Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Asian stocks edged lower on the final trading day of the year, capping a period in which investors largely looked past tariff-related uncertainty and instead focused on the powerful rally in artificial intelligence chip stocks. With Japanese markets closed for the remainder of the week and many global exchanges shut for the New Year holiday, trading volumes were thin and price movements subdued.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan slipped 0.17% on Wednesday but is still set to post a robust 27% gain for the year, its strongest performance since 2017. The rally was driven primarily by semiconductor stocks benefiting from surging demand linked to AI adoption. China’s blue-chip index inched higher and is on track for an 18% annual rise, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dipped 0.7% on the day but is poised to deliver an impressive 28% gain for the year as investors shrugged off trade war concerns.
South Korea stood out as the world’s best-performing major equity market, with the Kospi soaring 76% over the year, led by heavyweight chipmakers SK Hynix and Samsung. Analysts noted that despite geopolitical tensions, tariff wars, and policy uncertainty, global markets delivered exceptional returns, albeit with gains concentrated in specific sectors such as AI and technology.
Precious metals were another major theme. Silver captured headlines with an extraordinary rally, pushing its yearly gains beyond 160%, though prices dipped slightly as traders took profits. Gold also firmed and is on track for a 66% surge in 2025, extending a three-year rally fueled by inflation hedging, central bank demand, and investor appetite for safe-haven assets.
In currency markets, the U.S. dollar faced its worst year since 2017, down 9.4%, allowing the euro and British pound to record strong annual gains. Meanwhile, oil prices fell more than 10% in 2025, with Brent crude heading for its longest streak of annual losses as global supply outpaced demand despite ongoing geopolitical conflicts.
Looking ahead, investors remain focused on the Federal Reserve’s interest rate path and the sustainability of crowded trades in AI stocks and precious metals as markets move into 2026.
