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Global markets opened 2026 with risk appetite returning: S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures sat higher while the Dow showed modest gains. Tech and semiconductors led rallies, precious metals jumped on safe‑haven flows, and bond yields rose amid Fed‑watching. Key catalysts: Iran protests, FOMC minutes, and strong chip/AI earnings expectations.
Street protests in Iran have escalated into a diplomatic standoff between Tehran and Washington, raising regional security and energy-market risks. The cluster covers direct threats and U.S. vows to protect demonstrators, signalling possible escalation.
62% – Gold’s gain in 2025, reflecting heightened safe‑haven demand.
A devastating New Year’s Eve blaze at a Swiss ski-resort bar has left dozens dead and scores injured, triggering an urgent victim identification and rescue effort. Authorities warn identification will take days amid an ongoing probe into causes.
U.S. stock futures opened 2026 on firm ground as tech and AI names led a risk-on tone. Market moves were driven by last year’s momentum, strong chip demand and a rebound in precious metals.
Li Auto ends 2025 strong as deliveries top 1.5m
Li Auto reported a recovery in December and crossed 1.5 million cumulative deliveries in 2025, signaling stabilisation for the Chinese EV maker and renewed investor confidence.
China’s AI chip frenzy continued as domestic designers and cloud players tapped public markets to fund expansion. Investor appetite for GPU and AI infrastructure names is fuelling a new wave of listings and valuations.
Danish renewables giant Ørsted launched legal action after the U.S. halted offshore work, escalating a standoff with the Trump administration. The dispute risks delaying major projects and cold‑watering investor appetite for U.S. offshore wind.
Apple scales back Vision Pro production after weak demand
Apple is reportedly cutting Vision Pro output after consumer uptake fell short of expectations, a setback for its ‘spatial computing’ ambitions and a drag on accessory and developer ecosystems.
More on theguardian.com
Warren Buffett formally handed over the Berkshire reins, ending a six-decade era and triggering debate over succession and strategy. Markets and analysts are parsing what the leadership change means for Berkshire’s long-term holdings.
The Trump administration delayed planned tariff hikes on furniture and eased proposed levies on Italian pasta, signalling a softer trade stance ahead of talks. The moves could reshape short-term supply-chain and retail inflation dynamics.
Trump administration delayed tariff hikes on furniture and cabinets to 2027, enhanced ACA subsidies expired at year‑end raising premiums, and new crypto reporting rules took effect in multiple countries on Jan. 1, reducing tax secrecy.
Beijing’s policy organs signalled a stronger, coordinated intervention to stabilise the property sector while doubling down on export-led growth to lift the economy. The twin messages aim to calm markets and shore up manufacturing demand.
BYD is set to overtake Tesla as the world’s top EV seller on annual volumes even as growth slows amid an aggressive domestic price war. The contrast highlights fierce competition in China despite BYD’s scale advantage.
“If Iran ‘violently’ kills protestors, the U.S. will come to their rescue.”
— President Donald Trump
An AI chatbot apology and follow-up reports of sexualised images of minors have renewed scrutiny over safety controls at major AI firms. The incidents raise regulatory and reputational questions for fast‑moving model deployments.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell has stayed silent on whether he will remain when his chair term ends, while FOMC minutes reveal concerns about short‑term funding strains. The developments keep markets uncertain about the Fed’s near‑term path.
NATO scrambled jets after Russian drones were detected near the Danube, underscoring spillover risks from the Russia‑Ukraine war. Kyiv’s personnel reshuffle — naming its spy chief to head the president’s office — signals a tighter security posture.
Precious metals rallied into 2026 as geopolitical tensions and hopes for Fed easing lifted safe‑haven demand. Gold’s outsized gains point to markets pricing risk that traditional indicators have yet to acknowledge.
Enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies expired at year‑end, pushing millions into higher premiums and sparking immediate price hikes across plans. The lapse will be a political and household-cost flashpoint in 2026.
The AI-driven scramble for memory chips tightened supplies, threatening price rises for smartphones and PCs in 2026. Analysts warn that AI data‑center demand will pressure consumer electronics via higher RAM and HBM pricing.
Hong Kong kept its IPO momentum from 2025 into the new year, cementing the city’s role as a capital-raising hub for Chinese tech and chips. Local equities rallied as investors bet on continued listings and corporate supply‑side strength.
Memory and storage names led early gains as data‑center demand and AI tailwinds boosted chipmakers and related ETFs. The semiconductor ETF SOXX and companies like Micron started the year with strong momentum.
New York’s incoming mayor was sworn in with symbolic ceremonies and pledged bold, left‑leaning reforms that could reshape city budgets and services. Business and municipal stakeholders are watching policy signals closely for implications on taxation and infrastructure.
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