Indian Refiners Scale Back Russian Oil Imports as U.S.-India Trade Deal Advances 
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality 
Nikkei 225 Hits Record High Above 56,000 After Japan Election Boosts Market Confidence 
Oil Prices Slip as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Middle East Tensions 
Asian Markets Surge as Japan Election, Fed Rate Cut Bets, and Tech Rally Lift Global Sentiment 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
UK Starting Salaries See Strongest Growth in 18 Months as Hiring Sentiment Improves 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Australian Household Spending Dips in December as RBA Tightens Policy 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Australian Pension Funds Boost Currency Hedging as Aussie Dollar Strengthens 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Yen Firms on Intervention Talk 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
U.S. stocks ended Tuesday modestly lower in a light-volume, pre-holiday session, while gold prices rebounded as global markets approached the penultimate trading day of 2025. Despite the subdued close, Wall Street remains on track to record strong double-digit gains for the year, underscoring the resilience of equities amid economic and geopolitical uncertainty.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.20% to 48,367.06, while the S&P 500 fell 0.14% to 6,896.23. The Nasdaq Composite also edged lower, declining 0.23% to 23,419.08. Trading activity was thin as investors repositioned portfolios before year-end, following a volatile year shaped by tariff disputes, geopolitical tensions, and shifting monetary policy expectations.
Market sentiment was influenced by the release of minutes from the U.S. Federal Reserve’s final meeting of 2025. The minutes revealed broad agreement on interest rate cuts, but also highlighted deep divisions among policymakers regarding inflation risks and labor market weakness. According to Ryan Detrick of Carson Group, strong corporate earnings have continued to justify the bull market, with no major signs of an imminent recession. He added that optimism remains for 2026, particularly if rate cuts support economic growth.
Globally, European stocks outperformed, with the STOXX 600 rising 0.6% to a fresh record high, driven by gains in banking and commodity-linked shares. Asian markets were mixed, as Japan’s Nikkei slipped while broader Asia-Pacific shares posted modest gains. MSCI’s global equity index edged slightly lower, reflecting cautious investor sentiment.
In commodities, gold and silver prices rebounded after profit-taking triggered sharp losses in the previous session. Spot gold rose 0.3% to $4,344.75 per ounce and remains on track for its strongest annual performance since 1979. The U.S. dollar held firm following the Fed minutes but is still heading for its steepest yearly decline in eight years.
Meanwhile, oil prices were steady as fading hopes for a Russia-Ukraine peace deal and Middle East tensions supported crude markets. Bitcoin and Ethereum posted modest gains, while U.S. Treasury yields remained largely unchanged, reflecting stable rate expectations heading into 2026.
