Surge

• AI and generative AI investments across Asia are projected to surge, reaching an estimated $175 billion by 2028. • Singapore and India are emerging as primary strategic hubs for the development and deployment of AI technologies. • The trend is driven by widespread adoption, with many employees across the Asia-Pacific region already integrating AI tools into their weekly work routines.

• Global AI funding is surging, highlighted by semiconductor startup Etched raising $700 million to develop specialized AI inference chips, bringing its valuation to $21 billion. • The Etched funding round saw major participation from top-tier investors including Jane Street, Kleiner Perkins, Sequoia, Andreessen Horowitz, and Tiger Global. • In India, startups raised a total of $233.2 million, with investment activity primarily concentrated in the fintech sector and companies preparing for IPOs.

• Bitcoin and gold have experienced a significant price surge, with Bitcoin recording its strongest weekly performance in over three years. • The rally is driven by investors engaging in "debasement trades" following signals of bond market intervention from Scott Bessent. • This market shift has put downward pressure on the U.S. dollar, prompting a flight toward alternative stores of value.

• Bitcoin has reached its highest price level since mid-May, driven by a weakening US dollar and a selloff in the US bond market. • EU residents were advised in 2025 to stockpile 72 hours of food, water, and essentials to prepare for cyber-attacks and climate disasters like the wildfires in France and Spain. • Cash usage has increased significantly, with over 31 million banknotes currently in circulation compared to 24 million in 2019, with the €50 and €100 notes being the most popular.

• New Jersey sportsbooks generated $97 million in gross revenue during July, marking a 29.7% increase compared to the same month last year. • The surge was driven by $816.9 million in total wagers and an 11.9% hold rate, the highest reported by operators so far this year. • High betting activity tied to the FIFA World Cup knockout rounds and championship match served as a primary catalyst for the revenue growth.

• South Korea's KOSPI index surged 5.89%, reversing previous losses and boosting investor confidence. • The rally was primarily driven by SK Hynix's announcement of a massive $28.69 billion share buyback plan. • Additional support for the market came from easing U.S. Treasury yields, which helped spark a sharp rebound in chip-related stocks.

• The US government is considering extending export controls to cloud services to prevent China from accessing advanced AI models and computing power. • This move follows a surge in Chinese AI capabilities and aims to close loopholes that allow Chinese firms to bypass hardware restrictions via third-party cloud providers. • Some experts warn that these regulations could inadvertently weaken US market dominance if data centers in Southeast Asia shift toward Chinese chips.