Global Markets Mixed: US Futures Down, Cues to Watch for October 1

Global markets trade mixed with the GIFT Nifty up 6 points or 0.02% at 24,768. US futures edge lower due to government shutdown concerns, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite closed higher on Monday. Asian markets trade mixed, with Japan's Nikkei 225 down 1.05% and South Korea's Kospi up 0.68%. The US Dollar Index is up 0.02% at 97.85, while crude oil prices trade higher with WTI at $62.54 and Brent at $66.20.

Global markets traded mixed on Tuesday, with the GIFT Nifty up 6 points or 0.02% at 24,768. The U.S. futures edged lower due to government shutdown concerns, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite closed higher on Monday. Asian markets traded mixed, with Japan's Nikkei 225 down 1.05% and South Korea's Kospi up 0.68%. The U.S. Dollar Index was up 0.02% at 97.85, while crude oil prices traded higher with WTI at $62.54 and Brent at $66.20.

Giftify Inc. (GIFT), the digital gift card and healthcare cost reduction company, has been making significant strides in its operations and strategic initiatives. The company recently reported that CardCash.com, its digital gift card marketplace, achieved record performance, delivering $150 million in gift cards and fulfilling 99.5% of digital orders in under 2 seconds Giftify Stock Price, News & Analysis^[1]. This performance highlights the company's efficiency and growth potential in the digital redemption market.

In addition to its operational excellence, Giftify has been expanding its services through strategic acquisitions and partnerships. The company recently acquired TakeOut7, a restaurant technology company, which has expanded its network to 185,000 restaurants nationwide . This acquisition positions Giftify to capture opportunities in the $1.5 billion restaurant digital marketing market.

Giftify has also been focusing on enhancing its platforms' capabilities. The company launched the Restaurant Management Center (RMC) and uChoose corporate rewards platform, targeting the $46 billion corporate rewards market . These platforms offer significant value to their users, with healthcare providers reporting a 40% improvement in staff retention and satisfaction, and marketing firms achieving a 60% reduction in administrative overhead.

Furthermore, Giftify has been exploring new revenue streams through strategic partnerships. The company integrated Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) payment options through a partnership with Zip Co. (ASX: ZIP) on its CardCash.com platform . This integration allows customers to split gift card purchases into installments, enhancing accessibility and flexibility for consumers.

Giftify's financial performance has been mixed, with revenue growth and improvements in profitability metrics despite ongoing losses. The company reported a net loss of $2.6 million in Q2 2025, down from a $7.7 million loss year-over-year . However, the company's gross profit increased 18.3% to $3.9 million, and its gross margin improved to 18.4% from 16.3%.

Overall, Giftify Inc. (GIFT) continues to demonstrate its commitment to innovation and growth in the digital redemption market. The company's strategic initiatives and operational excellence position it well to capitalize on market opportunities and provide value to its users.