The Middle East is simmering with tension. The fall of Syria’s long-standing dictator could spark further uncertainty in the oil market. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has revised its growth outlook for oil demand, predicting a rebound in the coming year despite this year’s slowdown. In contrast, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, including Russia (OPEC+), have downgraded their forecasts but remain more optimistic than the IEA’s data.

The year 2024 has not been favourable for European politics. The two largest economies in the EU are mired in crisis, with the German government falling in November, followed by a vote of no confidence in the French Prime Minister. The main issues of dispute are the government budget and economic stagnation. Despite this uncertainty, some stocks are hitting record highs, indicating that markets do not always factor in all possible risks.

Shopify, a leading technology platform for online merchants, has once again confirmed its dominance by posting record sales results during the Black Friday – Cyber Monday weekend. The company provides all the tools its customers need to run online stores, from websites to payment processing and delivery services. This year, it also formed numerous partnerships that are expected to expand these advantages even further. Will this strategy translate into future growth, which had stalled post-pandemic?

The pre-Christmas shopping season intensified on Black Friday, which this year fell on November 29, with many retailers extending their discounts for days or even weeks. A growing preference for online shopping is once again evident, with mobile purchases dominating, according to U.S. data. Meanwhile, declining interest in visiting brick-and-mortar stores highlights the need for retailers to find new ways to engage customers.