Private equity faces pressure unseen since the last major downturn. The CEO of a private equity firm backed by a consortium of ultra-wealthy European families recently said only the booming secondaries market is preventing a crash. But this isn’t just about deal volumes—it’s about liquidity dynamics reshaping

Direct-to-consumer (D2C) mattress and furniture brands often face high customer acquisition costs compared to traditional retail. Wakefit’s initial public offering (IPO) is currently oversubscribed 1.94X, signaling unexpected investor appetite in this space as of December 2025. The Indian home furnishing startup’s brisk IPO uptake shows this isn’

Asia accounts for nearly half of global M&A activity, yet India is set to accelerate faster than peers in 2026. Barclays India CEO Pramod Kumar predicts a surge in deals, led by consumer tech and consumer businesses. This momentum isn’t just about transaction volume—it’s about

Pay cuts and poaching in the AI training sector reveal a difficult truth: when a tech giant like Meta invests $14 billion in a startup like Scale AI, it upends established market dynamics. Scale AI famously served OpenAI and Google as a go-to for chatbot stress-testing, but after Meta'

In the US, clean energy commitments are surpassing expectations as corporate giants seek supply chain control beyond cost savings. NextEra Energy Resources and Meta just signed contracts for approximately 2.5GW of clean energy capacity, marking one of the largest such agreements in the country. But this isn’t about

Turkey stands out in NATO for its complex integration challenges, historically sidelined from the F-35 fighter jet program due to geopolitical tensions. Recent talks to rejoin this advanced system signal a strategic pivot in both defense access and industrial positioning. This move is not just military diplomacy—it’s a

Developing Asia faces sluggish growth, yet India stands out with an estimated 6-7% GDP expansion driven by rising technology demand, according to Asian Development Bank (ADB) projections. India’s expanding tech sector helped brighten regional prospects in 2025 despite headwinds elsewhere. But this surge isn’t just about raw growth

Nigerian startups often face uphill battles on pitch stages, where thousands compete for thin rewards. Cubbes Technologies shattered this norm, winning a ₦30 million prize at the Zenith Tech Fair 5.0 after debuting on Techpoint Africa's Pitch Friday. This win isn’t just a validation—it'

The rising cost of content licensing is reshaping global AI dynamics. Canadian news outlets recently sued OpenAI, challenging its use of their published work without direct compensation. This dispute isn’t just legal—it exposes a critical choke point in generative AI’s content acquisition model. OpenAI’s system depends

India’s stock index, the Nifty 50, is projected to climb 10% by the end of 2026. Citi attributes this forecast to a rebound in demand that underpins corporate earnings. But this isn’t just a passive expectation of growth—it reflects a shift in how India’s economic systems

Launching rockets typically costs hundreds of millions of dollars per mission. Blue Origin just landed its booster during a rocket launch, successfully demonstrating a costly step toward fully reusable rockets. This feat is more than a stunt—it reshapes aerospace economics by turning an expensive, single-use component into a system

French banks face historic exposure in tax scandals that cost hundreds of millions. HSBC Holdings Plc is set to pay about $300 million to settle its role in the notorious “Cum-Cum” tax case that has enveloped France’s largest lenders. But this penalty is more than a fine—it exposes

Cross-border payment fees average 6-7% globally, choking billions in international trade. Skydo, a startup focusing on this space, raised $10 million in Series A funding in December 2025 to expand its global footprint and acquire regulatory licenses. But this isn’t merely about expansion—it's about systematising compliance

Hong Kong is set to raise up to HK$350 billion (US$45 billion) through IPOs in 2026, marking a nearly 29% jump in total value and doubling the number of deals from this year. This increase is fueled by mainland Chinese public firms and technology sector listings, signaling a

Kazakhstan's oil exports face an unexpected bottleneck as repair work to the CPC pipeline’s Black Sea mooring drags on. The Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) mooring is a critical chokepoint for Kazakhstan’s oil shipments globally, and ongoing delays in repair are threatening production volumes this quarter. But

Trade tariffs often represent blunt tools that cost both sides billions annually. Switzerland recently withdrew a statement about US tariff reductions published in error, highlighting a subtle network of diplomatic and economic leverage behind trade messaging. The Swiss reversal in December 2025 didn’t just confuse markets — it exposed how

South Korea recently faced its largest data breach, exposing sensitive information of nearly two-thirds of its population. Coupang, the nation’s dominant online retailer, saw CEO Park Dae-jun resign after failing to detect five months of unauthorized system access. This wasn’t just a security lapse—it reflects a deeper

Rising US tariffs have pushed manufacturing costs up by as much as 25% for many electronics and textile products. China is steadily moving factories into Vietnam, bypassing tariffs without losing supply chain control. But this strategy isn’t just about cost savings — it’s about exploiting the structure of trade

Trade tensions between China and the US have pushed tariffs to record levels, inflating costs by up to 25% on electronics and textiles. Chinese companies are quietly redirecting production to Vietnam, exploiting a loophole that American tariffs haven't fully covered. This move isn’t just cost-shifting—it’s

Oil prices remain steady amid global uncertainty as markets closely watch **Ukraine's** ongoing peace talks and the upcoming **Federal Reserve's** interest rate decision. The situation highlights how geopolitical conflicts and monetary policy intersect to influence energy markets beyond simple supply and demand. The current standoff isn&

Borrowing costs in the Eurozone have hovered near multi-decade highs, yet European Central Bank member Francois Villeroy de Galhau sees no reason to raise interest rates soon. The ECB is expected to keep rates steady at next week’s meeting, reflecting a strategic pause rather than passive indecision. This move

The European Central Bank’s shift to a ‘good place’ on interest rates contrasts sharply with the aggressive tightening seen in the US and UK. In December 2025, the ECB declared this position amid persistent inflation concerns, sparking debate on whether this signals a passive easing phase ahead. Unlike outright

Russia-backed cyberattacks have cost millions in damages globally, but new enforcement actions change the game. The Justice Department unveiled fresh charges in December 2025 targeting alleged Russian intelligence hackers behind high-profile cyber intrusions. This move is not just legal theater—it represents a strategic shift in countering state-backed cyber threats

Interest rate decisions in Europe often hinge on subtle economic signals few operators decode. European Central Bank Governing Council member Gediminas Simkus recently ruled out further rate cuts after inflation and economic activity defied expectations with notable strength. But this isn’t just a policy update—it exposes a critical