Author: Dr Issac PJ
Bitcoin surged back above the $91,000 mark over the weekend, extending an early-year rebound as a sudden geopolitical jolt out of Venezuela injected volatility into global markets and set off a wave of short liquidations across crypto derivatives.The move underscored how thin liquidity and crowded positioning can quickly amplify price action, even when the underlying catalyst is political rather than crypto-specific.The world’s largest digital asset climbed to around $91,300 during Asian trading hours on Sunday, its highest level since mid-December, and was up more than four per cent over the past week. The rally spilled over into major altcoins, with…
Goldman Sachs has drawn a bold line through global commodity markets for 2026: buy gold aggressively and sell oil.In its latest Commodities Outlook, led by Daan Struyven, the bank argues that the world is entering a period of extreme divergence driven by two forces it calls the “Power Race” and “Supply Waves.” Together, they point to a structural bull market in precious and strategic metals, and a prolonged squeeze on energy prices.The Power Race is shorthand for intensifying competition between the US and China over artificial intelligence, energy security and geopolitical influence. That contest, Goldman argues, is metals-heavy by nature.…
As global wealth mobility accelerates, the UAE — the undisputed magnet for migrating Indian millionaires — is set to further strengthen its position in 2026, according to wealth management experts.The country is expected to attract more high-net-worth individuals than any other destination this year, with Indians continuing to form one of the largest and most consistent inflows. Analysts say the trend is not driven by lifestyle appeal alone, but by deeper structural shifts in where wealth feels safest, most productive and best positioned for long-term growth.Henley & Partners’ private wealth migration estimates show that the UAE was poised to record…
As Dubai’s property market moves into 2026, the clearest signals are emerging not from headline-grabbing luxury transactions, but from sustained rental pressure in the city’s most affordable neighbourhoods.The trends established over the past year point to a market increasingly shaped by end-user demand, population growth and value-driven housing choices. According to Bayut’s 2025 Dubai Property Market Report, affordable apartment rents rose by more than 20 per cent in several communities, while budget villa rents climbed by up to 24 per cent, setting the tone for a new cycle where affordability, connectivity and liveability are defining both tenant behaviour and investor…
Cryptocurrency markets are closing the year in a cautious holding pattern, with Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP showing tentative signs of recovery but still facing technical and macroeconomic headwinds that could define price action in the opening weeks of the New Year.After a volatile December marked by profit-taking and thinning liquidity, the largest digital assets are attempting to stabilise, prompting analysts to debate whether the next meaningful move will be a breakout or another leg lower.Bitcoin is hovering just above the $88,000 mark, consolidating after a modest 1.43 per cent rise earlier in the week. Price action over the past several…
With nominal GDP estimated at about $4.18 trillion, India has overtaken Japan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy. Projections from multilateral institutions suggest that, if current momentum is sustained, India is on track to surpass Germany and claim the third spot globally by 2027. Official data show that India’s real GDP growth accelerated through the year, reaching 8.2 per cent in the second quarter of FY 2025–26, up from 7.8 per cent in the first quarter and 7.4 per cent in the final quarter of FY 2024–25. This marked a six-quarter high and underscored the resilience of domestic demand even as…
The UAE’s electric vehicle market is accelerating into a new phase of maturity, with the pre-owned segment emerging as one of its strongest growth engines.Fresh data from Dubizzle’s Annual Pre-Owned Electric Car Market Report 2025 shows used electric vehicle listings on the platform rose by 41 per cent year on year, underlining growing consumer confidence and signalling that EV ownership in the UAE is no longer confined to early adopters or premium buyers.The surge comes amid broader momentum for electric mobility across the country. Government data and industry trackers show that Dubai recorded more than 40,600 electric vehicles registered in…
Ministry rejects opposition, paving the way for insurance brokerage’s trademark registration in the UAE. The UAE Ministry of Economy has approved the registration of the trademark “AXIS INSURANCE BROKERS” for an insurance brokerage company after rejecting an opposition filed by a third party claiming potential confusion with an existing mark. The dispute arose after the insurance brokerage filed an application to register its name under Class 36, covering insurance services. The Ministry examined and published the application, prompting an objection from another entity with a similar trademark arguing likelihood of confusion. According to submissions in the case, the defence centred…
Judge upholds six-month jail term and deportation in luxury car export scam involving forged legal documents. The Dubai Misdemeanours Court has convicted an Italian national in a high-profile cross-border financial fraud case involving the fraudulent export of a luxury car valued at more than Dh770,000, sentencing him to six months in prison and ordering his deportation upon completion of the sentence. The case, tried under Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021 (UAE Penal Code) as amended by Federal Decree-Law No. 36 of 2022, centred on charges of fraud and misrepresentation. The court found that the accused had deceived the complainant…
The Delhi High Court has set aside a two-year debarment imposed on BLS International Services Ltd by India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). This restores eligibility to participate in future tenders floated by the ministry and Indian missions abroad for the leading provider of visa and consular outsourcing services.The ruling was disclosed by the company in a regulatory filing on Thursday, December 18.The order follows BLS International’s earlier intimation dated October 11, 2025, when it informed stock exchanges that the MEA had barred it from bidding for government contracts for two years. The New Delhi-headquartered firm subsequently challenged the decision…