Economic observer, freelance correspondent, 30 years in the profession. Specialises in economic policy and macroeconomics, writes on finance and financial markets. Has worked at Logos Press since the mid-1990s.
Concerns about Microsoft’s future stem from a market correction. In June 2026, the company’s stock suffered a historic decline: its market capitalization fell by $570 billion, marking the sharpest drop in a decade. Analysts attribute this to record spending on AI, an overheated market, and a slowdown in the growth of the cloud business.
Gas prices on European exchanges are rising again. On Monday, the price of July futures on the TTF hub rose by more than 3%. Prices recovered from their recent drop below $490 and are once again heading toward the psychological threshold of $500 per thousand cubic meters.
The Competition Council has begun reviewing a merger between the two companies to determine whether the resulting economic concentration in the fruit and vegetable processing market is compatible with a normal competitive environment.
The total volume of net remittances from abroad to individuals in May exceeded $170 million. Nearly 80% of these transfers were denominated in the euro. Such volumes of remittances have a multifaceted impact on macroeconomic indicators, serving as a key component of the balance of payments and a source of support for consumer demand.
The rise in global oil and food prices is indeed putting inflationary pressure on Moldova’s economy. However, the key risks facing the country right now are different: inefficient borrowing and rising budget expenditures—this is precisely what sets Moldova apart today.
Head of the Bilbao Port Authority (Spain), Iván Jiménez, believes that the European Union needs to postpone the implementation of an embargo on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) to avoid the risk of excessive dependence on supplies from the United States. This was reported by the Financial Times.
Elon Musk, the world’s first trillionaire, celebrates his birthday on June 28. In 2026, he will turn 55. Born in Pretoria, South Africa, he has been interested in computers and entrepreneurship since childhood: at age 12, he created a video game and sold it to a computer magazine. Musk later moved from South Africa, became a Canadian citizen, and went on to build a career in the United States. On June 12, Forbes declared him a trillionaire with a previously unimaginable fortune of $1 trillion.
“Tit-for-tat” economic wars threaten global growth. The Financial Times reports on the views of outgoing IMF Chief Economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchi regarding geopolitical fragmentation and the future of the global economy.
As of the end of May, Moldova’s total public debt had risen to 143.1 billion lei, compared with 122.1 billion lei a year earlier. Over the course of the year, the country’s debt burden increased by 21 billion lei. Nevertheless, according to estimates by the Ministry of Finance and the IMF, the current ratio of total public debt to GDP remains within a safe range (around 37–38% of GDP).
The state budget deficit at the end of May stood at approximately 7.7 billion lei. This represents an increase of 777.1 million lei (or 11.4%) compared to the same period last year. The Ministry of Finance reported this while summarizing the results for the first five months.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) confirmed a decline in energy and commodity prices following the conclusion of the U.S.-Iran agreement to cease hostilities and resume shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. However, the IMF noted that it will take time for supplies to fully normalize and return to pre-conflict levels.
The European currency is rapidly losing value, having given up all the gains it made in the spring. Against the backdrop of a strengthening dollar, the euro could fall to $1.10. Investors are becoming increasingly convinced that falling oil prices and clear signs of a slowdown in the Old World’s economy are reducing the likelihood of another tightening of the European Central Bank’s monetary policy.
The world’s largest companies, as listed in the new annual Forbes Global 2000 ranking, have set new records for revenue, profit, assets, and market capitalization. According to the updated ranking, despite trade wars, geopolitical tensions, high energy prices, and inflation, global companies continue to demonstrate steady growth.
JPMorgan has sharply lowered its forecast for Brent crude oil prices over the next six quarters. The bank believes that falling demand is a more significant factor than the decline in inventories.
Excessive thrift has become the new norm, turning into a serious barrier to economic growth on the European continent. The inflationary shock of recent years has inflicted a much deeper psychological trauma on Europeans than on Americans, forcing them to resort to self-restraint and saving at the expense of consumption.
Venezuela is undergoing the largest debt restructuring in its history as it prepares to officially recognize its national debt of approximately $240 billion. This step became possible following a change in government and the removal of President Nicolás Maduro, which paved the way for the lifting of international sanctions and the start of negotiations with creditors. The investment bank Centerview Partners was brought in to develop a plan to return the national debt to a sustainable level.
In Moldova, internal migration is actively underway. Rural residents are moving to cities, causing many small villages to become depopulated and lose their demographic potential. In 2025, internal migration led to an increase of 5,1 thousand people in the population of urban areas, at the expense of rural areas.
On Wednesday, the U.S. dollar continued to strengthen, reaching a new 13-month high against a basket of major currencies. Investors sought shelter from the sharp decline in tech stocks and braced for a possible interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve (Fed).
Germany plans to further raise the retirement age to balance the system in light of its aging population. By the end of the century, the retirement age could rise to 70. These plans are currently under active discussion. The government plans to approve a bill, but it must pass through all stages of parliamentary approval, which has drawn harsh criticism from labor unions.
In May, Moldova’s foreign exchange market saw a decline in trading volumes, reflected in a 16% drop in net demand from companies. At the same time, 91.1% of the net demand from economic agents (legal entities) was met by supply from individuals. The National Bank publishes data on foreign exchange market conditions, noting that it did not intervene in the market during the reporting month.