Experts are warning that China faces a serious financial crisis, but markets should not expect large stimulus packages from Beijing. Instead of broad economic stimulus, Chinese authorities are focused on building new rescue funds to manage a potential collapse. The approach signals a more defensive posture from the world's second-largest economy.
A KRD study shows that for every 100 sole-trader businesses closed in Poland, 147 new ones are registered. The main reason cited for starting a business was the desire for independence, given by 39% of micro-entrepreneurs, while 33% wanted more flexible working hours. Owners of new firms increasingly view their businesses as a long-term investment.
Eight major oil companies collectively earned nearly $93 billion in just three months, equivalent to almost one million dollars per minute. Profits surged following a sharp rise in oil prices triggered by the conflict around the Strait of Hormuz and summer heatwaves. Experts say the companies bear partial responsibility for the extreme temperatures.
From 7 August, Russian e-commerce platform Wildberries will offer sellers voluntary insurance covering damage or loss of goods caused by terrorist attacks, sabotage and drone strikes. The move reflects growing risks to logistics infrastructure inside Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Libya's Waha Oil Company located and repaired an oil leak in the Zaqout-Sidra pipeline within 24 hours of detection. The pipeline is considered critical both for Libya's economy and for global energy markets. Oil flows have since been restored.
Supp, an Australian hospitality gig-work app launched in Melbourne in 2017, requires workers to hold an ABN and classifies them as independent contractors. Workers' rights experts have raised alarm bells, warning that users may be missing out on entitlements such as superannuation, as the work they perform resembles casual employment rather than genuinely autonomous contracting. The app was created by Lune Croissanterie owners Kate and Cameron Reid.
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Exclusive : Workers’ rights experts raise ‘alarm bells’ over app requiring ABNs for jobs they say lack worker autonomy
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Concerns have been raised that workers using an increasingly popular Australian hospitality gig-work app may be missing out on entitlements such as superannuation by being hired as “independent contractors”, similar to delivery riders.
Launched in Melbourne in 2017, Supp describes itself as a “jobs marketplace”, where hospitality businesses can advertise available shifts to potential workers at an hourly rate, and where workers can secure ad-hoc employment. It was created by Kate and Cameron Reid, the owners of Lune Croissanterie, who maintain a financial stake in the company but are no longer on its board.
Natural gas reserves across Europe have dropped to dangerously low levels, raising the risk of another energy crisis. The situation could worsen if the US-Israel conflict with Iran drags on and disrupts supplies, and if cold winter spells drive up heating demand. Germany, the continent's biggest energy consumer, does not appear particularly alarmed.
European natural gas reserves are shrinking at an alarming rate, threatening higher energy costs and potential shortages for consumers across the continent. Germany, the EU's largest energy consumer, is not showing sufficient urgency in replenishing its stocks. Experts warn that Berlin's inaction could trigger a domino effect across neighbouring countries.
Berkshire Hathaway recorded a nearly $13 billion investment gain in the latest quarter, doubling its overall profit. Warren Buffett's conglomerate deployed $32 billion of its cash reserves into new investments. It is one of the strongest quarterly results in the company's history.
Real household income per capita in OECD countries grew by 0.2% quarter-on-quarter in Q1 2026, down from 0.6% in Q4 2025. Poland saw a sharper slowdown, with growth falling to 0.6% from 2.5% in the previous quarter, according to OECD data.
Coca-Cola has admitted its personalised can system had a technical glitch after videos emerged showing it blocked the word "Jesus" while allowing references to Satan. The company acknowledged the tool malfunctioned and pledged to fix the issue. The incident sparked widespread criticism on social media.
According to a report by the National Debt Register (KRD), Poland currently has 2.2 million registered debtors with a combined debt of 52.1 billion złoty. Consumers account for more than 40 billion złoty of that total.
Formula One's stock has been lagging behind other sports-sector companies, even as consumer spending on sport remains resilient. However, analysts are predicting significant gains for the racing league going forward. The broader sports sector is seen as resilient amid wider economic uncertainty.
The S&P 500 surged to record highs this week, driven by strong options market activity and a VIX volatility gauge near its 2026 low. The calmer derivatives environment helped push the broad market benchmark sharply higher.
Norway, currently the European Union's largest energy supplier, is pushing to rapidly expand onshore wind power. The government plans to cut bureaucracy and shorten the approval process for new wind farms and transmission lines to accelerate the country's energy transition.
Last year marked the first time on record that service businesses — gyms, salons and restaurants — occupied more retail floor space in US downtowns than shops selling physical goods. Traditional clothing and gift stores are steadily giving way to experience-based businesses across American city centres.
Wendy's new CEO has acknowledged that declining food quality and poor service have driven customers away from the burger chain, hurting its competitive position. The executive has launched a turnaround initiative aimed at winning back diners and improving the chain's standing in the fast-food market.
Stock markets in the US and Europe are hitting record highs, fuelled by strong corporate earnings and a surge in leveraged investing. However, some prominent Wall Street figures are comparing the current extreme optimism to the mood before the Black Monday crash of October 1987. They cite excessive borrowing and market euphoria as the main risk factors.
According to a European Leasing Fund report, 13% of Polish transport, forwarding and logistics (TSL) firms expect order values to grow — up 10 percentage points quarter-on-quarter. Yet only 14% of companies plan to increase investment, while 31% expect to cut it.
Jobs and trade figures released this week show Canada's economy is recovering from recent trade turmoil. However, analysts warn that another round of tariffs could arrive later this month, threatening to reverse those gains. Uncertainty remains the biggest risk factor for the Canadian economy.
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