Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
Oil Prices Slip as U.S.–Iran Talks Ease Supply Disruption Fears 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Stabilizes, Yen Weakens Ahead of Japan Election 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
India Services Sector Rebounds in January as New Business Gains Momentum: HSBC PMI Shows Growth 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
U.S. stock index futures were mostly flat on Sunday evening as investors entered another holiday-shortened trading week with a cautious stance, following a strong late-year rally in equities. With many traders already away from their desks ahead of the New Year holidays, market activity remained subdued, keeping futures largely rangebound.
S&P 500 futures hovered near unchanged levels around 6,977 points, while Nasdaq 100 futures slipped slightly, down about 0.1% to 25,846 points. Dow Jones futures also showed little movement, holding close to 49,018 points. Thin trading volumes were widely expected, a common feature during the final days of December, often limiting sharp market moves and increasing short-term volatility.
Wall Street closed the previous week on a strong note, highlighted by the S&P 500 reaching a fresh record high on Friday. The gains were primarily driven by a rebound in major technology stocks, which had faced selling pressure earlier in the month. As sentiment improved, investors rotated back into big-cap growth stocks, particularly those tied to artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and other long-term structural growth themes.
Market confidence has also been underpinned by growing optimism around U.S. monetary policy. Investors increasingly believe the Federal Reserve is approaching the end of its tightening cycle. Recent softer inflation readings have strengthened expectations that interest rate cuts could arrive next year, improving the outlook for equities and other risk-sensitive assets. Lower borrowing costs are seen as supportive for corporate earnings, especially in growth-oriented sectors.
The ongoing late-December rally has renewed focus on the “Santa Claus rally,” a seasonal market trend that typically sees gains during the final five trading days of the year and the first two sessions of January. While this pattern does not guarantee continued upside, it often reflects improving investor sentiment and optimism heading into the new year.
As 2025 approaches, market participants remain watchful of economic data, Federal Reserve signals, and global developments, all of which could shape early-year trading direction despite the current holiday lull.
