Week Ending 12-12-2026. Global equity markets have defied a year of disruptive events—ranging from trade policy shifts to tech innovation—by sustaining strong gains, and the focus now turns to the trends and challenges shaping 2026.
“Those who have knowledge, don’t predict. Those who predict, don’t have knowledge.”
– Lao Tsu
The Through Line: It’s been a year of market-moving events on every front imaginable – from sharply pivoting trade policy to technological innovation. Yet, global equity indexes have powered through in fine fashion, flirting with double-digit gains for the third consecutive year. What trends, themes and challenges will carry into 2026? We offer a few predictions.