As the U.S. economy navigates post-pandemic adjustments, many Americans are once again turning their attention to federal relief policies. In particular, there is mounting speculation regarding potential 2025 stimulus checks, renewed IRS disbursements, and even unconventional economic proposals involving cryptocurrency dividends—specifically DOGE (Dogecoin)—which have been loosely associated with former President Donald Trump's populist rhetoric.
Oil prices continued their upward trajectory during Wednesday’s Asian trading session, extending a sharp rally from the previous day. The market’s focus remains on the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, which has raised fears over potential disruptions to global crude supply routes in the Middle East—a region that accounts for roughly a third of the world’s oil output.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East—specifically, between Israel and Iran—is beginning to send ripples through global oil markets. After Israeli strikes reportedly hit several critical Iranian energy facilities over the weekend, oil prices climbed by approximately 1% during Asian trading on Monday. With Brent crude hovering around $75 per barrel, concerns over energy-driven inflation are once again mounting in the United States.
Shares of Oracle Corporation $ORCL jumped nearly 8% in premarket trading on Thursday following the company’s upward revision of its full-year revenue forecast. The software giant cited strong and sustained demand for its AI-driven cloud infrastructure services as the primary catalyst.
Qualcomm Inc. $QCOM, one of the world’s leading semiconductor companies, announced the opening of a new research and development (R&D) center in Vietnam. The facility, which will focus on artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, highlights the company’s intention to scale generative and agentic AI applications across multiple verticals, including mobile, automotive, extended reality (XR), and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions.
Shein, the fast-fashion giant originally founded in China and now headquartered in Singapore, is moving to recalibrate its global sourcing strategy. In partnership with India’s Reliance Retail $RELI , the company plans to significantly expand its supplier network in India and begin exporting Shein-branded apparel made in India to global markets within the next 6 to 12 months.
Adani Enterprises Ltd $ADANIENT.NS, the flagship firm of the Adani Group, announced a significant financial milestone as its airport subsidiary secured a $750 million loan facility from a consortium of leading international banks. This funding will be channelled through Adani Airports Holdings Ltd (AAHL), a key entity in India’s rapidly growing aviation infrastructure sector.
China's manufacturing sector contracted for the first time in eight months in May, signaling growing pressure from external trade dynamics—most notably U.S. tariff policies and a global demand slowdown. According to the Caixin/S&P Global Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), activity dropped to 48.3, falling below the neutral 50.0 mark and surprising analysts who had expected continued expansion.
Volkswagen Group $VWAPY, a leading German automaker, is currently conducting “honest” and “constructive” negotiations with the US government regarding ongoing tariff issues, according to CEO Oliver Blume in an interview with Sueddeutsche Zeitung. These discussions occur against the backdrop of President Donald Trump’s administration imposing import duties aimed at protecting domestic industries. While several foreign companies have announced fresh investments in the US in response to these tariffs, German automakers including Volkswagen are exhibiting a more cautious approach to expanding investment in their largest export market.
Global equity markets showed mixed performance on Tuesday following U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to postpone imposing 50% tariffs on European Union imports. This policy shift injected fresh volatility into investor sentiment and revealed the ongoing unpredictability of U.S. trade strategy. U.S. and UK markets rallied after the holiday break, while Asian markets gave up earlier gains.
CommScope Holding Co. $COMM is reportedly exploring a sale of its Connectivity and Cable Solutions (CCS) business unit, potentially valuing the division at up to $10 billion. This move marks another significant chapter in the company’s multi-year effort to deleverage its balance sheet and refocus on core operations.
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd $SUNPHARMA.NS, India’s largest pharmaceutical company by revenue, announced a significant increase in its adjusted quarterly profit for the three months ending March 31. The Mumbai-based firm’s performance reflects robust domestic demand, particularly for its portfolio targeting rare diseases. Despite a rise in core profitability, Sun Pharma faced considerable one-time restructuring and tax expenses linked to its US operations, impacting the bottom line.
