Global Scans · Economy · Weekly Summary

DRIVER: The global economy still faces serious headwinds and political uncertainty potentially balanced by the enormous promise of technological advancements in many fields. Read on to get a solid handle on the opportunities and risks you and your organization may likely face and set your sails accordingly.

• [New] The BRICS Summit in 2026 will provide a platform for Brazil and Russia to further anchor their economic cooperation within a broader geopolitical context. BRICS
• [New] The US will win the AI contest with China largely by developing the best AI technology and applications to attain - and sustain-economic and military advantage. Hudson Institute
• [New] Global fertilizer consumption is projected to reach approximately 201 million tons of nutrient by the late 2020s as the world works toward feeding a projected population of 9.7 billion by 2050. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Smaller businesses continue to show great resilience and determination to succeed and thrive, creating jobs and investment across the UK, although economic growth will require greater confidence to invest in new capacity and capability. British Business Bank
• [New] In the era of AI, economic opportunity and mobility will increasingly depend on whether people can develop practical, industry-relevant AI skill sets and mindsets, not just familiarity with tools. MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• [New] As global supply chains face disruptions from geopolitical shifts, climate change, and economic volatility, organizations are prioritizing Supply Chain Risk mitigation and long-term resilience. Eventbrite
• [New] Geopolitical risks, especially in the Middle East, have become more important for bond investors because of their potential impact on oil prices, inflation, and Fed policy. Schwab Brokerage
• [New] The ebullient employment gains, along with the jump in inflation due to higher energy prices, will keep the Fed holding interest rates steady for an extended period. ST
• [New] The RBI Friday lowered the GDP forecast for FY27 to 6.6% from 6.9% projected in April, citing higher energy and commodity prices, and ongoing supply disruptions linked to the Iran war. Economic Times
• [New] If Terafab succeeds in producing chips at the scale Musk envisions, it could ease the global shortage of AI compute capacity that has kept GPU prices elevated and limited access to training infrastructure. Crypto Briefing
• [New] High Natural Gas Prices Will Cripple Europe And Hurt U.S. The Council of Industry
• [New] Actually removing barriers to women's economic participation could raise global output by 15% to 20%. World Bank Live
• [New] The shift to net zero is expected to enhance energy security, protecting consumers from international price hikes, and has already created 1.1 million jobs in the UK's green economy. Electricity Info
• [New] The persistence of positive sentiment reflects ample liquidity and strong corporate balance sheets, but could prove myopic considering rising public debt, low productivity and high-stakes macro policy in major economies such as the US. Amova Asset Management - New Zealand
• [New] The World Economic Forum report on AV deployment through 2035 expects robotaxis and autonomous trucks to lead. Mean CEO's BLOG
• [New] The AI theme has driven U.S. and some regional stocks to all-time highs, even as bond yields and energy prices have jumped due to the Middle East conflict and resulting disruptions to energy flows and supply chains. BlackRock
• [New] AI demand in energy networks aligns with the sharp escalation of electricity use in digital infrastructure, with data center electricity consumption estimated at 415 terawatt hours and projected to approach 945 terawatt hours by 2030, largely driven by AI workloads. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Even a better, post-Trump strategy, one in which the US coordinates with allies to rebuild critical supply chains and carefully targets tariffs and subsidies to encourage truly strategic industries, will not avoid economic pain. The Guardian
• [New] Globally, commodity prices are rising due to supply constraints, while fiscal and monetary expansion will create demand. The Daily Star
• [New] Token Unlock Schedule - Monthly supply inflation until 2027 creates a persistent overhang, risking sell pressure from vested recipients. CoinMarketCap
• [New] Friday's -1% fall in WTI crude oil to a 5-week low lowers inflation expectations and could prompt the Fed to ease monetary policy, a bearish factor for the dollar. Barchart.com

Last updated: 09 June 2026