Venezuela interim president Rodriguez expects Q3 2026 economic growth of 6.5%.

Market sources: Germany's Left Party, the Social Democrats and the Greens have agreed to begin exploratory coalition talks.

Nomura and Daiwa CEOs said Japan’s stock rally should persist through 2027 but cautioned AI-driven investment could reverse the trend. Nomura CEO Kentaro Okuda said market levels, share prices and corporate earnings have been powered by AI investment and that a shift in AI sentiment would be a major downside risk; he forecasts the Nikkei 225 around 75,000 by year-end and above 80,000 by end-2027. Daiwa CEO Akihiko Ogino expressed similar concern and expects the Nikkei 225 to reach 80,000 this year.