporting events like the Super Bowl. • The final match is scheduled to take place on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. • This addition aims to leverage the tournament's expanded scale, which now includes 48 teams and 104 matches across three host nations to maximize global reach.

Morgan Stanley issued a report on March 13, 2026, forecasting a massive AI breakthrough in H1 2026 driven by unprecedented compute scaling at U.S. labs, citing Elon Musk's view that 10x compute doubles model intelligence. OpenAI's GPT-5.4 'Thinking' model achieved 83.0% on GDPVal, matching human experts on economic tasks, with gains outpacing expectations. U.S. power shortages of 9-18 gigawatts through 2028 threaten buildout, prompting data center conversions and '15-15-15' economics. Investors must prepare for rapid intelligence gains reshaping industries.