Oil Surges on Middle East Strikes, World Bank Cuts Outlook, Meta Bets on AI, and Circle’s IPO

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Dear Money Master,

Happy Friday! 🎯 Today’s newsletter is packed with market-shaking headlines you won’t want to miss. First up, the World Bank just slashed global growth forecasts—and the blame’s falling squarely on rising tariffs and policy uncertainty. Meanwhile, oil markets are rattled after Israel’s surprise strikes on Iran, pushing Brent crude up over 7% in a single session.

Over in India, inflation has cooled to a 6-year low, prompting the central bank to cut rates again, while the country also eyes a bigger role in the rare earths race. In tech, Meta is betting big on AI with a $14.3B stake in Scale AI, and Tesla is getting ready to launch its robotaxi fleet in Austin next week.

But our favorite story today? 🥇 It’s all about Circle, the company behind the USDC stablecoin that exploded 168% on IPO day. From peer-to-peer crypto startup to Wall Street stunner, this is the must-read story of the week. 🚀
👉 Check it out in the app!

📰 Your Daily Financial Digest - June 13th, 2025

🌍 Economics:

1. World Bank Slashes Global Growth Outlook to 2.3% 📉
   Global growth is now projected at its weakest pace outside of a recession year since 2008, amid heightened trade tensions and policy instability. The U.S., Eurozone, and Japan all saw downgraded forecasts, while China remained unchanged. Read More

2. Oil Prices Spike Amid Israel-Iran Conflict 🛢️
   Brent crude jumped over $5 to $74 as Israel struck Iran’s nuclear and missile sites, raising fears of regional instability. Investors are watching for potential retaliation that could impact oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz. Read More

3. India Emerges as Key Rare Earths Contender ⚙️
   With 6.9 million tons in reserves, India seeks to challenge China’s dominance in rare earths amid global supply crunches. Scaling production and refining capacity will require private sector partnerships and new tech investments. Read More

4. India’s Inflation Hits 6-Year Low at 2.82% 🧮
   Cooling food and vegetable prices pushed inflation down, giving the RBI room to cut rates to 5.5%. Economists forecast continued easing, helping to support India’s robust 7.4% Q1 GDP growth. Read More

💻 Technology:

1. Meta Buys Into Scale AI with $14.3B Investment 🤖
   Meta now owns 49% of Scale AI, acquiring top talent and deepening its AI capabilities as it lags rivals in LLM adoption. Founder Alexandr Wang exits to join Meta’s “superintelligence” division, reshaping the leadership team. Read More

2. Tesla’s Robotaxi Launch Set for June 22 in Austin 🚘
   A fleet of Model Y vehicles will begin driverless rides within geofenced zones, monitored remotely for safety. Elon Musk confirmed the rollout with a promotional test ride set for his June 28 birthday. Read More

3. Gecko Robotics Hits Unicorn Status with $125M Raise 🦾
   The Pittsburgh startup, known for its climbing and flying inspection robots, is valued at $1.25B post-Series D. Gecko plans to accelerate expansion in defense and energy, targeting global infrastructure upgrades. Read More

💹Earnings:

1. Oracle Hits Record High After Cloud-Fueled Beat ☁️
   Q4 revenue jumped 11% to $15.9B, driven by strong demand for its multi-cloud and AI-enhanced databases. Future revenue visibility is rising, with performance obligations now at $138B—up 41% year-over-year. Read More

2. Chime IPO Opens Strong, Valuation Hits $13.5B 💳
   Shares surged 37% on debut after pricing above range, signaling renewed investor appetite for fintech. Chime serves over 8 million monthly users and reported $518.7M in Q1 revenue, up 32% year-over-year. Read More

3. Adobe Lifts Forecast After Record $5.87B Quarter 🎨
   Creative Cloud revenue rose 11%, helping EPS beat at $5.06. Adobe boosted its 2025 guidance again, with Q3 expectations now above consensus on strong digital media demand. Read More

4. Victoria’s Secret Lowers Profit Forecast on Tariff Costs 🩱
   The lingerie giant now expects up to $50M in additional tariff-related costs, narrowing full-year earnings guidance. Revenue met expectations, but shares dipped 3% amid worries over sustained cost pressures. Read More

🔍 The Article of the Day: Circle’s Billion-Dollar Bet on Digital Dollars 💵✨

The IPO market is heating up, and today we’re diving into Circle—the fintech that surged 168% on debut and is shaking up how the world sees money. Known for USDC, the stablecoin backed 1:1 by U.S. dollars, Circle is no longer just a crypto startup. It’s now a public company with over $1 billion in revenue, nearly all from yield on Treasuries. 📈

But this isn’t just about digital dollars. Circle’s building the financial rails for Web3—programmable wallets, smart contract APIs, and tools for the next-gen internet. 🚀

Still, it’s not all smooth sailing: profits are tied to interest rates, and it shares revenue with Coinbase. Yet with rising regulation and booming global demand for stablecoins, Circle is perfectly positioned to lead the digital money revolution. 🏦

👉 Read the full story in the app. It’s one you don’t want to miss!

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DISCLAIMER: This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The publisher does not accept any responsibility for any losses incurred as a result of actions taken based on the information provided. Always conduct your own research or consult with a financial advisor before making any investment decisions.