News
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Oil prices log steepest annual drop since 2020
Brent set to post longest annual losing streak to dateUAE withdraws forces from Yemen in conflict with Saudi ArabiaOversupply offsets geopolitical risks, sanctions on producing countriesUS crude inventories fall, distillate and gasoline stocks riseOil prices down near 20% on the yearBy Enes Tunagur ...Reuters
Wed, Dec 31
WTI stays below $58.00, nears 20% yearly drop
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Oil price loses ground after two days of gains, trading around $57.70 per barrel during the Asian hours on Wednesday. WTI is down nearly 3% in December, heading for a fifth straight monthly loss and nearly a 20% annual drop.
Fxstreet
Wed, Dec 31
Could A Bitcoin Drop To $74,000 Spell Bankruptcy For Strategy? Top Analysts Respond
Bitcoin (BTC) has seen a slight recovery, edging back above the $89,000 mark as it attempts to break through the $90,000 resistance level. Nonetheless, concerns loom over further downward moves, raising worries about the risks this trend poses to firms like Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy).NewsBTC
Wed, Dec 31
GBP/USD Price Forecast: Tests 1.3450 support after moving below nine-day EMA
GBP/USD remains subdued for the second consecutive day, trading around 1.3460 during the Asian hours on Wednesday. The technical analysis of the daily chart indicates a weakening of a bullish bias as the pair is positioned slightly below the lower boundary of the ascending channel pattern.
Fxstreet
Wed, Dec 31
Silver shines in 2025 global market spotlight as softs, oil lag
Silver outperforms major stock indexes, currencies this yearCopper at all-time high buoyed by AI, renewable energy demandOil prices down 15% in 2025 on economic woes, rising suppliesCocoa is biggest loser as improving supplies pressure pricesPalm oil may rebound in 2026 due to Indonesia biodiesel ma...Reuters
Wed, Dec 31
Chicago soybeans set for first annual gain in three years; wheat, corn slide
BEIJING, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Chicago soybean futures slipped on Wednesday but were set to log their first annual gain in three years, supported by China's return to the U.S. market following a late-October trade truce, although ample global supplies capped the advance.Wheat and corn futures, mean...Reuters
Wed, Dec 31
US Dollar Index rises to near 98.50 as FOMC Minutes hint at pausing rate cuts
The US Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the value of the US Dollar (USD) against six major currencies, is extending its gains for the second successive session and trading around 98.30 during the Asian hours on Wednesday.Fxstreet
Wed, Dec 31
Court allows Trump-backed cuts to Planned Parenthood's Medicaid funding in 22 states
Appeals court lifts injunction on Medicaid funding cutsLaw applies almost exclusively to Planned Parenthood health centersDemocratic-led states alleged law was unconstitutional retroactive conditionBy Nate Raymond BOSTON, Dec 30 (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Tuesday allowed President Donald...Reuters
Wed, Dec 31
SoftBank completes $41 billion investment in OpenAI, deepening bet on AI
By Krystal Hu Dec 30 (Reuters) - SoftBank Group 9984.T said it completed a $41 billion investment in OpenAI, one of the largest-ever private funding rounds that would give the Japanese firm a stake of about 11% in the ChatGPT maker. SoftBank Chief Executive Masayoshi Son has made an " ...Reuters
Wed, Dec 31
Zelenskiy discusses US troop presence in Ukraine with Trump
Says he also brought up 'faked attack' on Putin residence with Trump; no White House commentRussia accuses Kyiv of drone attack, threatens to toughen negotiation stanceFrench source dismisses claims of attack on Putin's residenceUkraine has said report is baseless, meant to prolong warPo...Reuters
Wed, Dec 31
S&P 500, Nasdaq end slightly down in holiday-thin trade, Meta gains on deal
Indexes down: Dow 0.2%, S&P 500 0.14%, Nasdaq 0.23%Meta shares up after it buys AI startup ManusEnergy, communication services stocks outperform peersCiti shares down after Russia sale triggers currency-related hitBy Saeed Azhar, Purvi Agarwal and Nikhil Sharma NEW YORK, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Th...Reuters
Wed, Dec 31
China mandates 50% domestic equipment rule for chipmakers, sources say
Beijing's new chip self-sufficiency mandate to benefit domestic suppliersChinese chipmakers must use 50% domestically made equipment for adding new capacity China has long been dependent on foreign chipmaking equipmentBut US export curbs have forced Chinese fabs to go domestic SINGAPORE, Dec ...Reuters
Wed, Dec 31
Fed officials showed deep divisions at December meeting, minutes show
Minutes covered December 9-10 meetingMost policymakers supported rate cut amid broad debateSome rate cut supporters noted "finely balanced" decisionBy Howard SchneiderDec 30 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve agreed to cut interest rates at its December meeting only after a deeply nuanced ...Reuters
Wed, Dec 31
Fed policymakers judged 'ample' levels of reserves warranted bill-buying -minutes
Dec 30 (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve's decision earlier this month to start buying short-dated government bonds came after a recommendation from staff to do so and a judgment by policymakers that the level of reserves had fallen to a targeted "ample" range, minutes of the central bank&...Reuters
Wed, Dec 31
Wall Street closes slightly lower near the end of a banner year; gold rebounds
Fed minutes reveal deep divisions, nuanced debate regarding monetary policyEuropean shares set fresh all-time closing highSilver, gold find footing after startling slump Oil muted as Ukraine peace hopes fade, Middle East tensions flareBy Stephen Culp NEW YORK, Dec 30 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks slumpReuters
Wed, Dec 31
Warner Bros likely to reject Paramount's latest hostile bid, source says
By Dawn Chmielewski Dec 30 (Reuters) - Warner Bros Discovery WBD.O will likely reject Paramount Skydance's PSKY.O amended $108.4 billion hostile bid for the storied Hollywood studio despite a personal guarantee from billionaire Larry Ellison backing the media giant's offer, according ...Reuters
Wed, Dec 31
Ukraine drone attack damages port, gas pipeline in Tuapse, Russia says
Dec 31 (Reuters) - A Ukrainian drone attack damaged port infrastructure and a gas pipeline in a residential area in Russia's Black Sea port of Tuapse, the regional administration said on Wednesday, adding no injuries were reported.Emergency crews were dispatched to repair the damage, the operati...Reuters
Wed, Dec 31
