Aug 17 — Stripe's AI push, PayPal M&A talks, and soft US…

• Stripe agreed to acquire AI routing startup OpenRouter for over $7 billion — signaling an aggressive move into AI infrastructure at a moment when gateway-layer valuations are at a premium. • Talks to sell PayPal to Stripe and Advent are intensifying — a deal would rank among the largest fintech acquisitions ever and fundamentally reshape global payments. • July CPI rose just 0.1% month-on-month, pulling the annual rate to 3.4% — softer inflation keeps a Fed rate-cut path alive and eases pressure on bonds and the dollar.