* US markets brace for renewed funding pressure as leverage rises
U.S. equity funding markets remain stretched following last month's spike in short-term borrowing costs, as near record stock prices and a frenzy over popular technology shares fuel demand for leverage.
The concerns center on the equity repurchase or repo market, where investors and traders borrow short-term cash against stock holdings. Ahead of April-June quarter-end, the cost of financing equity positions climbed 200 basis points above the federal funds rate on June 26, according to Morgan Stanley data, the highest since December 2024.
* Trump's cancellation of food security survey could make measuring U.S. hunger more difficult
Last year, Trump did away with the USDA household food security survey, which last showed 13.7% of U.S. households were food insecure, a 10-year high.
Without the survey, it will be difficult to determine whether his cuts to the food stamp program led to a rise in U.S. hunger, particularly among children.
* Putin likely to escalate Ukraine war , despite Trump peace push, sources say
Russian President Vladimir Putin is rejecting calls to negotiate peace with Kyiv after Ukraine's recent drone strikes on Russia's oil refineries and ports which have strengthened his resolve to keep fighting, according to three sources close to the Kremlin.
The sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that it was a "high probability" that Putin will escalate the conflict in the coming months.
The comments come after U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that Putin wanted the war to end and that a resolution was "closer than people realize."
