In business, competitors often converge on the middle to capture the largest share of demand. Yet in politics, the opposite seems to be happening. Across the US and Europe, parties are moving away from the centre, while populist movements continue to gain ground.
Travel in 2026 reflects a shifting economy: despite geopolitical tensions and high costs, demand remains resilient—driven less by growth than by the sector’s ability to adapt.
Recent geopolitical tensions have had less impact on markets than many had feared. Lower energy prices have helped ease inflation concerns, while continued investment in artificial intelligence is supporting economic growth and corporate earnings.
It has been another eventful – and at times grim – year, but global equities have continued to climb the ‘wall of worry’, up by more than a tenth in dollar terms. Given we are approaching the 2026 halfway mark, we highlight five interesting stock market observations below.