Sunday, 26 July 2026

Fashion & Luxury

LVMH: the end of a decade of records. Le Nouvel Économiste analyzes LVMH’s trajectory as an extraordinary growth cycle appears to close. The record-setting run that defined the last ten years is winding down — raising real questions about global luxury demand and the repositioning the major houses will need.

Kering: Gucci recovery meets soft luxury demand. Kering’s stock moved lower as the Gucci transition plan runs into a still-sluggish luxury demand environment. The strategy is in motion, but the market is waiting for proof of execution before reassigning a premium valuation to the group.

Tech

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked: Z Fold 8 gets a full redesign. Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold 8 with an entirely new design — shorter and wider than last year — plus a new Ultra model and an updated watch lineup. The Verge reports it as Samsung’s annual summer event going back to fundamentals after years of incremental updates.

Samsung launches RX Robotics division. Samsung Electronics has created a dedicated robotics division, called RX, to accelerate humanoid hardware development and strengthen its position in physical AI. Another signal that robotics hardware has moved from R&D side project to core strategic priority across the major tech groups.

WhatsApp comes to your car dashboard. WhatsApp is rolling out Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support — hands-free message listening and replies, calls, call history, and favorite contacts from the built-in car screen. A long-overdue integration for an app that functions as the default messaging layer in most of the world.

Microsoft Copilot lands in File Explorer. A Windows 11 Insider Build introduces a Copilot button directly inside File Explorer, with context-awareness based on the file you’re currently working with. The pattern continues: AI embedded where work happens, not as a separate destination.

Auto & Mobility

Tesla before earnings: the AI spending paradox. S3 Partners flags rising short interest and weakening technicals as Tesla approaches its earnings report. Bloomberg’s separate analysis points to the deeper issue: Tesla — which positions itself as an AI company — isn’t spending enough on AI compared to big tech. The problem is the opposite of what Microsoft or Google face.

Geely overtakes BYD as China’s top automaker. Geely has become the number one Chinese automaker, displacing BYD, according to 01net.com. BYD had been targeting global leadership ahead of Toyota — it first lost its domestic lead. A sign of intensifying internal competition inside China’s auto industry.

Food & Retail

Starbucks’ quiet turnaround. The Motley Fool reports that Brian Niccol’s turnaround is “quietly working” at Starbucks — even with profits cut in half. July 29 is the next test. The logic: accept short-term margin pressure to rebuild the operational foundation. The question is whether the numbers on the 29th reflect a managed recovery or a deepening slide.

Beauty & Watches

Hublot Summer Night in Japan. Hublot (LVMH Watch & Jewellery Japan) held its “HUBLOT SUMMER NIGHT” event to showcase the brand’s summer collection, with several Japanese actors and talent attending as brand ambassadors. Japan brand events remain a key strategic channel for luxury watch houses targeting Japan’s premium consumer market.

Sport

Puma hires Nike veteran for its core business. Puma appointed Marcia Dos Santos, formerly of Nike, as VP of its Core Business Unit — a hire that follows Puma’s creation of dedicated sportstyle and core business teams earlier this year. The message: Puma wants to strengthen its fundamentals while maintaining its cultural assets.

Entertainment

Meta Quest + Xbox Game Pass: 50 titles in Horizon. Meta Quest and Xbox extended their partnership with 50 Xbox Game Pass titles available through the Horizon app on the headset. Microsoft is betting on cloud gaming across every surface — no console required.

Samsung Z Fold 8 Ultra: a premium gaming form factor. The new Z Fold 8 and Ultra model set new markers for large-screen foldable gaming. The Ultra in particular appears designed for intensive use cases that go well beyond the smartphone baseline.

Home & Design

Dyson Hot+Cool HF1: two appliances in one. The HF1 combines heating and cooling in a single bladeless appliance with quiet operation and simple controls. TechCrunch reports it replaces both a space heater and a ceiling fan. The Dyson proposition holds: better, in fewer objects.

Hospitality & Travel

Marriott Bonvoy: up to 6,000 bonus points for Thailand stays. Marriott Bonvoy is offering bonus points for hotel stays in Thailand, according to The Flight Club. A targeted promotion on a market that continues to attract premium travelers from Asia and Europe, as Thailand’s upscale hospitality offer continues to strengthen.