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QIA and Goldman Sachs to expand partnership by investing $25 billion
Qatar Investment Authority has signed a?preliminary agreement with Goldman Sachs to expand their strategic?partnership. The Gulf?wealth?fund will invest $25 billion into Goldman-managed vehicle and co-investment options. In a joint press release?on?Tuesday, the two parties said that under the memorandum, QIA would commit to being an anchor investor for several of the U.S. banks flagship and innovative strategies. Goldman Sachs also plans to "meaningfully increase" its Doha headcount, although it didn't provide any figures. Qatar, a country that is one of the top exporters of natural gas liquefied, wants to diversify its economy and bring in more foreign investment. In order to expand its financial sector, the country has attracted global asset managers and international investment banks. Many of these have increased their presence in Doha in order to work with entities such as?QIA. QIA has about $580 billion in assets under management, according ?to sovereign-wealth-fund research firm Global SWF. The expanded partnership will "provide QIA with premium deals flow in sectors critical to our investment strategy, such as AI, fintech and digital infrastructure, as well private credit," QIA's?CEO Mohammed Saif Al-Sowaidi stated. He added that this would strengthen Doha's role as a financial centre for the region. Reporting by Andrew Mills, Federico Maccioni. (Editing by Alison Williams, Mark Potter and Mark Potter.
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Palantir signs HD Hyundai deal worth hundreds millions of dollars, CEO optimistic about Korea
Palantir's leaders announced that the U.S. tech company had clinched a contract to sell more software in South Korea, boosting its heavy industry work. A person with knowledge of the matter said on Tuesday that Palantir will receive hundreds of millions over a period of several years. Palantir has declined to comment on the terms of the agreement. The companies held a signing at the office Palantir had set up in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum annual meeting. Palantir has expanded its work with HD Hyundai since 2021, when it began working with one of the largest shipbuilders in the world. HD Hyundai now manufactures ships around 30% quicker using the?Palantir Software to speed up operations. In an interview at Davos, Palantir CEO Alex Karp said he was "very optimistic" about the Korean market. He called it "one of most innovative, interesting and artistic places in the entire world." PALANTIR SETTLES AN ENTERPRISE WIDE DEAL WITH HD HYUNDAI Palantir software allows customers to combine disparate data into a single platform, and then identify actions through automation and artificial intelligence. Palantir, which had previously worked in areas like construction equipment and oil, has now signed a deal with HD Hyundai that covers the entire enterprise. The engagement is centered around shipbuilding, which is usually slow. Palantir worked with HD Hyundai in order to manage data from sources such as financial planning, machineries, and materials. Automation was able to identify moves HD Hyundai could take to stay ahead of schedule. Shipbuilding includes commercial cargo ships, naval vessels and unmanned surface vehicles. Karp stated that Palantir does not focus on sales outside of Korea. He said, "We are doing so well here in America that we must engage selectively abroad." CEO: PALANTIR Can't Satisfy Demand in the US The threat of U.S. president Donald Trump to impose new tariffs on European nations that oppose his desire to acquire Greenland is fueling fears of a return to global trade disruptions, which characterized much of last season. Tuesday's stock market fell due to the re-emerging uncertainties. Karp responded that the demand for Palantir products in America was greater than they could satisfy. As of September 30, the?U.S. The?U.S. Palantir's public sector work, despite its?soaring sales to U.S. firms, has put it at the centre of cultural and political hotspots. Palantir has provoked protests, and some former employees have criticized it for its role in the Trump administration crackdown on immigration and Israel's military action in Gaza. Palantir claims to be a defender of the West and Western Values.
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Silver reaches all-time high; gold records record of $4,700/oz
As escalating geopolitical tensions increased demand for safe havens, gold reached a new'record high' on Tuesday. Silver also surpassed $95 an ounce for the first. Spot gold rose 1.5%, to $4.737.18 an ounce at 09:49 am. After reaching a record-high of $4,750.49 in the morning ET (14.49 GMT), gold prices fell to $4,737.18 per ounce by 09:49 a.m. U.S. Gold Futures for February Delivery climbed 3.2%, to $4.742.70/oz. Fawad Rasaqzada is a market analyst for FOREX.com and City Index. He said that gold has surged?deeper than ever before as investors protect themselves against the rising political risks. A softer dollar provides an additional tailwind to precious metals and is reinforcing the gold rally at a time that confidence in US assets seems to be shaky. Wall Street's major indexes began sharply lower on Tuesday, as investors were scared by President Donald Trump's renewed tariff threats against?Europe for control of Greenland. The remarks have increased tensions before Trump's meeting with business leaders from around the world in Davos on Wednesday. Gold priced in greenbacks is now more affordable to overseas buyers. Gold is seen as a safe haven of value in times of economic and political uncertainty. It has risen by 64% since 2025, and another 9.5% was added to the price of gold since the beginning of the year. Gold's rise has been boosted by the expectation of a?U.S. Interest rate reductions reduce the cost of holding bullion that does not yield. Markets have priced in two rate cuts of 25 basis points from mid-2026. The focus has intensified since U.S. Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent stated that Trump could appoint a new Federal Reserve Chair as soon as next week. "$4,800 and $ 4,900 are the next obvious reference point (for gold), while the $5,000 handle stands out as the longer term psychological target," Razaqzada?added. Silver spot fell 0.3%, to $94.37/oz after reaching a record high of $95.87. The white metal gained about 147% between 2025 and 2026. Palladium fell 0.7% to $1,828.39, and spot platinum rose 2.8%, respectively.
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India's Embassy Developments invests $495 million on luxury Mumbai homes
Aditya Virwani, the Managing Director of Embassy Developments in India, announced on Tuesday that it will 'invest $495m to build three luxury residential developments in Mumbai. The 'rise of the wealthy Indians' has led to a rush on high-end houses, luxury cars, watches, and bathroom fittings. Embassy announced that it would launch three new residential projects in Mumbai’s Worli and Juhu districts, as well as the tourist hotspot Alibaug. These three projects will likely generate a combined revenue of approximately $1.32 billion upon completion. Virwani stated that "our strategy is deliberate - We are not pursuing quantity but?building a few high-conviction development," Virwani. Mumbai is a key part of our future. Virwani said the Worli development - ?a single tower development comprising three-to-five-bedroom apartments, costing $1.6 million to $3.3 million - will ?take eight years to complete. Embassy Developments is a part of the Embassy Group, based in Bengaluru. The Embassy Group is well-known for its development of large commercial offices complexes. WeWork India is controlled by the same real estate group.
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Palantir signs HD Hyundai deal worth hundreds millions of dollars, CEO optimistic about Korea
Palantir's leaders announced that the U.S. tech company had signed a deal with HD Hyundai to increase its work in heavy industry in South Korea. A person with knowledge of the matter said that Palantir will receive hundreds of millions over several years. Palantir has declined to comment on the terms of the agreement. The companies planned to sign at the office Palantir had?set-up for?the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland this week. Palantir has expanded the work it began with HD Hyundai in 2021, one of world's biggest shipbuilders. The companies claim that since?then HD Hyundai has manufactured ships up to 30% faster using Palantir software. Palantir CEO Alex Karp said? Palantir CEO Alex Karp told? Karp, in an interview at Davos, said that sales to companies located outside of the U.S. were not his main focus. He added, "We are doing so well here in America that we must selectively engage overseas." (Reporting and editing by Franklin Paul, Alexander Smith, and Jeffrey Dastin, DAVOS Switzerland)
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CEZ's worst 2 days since 2008 wipes out $5.5 billion in market value
The shares of Czech utility CEZ fell sharply on February 2nd and this week have fallen more than 15%. This is a fall from the 17 year high reached after a broker's downgrade, and concerns about the government plan to?take full control? CEZ is a major state-owned company and one of the largest listed companies in central Europe. The two-day drop is expected to be the 'worst since 2008'. CEZ shares fell 12.1% in value on the day to 1,125 crowns (54.28 dollars) at 1354 GMT. The market capitalisation of the?energy company, currently at $29.1billion at current prices, has been slashed by $5.5billion as a result of the two-day losses. The fall in market value has been attributed to a variety of reasons by analysts and traders. One trader in Prague said: "Markets are (in general), under pressure by global politics. It's like a mix." "And when there's no active buyer in the market, it's everything." BUYOUTS, LOW PRICE TARGETS AND COMPETITIVE IPO'S CREATE PRESSURE The market is sensitive to any indications as to how the new government, led by billionaire Andrej Babis' ANO party and his populist ANO party, may proceed. Karel Havilicek, Babis' ANO number two, said in December that government was considering several options for a buyout. The process, once approved, could take up to two years. Analysts viewed his comments as positive for the stock. They also noted that some investors might have expected a quicker process. Analysts said that a Morgan Stanley report on Monday, with a target price well below the current levels, added to the pressure. The IPO of the Czechoslovak Group, based in Prague, could divert some investors to the listing planned for Amsterdam. This could be the largest-ever floatation ever seen by the global defence sector. Michal Snobr said that it is not impossible that money was collected in order to make room for the IPO of Czech CSG on Friday. Michal is a Czech investor and former CEZ shareholder.
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Can you price a global regime shift? McGeever
The latest trade war and foreign policy salvos from Donald Trump are upsetting the global markets. But the question is if these ructions escalate or disappear, like they did in the past 12 months. It is more likely that the latter scenario, but it is clear that investors struggle to accurately price the fundamental shifts of the geopolitical plates. The changes that have already occurred in 2026 will be truly astounding. The Trump administration removed Venezuela's leader, and it appears that he is now the de facto ruler of the Latin American nation. The threat of an American response is still present after a violent crackdown in Iran on protests has resulted in the deaths of thousands. Trump is also pushing to take Greenland by force from Denmark, a NATO ally. The U.S. - Europe alliance and the rules-based international order that has been built up since World War Two are in danger. Economic and financial terrain are also minefields. Trump has made a number of interventionist decisions on everything from mortgage-backed securities to credit card rates, and he's also pressed U.S. oil executives into investing billions in Venezuela. We should not forget that his Justice Department is still threatening the indictment of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. This "Trumpian attack" on the U.S.-based rules-based order, to use Matt King's phrase, seemed at odds with the relative calm in markets. This calm is breaking apart. Stocks, bonds, and the dollar have been impacted by the escalating spat that has developed between Trump and some of America's closest European Allies. Gold, the safe-haven asset, has continued to rise, breaking through $4,700 an ounce. This looks like the return of a trade called 'Sell America.' If last year's performance is any indication, the market jitters could turn out to be speedbump on the road to new highs instead of roadblocks. The fundamentals matter, right? Wall Street will not stay down long, despite the geopolitical drama. The consensus expectation for U.S. economic growth and corporate profits is that they are likely to continue rising. The International Monetary Fund on Monday raised its 2026 U.S. growth estimate to 2.4% from 2.1% ?in October, due in part to the huge sums being ?plowed into artificial-intelligence data centers, chips and power generation. Early indications of the fourth quarter earnings are also encouraging. So far, 84.8% of the 33 S&P 500 companies that have announced earnings have surpassed expectations. If the LSEG consensus estimates for year-onyear earnings growth of 9,0% materialize, this should put upward pressure to equities. Remember that high levels of uncertainty aren't always bad for profits or growth. In some cases it can even be positive. Imagine the amount of money needed to fund the global rearmament or the race for energy independence and AI independence. No room for LIMBO The relative calm of the markets over the last year could be a result of a virtuous circle - or, viewed in another way, merely an illusion. The steady flow of passive investment funds into the credit and equity market helps to keep volatility and prices low. Investors will continue to dance as long as there is music playing. The fact that the market is so confusing, with simultaneous gains in risk-on assets and risk-off ones, reflects the fact it's very hard to price a risk of such a magnitude. What is the value that an investor places on the demise of NATO, the U.S. Europe alliance or the rise of a multi-polar world divided into three "spheres" of influence headed by the U.S. China and Russia? For investors, regime changes are difficult to navigate. You are either at war, or you're not at war. Matt King, Satori Insights, says that there is no limbo. The risk rally is consistent, but not necessarily driven. It's very strange. It's not difficult to explain, but it has a certain vulnerability. It also applies to corporate profits. Analysts assume that earnings in tech and other areas will stay at their current levels. Analysts' forecasts do not seem to capture threats to the cycle, such as excessive AI capacity due competition from China or regulatory demands from the EU. These risks are still present. Maybe Trump's move for Greenland is the straw that breaks the backs of investors, and current market anxiety will become a real correction. It's possible that you don't want to bet. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the columnist, who is also the author. Check out Open Interest, your new essential source for global commentary on finance. Follow ROI on LinkedIn and X. Listen to the Morning Bid podcast daily on Apple, Spotify or the app. Subscribe to the Morning Bid podcast and hear journalists discussing the latest news in finance and markets seven days a weeks.
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Floods in Tunisia kill at least four people
Authorities said that at least four people died on Tuesday as floods swept through Tunisia, amid the worst torrential rains in a generation. Cloudbursts flooded?streets and submerged cars, disrupting daily life in multiple governorates of the North African nation. Emergency services struggled to cope with the flooding. Civil protection teams said that several areas were cut off from the rest of the world by rising water, especially in low-lying neighborhoods. In Tunis, Nabeul, Sousse, Beja and other towns, schools were closed. Court sessions were also suspended, and some districts were left without public transport and private transportation. Social media videos shared showed fast-moving flooding in Menzel Temime, which inundated a number of residential neighbourhoods. Officials from the Meteorological Service said that rainfall in certain regions was the highest since 1950. Reporting by Tarek Amara; editing by Mark Heinrich
Silver reaches all-time high; gold records record of $4,700/oz
As escalating geopolitical conflicts boosted demand for safe havens, gold reached a new record high of $4,700 per ounce on Tuesday. Silver also broke through $95 an ounce for the first.
By 11:34 am, spot gold had gained 1.6% and was at $4,741.96 an ounce. After reaching a record-high of $4,750.49 in the morning ET (16:34 GMT), gold prices fell to $4,741.96 per ounce by 11:34 a.m. U.S. Gold Futures for February Delivery climbed 3.3%, to $4.747.60/oz.
Fawad Rasaqzada is a market analyst for FOREX.com and City Index. He said that gold has surged?deeper in uncharted waters as investors hedged against rising political risks.
A softer dollar provides an additional tailwind to precious metals and is reinforcing the gold rally at a time that confidence in US assets seems to be shaky.
Wall Street's major indexes fell to a near-three-week low on Tuesday as investors were scared by President Donald Trump's renewed tariff threats against Europe for?control over Greenland.
The comments have increased tensions before Trump's meeting with business leaders from around the world in Davos on Wednesday.
Gold priced in greenbacks is now more affordable to overseas buyers.
Gold, which is seen as a safe haven of value in times of economic and political uncertainty, has risen by?64% since 2025, and another 10% added since the beginning of the year. Gold's rise has been boosted by the expectation of a U.S. rate cut, which will reduce the opportunity costs associated with holding non-yielding metals.
The markets are pricing in two 25-basis point rate cuts from mid-2026. This focus has intensified since U.S. Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent stated that Trump could 'name a new Federal Reserve Chair as soon as next week.
"$4,800 and $4,900 are next obvious reference points for gold. The key $5,000 handle stands out as a longer-term psychological goal," added?Razaqzada.
Silver spot fell 0.4%, to $94.27/oz after reaching a record high of $95.87. The white metal gained about 147% between 2025 and 2026.
Palladium rose 1.4% to $1,866.47, and spot platinum gained 2%.
(source: Reuters)