Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Oil Tankers, Raising Venezuela Tensions and Oil Prices 
Chinese Robotaxi Stocks Rally as Tesla Boosts Autonomous Driving Optimism 
Silver Prices Hit Record High as Safe-Haven Demand Surges Amid U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
Asian Currencies Slip as Dollar Strengthens; Indian Rupee Rebounds on Intervention Hopes 
Asian Fund Managers Turn More Optimistic on Growth but Curb Equity Return Expectations: BofA Survey 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Micron Earnings Boost AI Sentiment Ahead of CPI Data 
EU Delays Mercosur Free Trade Agreement Signing Amid Ukraine War Funding Talks 
Asian Stocks Edge Higher as Tech Recovers, U.S. Economic Uncertainty Caps Gains 
Oil Prices Rebound as Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Venezuelan Tankers 
Austan Goolsbee Signals Potential for More Fed Rate Cuts as Inflation Shows Improvement 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
Japan Exports to U.S. Rebound in November as Tariff Impact Eases, Boosting BOJ Rate Hike Expectations 
U.S. Dollar Steadies Near October Lows as Rate Cut Expectations Keep Markets on Edge 
Gold and Silver Surge as Safe Haven Demand Rises on U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
Dollar Holds Firm Ahead of Global Central Bank Decisions as Yen, Sterling and Euro React 
BoE Set to Cut Rates as UK Inflation Slows, but Further Easing Likely Limited 
Japan Inflation Holds Firm in November as BOJ Nears Key Rate Hike Decision 
U.S. stock indexes closed lower Monday but rebounded from earlier steep losses after President Donald Trump delayed new tariffs on Mexico. Trump granted a one-month pause after Mexico agreed to deploy 10,000 National Guard troops to curb illegal drug trafficking, especially fentanyl.
Over the weekend, Trump had announced 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada and 10% on China, warning of short-term economic pain. Analysts fear prolonged tariffs could further pressure markets and drive inflation. The Dow Jones fell 122.75 points (0.28%) to 44,421.91, while the S&P 500 lost 45.96 points (0.76%) to 5,994.57, and the Nasdaq dropped 235.49 points (1.2%) to 19,391.96. Defensive sectors like healthcare and consumer staples gained, while tech and consumer discretionary stocks lagged.
Automakers, hit hard by tariff concerns, recouped some losses, with Ford slipping 1.9% and GM dropping 3.2%. The Cboe Volatility Index spiked before settling at 18.6. Meanwhile, AI-driven market disruptions persisted, with Nvidia sliding 2.8% as semiconductor stocks dipped 1.8% following concerns over Chinese AI startup DeepSeek’s breakthrough.
The small-cap Russell 2000 index briefly touched a three-week low before closing down 1.3%. Investors sought safety in bonds and gold, pushing spot gold to a record high. Treasury yields edged lower.
Earnings season continued, with Tyson Foods rising 2.2% after an upbeat sales forecast and IDEXX Laboratories surging 11.1% on strong earnings. Economic data showed U.S. manufacturing expanded for the first time in two years.
Declining stocks outnumbered advancers by a 2.18-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and 2.37-to-1 on the Nasdaq. Trading volume reached 16.34 billion shares, above the 20-day average of 15.57 billion.
