From AI breakthroughs in Tech to major funding rounds in FinTech and standout campaigns in Media - catch up on what mattered most.
📌Technology – Oliver Tipping
- The magnificent 7 continued to pull away from the pack with strong quarterly earnings. Public cloud continued to provide a growth engine (+34% for Azure and +32% for Google Cloud ), while Meta’s advertising grew +22% due to AI driven advertising efficiency. Share prices have reacted accordingly!
- The semiconductor space continues to prove a mixed bag. On one hand we had with TSMC cashing in on AI-related spend and growing +40% YoY. On the other hand, despite a strong 2Q ASML refused to guide to growth in FY26. Both companies, and many others in the space, noted the uncertainty created by tariffs.
- Cyber security remains a red-hot topic, and Palo Alto Networks provided the headline this week with its $25bn takeover of Israeli competitor CyberArk software. This is part of the firms broader cyber M&A strategy, but marks a step up in size, perhaps reacting to Google (Wiz) and Cisco’s (Splunk) acquisitions in the space.
đź“ŚMedia - Melanie Yang
- Recent studies found that Google’s AI Overview, is reshaping online search behaviour and impacting referral traffic to publishers. According to Pew Research Centre, users are less likely to click on traditional links below the AI summaries and often end their search journey early. An Authorita research revealed that websites previously ranked first in search results could lose up to 79% of their traffic when positioned below an AI-generated summary
- Major global marketing services holding groups have reported 2Q results in the past few weeks, and the picture continues to be mixed. The key differentiator is new business wins - Publicis leads peers in momentum. The group (Publicis, WPP, Omnicom, IPG, Havas) now forecasts full-year organic growth between -3% and +5%.
- Perplexity and OpenAI, are stepping beyond chatbots and launching their own web browsers to challenge Google Chrome. We expect two key features for these new browsers: an AI search engine and an AI agent that automates routine tasks such as summarising emails.
đź“ŚFinTech - Barun Singh
- GENIUS Act becomes law in the US. The landmark legislation sets the first federal rules for stablecoins—digital dollars must now be fully backed by cash and issued by licensed entities. We’re beginning to look at this more closely at Peel Hunt as it sets the tone for how digital money may be regulated globally.
- Revolut eyes US bank acquisition. With its UK banking licence still pending, Revolut is now considering buying a US-chartered bank to fast-track its entry into the American lending market. A bold workaround that reflects the increasing regulatory friction at home.
- Apple is close to moving its $17bn credit card portfolio from Goldman Sachs to JPMorgan. Talks include changes to how the card is billed and serviced, amid broader issuer caution over rising delinquencies and economic uncertainty.
