Industrial production indices are often released with significant time lags. In this paper, we explore how a nowcasting model using mobility and energy demand data can precede these estimates and offer greater accuracy.

Given the ongoing uncertainty surrounding trade-related policy in the US, we summarise the key findings from a study that explores alternative data-based analytical tools to help investors anticipate the financial implications of potential tariffs.

Can ChatGPT predict commodity returns? We explore a recent study which shows how its news-based sentiment analysis can outperform traditional models.

We review a study that creates news-based geopolitical risk indicators to quantify the impact that media sources have on the Russian economy.

We highlight the findings and implications of a paper that outlines the launch of DeepSeek’s R1 model, which shook the AI industry in January 2025.

Tech giants continue to dominate the innovation landscape, securing the lion's share of patents issued in 2024. We review a paper that explores the relationship between tech company patent activities and stock market performance, going beyond traditional stock forecasting. The authors model the number of applications, the diversity of patent categories and their impact on stock price dynamics and volatility.

Uncertainty regarding future trade policy is at an all-time high, with US President Donald Trump taking office this month. As a result, we examine the findings of a research paper that studies the impacts of uncertainty the previous Trump-era trade war with China in 2019 had on Chinese firm performance.

We investigate the influence of internet search volumes on stock price reactions and trading behaviour by reviewing a study on South Korea’s KOSPI and KOSDAQ markets.

We investigate the effects of advertising on voter turnout and choice by reviewing a Quarterly Journal of Economics study that uses alternative data from three US election cycles.

Recent inflationary pressures have resulted in a resurgence of interest in consumer spending habits. In this report, we review a study from the United States Federal Reserve on how consumer search affects price dispersion during periods of inflation.