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U.S. stock futures moved higher early Friday, signaling a confident start to the first trading session of 2026. The gains follow a strong multi‑year run for equities and come as investors look ahead to a new year of economic and corporate developments. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures edged up, S&P 500 futures posted a modest rise, and Nasdaq futures led the early advance with a stronger uptick. The move reflects continued enthusiasm for technology and growth‑oriented sectors, which helped drive markets through much of the previous year. Despite bouts of volatility in late 2025, major indexes closed the year with solid performance, supported by resilient consumer spending, easing inflation pressures, and expectations of a more accommodative monetary environment. As 2026 begins, traders are watching several themes: the timing and pace of potential interest‑rate cuts, the durability of tech‑sector leadership, and whether gains will broaden across more industries. Early future...

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IKEA lowers prices in several countries to attract more customers

 

The price cuts, which will take effect from February 1, are part of IKEA’s strategy to boost sales volumes and market share in the wake of the pandemic, which disrupted global supply chains and increased shipping costs. IKEA said it aims to bring prices back to pre-pandemic levels by the end of next year.

Some of the products that will see lower prices are KALLAX storage cubes, BILLY bookcases, and MALM bed frames. IKEA is already selling more of these products in some countries, according to Tolga Oncu, Ingka Retail Manager at Ingka Group, the biggest owner of IKEA stores.

“When you lower the price you also need to see a volume increase,” Oncu said. “Every country is sitting and looking at where are the opportunities for us to, by lowering the prices, sell more pieces.”

IKEA is not the only retailer that is adjusting its prices in response to changing market conditions. Other companies, such as Walmart and Target, have also lowered or raised prices on certain items to cope with inflation and supply chain issues.

IKEA, which operates in 52 markets, said it has invested more than 1 billion euros ($1.08 billion) in price reductions across its markets from September to November. The company also said it is not expecting any major impact from the recent disruptions in the Red Sea, which have affected global freight movements.

IKEA is owned by a separate company, Inter IKEA, which manufactures all IKEA products. Ingka Group is the main global franchisee of IKEA. 

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