Browsing: Business

– The World Trade Organization has increased its forecast for worldwide merchandise trade expansion in 2026 to 3.9 percent. This marks a notable rise from the 1.9 percent projection made in March. The WTO attributed this upward revision to robust

– France and Germany have called on the European Commission to develop a swift-response mechanism to counteract serious market distortions. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz submitted the proposal to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Their

– As of October 5, the average UK five-year fixed mortgage rates hit 6.00%, marking a return to levels last seen nearly three years ago. Meanwhile, the average two-year fixed rate increased to 5.98%, reaching its highest point since mid-December

– Russia anticipates that its 2026 grain harvest will reach approximately 140 million tonnes as farmers enter the final stages of the agricultural season. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev noted that farmers had already gathered over 126 million tonnes of

– Euro area unemployment stayed at 6.4% in August 2026, remaining unchanged from July, according to Eurostat. This rate was 6.3% in August 2025. Across the European Union, unemployment stayed at 6.1% for a second consecutive month. In comparison, the

– European Union house prices increased by 4.7% during the second quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year. Rents also grew by 3.0%, further extending their upward momentum throughout the bloc. Eurostat indicated that house prices rose

– Russia has established an objective of reaching 662 million tonnes of annual coal output by the year 2050, according to a newly approved industry development plan. This target forms part of the scenario outlined in Russia’s updated coal expansion

Moody Ratings has affirmed the European Union top AAA credit rating with a stable outlook, confirming that the 27-nation block maintains the highest degree of creditworthiness supported by its strong institutional framework and robust fiscal commitments from key member states.

– The Portuguese government has officially authorized a capital expenditure of roughly 420 million euros aimed at expanding light rail and bus rapid transit networks within the northern metropolitan area. This decision allows the extension of the Porto Metro into

As the maritime sector observes World Maritime Day, international shipping networks are facing extraordinary operational challenges. The International Maritime Organization in London emphasized that commercial shipping directly suffers from broader geopolitical tensions. These tensions have interrupted vital supply chains and