South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Tech Rout Deepens on AI Concerns and Earnings 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Oil Prices Slip as U.S.–Iran Talks Ease Supply Disruption Fears 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Asian Markets Slip as AI Spending Fears Shake Tech, Wall Street Futures Rebound 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Gold and Silver Prices Rebound After Volatile Week Triggered by Fed Nomination 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
U.S. stock markets finished at record levels on Friday as investors digested a mixed December jobs report that still pointed to underlying economic strength. The S&P 500 closed at a fresh all-time high, reinforcing optimism around corporate earnings, economic growth, and potential future Federal Reserve rate cuts. By the end of trading at 4:00 p.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 237 points, or 0.5%, while the S&P 500 gained 0.6% to close at 6,963.21. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite outperformed with a 0.8% rise. For the week, the S&P 500 advanced more than 1%, while both the Dow and Nasdaq posted gains of roughly 2%.
Investor attention centered on the December U.S. jobs report, which showed the economy added 50,000 jobs, slightly below November’s revised figure of 56,000 and well under expectations of 66,000. The Labor Department also revised prior data, cutting a combined 76,000 jobs from October and November payroll estimates. Despite softer headline job growth, the unemployment rate edged down to 4.4%, beating forecasts of 4.5%. Analysts highlighted that household survey data painted a stronger picture, with employment rising by more than 230,000 and unemployment falling sharply, signaling continued labor market resilience.
Market participants are now recalibrating expectations for Federal Reserve policy. While the probability of a March interest rate cut appears lower following the data, economists note that upcoming employment and inflation reports could still support rate reductions later in the year if growth moderates and inflation remains contained.
Corporate and sector-specific news also boosted sentiment. Intel shares surged around 10% after President Donald Trump highlighted gains from the U.S. government’s stake in the chipmaker, sparking a broader rebound in semiconductor stocks. Homebuilder stocks rallied as mortgage rates dropped to their lowest level in three years, following Trump’s comments about potentially purchasing $200 billion in mortgage-backed securities.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court did not issue an expected ruling on Trump-era tariffs. If overturned, analysts estimate the government could face up to $150 billion in refunds to importers, adding another layer of uncertainty for markets moving forward.
