Global Trends and Forecasts for 2026

The article 'Drawing on 2026' by The Economist's editorial cartoonist, KAL, provides an overview of predictions and analyses for the year 2026. It touches on various themes including international conflicts, cultural trends, and significant changes. The article highlights seven conflicts to watch in the coming year, some of which are already ongoing. It also discusses the potential end of the American penny, the rise of K-pop and AI-generated music, cinematic remakes, and the inclusion of podcasting in the Golden Globes.

The Economist's finance and economics section features various articles discussing current economic trends and forecasts. Key topics include investor optimism heading into 2026, China's ongoing property market issues potentially lasting until 2030, and the impact of tight regulation on Europe's housing availability. Other articles cover the acceleration of America's economy, the decline of philanthropy in the US, and significant market developments in 2025. The section also touches on labor market trends, investment patterns, and the performance of specific companies.

The article discusses the optimism among investors heading into 2026, despite the uncertainty surrounding the market's future. Professionals are paid to predict the market's direction, but individual investors can adopt a buy-and-hold strategy. The article highlights the biggest question for investors: whether share prices will soar or plunge. It also touches on various economic topics, including China's property woes, America's economy, and Europe's availability crisis. The overall tone is neutral/informative with a hint of skepticism. The sentiment is generally positive, reflecting the optimism among investors. The primary intent is to inform and analyze the current market trends and investor sentiment.

The article discusses how 2025 marked the end of an old global order, primarily due to President Donald Trump's actions, which included demolishing norms and institutions, reshaping the White House, and impacting international diplomacy and trade. It suggests that the contours of 21st-century geopolitics will become clearer in 2026. The piece highlights Trump's significant influence on global politics through his tariffs, funding cuts to international organizations, and reconfiguration of security alliances. Domestically, Trump expanded executive power, affecting various institutions and the independence of bodies like the Federal Reserve. The article hints at the emerging new world order and invites readers to look forward to The Economist's analysis and predictions for 2026.

The article 'The five biggest market developments of 2025' discusses the major trends in global stock markets during the year 2025. It highlights that shareholders worldwide have had a stellar year with stock markets in America, Europe, India, and Japan reaching or nearing all-time highs. The optimism is partly driven by the profit-making potential of artificial intelligence. The article also notes that 'animal spirits' have surged, leading to low borrowing premiums for companies in Asia's emerging markets and investment-grade American firms. The overall outlook for 2026 is remarkably optimistic, with few expecting a crash. The article touches on various economic factors and trends that influenced the markets in 2025.

Chinese rocket firm LandSpace is moving closer to a US$1 billion initial public offering (IPO) in Shanghai after becoming the first home-grown aerospace firm to have its listing application accepted via a fast-tracked process. The company's listing aims to 'actively respond to national strategic plans and urgent market demands.' LandSpace's application was accepted by the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) on the Nasdaq-style Star Market for review, just eight days after finishing its listing tutoring. The fast-tracked process was made possible by the SSE's exemption of commercial rocket companies from profitability requirements for listings on the Star Market on December 26. This move is part of China's efforts to boost its aerospace industry, a priority in the country's latest five-year plan. LandSpace is regarded as a challenger to Elon Musk-led SpaceX and has made significant progress in its rocket development, including the successful completion of its Zhuque-3 rocket's flight mission on December 3.