AGP Executive Report

Energy & Power Markets: Idaho Power is locking in long-term clean supply via Duke Energy’s 120MW Jackpot Solar Project, with a 20-year purchase deal as demand rises from growth like Micron and new data centers. Retail & Consumer Pressure: Amazon Prime Day hit $26.4B in US spending, up 9.3% as shoppers chase discounts amid pinched wallets and inflation. Small Business Reality Check: A US survey finds many workplace wellbeing programs aren’t delivering results, with an “intelligence gap” leaving employers unable to act fast enough. Property & Credit: In the Philippines, residential prices rebounded in Q1 (+5.6%) but housing loans fell sharply (-23.9%) as banks tightened lending and buyers stayed cautious. Crypto & Markets: Galaxy Digital’s Mike Novogratz points to excessive leverage as a key driver behind June’s crypto correction. Trade & Geopolitics: US departments urged states and businesses to deepen Taiwan ties despite Chinese pressure, while investors are told to stay cautious as oil and inflation risks linger. Local Economy: Ghana’s Mahama broke ground on a 24-hour economy market in Assin Bereku to spur jobs and round-the-clock trade.

NEV Boom in China: New energy vehicles are surging in China, hitting 56.9% of new car sales in May as costs fall and buyers shift toward AI-rich “software-defined” cabins. Prime Day Consumer Mood: Amazon Prime Day pulled in $26.4bn in US spending, up 9.3% year-on-year, with shoppers still hunting discounts despite pinched wallets. World Cup Retail Reality: Some New Jersey businesses near the New York/New Jersey stadium say the tournament hasn’t boosted sales, blaming visitor routing that sends fans straight to Manhattan. Cannabis Crackdown: New Mexico is expanding cannabis enforcement with trained agents targeting the black market after retailers and growers complained enforcement lagged. Pakistan Fuel Levy: Pakistan raised petroleum levies on petrol and high-speed diesel but kept retail prices unchanged for another week. Bangladesh Debt Pressure: Bangladesh’s external debt is $78.22bn, with 62% concessional—leaving policymakers facing a future repayment squeeze as cheaper credit runs thin. Nigeria MSMEs: Nigeria’s MSMEs make up 90% of businesses and support 60m jobs, with government pushing more enterprise-led growth. Crypto Market Watch: Grayscale says bitcoin’s bear market could ease via regulation and stablecoin/tokenization momentum, even as prices remain under pressure.

Prime Day Consumer Pulse: Amazon’s Prime Day pulled in $26.4B in U.S. spending, up 9.3% year-on-year, with shoppers leaning into electronics, appliances and essentials as inflation bites. Market Volatility & Housing: Brisbane’s lending is getting more investor-heavy (40.3% of lending value), even as unit prices are forecast to rise; in the U.S., a “mega rotation” narrative points to money shifting out of tech into value and cyclical stocks. Insurance & Risk: Canada’s extreme weather is driving record home insurance claims and faster premium growth, raising household financial risk. Policy & Regulation: India’s RBI expanded credit derivatives rules, while Lagos’ electricity regulator says customers can’t be billed for charges older than 12 months. Business Continuity: IFC urged Ghanaian family firms to set up family councils to manage succession and reduce internal conflict. Local Economy: Mumbai’s BMC has appointed a new contractor to restart the Rs 298 crore Dr Shirodkar Market redevelopment.

Local Business & Community Markets: Ampfield’s monthly village hall market returns July 4 with locally sourced cakes, honey, bread, plants and produce, raising nearly £3,000 annually for upkeep. Tourism & Pride Spending: Tumon Night Market goes Pride-themed Sunday with music, performances and a mini parade, with road closures starting 7 a.m. Small Business Support: One Stop Business Finance launches a non-repayable £5,000 OSBF Opportunity Grant for Yorkshire SMEs (apply by July 17, 2026). Consumer Protection: A Hyderabad consumer panel ordered a convention hall to refund a ₹1 lakh advance plus 12% interest after a wedding booking was cancelled and the venue was rebooked. Aviation Supply Chain: IATA says supply chain failures are costing airlines at least $11bn in 2025, citing aircraft delivery delays and parts shortages. Food & Farming Economy: Knighton Market cattle and sheep sales drew strong demand and high prices, while Idaho’s labor market remains strong but faces uncertainty from interest rates and immigration policy. Property & Housing Signals: Delaware housing activity stayed steady in May, but affordability concerns kept buyers cautious.

Market Access & Small-Scale Fishing: South Africa’s Abalobi is using inclusive tech to help small fishers prove legal, verifiable operations and finally reach export buyers. AI for Rural Business: A Wyoming push argues small firms need practical, American-made AI tools and sensible rules so rural entrepreneurs aren’t left behind. Consumer Protection in Aviation: Nigeria’s NCAA fined Saudi Airlines ₦6m for consumer protection lapses after earlier directives and complaint delays. Local Markets as Economic Engines: Meridian’s Night Market returns with strict “grow or make it” rules, while multiple farmers markets and vendor fairs across the US keep expanding local food and craft access. Retail & Property Moves: Janesville approved TIF support for a downtown building rehab to add retail and upper apartments, and Woodman’s pledged another $1m toward a new sports and convention center. Crypto & Markets: OpenAI is reportedly reconsidering IPO timing amid valuation pressure, and Strategy Inc.’s Bitcoin-linked stock has traded at a discount for months. Energy & Growth Outlook: EY expects India’s FY27 growth at 6.6–6.8% as energy prices ease and shipping normalizes.

AI & Power Demand: Capgemini says AI-driven data centers are making electricity forecasting harder, with utilities bracing for sharper, less predictable demand spikes. Energy & Trade: India restored commercial LPG supply to pre-crisis levels as West Asia tensions ease, while India and Venezuela move to deepen oil and gas cooperation amid shifting crude dynamics. Markets & Rates: The bond market is signaling skepticism about the Fed’s next moves, as traders price hikes while some asset managers expect steadier or lower rates. Crypto Volatility: Bitcoin’s sharp plunge triggered more than $1bn in liquidations, underlining how fast risk can spread across crypto. Small Business & Retail: Korea selected 100 local SMEs for a “Local to Global” push with packaging, regulatory help and funding to sell abroad; in the US, a new Bloomfield retail center is set to open anchored by Sherwin-Williams and PeoplesBank. Consumer Protection: Arizona revoked Sun State Pools’ license after 85 complaints, and Morden police warned businesses about counterfeit $100 bills. Local Economy: Clarksburg’s Liberty Market returns July 2 with 65+ vendors, food trucks and fireworks.

Retail Expansion: Loblaws is set to open its fifth City Market location in Vancouver on June 26, adding 19,000 sq ft of fresh prepared foods, self-serve salad, full-service meat and deli, plus PC Optimum value programs. Local Planning & Jobs: Roswell, Georgia approved a grocery retail development at Bowen Road and Ga. 92, including a land swap, 60,000+ sq ft of retail and a new fire station with traffic and pedestrian upgrades. Consumer & Macro: The US economy’s Q1 GDP was revised up to 2.1% annualized, but consumer spending was cut to 0.5%, keeping pressure on the retail outlook. Payments & Business Banking: GoCardless and Sequence launched native Direct Debit inside billing workflows, while the UK Retail Payments Infrastructure Board opened a consultation on next-gen retail payments. AI for Finance: CB Insights’ private-company intelligence is now available inside Microsoft 365 Copilot tools, aiming to speed up sourcing and deal decisions. Stablecoins & FX: Uniswap and Spark plan a stablecoin “FX layer” to move liquidity between issuers as banks and fintechs enter the space.

AI & Consumer Trust: A new Digital Trust 2026 survey says 52% of consumers will pay more for brands that clearly explain how they use AI with their data, with Germany the most willing (73%) and 47% taking revenue-impacting actions after AI/data concerns. Markets & Macro: Australia’s labour data showed unemployment easing to 4.4% in May, while underemployment ticked up—an early sign of shifting hiring dynamics. Tech, Chips & Data Centers: Micron’s strong AI-driven memory demand helped lift sentiment across chip stocks, while NTT Data plans to use data-centre power systems to enter Japan’s electricity balancing market. Insurance & Risk: Lloyd’s boss Patrick Tiernan warned geopolitical risk insurance demand could surge as firms face overlapping threats from cyber to critical infrastructure. Local Business & Community: Chico businesses raised funds for victims’ families after a deadly library shooting, and Auckland Council replaced the long-running Māngere Markets operator after a licensing process. Energy & Climate Markets: Indonesia moved toward a more credible carbon market with new forestry rules and upcoming credit issuance, while SMBC invested in Japan’s CDR/DAC push.

Aviation Supply Chain: IATA says airlines are still getting hit by delivery delays, engine durability issues, and parts shortages, and urges better supply-chain visibility, wider aftermarket access, and more data/AI plus training to fix the aerospace bottlenecks. UAE Free-Zone Banking: Sharjah’s SAIF Zone signed a deal with National Bank of Fujairah to bring account services, cash management, trade finance and tailored financing to free-zone SMEs and investors, with a representative office planned inside the zone. Retail & Consumer Tech: New research suggests ad-blocker users spend 66% more than non-users, pushing the idea that “control-seeking” shoppers can be highly valuable. Local Business Growth: A local SEO push is credited with driving up to 1,600% more calls for small firms, tied to better Google Business Profiles and consistent neighborhood-focused content. Housing & Regulation: Colorado’s AG settled with Unlock Partnership Solutions over “home equity agreements,” ruling they’re consumer credit and requiring licensing, disclosures, and restitution. Markets & Policy: SEBI proposes extending direct market access to retail investors, while Russia delayed further VAT threshold cuts for small businesses. Inflation Watch: Curaçao’s inflation rose to 1.6% in April, led by transport/communication and housing costs.

Retail Media Deal: Mirakl and Broadsign are teaming up to unify online and in-store retail media buying, promising one campaign workflow across the shopper journey. Crypto & Markets: Meta is building a prediction market app (“Arena”), while SideShift.ai launches a US direct-to-wallet crypto swap platform, as crypto prices wobble with broader tech weakness. Consumer Demand: Korea’s major retailers posted 9% May growth, with online platforms driving 58.6% of sales, and inflation pressures still shaping buying habits. Housing & Regulation: Malaysia’s competition watchdog found no anti-competitive housing price moves, while Victoria (Canada) is funding renewal of lower-cost community housing with $1m in grants. Energy & Resilience: Finland is pushing resilient retail networks for crisis continuity; Uganda unveils a Hoima water project ahead of AFCON 2027. Business Risk: A Haryana consumer court ordered a resort to pay ₹10,000 after charging above MRP, reinforcing pricing compliance for small businesses.

IPO Buzz (China): China Resources New Energy’s Shenzhen listing pulled in about 6.4 trillion yuan in retail bids, with demand for the public tranche topping 1,000 times and a clawback boosting the final retail allocation. US Healthcare Costs: Arizona regulators review proposed 2027 Marketplace premiums as one major insurer exits, with experts pointing to rising medical spending and risk-pool shifts. Market Mood (AI/semis): A sell-off tied to “overcrowded” AI and semiconductor trades hit indexes across Asia, with South Korea’s KOSPI pressured by heavyweights like Samsung and SK Hynix. Energy Pricing (Utilities): Xcel Energy seeks approval for a plan where new large customers, including data centers, pay 100% of serving costs—aimed at protecting other ratepayers. Retail & Consumer: Consumer sentiment in the US ticked up as gas prices eased, while seafood inflation at retail stayed stubborn, pressuring unit sales. Local Business Disruption (Nigeria): Lagos shut Oshodi Resettlement Market after traders attacked sanitation officials during an enforcement operation. Humanoid Labour (US): Robot.com launched R-noid under a Robot-as-a-Service model to fill hard-to-staff roles in hospitality, logistics, and food services. Retail Media (UK): Asda and Amazon teamed up on a UK-first retail media partnership. Food Prices (Malaysia): A durian oversupply sparked a rare price crash, with some varieties selling for as low as RM0.50 per fruit.

SEC Market-Making Rules: The Philippines’ SEC has released draft market-making standards for public comment until July 7, setting eligibility, disclosure, record-keeping and investor-protection safeguards. Commercial Real Estate: Ayala Group is in talks with BCDA to extend the lease of Taguig’s Market! Market! mall for up to 15 years, while BCDA plans to re-bid surrounding areas. Retail Expansion: Halton Hills Council approved Costco’s new store plan, targeting an October/November 2027 opening. Consumer Demand Signals: South Korea’s consumer sentiment rose for a second straight month in June, helped by semiconductor exports and a stock-market rally. Energy & Costs: Cambodia cut retail fuel prices by more than 10% in June as Middle East tensions ease. Consumer Protection: India’s CCPA fined Storia Foods and English Oven maker Mrs Bectors ₹1 lakh each over misleading “100%” claims and ordered withdrawals. Jobs Pressure: The World Bank warned Nigeria faces a widening youth jobs gap—about 4 million enter the labour market yearly versus only 300,000–400,000 jobs created. Markets Watch: Australia’s small-cap index edged up, while volatility has left online traders exposed and ready to sell.

Retail & Consumer Markets: Staycations are surging as Europeans cut back on overseas trips amid higher travel costs, while local “market days” and farmers markets keep drawing shoppers with curated vintage, food and artisan goods. Mobile & Telecom: Consumer Cellular launched SpeakEasy Mobile for customers 75+, adding simplified phones and data-light plans aimed at older users. Energy & Commodities: Oil slid below $80 as U.S.-Iran talks eased supply fears and progress around the Strait of Hormuz boosted confidence; rubber prices also rose on tighter supply concerns tied to heavy rain in Thailand. Business & Hiring: Door County restaurants say summer staffing is falling short after delays in H-2B visa arrivals, forcing tougher scheduling. Policy & Finance: SEBI’s proposed municipal bond reforms in India target refinancing and broader investor access to revive urban finance. Markets Watch: Nigeria’s equities rebounded sharply on a banking-led rally, while Qatar’s stock index fell modestly. Security & Local Economy: An IED blast hit Lagos’s Shoe Materials Market, injuring one person; police say the area was searched and secured.

Housing Finance: Absa Bank Kenya unveiled a developer-led home financing solution with an 8.9% per annum home-loan rate and up to 105% financing, aiming to tackle Kenya’s housing deficit of over two million units. Consumer Protection: India’s Central Consumer Protection Authority slapped ₹1 lakh penalties each on Storia Foods and English Oven maker Mrs Bectors over misleading “100%” claims, ordering the firms to withdraw the wording from packaging and digital platforms. Labour Mobility: Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman urged Malaysia to reopen its labour market to Bangladeshi workers, citing concerns over exploitation, debt bondage and stranded workers since hiring restrictions began in 2024. Retail & Crime: A retail crime crackdown led to almost 40 new arrests, as authorities push back against theft and organised targeting of stores. Tech for Trust: UK mobile networks launched a “kill switch” to permanently disable brand-new stolen phones flagged in a database, aiming to curb the stolen-device black market. Markets & Investment: India’s NSE signed an MoU with BME to promote non-ferrous metal derivatives, while Goldman Sachs flagged India’s data-centre boom as AI demand accelerates. Business Compliance: Sri Lanka lowered the VAT/SSCL registration threshold to Rs 36 million annual turnover (about Rs 100,000 per day) from July 1, requiring more service and retail businesses to register. Wildlife Enforcement: Maritime police in Zamboanga City arrested a suspect selling turtle eggs at the public market and seized 60 eggs, with charges being prepared under wildlife trading laws.

Capital Markets Watch: Bangladesh’s securities regulator (BSEC) has ordered the Dhaka Stock Exchange to upgrade real-time surveillance to curb market manipulation and protect investors, pushing modern monitoring tools and tighter oversight. IPO Pipeline: West Asia’s calmer backdrop is lifting sentiment in India’s primary market, with three mainboard IPOs due next week—Waterways Leisure Tourism (Cordelia Cruises), Advit Jewels, and CSM Technologies—while more issues line up soon. Insurance Deal-Making: Morocco’s insurance sector is moving toward consolidation as Sanlam Maroc seeks to absorb Allianz Maroc, with regulators clearing the merger framework and a July vote ahead. Consumer & Retail: India’s consumer watchdog fined Storia Foods and English Oven for misleading “100%” claims, ordering companies to withdraw the wording across packaging and digital platforms. Business & Trade: UK SMEs say Brexit still raises costs and delays, with many reporting significant trade barriers when dealing with the EU. Markets & Currencies: Nigeria’s naira slid slightly as dollar demand from foreign investors outpaced supply, despite earlier intraday liquidity gains.

Gold & Silver Watch: Nepal’s hallmark gold rose Rs 600 per tola to Rs 287,300, while silver climbed Rs 50 per tola to Rs 4,690, signaling firmer precious-metal demand. Market Disruption: Traders are tallying losses after a fire ripped through Nairobi’s Gikomba Market early Sunday; the cause is still unclear and damage is still being assessed. Consumer Pressure & Hiring: In South Korea, small businesses report the minimum wage jump is “very high” burden, with many cutting hiring and shifting to split-shift work to survive. Tech & Pricing: Apple’s upcoming foldable iPhone and iPhone 18 Pro face scrutiny as the company warns of higher costs tied to a global memory shortage. Housing Supply Push: NSW plans a modular homes manufacturing hub to speed construction and cut costs, but industry groups say it must be paired with other building barriers. EV Trade Opportunity: Under the India-UK FTA, Indian-made EVs and hybrids could enter the UK duty-free from year six within quota brackets, opening a new growth lane for automakers. Capital Markets: Nigeria’s stock market slid 3.6% as investors liquidated ahead of the Dangote Refinery IPO, with analysts pointing to a mid-year slowdown and dividend timing gaps. Commodities Outlook: Goldman Sachs says aluminium prices may stay elevated near-term due to Middle East outages, but Indonesia-China supply growth should swing the market back toward surplus in 2027. Local Business Resilience: West Australian poultry groups cancelled a key show after Australia’s first mainland H5N1 detection, urging tighter controls on bird movement.