Financial Summary: Friday, August 22, 2025

Japan's core inflation rate has dropped to 3.1% in July, the lowest since March, attributed to falling rice prices.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has firmly rejected Russia's security guarantee demands, emphasizing the need to confront Russian aggression.

Canada has lifted several retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods but maintains a 25% tariff on autos, steel, and aluminum.

China has dismissed the UK's request for more information on its London embassy plan, labeling the inquiry as unnecessary.

Rising electricity demand, especially from AI technologies, is expected to drive growth in solar and wind energy without the need for subsidies.

Walmart's stock dropped 4.5% despite a positive sales forecast, raising concerns about its future performance.

Stellantis launched a new Jeep Cherokee in an effort to boost declining sales for the brand.

Workday reported better-than-expected earnings but highlighted challenges in the education and government sectors.

Apple TV+ announced a subscription price increase to $13 per month, marking its third hike in three years.

Blackstone is acquiring Shermco for approximately $1.6 billion, expanding its electrical services portfolio.

Wipro is acquiring Harman's Digital Transformation Solutions for $375 million to enhance its service offerings.

Google secured a six-year cloud deal worth over $10 billion with Meta to enhance its data center infrastructure for AI growth.

NIO's stock price surged as the electric vehicle manufacturer intensifies competition with Tesla.

Vodafone Idea shares surged nearly 11% on reports of a potential government relief package for its substantial AGR dues.

TikTok plans to lay off hundreds of UK moderators as it shifts towards AI, despite regulatory requirements.

The U.S. government has officially acquired a 10% stake in Intel to help revitalize the chipmaker's struggling foundry business.

Major League Baseball is finalizing new media rights deals with ESPN, NBC, and Netflix after ESPN opted out of its previous contract.

Roborock's president predicts significant price cuts for household robots, aiming for human-like robots in homes by 2030.

Nvidia halts production of H20 chips for China amid new restrictions while negotiating advanced chip sales with the U.S.

Waymo receives its first permit to test autonomous vehicles in New York City, marking a significant expansion.

Apple is considering integrating Google's Gemini AI to enhance Siri's capabilities.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman discusses the opportunities for young professionals in the AI era amid job security concerns.

Y Combinator reports that Apple's App Store policies are limiting growth opportunities for startups.

Chinese AI startup DeepSeek plans to upgrade its latest model using next-generation homegrown AI chips.

Stablecoin issuers are developing their own blockchains to improve control and efficiency in the crypto market.

Meta is set to launch its first consumer-ready smart glasses, codenamed Hypernova, featuring a display in the right lens next month.

Google's shares rise following reports of Apple potentially using its Gemini AI for Siri, indicating a possible collaboration.

Indian markets fell sharply, with the Sensex dropping over 500 points as investors await insights from Fed Chair Jerome Powell's upcoming speech.

European shares declined as traders anticipated comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell regarding future monetary policy.

U.S. stock markets rallied significantly, with the Dow surging over 870 points after Fed Chair Powell hinted at potential interest rate cuts.

SEBI has launched a crackdown on unregistered market educators, raiding a trading academy for promoting penny stocks.

India's National Stock Exchange announced a reshuffle of the Nifty 50 index, adding Max Healthcare and InterGlobe Aviation.

Gold ETFs are experiencing record inflows as investors seek to hedge against market volatility amid changing economic conditions.

Jerome Powell's speech at Jackson Hole indicated potential interest rate cuts but emphasized caution due to economic uncertainties.

Sebi has initiated a major search operation against a well-known financial influencer in Mumbai to tackle market misconduct.

The Reserve Bank of India is considering adjustments to its 4% inflation target and is gathering feedback from stakeholders.

Foreign institutional investors pulled out nearly Rs 32,000 crore from key Indian sectors in August, affecting financial and IT stocks.

Sebi plans to introduce financial incentives aimed at attracting first-time women investors to boost mutual fund participation.

Amazon is lobbying the Indian government for exemptions from foreign investment regulations to improve its export operations.

Indian insurers are looking into new investment tools while enhancing their risk management strategies.