Oil Prices Slip as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Middle East Tensions 
India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Strength 
U.S. Stock Futures Rise as Markets Brace for Jobs and Inflation Data 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
Yen Slides as Japan Election Boosts Fiscal Stimulus Expectations 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Australian Household Spending Dips in December as RBA Tightens Policy 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
UK Starting Salaries See Strongest Growth in 18 Months as Hiring Sentiment Improves 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
Indian Refiners Scale Back Russian Oil Imports as U.S.-India Trade Deal Advances 
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) gave a better forecast for the global gross domestic product, expecting it to contract by 4.4 percent this year instead of a 5.2 percent it projected in June.
The IMF also sees a 5.2 percent recovery for 2021.
China’s better than expected return to growth contributed to the improved outlook. It is the only major economy forecast to grow this year, with GDP increasing 1.9 percent before an 8.2 percent surge in 2021.
The US will see a 4.3 percent contraction this year, and a 3.1 percent recovery in next year.
The Middle East and Central Asia are seen contracting by 5.7 percent this year before bouncing back to 3.2 percent in 2021.
The IMF warned that the recovery would be a long, uneven, and uncertain ascent, especially in some of the poorer countries, noting that infections are rising rapidly in some emerging markets and developing economies.
The IMF added that the resurgence of COVID-19 infections is threatening an economic recovery in areas where local transmission has been minimized.
Consequently, many economies are delaying reopenings and reinstating planned shutdowns.
The IMF pointed out that extensive stimulus packages implemented by almost all countries have kept the economic downturn of 2020 from worsening.
Nonetheless, the IMF expects all economies to suffer some “scarring” due to reduced activities, resulting in a sizable setback to living standards expected before the pandemic.
