Fed Near Neutral Signals Caution Ahead, Shifting Focus to Fixed Income in 2026 
Global Markets Slide as Tech Stocks Sink, Yields Rise, and AI Concerns Deepen 
U.S. Dollar Slides for Third Straight Week as Rate Cut Expectations Boost Euro and Pound 
Belarus Frees 123 Political Prisoners in U.S.-Brokered Deal Over Sanctions 
Gold Prices Dip as Markets Absorb Dovish Fed Outlook; Silver Eases After Record High 
Tunisia Protests Grow as Opposition Unites Against President Kais Saied’s Rule 
Asian Stocks Slip as Oracle Earnings Miss Sparks AI Profitability Concerns 
Japan Weighs New Tax Breaks to Boost Corporate Investment Amid Spending Debate 
Wall Street Futures Dip as Broadcom Slides, Tech Weighed Down Despite Dovish Fed Signals 
Trump Signs Executive Order to Establish National AI Regulation Standard 
Australia’s Labour Market Weakens as November Employment Drops Sharply 
Brazil Holds Selic Rate at 15% as Inflation Expectations Stay Elevated 
Gold Prices Hold Firm as Markets Await Fed Rate Cut; Silver Surges to Record High 
Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
Bolivia Orders Pre-Trial Detention of Former President Luis Arce Over Embezzlement Probe 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Oracle Earnings Miss Reignites AI Spending Concerns 
Hong Kong Cuts Base Rate as HKMA Follows U.S. Federal Reserve Move 
Billionaire Elon Musk and his government efficiency team have secured access to the U.S. Treasury Department’s payment system, resolving a prolonged standoff, according to The New York Times.
Musk, leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), was appointed by President Donald Trump to identify waste and fraud in government spending. His request for access to Treasury’s payment infrastructure, which processes over $6 trillion annually, faced resistance from career Treasury official David Lebryk, who was placed on leave and later retired. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent ultimately granted Musk’s team access on Friday.
The payment system contains sensitive financial data, including Social Security payments, tax refunds, and government contractor transactions. U.S. Senator Ron Wyden expressed concerns over potential conflicts of interest, noting that Musk’s companies could be impacted by government payments. In a post on Bluesky, Wyden claimed DOGE had been given full access, raising concerns about political interference in federal funds distribution.
In a letter to Bessent, Wyden warned that tampering with the system could harm the economy. Meanwhile, Musk alleged in a post on X that Treasury officials had previously approved payments to fraudulent and terrorist organizations, though he provided no evidence.
The Department of Government Efficiency is not an official federal agency but operates under Trump’s directive from the White House. Critics fear Musk’s involvement could politicize government spending, while supporters argue his oversight will help eliminate corruption. The situation continues to spark debate over transparency and financial control in the U.S. government.
