Economic Report

Technology-led gains and rising investor confidence drive Wall Street higher as markets look ahead to key economic data. U.S. stock markets surged to fresh record highs on Tuesday, marking a strong start to 2026 as investors balanced recent geopolitical developments with expectations for a flurry of economic data later this …

Wall Street began 2026 with strong M&A activity on January 6, including mid-market and mega deals. Private equity, armed with record dry powder and stable rates, gains confidence in consolidation. Surveys show 58% of middle-market leaders predict higher M&A volume, driven by resilience and valuations. Following 2025’s 68 deals over …

Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP dialed back their recent winning streak on Tuesday, easing off after days of solid climbs that lifted prices to fresh peaks. This gentle dip hints at traders cashing in gains, but the crypto scene stays afloat thanks to a blockbuster revival in big-money buying. Spot ETFs …

Canada’s services economy stayed in contraction territory in December, as mounting trade uncertainty continued to pressure employment and client activity, according to S&P Global’s latest services PMI released Tuesday. The Business Activity Index rose to 46.5 from 44.3 in November, marking a modest improvement but remaining well below the 50-point …

German inflation cooled more than expected in December, falling to 2.0% year-on-year, according to preliminary figures released Tuesday by the federal statistics office. Economists polled by Reuters had expected EU-harmonised inflation to ease to 2.2% from 2.6% in November. Core inflation — which excludes food and energy — also moderated, …

U.S. stock index futures were little changed in early Tuesday trading after Wall Street closed higher in the prior session, with gains led by energy shares following the U.S. operation in Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. By 06:30 ET (11:30 GMT), S&P 500 futures were largely unchanged …

Oil prices rose modestly in European trading on Tuesday as volatility eased and traders continued to assess the implications of the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and the political transition now under way in the country. Crude benchmarks ended higher after a turbulent session on Monday, when prices …

Bitcoin held largely steady on Tuesday after improving risk sentiment supported modest early-year gains in the world’s largest cryptocurrency, although renewed worries surrounding major Bitcoin-treasury companies limited further upside. Bitcoin rose 1.3% to $93,576.7 by 00:59 ET (05:59 GMT), recovering alongside broader risk assets. The token is still nursing a …

European shares moved slightly higher on Tuesday as investors monitored fast-moving geopolitical developments, while overall risk appetite remained broadly resilient. The pan-European Stoxx 600 rose 0.3% by mid-morning, with Germany’s DAX up 0.1%. U.K. equities outperformed, gaining 0.6%, while France’s CAC 40 slipped 0.1% as of 08:40 GMT. The cautious …

Asian semiconductor shares advanced on Tuesday after Nvidia unveiled its latest artificial-intelligence processor platform at the CES 2026 trade show in Las Vegas, boosting optimism that sustained demand for advanced chips will support global technology growth. Nvidia showcased its new Vera Rubin AI computing platform, which integrates next-generation GPUs and …