Asian Stock Markets Start New Year Higher as Tech and AI Shares Drive Gains 
China Imposes 55% Tariff on Beef Imports Above Quota to Protect Domestic Industry 
Asian Currencies Trade Flat as Dollar Weakens in Thin New Year Trading 
South Korea Factory Activity Returns to Growth in December on Export Rebound 
U.S. Stock Index Futures Steady as Markets Await Fed Policy Clues in Holiday-Thinned Trade 
Singapore GDP Growth Surges in 2025 but Outlook Remains Cautious Amid Global Trade Risks 
USDA $12 Billion Farm Aid Program Draws Mixed Reactions from Row Crop Farmers 
Oil Prices Slip Slightly as Markets Weigh Geopolitical Risks and Supply Glut Concerns 
Gold Prices Rebound in Europe as Geopolitical Tensions and Fed Outlook Support Bullion 
Trump Delays Tariff Increases on Furniture and Cabinets for One More Year 
U.S. Dollar Starts 2026 Weak as Yen, Euro and Sterling Hold Firm Amid Rate Cut Expectations 
Japanese Business Leaders Urge Government Action as Weak Yen Strains Economy 
Forex Markets Hold Steady as Traders Await Fed Minutes Amid Thin Year-End Volumes 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Tech and Financial Stocks Weigh on Markets Amid Thin Holiday Trading 
South Korea Factory Output Misses Forecasts in November Amid Ongoing Economic Uncertainty 
Citi Forecasts a Volatile but Ongoing Bull Market for S&P 500 in 2026 
South Korea Inflation Rises to 2.3% in December, Matching Market Expectations 
U.S. stocks finished mixed after the close on Friday as strength in energy, industrials, and basic materials helped support blue-chip shares, while losses in consumer-focused and technology sectors weighed on broader markets. Investors navigated sector rotation, earnings-driven moves, and commodity price fluctuations, resulting in a divided performance across major U.S. indices.
At the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.66%, reflecting solid gains in heavyweight industrial and financial stocks. The S&P 500 added a modest 0.19%, while the Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.03%, pressured by declines in large-cap technology and consumer services names.
Boeing led the Dow Jones higher, surging nearly 5% as optimism around the aerospace sector lifted shares. Caterpillar also posted strong gains, rising more than 4%, supported by strength in industrials and basic materials. Goldman Sachs advanced over 4%, reaching fresh all-time highs and reinforcing momentum in the financial sector. On the downside, Salesforce dropped more than 4%, while Microsoft and Amazon also declined, contributing to Nasdaq’s slight pullback.
Within the S&P 500, semiconductor-related stocks stood out. Micron Technology jumped over 10% to a record high, while Western Digital and Lam Research also posted strong gains, each reaching new all-time highs. In contrast, Gartner, Palantir Technologies, and Intuit were among the weakest performers, posting notable losses.
The Nasdaq Composite saw extreme moves among smaller-cap stocks. Lavoro Ltd recorded a dramatic triple-digit percentage gain, while Sky Quarry and Brand Engagement Network also surged. On the losing side, Outlook Therapeutics plunged more than 58% to an all-time low, joined by sharp declines in Protagenic Therapeutics and Kazia Therapeutics.
Market breadth was positive overall, with advancing stocks outnumbering decliners on both the NYSE and Nasdaq. Volatility eased, as the CBOE Volatility Index fell nearly 3%. In commodities, gold prices edged slightly lower, while crude oil and Brent prices posted mild declines. In currency markets, the U.S. dollar strengthened modestly against the yen, while the euro remained relatively stable.
