South Korean Won Slides Despite Government Efforts to Stabilize Currency Markets 
Oil Prices Slide in 2025 as Oversupply and Geopolitical Risks Shape Market Outlook 
South Korea Factory Output Misses Forecasts in November Amid Ongoing Economic Uncertainty 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Tech and Financial Stocks Weigh on Markets Amid Thin Holiday Trading 
Singapore GDP Growth Surges in 2025 but Outlook Remains Cautious Amid Global Trade Risks 
Forex Markets Hold Steady as Traders Await Fed Minutes Amid Thin Year-End Volumes 
Oil Prices Slip Slightly as Markets Weigh Geopolitical Risks and Supply Glut Concerns 
Trump Delays Tariff Increases on Furniture and Cabinets for One More Year 
Federal Reserve Begins Treasury Bill Purchases to Stabilize Reserves and Money Markets 
South Korea Factory Activity Returns to Growth in December on Export Rebound 
USDA $12 Billion Farm Aid Program Draws Mixed Reactions from Row Crop Farmers 
China Imposes 55% Tariff on Beef Imports Above Quota to Protect Domestic Industry 
U.S. Stock Index Futures Steady as Markets Await Fed Policy Clues in Holiday-Thinned Trade 
Asian Markets End Year on AI Optimism as Precious Metals and Currencies Shine 
Gold Prices Rebound in Europe as Geopolitical Tensions and Fed Outlook Support Bullion 
China Manufacturing PMI Rebounds in December, Offering Boost to Economic Growth Outlook 
CaixaBank will acquire state-owned Bankia in an all-share deal that would create Spain's largest bank with total assets exceeding $786.6 billion.
The deal will help the companies tackle dwindling profitability due to the pandemic.
The deal values Bankia $5.1 billion, according to Jefferies analysts.
The new entity will have 20 million customers and a quarter of all loans and deposits in Spain.
Santander and BBVA, which have extensive overseas operations, are currently Spain's largest banks.
CaixaBank and Bankia expect the combined entity will benefit from cost savings of $911.8 million a year. They are targeting additional revenue of $343 million.
The move could signal the start of further consolidation in Europe's beleaguered banking sector.
Europe's banks had to raise billions of dollars to cover bad debts and contend with ultra-low interest rates as they endure one of the worst global recessions this year.
According to Jefferies analyst Benjie Creelan-Sandford, banks need to improve profitability by benefitting from the scale and extract synergies from mergers.
Creelan-Sandford expects more consolidation among European banks.
Swiss bank UBS is reportedly examining a potential deal with rival Credit Suisse. A merger of Deutsche Bank, Germany's largest lender, and its competitor Commerzbank was on the table as of last year.
