Gold Prices Surge to Record Highs as Geopolitical Tensions Fuel Safe-Haven Demand 
UK Economy Grows 0.1% in Q3 2025 as Outlook Remains Fragile 
U.S. Stock Index Futures Steady After S&P 500 Hits Record on Strong Economic Data 
IMF Reaches Staff-Level Agreement With Egypt, Opening Path to $3.8 Billion in Funding 
South Korea Central Bank Warns of Rising Financial Stability Risks Amid Won Volatility 
Wall Street Ends Higher as S&P 500, Nasdaq Extend Gains Ahead of Holiday Week 
Asian Stock Markets Trade Flat as Holiday Liquidity Thins and BOJ Minutes Watched 
Oil Prices Ease in Asia as Geopolitical Risks Clash With Weak Demand Outlook 
Global Markets Rise as Tech Stocks Lead, Yen Strengthens, and Commodities Hit Record Highs 
UBS Warns of Short-Term Risks as Precious Metals Rally to Record Highs 
Yen Stabilizes Near Lows as Japan Signals Readiness to Intervene Amid Dollar Weakness 
U.S. Dollar Slips as Yen Finds Support on Intervention Signals and Geopolitical Risks Rise 
China Keeps Benchmark Lending Rates Steady as Economic Outlook Remains Cautious 
China’s Power Market Revamp Fuels Global Boom in Energy Storage Batteries 
Asian Stocks Rise as Wall Street Tech Rally Lifts Markets, Yen Slumps Despite BOJ Rate Hike 
Platinum Price Surges Past $2,000 as Demand and Supply Dynamics Tighten 
European stocks remained flat in early trading Wednesday, as gains in healthcare were counterbalanced by a decline in technology stocks. The pan-European STOXX 600 index edged down 0.07% at 0810 GMT.
Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) surged 4.5% after posting a better-than-expected Q4 profit of $4.4 billion, boosting the healthcare sector by 1.2%. GSK jumped 6.3% after beating Q4 earnings estimates and raising its 2031 sales forecast.
Technology stocks weighed on the market, dropping 0.9%. ASML (AS:ASML) slipped 1.3%, following a lukewarm earnings report from Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD).
The automobile sector also struggled, falling 1.1%. Renault (EPA:RENA) slid 2.6%, dragging the sector lower.
Investors also monitored key economic indicators, including HCOB’s final composite PMI data for January, covering the eurozone, Germany, and other major economies in the region.
With mixed earnings and economic data influencing sentiment, European markets remained in a tight range.
