WEF-Chief Economists' Outlook: January 2026
you are currently viewing::WEF-Chief Economists' Outlook: January 2026January 16, 2026--The January 2026 Chief Economists Outlook opens on a cautiously brighter note than last year. Drawing on consultations and survey responses from the World Economic Forum's Community of Chief Economists, the report examines near-term economic prospects alongside deeper structural shifts shaping growth, policy and investment. While views for the year ahead remain tilted towards the negative, they have improved compared to late 2025. Amid stretched asset valuations, rising public debt and geopolitical tensions, uncertainty remains elevated. The outlook highlights divergent regional trajectories. Growth perspectives for the US are improving, driven by strong artificial intelligence-related investment. Europe confronts weak growth and geoeconomic challenges, while China navigates deflationary headwinds alongside a rebalancing of trade and consumption. South Asia stands out as the region with the strongest growth outlook among surveyed chief economists. This edition takes a closer look at debt pressures in advanced economies and emerging markets, as well as the uneven adoption of artificial intelligence and its implications for productivity and employment levels. Together, these dynamics point to a global economy that is undergoing profound transformation, requiring adaptive strategies from policy-makers and business leaders alike. Source: (WEF) World Economic Forum |
December 18, 2025-BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited ("BlackRock Canada"), an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc. ("BlackRock") (NYSE: BLK) is announcing that effective on December 18, 2025, the annual management fees of the following iShares exchange-traded funds ("iShares Funds") will change as follows:
December 18, 2025-Leverage Shares by Themes expand their offering with seven new single stock leveraged ETFs, available for trading starting December 18, 2025. These products are designed to empower investors to amplify returns (up and down) and actively engage with the performance of Nio Inc., Snap Inc., Baidu Inc., Centene Corp., KLA Corp., Petroleo Brasileiro, and Vale.
December 17, 2025--For more than five millennia, humanity has been captivated by gold-the immutable metal that has illuminated temples, crowned emperors, and underpinned monetary systems. Its story is as much about economics as it is about psychology. Across the centuries, gold has functioned as currency, ornament, reserve, and metaphor-embodying the human desire for permanence in a world of change. In an age of crypto assets, artificial intelligence, and central bank digital currencies, its persistence raises a question both ancient and modern: Why does gold still hold value?
December 15, 2025-Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth showed a mixed picture across the 16 G20* countries for which data was available1 in the third quarter of 2025. Growth picked up in seven countries compared with Q2 2025, fell in another seven countries, and two countries recorded a contraction.
December 15, 2025-Global value chains (GVCs) have been resilient in the face of rising geopolitical tensions,financial uncertainty,climate pressures and the COVID-19 pandemic according to the GVC Development Report 2025 launched at the WTO on 15 December.
December 13, 2025-Yet one in four developing economies remains poorer than it was in 2019
The global economy is proving more resilient than anticipated despite persistent trade tensions and policy uncertainty, according to the World Bank's latest Global Economic Prospects report.
December 5, 2025-Bybit, the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume has released its latest Crypto Derivatives Analytics Report in collaboration with Block Scholes, revealing cautiously optimistic signals in cryptocurrency markets following a volatile start to December.
December 3, 2025-Interest rates are a key monetary policy tool used by central banks around the world to encourage changes in economic activity.
But as the global population continues to skew older, traditional monetary policy tools such as rate-setting may become less effective.
Central banks need to find ways to keep interest rates relevant, but also develop alternative tools to navigate an uncertain global economy.
December 3, 2025-Despite challenges, there are ample reasons for broad optimism, including AI-driven cost savings
Despite an outlook that is complicated by contradictions in the U.S. economy and an evolving geopolitical order, Global X Management Company LLC ("Global X"), the New York-based provider of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), believes there are ample reasons for broad optimism on the U.S. economy as well as certain international markets heading into the new year.
December 2, 2025-The global economy has proved more resilient than expected this year, supported by improved financial conditions, rising AI-related investment and trade, and macroeconomic policies. However, underlying fragilities are increasing. Labour markets are showing first signs of weakening despite the OECD unemployment rate steady at 4.9%, with job vacancies falling below their 2019 average in many countries and confidence softening.