The article discusses the certainty of increased electric load due to AI data centers, the bullish outlook on gold miners amid global fiscal deficits, the evolution of Fidelity's Contrafund, and the risks associated with timeshare ownership, emphasizing strategic investment considerations for 2026.
European markets closed higher despite geopolitical tensions, with London-listed shares opening 0.8% higher. German gross domestic product recorded a 0.1% quarterly fall, slightly better than expected. HSBC reported a 235% rise in profit but lower than expectations, announcing an additional share buyback. Siemens Energy shares rose after the chair clarified that talks with the German government were about supporting growth, not state aid. U.S. stocks opened higher, gold miners are heading for their best month since March, and the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield topped 4.9%. The German economy remains "stuck in stagnation," and the WTO chief warned that global growth will be impacted if the Israel-Hamas conflict spreads. Japan's 10-year bond yield edged closer to an 11-year high as the Bank of Japan's meeting kicked off. Chinese tech giants still have value despite regulatory clampdowns, and an under-the-radar networking stock is set for an AI boost. European markets are expected to open mixed.
The UK has announced plans to ban imports of Russian diamonds, copper, aluminium, and nickel, and impose new sanctions against Russia. The US and Canada have also announced new penalties on Russia, targeting gold producer Polyus and the Russian business of its peer, Polymetal. The UK import ban will have a muted impact as Russian exports of those commodities to the UK have already dropped after the imposition of tariffs. Russia is a major producer of aluminium, nickel, diamonds, and gold. The UK's diamond ban is important in the context of broader G7 talks.
General Motors sheds 2.2% as 5,000 white-collar workers opt for buyout program; Virgin Orbit files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, leading to a 22% drop in shares; AMC Entertainment falls 22% after announcing a settlement deal with shareholders; Gold miners rally as gold futures pop, with VanEck Gold Miners ETF jumping over 3%; Caterpillar drops 5.2% as softer-than-anticipated readings from the Institute for Supply Management and Purchasing Managers indexes dampen the manufacturing outlook.