South Korea Inflation Rises to 2.3% in December, Matching Market Expectations 
USDA $12 Billion Farm Aid Program Draws Mixed Reactions from Row Crop Farmers 
Asian Markets End Year on AI Optimism as Precious Metals and Currencies Shine 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Year-End Trading Turns Cautious 
Forex Markets Hold Steady as Traders Await Fed Minutes Amid Thin Year-End Volumes 
South Korea Factory Output Misses Forecasts in November Amid Ongoing Economic Uncertainty 
Singapore GDP Growth Surges in 2025 but Outlook Remains Cautious Amid Global Trade Risks 
Federal Reserve Begins Treasury Bill Purchases to Stabilize Reserves and Money Markets 
South Korea Exports Hit Record High as Global Trade Momentum Builds 
Asian Markets Slip as Precious Metals Cool, Geopolitical Tensions Weigh on Sentiment 
Gold Prices Rebound in Europe as Geopolitical Tensions and Fed Outlook Support Bullion 
Japanese Business Leaders Urge Government Action as Weak Yen Strains Economy 
Oil Prices Stabilize at Start of 2026 as OPEC+ Policy and Geopolitical Risks Shape Market Outlook 
Asia Manufacturing PMI Rebounds as Exports and Tech Demand Drive Growth into 2026 
Citi Forecasts a Volatile but Ongoing Bull Market for S&P 500 in 2026 
U.S. Stocks Slip as Gold Rebounds Ahead of Year-End, Markets Eye 2026 Outlook 
U.S. stock index futures edged lower on Wednesday evening after Wall Street extended a two-day losing streak, driven by declines in bank stocks and profit-taking across major technology names. Investor sentiment turned cautious as markets digested geopolitical risks, regulatory concerns, and upcoming earnings from key companies, including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), a major bellwether for the global chip industry.
By late evening trading, S&P 500 futures slipped 0.1%, Nasdaq 100 futures declined nearly 0.2%, and Dow Jones futures fell around 0.15%. The pullback followed recent record highs in early January, as traders locked in gains amid rising uncertainty.
Technology stocks, which had fueled much of the early-2025 rally, saw renewed selling pressure ahead of TSMC’s fourth-quarter earnings release scheduled for Thursday. As the world’s largest contract chipmaker and a critical supplier to NVIDIA, TSMC’s results are closely watched for signals on global semiconductor demand. TSMC’s U.S.-listed shares fell more than 1%, while NVIDIA also lost ground amid reports of potential Chinese restrictions on domestic sales.
Additional pressure came from reports that China advised local companies to stop using certain U.S. and Israeli cybersecurity software, citing national security concerns. This weighed heavily on tech sentiment, with Broadcom and Oracle posting sharp declines. Oracle slid after facing a lawsuit from bondholders related to losses tied to its artificial intelligence expansion and increased debt issuance. As a result, the Nasdaq Composite dropped 1%, underperforming the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average.
Bank stocks were another major drag on the market after President Donald Trump announced plans to impose a strict 10% cap on credit card interest rates. The proposal sparked concerns about profitability across the financial sector, overshadowing otherwise solid earnings from major lenders. Shares of Bank of America and Citigroup fell more than 3% despite beating earnings expectations, while Wells Fargo and JPMorgan also posted notable losses.
Geopolitical tensions further dampened risk appetite, as markets reacted to warnings from Iran over potential U.S. intervention amid ongoing protests. With more bank earnings expected and key tech results imminent, investors remain cautious as Wall Street navigates a volatile start to the year.
