Kuwait’s annual inflation rate rose 2.19% in June, driven by higher prices for food, transport, healthcare, education, clothing, and other consumer goods, according to official data. Food and beverages saw the largest increase at 5.55%, while miscellaneous goods and services climbed 5.8%.

Second-quarter earnings are beating expectations at one of the fastest rates in years, with major banks leading the way. But as markets set a higher bar, company outlooks are proving just as important as financial results. While strong guidance is rewarding stocks, cautious forecasts from companies like Citigroup and IBM have triggered sharp market reactions, highlighting a growing focus on future growth over past performance.