Global Competitiveness

World

From Barcelona to Phoenix: The Global Tourism Boom's Hidden Cost in Neighborhoods and Housing

As global travel surges past pre-pandemic records, the influx of visitors is straining infrastructure and reshaping communities worldwide. From European protests to quiet American suburbs, the quest for authentic experiences is colliding with local life, fueling a housing crisis and raising a critical question: can cities belong to both residents and tourists?

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Zeta Global's Stock Slump: A Buying Opportunity or a Sign of Deeper Trouble?

Shares of marketing software firm Zeta Global have tumbled over 10% in a week, sparking debate among investors. While a key valuation model suggests the stock is significantly undervalued, market sentiment remains cautious amid broader tech volatility.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Brookfield Renewable Posts Record Year, Sees 'Material Shift' in Global Power Markets

Brookfield Renewable Partners (BEP) reported robust 2025 financial results, highlighted by record deployment and a strategic pivot to capitalize on surging global electricity demand driven by AI and reindustrialization.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Global Sugar Glut Fears Deepen, Sending Prices to Multi-Year Lows

Sugar futures tumbled this week, with key benchmarks hitting multi-month and multi-year lows, as analysts project swelling global surpluses driven by robust harvests in Brazil and India.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Zeta Global Gains Analyst Favor as Application SaaS Sector Shows Signs of Revival

Zeta Global Holdings (NYSE: ZETA) is drawing increased attention from Wall Street, with multiple firms raising price targets amid early 2026 momentum. Analysts point to strategic AI partnerships and sector recovery prospects as key drivers.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Heineken Taps Into Global Fandom Culture with 'Fans Have More Fun' Platform

Heineken launches a global marketing initiative celebrating shared passions in sports and music, aiming to foster real-world connections amid declining U.S. sales and a competitive import beer market.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

GE Vernova Nears Prolec GE Acquisition, Betting Big on Global Grid Expansion

Fresh from its spin-off, GE Vernova is finalizing a deal to acquire transformer maker Prolec GE, a strategic move to bolster its electrification portfolio and capitalize on surging global demand for grid infrastructure and power equipment.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Global Sugar Glut Deepens, Sending Prices to Multi-Year Lows

Sugar futures tumbled further this week, with New York prices hitting a 2.5-month low and London white sugar sinking to a five-year trough, as analysts warn of swelling global surpluses driven by record harvests in Brazil and India.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Citi Extends GlobalFoundries Valuation Horizon to 2027, Raises Price Target Amid Strategic AI Push

Citi has updated its model for GlobalFoundries, lifting the price target to $42 and extending its valuation horizon to 2027. The move follows the chipmaker's strategic acquisition of Synopsys' ARC Processor IP business, aimed at accelerating its physical AI roadmap.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

S&P Global and Goldman Sachs Boost Shareholder Returns with Latest Dividend Hikes

Two financial sector giants, S&P Global and Goldman Sachs, have announced increased quarterly payouts, signaling confidence in their financial health and future prospects amid a dynamic market environment.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Mastercard Beats Earnings Estimates as Services and Global Deals Fuel Growth

Mastercard's Q4 2025 results surpassed profit expectations, driven by strong demand for its value-added services and key global partnerships, highlighting the payments giant's resilience amid economic uncertainty.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Global Air Cargo Demand Climbs 3.4% in 2025 as Trade Lanes Realign

While U.S.-Asia trade tensions dampened trans-Pacific volumes, robust growth in intra-Asia and Europe-Asia corridors propelled the air freight industry to a year of expansion and adaptation, signaling a shift in global trade patterns.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Goldman Sachs Lifts Zeta Global Target to $26, Eyes Software M&A Wave on Horizon

Goldman Sachs raises its price target for Zeta Global (ZETA), citing strategic positioning ahead of an expected surge in software sector mergers and acquisitions driven by valuation gaps and synergy potential.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

GCL Global Posts Soaring Revenue on Acquisition, But Swings to Loss Amid Integration Costs

GCL Global's fiscal first-half revenue nearly doubled after consolidating Ban Leong Technologies, yet the company reported a net loss as it absorbed acquisition costs. Management lowered full-year guidance, citing delays for two key game titles.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Mizuho Upgrades Applied Materials to Outperform, Citing Strong Global Chip Equipment Demand

Mizuho Securities raised its rating on Applied Materials (AMAT) to Outperform, with a $370 price target, forecasting accelerated growth in global wafer fab equipment spending driven by major chipmakers' capital expenditure plans.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Nvidia Cements AI Dominance with Strategic Moves in China, OpenAI Funding, and Global Research

Nvidia strengthens its pivotal role in global AI infrastructure through a multi-pronged strategy: securing H200 chip approvals for China, engaging in advanced funding talks with OpenAI, and expanding partnerships with CoreWeave and international research bodies.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Mitsubishi Forges Global Alliance with Aethon Energy to Accelerate LNG and Next-Gen Infrastructure Push

Mitsubishi Corporation and U.S.-based Aethon Energy have announced a strategic global alliance aimed at co-developing projects across liquefied natural gas (LNG), carbon capture, geothermal energy, and digital infrastructure, marking a significant step in the Japanese conglomerate's lower-carbon expansion.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

UBS Initiates Coverage on Zai Lab with Buy Rating, Touts Global Ambitions Beyond China

Swiss banking giant UBS has initiated coverage on Zai Lab Limited (NASDAQ: ZLAB) with a bullish 'Buy' rating and a $35 price target, highlighting the biopharma firm's strategic pivot from a China-focused player to a burgeoning global innovation platform with a promising proprietary pipeline.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Crypto Market Plunges in Global Sell-Off, Bitcoin Breaks Key Pattern

A wave of risk aversion sweeps global markets, dragging cryptocurrencies down sharply. Bitcoin's technical breakdown and a steep drop for Worldcoin highlight a day of heavy losses and liquidations.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Barcelona's Biorce Raises $52.5 Million to Fuel Global Expansion of AI-Powered Clinical Trial Platform

Spanish healthtech startup Biorce has closed a substantial Series A round, backed by prominent venture capital and angel investors, to scale its AI-driven clinical trial solution, Aika, internationally amid a tightening regulatory landscape.

Feb 2, 2026