Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Strength 
Yen Slides as Japan Election Boosts Fiscal Stimulus Expectations 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
Australian Household Spending Dips in December as RBA Tightens Policy 
Indian Refiners Scale Back Russian Oil Imports as U.S.-India Trade Deal Advances 
Gold and Silver Prices Climb in Asian Trade as Markets Eye Key U.S. Economic Data 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Australian Pension Funds Boost Currency Hedging as Aussie Dollar Strengthens 
Investment banks advising on corporate dealmaking received tens of millions of dollars from the $660 billion Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which were earmarked to assist small businesses in the pandemic-induced economic crisis, according to government-released data.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin was under pressure from Congress to reveal where the Paycheck Protection Program loans have gone.
The objective of the loan is to help businesses restore employment to pre-pandemic levels.
The US Small Business Association will forgive loans if the beneficiaries meet all employee retention criteria, and the funds were used for eligible expenses.
PPP beneficiaries have to certify in good faith that the economic crisis makes the loan necessary to enable them to support their operations.
JMP Group LLC, an underwriter of high-profile IPOs, including those of Uber Technologies Inc and Lyft Inc, received a PPP loan between $2 million and $5 million that helped it retain 126 jobs.
JMP's shares surged in value by a third since March.
Broadhaven Capital Partners LLC, which advised on more than $50 billion worth of deals in the past decade, was cleared for a PPP loan of between $350,000 and $1 million.
Union Square Advisors LLC, North Point Advisors Inc, and Sawaya Partners LLC were each approved loans of between $350,000 and $1 million.
The loans helped the investment banks each 24 to 35 jobs.
Methuselah Advisors LLC availed a PPP loan for $169,160, enabling it to retain its staff after several projects were discontinued or suspended.
Among the beneficiaries was a fancy sushi restaurant at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, President Trump's longtime personal lawyer, high-priced law firms, and Washington lobbying shops.
