Markets opened 2026 with cautious optimism: S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures ticked higher while the Dow lagged as yields rose. Volatility chattered around AI and data-center names, energy and precious metals led sector moves, and investors are watching Fed signals, Iran unrest and heavyweight earnings for direction.
China’s BYD is set to eclipse Tesla in annual EV sales despite a slowdown in growth. The pair of stories track BYD’s milestone and the underlying slowdown that temper the company’s long-term momentum.
70% – Gold’s gain in 2025, as investors sought haven assets amid macro and geopolitical shocks.
Baidu moves to capitalize on the AI chip boom with a Kunlunxin spin-off and listing in Hong Kong. Markets reacted sharply to the move, lifting Baidu shares as investors priced in chip upside.
Chinese GPU start-up Biren made a blockbuster Hong Kong debut, drawing heavy investor demand. The pair of stories show fresh capital flows into China’s AI chip sector and investor appetite for onshore GPU plays.
Michelin to Buy Cooley, Tex Tech – Expansion Play
Michelin agreed to acquire Cooley Group and Tex Tech Industries to broaden its industrial footprint, a strategic M&A move expected to boost manufacturing capacity and margins for the tyre maker.
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The AI chip surge is beginning to ripple into consumer markets and development techniques. Reports warn of higher electronics prices even as Chinese firms unveil new training methods to scale models.
Big tech and frontier hardware move into manufacturing partnerships as the race for AI devices heats up. OpenAI shifts production to Foxconn while Neuralink signals ambitious implant output plans.
Apple Scales Back Vision Pro Production – Demand Hits
Apple reportedly cut production and marketing for the Vision Pro after weak sales, a setback for its spatial-computing push that raises questions about near-term hardware growth.
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AI infrastructure and memory suppliers are drawing fresh market focus as data-center demand climbs. Analysts highlight a likely S&P addition while memory makers show surging order books tied to AI workloads.
Global markets opened the year on a cautious up-note as investors digested deal momentum and macro signals. U.S. futures rose while Treasury yields climbed, sharpening focus on Fed policy in 2026.
Administration delays planned tariff hikes on furniture and cabinets to 2027 while sharply trimming proposed pasta duties; ACA enhanced subsidies expired at year-end, immediately raising consumer health costs.
Precious metals continued their late-2025 rally into the new year as investors hunted havens. Commentators say gold is pricing in risks that official signals have not acknowledged.
Crypto spot trading weakened into December, capping a volatile year for exchanges. Institutional flows into ETFs also swung the market, with funds suffering outsized outflows at year-end.
“If Iran violently intervenes with peaceful protests, the U.S. will come to their rescue.”
— President Donald Trump
Security failures haunted crypto in 2025 as large hacks and wallet drains persisted. The stories detail growing losses and the structural risks exchanges and chains still face.
Protests in Iran escalated into fatalities while Washington signaled willingness to intervene if Tehran fires on demonstrators. The cluster captures rising street unrest and explosive diplomatic rhetoric that could shape regional risk.
Cross-border drone attacks and strikes heightened pressures on Ukraine’s infrastructure. Reports highlight a sustained Russian drone campaign and targeted strikes on power systems as winter operations continue.
A New Year blaze at a Swiss resort killed and injured dozens, triggering international rescue and investigation responses. The twin stories chronicle the unfolding death toll and emergency strains in the Alps.
Orsted moved quickly to legally challenge U.S. orders halting offshore wind projects, elevating a high-stakes energy-policy fight. The filings set the stage for a court battle over leases and project suspensions.
The White House delayed steep tariffs on furniture and sharply cut proposed pasta duties, signaling a tilt toward easing trade pressure. Italy and trade partners welcomed the move as U.S. policy adjusted under economic pressure.
Federal health subsidies for ACA plans lapsed at year-end, raising immediate costs for millions. Coverage affordability and policy fallout are front-line issues as Americans face January price jumps.
Warren Buffett’s retirement closes a six-decade chapter at Berkshire Hathaway and hands a giant cash hoard to new leadership. Analysts debate succession, strategy and how the conglomerate will deploy its balance sheet.
Beijing reaffirmed an export-led growth push while promoting Hainan as a free-trade testing ground. The moves signal continued policy support for trade expansion as China navigates deflationary pressures and external tensions.