On June 11, 2026, the World Bank released its latest Global Economic Prospects report with a headline number that immediately drew attention across financial markets: global growth is now forecast to slow to 2.5% in 2026, down from 2.9% in 2025. That would make 2026 the slowest year
Egypt's economic reform programme reached a significant milestone in February 2026, when the IMF Executive Board completed combined reviews of the country's Extended Fund Facility and approved release of approximately $2.3 billion in additional financing, bringing total disbursements under the programme to about $5.2
Chile's IPSA stock index hit an all-time high of 11,721 points on the day President Jose Antonio Kast was inaugurated, a striking signal from markets about expectations for the country's new pro investment direction. Understanding why requires understanding copper, which still accounts for roughly
In March 2026, the Philippine peso closed at its worst level in history, P59.87 to the US dollar, with an intraday low of P59.95. The same week, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas released data showing cash remittances from overseas Filipino workers reached an all-time high for 2025,
For decades, investing directly in Saudi Arabia's stock market was reserved for the world's largest financial institutions. As of February 1, 2026, that changed completely. The Capital Market Authority eliminated the Qualified Foreign Investor framework entirely, opening the Tadawul, Saudi Arabia's stock exchange, to
South Africa's benchmark FTSE JSE All Share Index has been one of the quiet success stories of global markets in 2026, and the reason sits underground in the country's gold belt. Gold entered the year on a parabolic run, surging to an all-time high of
FTSE Russell's decision to upgrade Vietnam to secondary emerging market status effective September 21, 2026, is the most significant development in Vietnam's capital market history. The move will channel an estimated $6 billion from passive index trackers and up to $25 billion in total long-term
The French government under Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu entered 2026 with a budget package containing €44 billion in fiscal measures, equivalent to approximately 1.5% of GDP. The plan targets a public deficit of no more than 5.1% of GDP this year, a modest improvement from 5.4% in
Bank Negara Malaysia reduced its overnight policy rate to 2.75% in July 2025 and has held it steady since. That is nearly twelve months of unchanged rates in an environment where central banks across Europe, Australia, and parts of Africa have been actively moving their benchmarks in either direction,
Most central banks around the world adjust monetary policy by raising or lowering interest rates. Singapore's Monetary Authority takes a fundamentally different approach. Instead of setting a benchmark rate, the MAS manages monetary policy by controlling the level and rate of appreciation or depreciation of the Singapore dollar
France entered 2026 with a fiscal situation that most eurozone governments would find alarming. The budget deficit reached 5.8% of GDP in 2024, the highest in the entire euro area. For 2026, the European Commission projects the deficit will remain at 5.1% of GDP. The IMF predicts France&
East Africa is on track to grow by 5.8% in 2026, up from 5.4% in 2025, making it the fastest-growing sub-region on the African continent by a significant margin. West Africa is projected at 4.4%, Central Africa at 3%, and Southern Africa at 2%. The