Global Economics

Business

CME Group Raises Metals Trading Margins Amid Historic Volatility, Records Surge in Volume

CME Group has increased margin requirements for precious metals futures and options following extreme price swings, as daily trading volumes hit record highs. The exchange is also introducing new silver products and enforcing compliance measures, highlighting its dual role as a market facilitator and risk manager during turbulent times.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Williams F1 Taps Anthropic's Claude as 'Thinking Partner' in High-Stakes Tech Alliance

The historic Williams Formula 1 team has entered a multi-year partnership with AI firm Anthropic, deploying its Claude AI as a strategic tool for engineering and race strategy. This deal marks a significant move as AI companies accelerate their push into elite sports sponsorships.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Cboe Eyes Retail Market with 'All-or-Nothing' Options, Challenging Prediction Platforms

The derivatives exchange is in early talks to reintroduce binary options for individual investors, aiming to capture the growing appetite for event-based wagering while staying within regulated financial markets.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Disney Sports Unit Loses $110 Million in Profits Following YouTube TV Blackout

A two-week carriage dispute between Disney and YouTube TV last November resulted in a significant financial blow to Disney's sports division, highlighting the ongoing tensions in the streaming and traditional cable landscape.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Beyond the Penny Label: Three TSX-Listed Small Caps With Strong Balance Sheets and Growth Ambitions

As the TSX rides a wave of broad-based earnings optimism, a closer look reveals smaller companies, often miscategorized as 'penny stocks', that combine financial resilience with clear growth trajectories. We examine three such firms with market caps up to CA$700 million.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Japan Achieves Deep-Sea Breakthrough in Quest for Rare Earth Independence

Japan has successfully retrieved rare-earth-rich sediment from the deep Pacific seabed in a world-first test, marking a significant step in its national strategy to diversify critical mineral supplies and reduce dependence on China.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Nvidia's $100 Billion OpenAI Ambition Hits Pause: Internal Scrutiny Over Deal Scope and Rivalry Fears

Nvidia's landmark plan to invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI has stalled, with executives questioning the deal's structure and OpenAI's financial discipline amid a fiercely competitive AI landscape.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Bitcoin's Bearish Turn: 'Worthless' Fears Resurface as Key Support Levels Crumble

Bitcoin's sharp decline below critical technical levels has amplified fears of a prolonged bear market, with prominent critics questioning its fundamental value. While some analysts see a buying opportunity, the mood among traders is turning increasingly grim.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Beyond Nvidia: How Broadcom and TSMC Are Carving Out the Next Frontier in AI Chips

As tech giants scramble to curb soaring AI costs, a strategic pivot toward custom silicon is reshaping the competitive landscape, with Broadcom's design prowess and TSMC's manufacturing dominance creating a powerful new axis of influence.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

FreightWaves-Ryder Report: Capacity Tightens as 2026 Logistics Landscape Takes Shape

The latest collaborative industry analysis from FreightWaves and Ryder details shifting dynamics in trucking, maritime, and intermodal sectors, offering a data-driven forecast for the pivotal first quarter of 2026.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

From Sportsbooks to Spreadsheets: Prediction Markets Now Let You Wager on U.S. Home Prices

A new breed of online platforms is enabling speculation on housing market trends without the need to buy property, drawing both intrigued investors and sharp regulatory criticism.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

KTM's Rocky Road: 2025 Sales Slump Underscores Persistent Challenges Despite Restructuring

KTM's preliminary 2025 financial results reveal a steep decline in revenue and sales, casting doubt on the efficacy of recent restructuring efforts and raising questions about the brand's near-term recovery trajectory.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Befesa Shares Surge 54% in a Year, Outpacing German Market Amid Turnaround Hopes

While the German market gained a modest 7.7%, steel dust recycling leader Befesa (ETR:BFSA) delivered a total shareholder return of 54% over the past twelve months. This impressive rebound follows a challenging three-year period, sparking investor debate on whether it signals a sustained recovery or a temporary rally.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Deckers Brands Posts Strong Q3 Growth Led by HOKA's Surge, UGG Steady

Footwear giant Deckers Brands announced a 7.1% rise in Q3 FY26 net sales to $1.95 billion, driven by explosive growth from its HOKA running brand and solid gains from UGG, despite a challenging retail environment.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

AI's Market Frenzy: Three Red Flags Suggesting a Bubble Is Brewing

While AI continues to fuel a historic market rally, a closer look reveals troubling signs of overheating, from staggering capital expenditures to questionable monetization and complex financial engineering.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Goldman Sachs Leads $75M Bet on AI Audit Platform Fieldguide, Valued at $700M

Fieldguide, an AI-native platform for accounting and audit, secures major funding as it aims to tackle the profession's deepening talent shortage by automating routine work and reshaping traditional firm operations.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Polestar Secures $400 Million Lifeline from Banking Giants, Bolstering EV Ambitions

The Geely-owned electric vehicle maker Polestar has secured a major $400 million equity investment from a consortium led by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and Standard Chartered Bank, signaling crucial financial backing as it navigates a competitive market.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Latin America's Economic Crossroads: Navigating the Surge of Chinese Imports

As Chinese exports, from electric vehicles to e-commerce goods, reshape Latin American markets, governments and industries grapple with the dual pressures of affordable consumer goods and strained local manufacturing, forcing a delicate recalibration of trade policies and regional alliances.

Feb 2, 2026

Ford and Xiaomi Deny Reported Talks on U.S. EV Production Amid Rising Trade Tensions

Ford Motor Company and Chinese tech giant Xiaomi have both denied a Financial Times report claiming preliminary discussions about producing Xiaomi's electric vehicles in the United States, as the auto industry navigates steep new tariffs on Chinese imports.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Eli Lilly Bets Big on Pennsylvania with $3.5 Billion Plant for Next-Gen Weight Loss Drugs

The pharmaceutical giant's final major U.S. facility will rise in Pennsylvania's historic Lehigh Valley, aiming to produce its promising triple-hormone drug retatrutide and bolster domestic supply chains for blockbuster obesity treatments.

Feb 2, 2026