News about World markets
The beauty industry has found a new audience where no one has looked before – in the Formula 1 paddock. While motorsport has been associated for decades with oil giants, watch brands and energy companies, Sephora, Charlotte Tilbury and LVMH have all hit the tracks in 2026. The reason is simple: women have become one of the fastest growing segments of the championship’s audience.
A Chinese company that produces festive fireworks for the U.S. market has reported an increase in interest in its products amid preparations for U.S. Independence Day celebrations and Donald Trump’s expected visit to China.
Russia’s federal budget deficit in January-April 2026 amounted to 5.877 trillion rubles (about 60.3 billion euros). This figure was twice as high as in the same period last year and was more than a third higher than the plan for the whole of 2026.
The EU has started preparations for possible talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in case conditions for a political settlement of the conflict over Ukraine emerge.
Washington and Beijing may for the first time establish a formal mechanism for negotiations on artificial intelligence, a technology that is increasingly rapidly transforming from a commercial tool into an element of the global geo-economy and strategic security. The initiative is being discussed against the backdrop of an ongoing technological standoff between the world’s two largest economies.
US efforts to mediate the conflict between Russia and Ukraine have reached a dead end, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni.
Today, May 8, European stock markets fell sharply after a new round of escalation between the United States and Iran. Investors began to withdraw from risky assets amid fears that the fragile truce between the parties could finally break down and the conflict could hit global oil supplies.
Analysts of JPMorgan recorded a shift in investors’ priorities after the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East.
Romanian company Electrica announced the completion of the full acquisition of Electrica Furnizare Grup SRL – Chisinau from its subsidiary Electrica Furnizare S.A., according to a statement published on the Bucharest Stock Exchange.
Donald Trump has once again said that the US has defeated Iran and hinted at striking the Islamic republic with nuclear weapons if an agreement is not reached. He said this during his visit to the National Mall in Washington, D.C., where he was touring the newly renovated Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Memorial.
Global food prices in April reached the highest level in more than three years. The main driver of food inflation was a sharp rise in the price of vegetable oils triggered by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
The National Energy Regulatory Agency (NERA) has set new maximum fuel prices that will be in effect from May 9-11.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) said the medium-term outlook for the natural gas industry is likely to last longer than previously thought. The conflict with Iran has already led to a loss of about 120 billion cubic meters of liquefied natural gas between 2026 and 2030, Gergely Molnar, an IEA expert, said Thursday.
The Indian rupee has hit an all-time low amid rising oil prices, capital outflows and heightened global uncertainty. Pressure on the currency market is increasing risks for one of the world’s fastest growing major economies.
According to market analysts, published in an interview with CNBC, the growth of gold and silver prices may resume if a peace agreement is reached between the U.S. and Iran. During the conflict, gold price fluctuations have been subdued, moving in opposite directions to fluctuations in oil prices and the U.S. dollar. However, gold and silver market growth will resume this year as momentum forces resume.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) released the April 2026 World Economic Outlook report, which presents data for 195 countries by their share of nominal GDP.
Despite strong pressure from the US, EU negotiators have not reached an agreement on how to implement the duty deal. It was struck by Brussels and Washington almost a year ago. Trump is annoyed.
China is stepping up its drive for technological autonomy in the semiconductor industry by increasing production of silicon wafers for artificial intelligence chips. The country’s authorities expect to increase the share of domestic silicon wafers in the national industry to 70% against the backdrop of US export restrictions and the global AI boom.
Shares of European luxury brands rose sharply amid forecasts of a possible settlement of the conflict in the Middle East. Investors are betting on the recovery of tourism and the return of demand from wealthy buyers.
The National Energy Regulatory Agency (NERA) has set new maximum fuel prices that will be in effect tomorrow, May 8.
