latest news in economy

Export Boom Drives Vietnam's 8% Growth and Historic US Surplus

Export Boom Drives Vietnam's 8% Growth and Historic US Surplus

Hanoi, Wednesday, 7 January 2026.
Defying trade barriers, Vietnam’s economy expanded 8% in 2025, fueled by a record-breaking $134 billion trade surplus with the United States.

Oil Sector Optimism Drives Dow to Record High Following Venezuela Operation

Oil Sector Optimism Drives Dow to Record High Following Venezuela Operation

New York, Wednesday, 7 January 2026.
Investors bet on access to Venezuela’s vast reserves, pushing the Dow up 600 points, despite warnings that restoring infrastructure will cost $100 billion over a decade.

US Secures Transfer of 50 Million Barrels of Venezuelan Crude Following Military Operation

US Secures Transfer of 50 Million Barrels of Venezuelan Crude Following Military Operation

Washington D.C., Wednesday, 7 January 2026.
President Trump asserts direct control over proceeds from 50 million barrels of Venezuelan crude transferring to the US, a strategic move following the recent military ousting of Maduro.

Kremlin Orders Tax Hikes as Wartime Economic Growth Stalls

Kremlin Orders Tax Hikes as Wartime Economic Growth Stalls

Moscow, Tuesday, 6 January 2026.
With GDP growth stalling at 0.1 percent, Moscow raised consumption taxes to 22 percent on January 1, signaling the severe fiscal exhaustion of its war economy.

Morgan Stanley Forecasts S&P 500 Rally to 7,800 Driven by Six Key Catalysts

Morgan Stanley Forecasts S&P 500 Rally to 7,800 Driven by Six Key Catalysts

New York, Tuesday, 6 January 2026.
Strategists identify six overlooked drivers, including deregulation and rate cuts, propelling the S&P 500 to 7,800 in 2026—a projected 13% upside that defies expectations of a market slowdown.

Nineteen States Raise Minimum Wage, Widening Gap with Federal Standards

Nineteen States Raise Minimum Wage, Widening Gap with Federal Standards

Washington, Tuesday, 6 January 2026.
While the federal rate stagnates at $7.25, wage hikes across nineteen states boost pay for 8.3 million workers, with Washington State leading at a record $17.13 hourly.

2025 Migration Data Reveals Shift Back to Texas as Top Destination for Movers

2025 Migration Data Reveals Shift Back to Texas as Top Destination for Movers

Phoenix, Tuesday, 6 January 2026.
Texas reclaims the top spot for inbound moves in 2025, while California ranks last for the sixth consecutive year, underscoring a persistent migration toward business-friendly environments.

Global Markets Rally on US Plans to Revitalize Venezuela’s Vast Oil Reserves

Global Markets Rally on US Plans to Revitalize Venezuela’s Vast Oil Reserves

New York, Tuesday, 6 January 2026.
On January 6, 2026, global equity markets surged, driven by renewed investor confidence following the US capture of Nicolás Maduro and subsequent plans to rehabilitate Venezuela’s energy sector. The NASDAQ and Nikkei 225 posted significant gains as traders assessed President Trump’s strategy to deploy American oil majors to rebuild Venezuela’s infrastructure. The most compelling factor driving this sentiment is the potential access to Venezuela’s 303 billion barrels of proven oil reserves—the largest in the world—which currently account for less than 1% of global output due to decades of neglect. While the initiative promises to reintegrate a massive energy asset into the global economy, analysts caution that the revitalization effort faces significant logistical hurdles and could require tens of billions of dollars in capital investment over the next decade.

AI Boom Threatens to Reignite Global Inflation in 2026

AI Boom Threatens to Reignite Global Inflation in 2026

New York, Monday, 5 January 2026.
With data center spending projected to hit $4 trillion, investors warn surging energy costs could force central banks to halt rate cuts, threatening market stability this year.

Asia Stocks Surge and Oil Retreats as US Confirms Capture of Venezuelan President

Asia Stocks Surge and Oil Retreats as US Confirms Capture of Venezuelan President

Tokyo, Monday, 5 January 2026.
Japanese equities breached the historic 50,000 level and oil prices eased as traders reacted to the US military’s capture of Nicolas Maduro, anticipating stabilized energy flows under temporary American administration.