How Chain Restaurants Like Chili’s Suddenly Became Cool Again

China’s biggest online shopping bonanza, the 618 festival, is off to a roaring start for Alibaba and JD.com, thanks in part to government subsidies. Early numbers from Alibaba’s Taobao and Tmall show sales of subsidized items like electronics and appliances skyrocketing by 283% compared to last year. Basically, discounts backed by the state are giving shoppers a reason to splurge.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just about a shopping spree—it’s a sign that China’s efforts to boost consumer spending are working (at least for now). With the economy still shaky, these subsidy programs are like a shot of adrenaline for retail. If people keep opening their wallets, it could ease some pressure on growth. Plus, it shows how tightly linked big tech and government policy are in China’s playbook for recovery.

For the first time in four years, Switzerland’s inflation rate has dipped below zero, sparking speculation that the central bank might cut interest rates to rein in the surging Swiss franc. Investors are already betting on sub-zero rates returning, which could shake up everything from mortgages to export competitiveness.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just a number on a spreadsheet—it’s a sign of how global economic pressures are hitting even stable economies like Switzerland. A stronger franc might sound good for shoppers, but it’s a headache for exporters and could force the central bank into tricky policy moves. Watch this space for ripple effects across Europe.

Brazil's finance minister is gearing up to roll out new measures aimed at balancing the country’s public finances. Think of it as a financial tune-up—tweaking spending, revenues, or both to keep things stable without shocking the system. No drastic details yet, but it’s a clear move to address fiscal concerns head-on.

Editor’s Note: Public finances are like a tightrope walk—too much imbalance, and things get wobbly fast. With Brazil’s economy under scrutiny, these measures could signal whether the government is leaning toward austerity, smarter spending, or something in between. For everyday Brazilians, it’s a wait-and-see moment: will this mean tighter budgets or just bureaucratic reshuffling? Either way, it’s a step that could shape the country’s economic mood in the months ahead.

Investment firm Cantor Fitzgerald has started covering Sprinklr's stock, giving it a neutral rating—basically saying "hold" for now, not a strong buy or sell. They see potential but aren't convinced enough to push investors either way.

Editor’s Note: For anyone tracking Sprinklr (a customer experience software company), this is a heads-up that Wall Street's still sizing it up. A neutral rating isn’t exciting, but it’s a reality check—analysts aren’t sounding alarms, just waiting to see how things play out. If you’re invested, don’t panic or celebrate yet.

Investment firm Cantor Fitzgerald is bullish on Freshworks, giving the software company's stock an "overweight" rating in its first coverage. This suggests analysts believe the stock is likely to outperform the market or its sector peers.

Editor’s Note: Freshworks, which provides customer and employee support software, just got a vote of confidence from Wall Street. An "overweight" rating signals that Cantor Fitzgerald sees strong potential in the company—whether due to growth, market position, or financials. For investors, this kind of endorsement can sway decisions, and for Freshworks, it could mean more attention in a competitive SaaS landscape.