SoftBank Group returned to profit in the December quarter as gains tied to OpenAI lifted its Vision Fund, helping counter losses across other technology bets. The Japanese investment firm reported a sharp rise in the value of its OpenAI stake, even as investments in Coupang, Didi, and ByteDance weighed on…
After years of explosive growth, China’s electric-vehicle industry is entering a more complex and uncertain phase. Domestic demand is cooling, competition is intensifying and policymakers are recalibrating incentives, even as Chinese carmakers push aggressively into foreign markets to sustain momentum.The shift marks a turning point for the world’s largest EV…
The South Korean market index, the Kospi, has more than doubled over the past year. A market long associated with low valuations and conglomerate discounts has turned into one of the strongest performers globally.But this market rally has not been broad or random. It has been driven by a tight…
Gold prices rose more than 1% on Wednesday as a weaker dollar and falling bond yields boosted sentiment. Gold prices climbed back over $5,100 per ounce, while silver rose more than 4% as investors digested key employment data from the US. Meanwhile, oil prices also jumped more than 2%, with Brent hitting…
US equities moved higher on Wednesday after a stronger-than-expected January jobs report eased concerns about slowing economic momentum and reinforced confidence in the resilience of the labour market.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 207 points, or about 0.4%. The S&P 500 gained 0.6%, while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.8%, as…
Jonathan Heath, deputy governor of the Bank of Mexico, questioned the institution’s official outlook and warned that current estimates may be overly optimistic.Heath argued it is unlikely that inflation in Mexico will fall to the central bank’s 3% target by the second quarter of 2027.After 12 consecutive interest rate cuts,…
Europe heads into a pivotal moment this week as political, trade and economic pressures converge across the continent.From Britain’s renewed push to rebuild ties with the European Union, to rising trade tensions with China and growing scrutiny of foreign ownership in strategic industries, leaders are being forced to rethink long-held…
Markets traded on Wednesday with a mix of cautious optimism and lingering unease.A stronger-than-expected US jobs report offered brief reassurance after a bleak 2025, but sharp revisions underscored how fragile the labour market remains.That resilience was enough to rattle rate-cut bets, sending bitcoin and broader crypto lower.In corporate news, Kraft…
Concerns over potential supply disruptions, stemming from escalating tensions between the US and Iran and the risk of attacks on Tehran or shipping, caused oil prices to tick up on Thursday morning.Meanwhile, a strong labour market in the US as indicated by the latest economic data also augurs well for…
The UK economy grew by 0.1% in the final three months of 2025, according to official data, as manufacturing offset a stalled services sector and a sharp construction decline. Figures from the Office for National Statistics show growth in the fourth quarter matched the previous three months, missing expectations of…