The World Bank has issued a sobering forecast for global commodity markets, projecting a significant decline in real prices over the next two years. According to its latest Commodity Markets Outlook, prices for raw materials are expected to fall by 12% in 2025 and a further 5% in 2026—reaching their lowest inflation-adjusted levels since the early 2020s. This shift comes amid a broader economic deceleration, in part triggered by protracted trade tensions and geopolitical uncertainty.
According to recent data from the Reserve Bank of India, the country's economy is expected to grow by an impressive 6.5% this year. This figure positions India as the fastest-growing major economy in the world, which is especially noteworthy amid global economic uncertainty.
In early 2025, Whale Rock Capital Management, a well-known hedge fund focusing on technology, media, and telecommunications sectors, reported double-digit losses. According to sources familiar with the company, the fund lost around 20% in the first three months of the year, including a 15% decline just in March. These results significantly exceed the overall drop of the S&P 500 index, which decreased by 4.6% during the same period. Analyzing this situation provides insight into the impact of political and economic factors on the dynamics of the stock market and the investment portfolios of major players.
Gold prices dipped on Friday as investors reassessed their risk exposure following the imposition of new tariffs by U.S. President Donald Trump. However, it is important to note that despite this decline, gold has been on an upward trajectory for the fifth consecutive week, reaffirming its status as a safe-haven asset during market volatility.