In recent years Thailand has endured a series of fragile coalitions between populists and conservatives. Voters have decisively ended the deadlock https://t.co/TFOJqGOFn0 ...

Populists typically demonise their critics and seek to limit press freedom. This makes it easier for them to abuse power—and grow rich from it https://t.co/ANY30AH94p ...

The appearance of chumminess among the Epstein set has landed at an acutely populist moment https://t.co/84tMDVQ6Mp ...

Group 1 - Wall Street is preparing for trading scenarios ahead of the US midterm elections, focusing on the American consumer's sentiment and spending behavior [1][2] - Investors are looking at financial firms and homebuilders that may benefit from the Trump administration's efforts to lower living costs, including potential tax changes and lower mortgage rates [2][6] - Citi Research has launched a "tactical" trade basket targeting fintech companies that cater to lower-income consumers, anticipating increased demand for credit access due to affordability policies [3][6] Group 2 - Consumer confidence has dropped to its lowest level since 2014, raising concerns about potential declines in consumer spending, despite high expenditure levels [7] - The impact of Trump's tariffs is keeping some prices elevated, affecting margins for import-sensitive consumer stocks, which may influence investment strategies [8]

Today on “The Intelligence”: Europe’s populists sour on Donald Trump, India’s homegrown dating apps and ecological insights that are worth their salt https://t.co/ylSN166xYB ...

Seven years after skewering the Davos elite, Rutger Bregman discusses populism, the backlash to his Trump remarks and why ideals mean little without strength. https://t.co/SUC66DNX2V ...

Seven years after skewering the Davos elite, Rutger Bregman discusses populism, the backlash to his Trump remarks, and why ideals mean little without strength with Mishal Husain in this weekend's interview: https://t.co/JrFVnmBdBJ📷️: Jose Sarmento Matos/Bloomberg https://t.co/VgAD093QH1 ...

Core Viewpoint - U.S. fintech stocks are expected to gain an advantage as the government adopts a more populist, affordability-driven agenda ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections, potentially benefiting fintech challengers over traditional lenders [1]. Group 1: Fintech Companies Positioned for Growth - Companies associated with consumer-friendly credit and small-business services, such as buy-now, pay-later providers Affirm and Klarna, as well as fintech firms SoFi and Block, are well-positioned to benefit from the current market dynamics [2]. - Other potential winners identified include restaurant technology platform Toast and e-commerce firm Shopify, which may also capitalize on the affordability trend [2]. Group 2: Market Reactions and Performance - Traditional lenders experienced a rally following Trump's return to the White House in 2025, driven by expectations of a lighter regulatory environment; however, the focus on affordability may shift investor attention towards fintech challengers [3]. - In 2025, SoFi's stock increased by approximately 70%, while Affirm's rose by over 22%. In contrast, Block's stock fell by more than 23%, underperforming both its fintech peers and the broader market, which saw the Nasdaq Composite rise by about 20.4% during the same period [3]. Group 3: Political Influence on the Financial Sector - The rise of populism, linked to the affordability focus as midterms approach, suggests that companies offering lower-cost, user-friendly lending tools or services aimed at small businesses could see significant gains [4]. - Recent actions by the U.S. president, including a call for a one-year cap on credit card interest rates at 10%, indicate a pushback from the banking industry and reinforce the affordability agenda that could favor smaller fintechs [4][5]. - An executive order signed by the president aims to restrict large institutional investors from competing with individual homebuyers, further supporting the affordability-focused agenda that may benefit smaller fintech companies [5].

Emily BaryEmily Bary is MarketWatch's assistant managing editor, tech. She is based in New York. ...

Political & Economic Risk - Populist rhetoric targeting the wealthy could alienate them, potentially impacting urban project funding [1] Social Impact - Wealthy individuals play a role in financing urban projects [1]