Monthly

• In July 2026, press freedom faced escalating legal pressure as new laws, security regulations, and court rulings reshaped the landscape of journalism. • Reporters continued to operate in high-risk environments, specifically facing extreme dangers while covering conflicts in Gaza, Israel, and Iran. • The period was marked by significant industry shifts, including intense debates over the role of AI in news and increasing media consolidation.

• European stocks reached a record high on Friday, July 31, driven by strong corporate earnings and a global surge in investor appetite for technology shares. • The market rally persisted despite a volatile week characterized by critical central bank policy decisions and escalating hostilities in the Middle East. • This growth is significant as it positions European indices for a potential monthly gain, reflecting resilience in the face of geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty.

• U.S. stock futures for the S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, and Dow Jones rose on Thursday following a lower close on Wednesday. • The market gain follows the release of the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge, the Core PCE, which showed a monthly ease to 0.1%. • Investors are closely monitoring major tech companies, specifically Meta, Microsoft, and Apple, as key drivers of market momentum.

• Asia-focused equity hedge funds are facing their largest monthly drawdown on record, according to a report from Goldman Sachs released on July 30. • The losses are primarily driven by a broad rout in AI-related stocks, which erased significant gains previously made from crowded bets in the sector. • This downturn highlights the volatility and risk associated with concentrated positions in high-growth technology and AI themes across Asian markets.

• The European Central Bank released the monthly balance of payments data for the euro area for May 2026. • Euro area residents recorded net acquisitions of non-euro area assets totaling €702 billion over the 12 months leading to May 2026, a significant increase from €442 billion the previous year. • Net incurrence of liabilities also rose sharply to €583 billion, compared to €178 billion in the prior year's period.

Country risks new tariffs from US and EU as it looks likely to match or beat last year’s record surplus of $1tnBusiness live – latest updatesChina’s monthly car ‌exports topped 1m for the first time in June as overall overseas shipments from the world’s second biggest economy rose 27%.Official Chinese customs data showed that a stronger-than-expected trade performance kept China on track to match or beat last year’s record trade surplus of $1tn (£748bn), achieved despite Donald Trump’s curtailed tariff war. Continue reading...

• The Indian Startup Funding Tracker for 2026 provides monthly updates on major funding rounds, sector breakdowns, and the emergence of new unicorns. • In the first half of 2026, six startups achieved unicorn status, with AI-focused companies reaching billion-dollar valuations significantly faster than those in other sectors. • Investors are currently prioritizing proprietary technology and sound unit economics over aggressive growth, specifically targeting deeptech, cleantech, enterprise SaaS, healthtech, and mobility.