News about World markets

Moldova will serve as a test case for the latest reforms aimed at integrating the European Union’s gas market when mandatory rules for the allocation of bundled capacity take effect at its borders on August 5.

Goldman Sachs, an investment bank, has warned that the price of Brent crude could exceed $120 per barrel as early as the fourth quarter of 2026 if supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz persist.

Introducing a minimum wealth tax on the ultra-wealthy in the UK could generate about 10 billion pounds for the budget each year, according to a study by economists at the Paris School of Economics and King’s College London. The authors of the initiative have called on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to consider this measure as he prepares a ten-year program of tax reforms.

The first-ever World Cup featuring 48 national teams made history not only by crowning a new champion, but also for its record-breaking scale, high scoring, and a string of individual achievements by the top players.

Speaking at the Moldovan-Indian Business Forum held in Chisinau on Monday, Indian President Drupadi Murmu emphasized the deepening cooperation between the two countries and noted that this visit reflects India’s commitment to strengthening ties in the political, economic, and cultural spheres.

Michael Saylor’s Strategy and Tom Lee’s Bitmine are no longer rushing to buy Bitcoin and Ether, given that their unrealized losses have reached several billion dollars each.

The visit by Indian President Drupadi Murmu and the Moldova-India Business Forum, held as part of the official visit, marked a new phase in the development of bilateral economic relations between India and Moldova.

The National Energy Regulatory Agency (ANRE) will review Energocom’s application to increase the regulated natural gas rate on Friday, July 24.

PayPal, which just a few years ago was considered one of the main winners of the digital payments boom, has found itself at the center of sale negotiations. Stripe, in partnership with the investment firm Advent International, has offered to buy the payment service for $53 billion. However, the board of directors considers the price of $60.50 per share too low.

The German sportswear manufacturer Adidas emerged as the biggest commercial winner of the World Cup, significantly increasing sales of its soccer merchandise.

Global grain production in the 2026/27 season could decline to 2.42 billion metric tons, which is 69 million metric tons, or 2.7%, lower than the record high of the previous season. However, this figure will still be the second-highest on record, according to the International Grains Council (IGC).

If the conflict drags on and Brent crude oil prices settle above $91–$95 per barrel, prices for AI-95 gasoline in Moldova could hit new all-time highs and surge toward 30–31 lei per liter, fueling a spiral of inflation.

As of June 2026, real estate in Romania is undervalued; however, sales are declining.

For about two weeks, the leading cryptocurrency has been trading within a range of $62,000–$65,000.

The streaming service Netflix paid approximately $587 million for the AI project InterPositive, founded by actor and producer Ben Affleck.

In July, the price of barley in Moldova ranged from 2.9 to 3 lei per kilogram. This is despite the fact that market operators note an unusually early start to the 2026/27 marketing season and a relatively low starting price for the first export shipment of Moldovan barley at the end of June—3.19 lei/kg (last year’s starting price was 3.40 lei/kg).

The World Cup, which was hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico over the course of a month, drew mixed reviews in the international press. While the American media calls the tournament a historic success that has changed the country’s attitude toward soccer, Mexican publications note that the festivities in the stadiums ultimately failed to translate into an economic breakthrough. RBC has compiled a selection of the most notable media reactions.

The housing market in Europe picked up steam again in 2025, although real estate prices continued to rise in most countries.

At the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, held from July 17 to 20, China announced the creation of an international alliance in the field of artificial intelligence, focused primarily on countries in the Global South.

Major traders are betting that the price of BTC will rise to $72,000 by the end of the month, according to the latest data on options market trends.