News about World markets

Telephone scams have become one of the main threats to financial security. Agents from the FBI and the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service discussed with Moldovan law enforcement officials efforts to combat transnational call centers that defraud citizens on both sides of the Atlantic.

Moldova has the potential to bring more of its companies to the Romanian capital market and develop dual listings between the Bucharest Stock Exchange and the stock exchange infrastructure in Chisinau, according to Prime Minister Vasile Tofan.

This fall, a new regional project called “Treasures of the East” will launch, dedicated to promoting the wines, cuisine, and tourist destinations of Moldova, Romania, and Bulgaria. The initiative aims to bring together producers from the three countries and provide them with a common platform for promotion in international markets.

FIFA has scrapped one of its most controversial projects. Following a wave of criticism and threats of a boycott from major soccer federations, the organization decided against involving private investors in the commercial rights to the World Cup.

U.S. President Donald Trump issued a statement regarding the agreement on rare earth resources, which, he said, grants the United States access to Ukraine’s mineral resources and could prove to be more beneficial than the amount of U.S. aid provided.

Shares of Apple, the world’s most valuable company, are falling sharply following the release of a weak revenue forecast for the third quarter, which is expected to include the launch of new iPhone models.

Russia has begun importing gasoline by sea from Morocco due to a domestic fuel shortage. An oil tanker delivered about 30,000 metric tons of AI-92 gasoline, industry sources told Reuters.

In July, Italy became Europe’s largest buyer of liquefied natural gas (LNG). While many EU countries are cutting back on purchases due to high prices, Rome is banking on building up large reserves ahead of winter.

The All-Ukrainian Agrarian Council and the All-Ukrainian Agrarian Business Club are asking Prime Minister Serhiy Koretsky to postpone the increase in Ukrzaliznytsia’s freight rates—scheduled for August— by 30% and to review its pricing policy. Otherwise, the cost of shipping Ukrainian grain to the Romanian port of Constanța could rise to $60–70 per metric ton.  

For the first time in a long while, Turkey’s tourism industry has faced a decline in revenue. In the second quarter of 2026, tourism revenue fell by 2.6% year-over-year to $15.9 billion. At the same time, the number of foreign visitors declined, while Turkish residents themselves began traveling abroad for vacations significantly more often.

The National Energy Regulatory Agency (NARE) has published the maximum prices for gasoline and diesel fuel, which will be in effect over the weekend of August 1–3.

Starting August 1, Russia will impose a ban on the export of gasoline, diesel fuel, and a number of other petroleum products, stepping up measures to ensure the domestic market is adequately supplied following supply disruptions in Russian regions. The restrictions will remain in effect until January 31, 2027.

Axel Dumas, CEO of Hermès, has identified an unusual indicator that helps assess the outlook for the Chinese luxury market. That indicator is pork prices—one of the key indicators of consumer sentiment in the country.

Microsoft reported record profits driven by demand for cloud services and artificial intelligence products. Meanwhile, Meta, despite a rise in revenue, reported a decline in earnings due to litigation costs and layoffs.

U.S. President Donald Trump said that the new British Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, had promised him that he would begin oil production in the North Sea.

British oil and gas company Shell more than doubled its adjusted profit in the second quarter of 2026, earning $9.84 billion compared with about $4.4 billion a year earlier. The growth was driven by high global oil and gas prices, which rose amid the military conflict in the Middle East, although the company itself warns that instability in the region is already putting pressure on production and supplies.

Layoffs are becoming the new reality for the German auto industry. BMW has launched a voluntary workforce reduction program that, according to media reports, could result in a reduction of approximately 8,000 employees in Germany by the end of 2027.

The National Energy Regulatory Agency (ANRE) has published new maximum prices for gasoline and diesel fuel, which will take effect on July 31.

The Australian internet safety regulator, eSafety, has filed a lawsuit in Federal Court against Telegram FZ-LLC and Telegram Messenger Inc., accusing the messaging app of failing to comply with laws designed to combat the dissemination of prohibited content.

On July 29, the U.S. Federal Reserve System (Fed) kept its benchmark interest rate in the 3.5–3.75% range. The price of Bitcoin remained unchanged—the cryptocurrency continues to trade around $64,000.