OECD Economic Report

Business

Barrick Bets Big: Doubling Down on Gold, Copper, and Shareholder Returns Amid Price Surge

Barrick Gold Corporation is strategically ramping up gold production to capitalize on high prices while simultaneously expanding its copper portfolio as a long-term hedge. The mining giant is also channeling robust profits back to investors through enhanced dividends and buybacks, following a period of stellar stock performance.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Beyond the Hype: Four Forces Shaping Crypto Prediction Markets in 2026

As crypto prediction markets surge past $6B in weekly volume, a new phase of growth beckons. Driven by institutional interest, regulatory evolution, and AI integration, these platforms are poised to redefine speculative finance.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

From Stablecoin Giant to Treasury Titan: Tether Emerges as a Major Force in U.S. Debt and Gold Markets

Tether, the company behind the world's dominant stablecoin, has quietly built a balance sheet rivaling major financial institutions, amassing vast holdings of U.S. Treasury debt and gold. Its explosive growth is reshaping its role in traditional finance and drawing regulatory scrutiny.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

LiveWire Group's Long-Term Investors Face Steep 79% Decline as Stock Tumbles

Shareholders in Harley-Davidson's electric motorcycle spinoff, LiveWire Group, have seen their holdings erode dramatically over five years, with a recent $55 million weekly loss adding to the pain. The company's ongoing revenue contraction raises fundamental questions about its path to profitability in the competitive EV market.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Financial Guru Dave Ramsey Advises Caller to Prioritize Debt Over SpaceX IPO and Delayed Honeymoon

A Utah couple with a $180,000 income sought advice on using a $7,300 bonus. Dave Ramsey's firm counsel: shore up emergency savings, attack their HELOC debt, and postpone both a long-awaited honeymoon and speculative IPO investing until their financial foundation is secure.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Tech or Bust: Independent Grocers Told to Embrace Digital Shift or Risk Fading Away

At the NGA Show, industry leaders issued a stark warning: community ties alone won't save local grocers from being outpaced by tech-savvy giants and shifting consumer habits. A clear digital roadmap is now non-negotiable for survival.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Warsh Nomination Sends Shockwaves Through Precious Metals Market

President Trump's selection of Kevin Warsh to lead the Federal Reserve has bolstered the dollar and triggered a sharp sell-off in gold and silver, raising questions about the future of the metals trade amid shifting monetary policy expectations.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Palantir Poised for Robust Q4 Earnings Amid Market Volatility

Palantir Technologies prepares to release its fourth-quarter financial results, with analysts forecasting significant growth despite recent pressure on its stock and broader software sector concerns.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Hess Midstream Charts Course for Cash Flow Surge as Major Infrastructure Build Nears Completion

Hess Midstream Partners LP (HESM) signals a pivotal shift towards robust free cash flow generation, forecasting a 40% drop in capital expenditures for 2026 as its core system build-out concludes. Despite near-term weather headwinds, strong minimum volume commitments underpin financial targets through 2028.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

The Inflation Mismatch: Why Social Security's Annual Raise Falls Short for Millions of Seniors

While October's COLA announcement brings temporary relief, a growing body of evidence suggests the formula used to calculate Social Security adjustments fails to reflect the real-world expenses of retirees, creating a persistent and compounding budget gap.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Analysts Maintain Cautious Optimism for Colgate-Palmolive Despite Market Underperformance

While Colgate-Palmolive's stock has trailed the S&P 500 over the past year, Wall Street analysts see a resilient business model and strong international presence supporting long-term growth, maintaining a 'Moderate Buy' consensus.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

New Leadership Era Begins at Target and Walmart as Industry Giants Navigate Shifting Retail Landscape

Target's Michael Fiddelke and Walmart's John Furner step into the CEO role, outlining priorities to reinvigorate growth and customer loyalty amid operational and social challenges.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Exclusive Footage Reveals IS Militants' Brazen Assault on Niger's Main Airport

Newly released video evidence shows Islamic State fighters moving unchallenged among aircraft at Niamey's Diori Hamani International Airport, igniting regional tensions and raising urgent questions about security in the Sahel.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Karachi Sees Another Commercial Blaze Near Site of Last Month's Deadly Fire

A fire erupted in a commercial building in Karachi on Monday, just weeks after a nearby inferno claimed dozens of lives. Firefighters are battling the flames as concerns mount over recurring safety lapses in the city's business districts.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Snowflake Inks Major $200M AI Pact with OpenAI, Embedding Models Directly Into Data Cloud

Snowflake announces a strategic $200 million partnership with OpenAI to integrate its AI models natively into the data cloud platform. The move aims to let enterprises query and analyze proprietary data using natural language, intensifying competition in the AI-infused data management sector.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Manchester's Tree Accountancy Acquires Pomegranate Consulting UK Client Base in Strategic Expansion Move

Tree Accountancy strengthens its regional footprint by absorbing Pomegranate Consulting's UK portfolio and key staff, marking its second strategic acquisition in three years as it expands advisory services.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Meta's AI Ambitions Fuel Record Capital Spending, With $135 Billion Forecast for 2026

Meta Platforms' relentless investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure is set to drive capital expenditures to unprecedented levels in 2026, raising questions about long-term returns for the cash-rich tech giant.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

SEC Overhauls PCAOB Leadership, Appoints Demetrios Logothetis as New Chair

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has ushered in a new era for the accounting watchdog, naming a fresh chair and three board members tasked with refocusing the PCAOB on its core mission of investor protection.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Pass-Through Voting Gains Traction as Banks Navigate ESG Backlash and Regulatory Scrutiny

Facing pressure from both investors and regulators, banks and wealth managers are turning to pass-through voting mechanisms to reclaim shareholder influence and align stewardship with client values, even within passively managed funds.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Wall Street Braces for Warsh Era: Rate Cut Forecasts Hold Steady Amid Fed Leadership Speculation

Major financial institutions Barclays and Morgan Stanley maintain projections for two interest rate cuts in 2024, despite President Trump's nomination of inflation hawk Kevin Warsh to chair the Federal Reserve. Analysts suggest policy continuity in the near term, though Senate confirmation faces political hurdles.

Feb 2, 2026