JULY 20, 2025—GENERAL EDITION
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HEADLINES:
HSBC renews search for chair after struggling to find suitable candidates (FT) … The Epic Battle for AI Talent—With Exploding Offers, Secret Deals and Teams (WSJ) … The Big Read. Will a return to risk-taking rouse animal spirits? (FT) … UK Government Pledges to Cut Sewage Spills in Half by 2030 (Bloomberg) … Millions Stolen, Death Threats: Should Banks Do More to Fight ‘Pig Butchering’? (WSJ) … CBS Canceling ‘Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ After Next Season (NY Times) … Astronomer CEO Resigns After Being Caught on Coldplay Kiss Cam (Bloomberg) … Tech’s Top Venture Firm Tried to Stay Above Politics. Then a Partner Created a Furor. (NY Times) … 5 Years Ago, They Reversed Roles With Their Parents. Where Are They Now? (NY Times) … Why the Federal Reserve’s Building Renovation Costs $2.5 Billion (Bloomberg)
TWO GRAPHS:
Less-developed countries show a unique positive relationship between GDP per capita growth and subjective well-being. While transition and developed countries trend negatively, a 10% GDP growth aligns with a 0.15 increase in well-being for less-developed countries, highlighting significant socio-economic improvements.
Starbucks experienced a drastic sales decline during early 2020, followed by a sharp recovery in 2021. This fluctuation contrasts with consistent prior growth and recent stagnation, highlighting pandemic impacts. Understanding this volatility is crucial for future strategy amid shifting consumer behavior and economic conditions.
THE IDEAS:
Mentions: AI, China, Geoeconomics, Hospitality
01. AI revolutionizes early-stage investments.
AI is sparking interest from investors keen to capitalize on its rapid development. With China as a key player in AI startups, foreign investments are increasing, boosting innovation and potential returns in early-stage tech firms.
Related reading:
CNBC: CNBC's The China Connection newsletter: From Didi to DeepSeek
Oxford Economics: New Tools, New Skills, No End in Sight: The Challenge of AI Adoption
02. Shifting geoeconomics reshapes global alliances.
The mingling of tech, trade, and military policies marks a departure from neoliberalism, prompting countries to form new economic alliances. This affects global trade flows, influencing which countries become trade hubs over the next few years.
Related reading:
Financial Times: Welcome to the new age of geoeconomics
FreightWaves: McKinsey: Geopolitical partners trading more with one another, less with rivals
03. China's AI role boosts economic resilience.
China's focus on AI via platforms like DeepSeek offers potential to counter its economic challenges. This shift could bolster global AI collaboration, ensuring China's ongoing growth in tech innovation and trade.
Related reading:
CNBC: DeepSeek-led AI adoption offers China an opportunity to boost its sputtering growth
CNBC: The China Connection newsletter: Whispers of a new world order in Tianjin
04. Hospitality reinvents for post-2024 expectations.
The hospitality industry adapts to tech and consumer trends, requiring innovative, tech-driven service strategies. Post-2024, businesses that leverage these trends are positioned to capture a new wave of demand.
Related reading:
HospitalityNet: Top 10 Hospitality Trends: What Shaped 2024 and What To Expect in 2025
HospitalityNet: Food & Beverage Innovation: Trending Creativity and Sustainability