Modi’s Tax Gamble, SoftBank $2B Investment, and Databricks’ $100B Milestone

Money Masters' Market Movers 34

August 20, 2025

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Dear Money Master,

Global markets are buzzing this week as India slashes taxes, boosting equities, while the U.K. battles stubborn inflation. In tech, Intel secures a $2B SoftBank investment, Databricks rockets to a $100B valuation, and Best Buy jumps into the marketplace wars.

Meanwhile, OpenAI rolls out its cheapest plan in India, Shein flirts with moving back to China for its IPO, and Chinese EV makers pivot overseas to escape tariffs.

On the earnings side, Home Depot suffers its first double miss in over a decade, while Ithaca Energy doubles profits and raises guidance. 🪙💼

📰 Your Daily Financial Digest - August 20th, 2025

🌍 Economics & Finance:

  1. India’s Market Cheers Modi’s Tax Cuts 📊
    Nifty rose 1% and the Sensex gained 0.84% after Modi unveiled a simplified GST regime with two rates, scrapping higher levies. The rupee also strengthened slightly against the dollar. Read More

  2. China’s EV Players Invest More Abroad 🚗
    For the first time, overseas spending surpassed domestic EV investments, with 74% going to battery plants. Expansion abroad helps secure market access amid rising tariffs. Read More

  3. U.K. Inflation Heats Up to 3.8% 📈
    July CPI came in above expectations, with both headline and core inflation hitting 3.8%. Persistent price pressures raise concerns over the Bank of England’s next move. Read More

💻 Technology:

  1. SoftBank Pumps $2B Into Intel 💾
    Buying at $23 per share, SoftBank became Intel’s fifth-largest investor. Markets saw this as a vote of confidence amid Intel’s AI struggles. Read More

  2. OpenAI Launches $4.57 ‘ChatGPT Go’ in India 🤖
    The new tier offers GPT-5 access, higher limits, and double memory at just 399 rupees/month, targeting rapid adoption in OpenAI’s second-largest market. Read More

  3. Shein Considers Returning to China for IPO Nod 🛍️
    The fast-fashion giant may re-domicile from Singapore to mainland China to secure Beijing’s blessing for a Hong Kong listing. Read More

  4. Databricks Soars to $100B Valuation 🚀
    The AI-driven data analytics firm raised over $1B, doubling its valuation since late 2024. With $3.7B forecast revenue, it joins SpaceX, ByteDance, and OpenAI in the elite $100B club. Read More

💹Earnings:

  1. Home Depot Misses on Q2 Earnings & Revenue 🏠
    EPS came in at $4.68 versus $4.71 expected, while revenue reached $45.28B, below forecasts. This marks the retailer’s first miss on both fronts since 2014. Read More

  2. Ithaca Energy Doubles Profits, Lifts Guidance 🛢️
    The North Sea oil explorer raised output guidance to 119–125 kboe/d after EBITDAX doubled to $1.1B. Pre-tax profit surged to $513M, boosted by stronger production. Read More

  3. Best Buy Launches Third-Party Marketplace 🛒
    The retailer now lets external sellers list items like custom controllers, home décor, and collectibles, filling assortment gaps and echoing Amazon and Walmart’s marketplace strategy. Read More

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