At the midyear point in 2015, CIOs in most countries are operating in tech markets with moderate growth of around 4% in local currencies, a bit weaker than what we projected in January 2015. However, US tech vendors with significant overseas sales are experiencing declines in their revenues, thanks to the strong US dollar. As a result, the global tech markets measured in US dollars will drop by 3.1%. This dichotomy presents both challenges and opportunities for CIOs. Those in the US and other countries with above-average growth rates can push for budget increases of 5% or more. In other countries, more caution will be warranted, but the strong dollar will present opportunities to buy US software and other products at cheaper prices.