Gold’s 64% surge in 2025 has carried into 2026, with a Wall Street–FT survey putting the average Q1 forecast at $4,610 per troy ounce and some projections up to $5,400. Analysts cite ongoing central bank purchases and shifts in investor allocations, though estimates span $3,500–$5,400 and include cautious views on crowded positioning.

Elon Musk said SpaceX plans to go public in 2025, aiming for a $1.5 trillion valuation following a recent $800 billion private share sale. Wall Street expects the listing to eclipse Saudi Aramco's 2019 record. Major backers Ron Baron and Cathie Wood hold sizable positions, while Jefferies highlights rapid LEO launch growth in 2025.

Jerome Powell's term as Federal Reserve chair ends in May, while his governor seat runs two more years. He has declined to say whether he will remain on the Board, calling the question "irrelevant at the moment." A Supreme Court hearing involving Governor Lisa Cook is set for January 21 and could affect control of the Board.

In early 2026, the U.S. national debt climbed to about $38.5 trillion, a level that prior projections had placed closer to 2030. Annual interest payments, which were around $345 billion in 2020, are nearing $1 trillion as borrowing grows, while initiatives such as President Donald Trump's $3.4 trillion "One Big Beautiful Bill," tariffs, and the DOGE efficiency program provide limited relief against the rising total. Despite some cost cuts and tariff revenue, debt per person remains just above $108,000, highlighting the scale of the fiscal challenge.

On the second trading day of 2026, XRP moved ahead of BNB to regain the No. 3 cryptocurrency slot by market capitalization. At press time, XRP traded near $2.40 on Coinbase while Bitcoin hovered around $90,000 and the Crypto Fear & Greed Index registered 24. XRP previously hit $2.83 in January 2025 and a record $3.55 in July before rotating with BNB again in October near $2.63.

Michael Saylor's company Strategy is preparing to post a multibillion‑dollar fourth‑quarter loss after Bitcoin dropped about 24% during the period, reversing a $2.8 billion profit from the previous quarter. The loss stems from unrealized markdowns on roughly $60 billion in Bitcoin holdings under a fair‑value accounting method adopted in Q1 2024. Strategy's shares fell sharply in 2025 amid worries over cash flow, debt servicing and a shrinking valuation premium, even as the stock and Bitcoin both rebounded on the first trading day of 2026.

On January 2, 2026, Tesla reported Q4 2025 deliveries of 418,227 vehicles, about 16% lower than a year earlier and below both Wall Street's 426,000 projection and a 422,850-vehicle analyst survey. Full-year deliveries slipped 8.6% to 1.64 million as production growth cooled, while Model 3 and Model Y accounted for roughly 97% of quarterly deliveries and Cybertruck volumes remained limited. The company also cited shifting incentives, regional competition, and political backlash as ongoing pressures ahead of its planned January 28 release of full Q4 financial results.

India has directed refiners to file weekly updates on Russian and U.S. crude purchases as it seeks momentum on stalled trade talks with Washington. Officials expect Russian supplies to fall below 1 million barrels per day. The Prime Minister's Office initiated the move, with PPAC delivering instructions that replace monthly customs-based reporting.

At 13:04 London time on Friday, the FTSE 100 crossed 10,000, touching 10,046.25 after a 1.2% intraday rise. The UK benchmark climbed 22% in 2025, its strongest annual performance since 2009, led by banks and miners, and it outpaced the Stoxx 600 and the S&P 500. European indices started 2026 higher, while sterling traded near $1.3447.