U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Year-End Trading Turns Cautious 
South Korea Factory Activity Returns to Growth in December on Export Rebound 
Japanese Business Leaders Urge Government Action as Weak Yen Strains Economy 
U.S. Dollar Slides Toward Biggest Annual Loss Since 2017 as 2026 Risks Loom 
Gold Prices Rebound in Europe as Geopolitical Tensions and Fed Outlook Support Bullion 
South Korea Inflation Rises to 2.3% in December, Matching Market Expectations 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Tech and Financial Stocks Weigh on Markets Amid Thin Holiday Trading 
USDA $12 Billion Farm Aid Program Draws Mixed Reactions from Row Crop Farmers 
Federal Reserve Begins Treasury Bill Purchases to Stabilize Reserves and Money Markets 
Oil Prices Slide in 2025 as Oversupply and Geopolitical Risks Shape Market Outlook 
Asian Currencies Trade Flat as Dollar Weakens in Thin New Year Trading 
Citi Forecasts a Volatile but Ongoing Bull Market for S&P 500 in 2026 
Asian Markets End Year on AI Optimism as Precious Metals and Currencies Shine 
Oil Prices Slip Slightly as Markets Weigh Geopolitical Risks and Supply Glut Concerns 
Oil Prices Stabilize at Start of 2026 as OPEC+ Policy and Geopolitical Risks Shape Market Outlook 
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 
Samsung Heavy Industries Co. announced that its net losses in the first quarter increased to 227 billion won from a loss of 102.6 billion last year due to evaluation losses.
The won's weakness against the U.S. dollar triggered the evaluation losses from its forward exchange contracts for the reselling of five drillships.
Operating losses also increased to 47.8 billion won from a loss of 33.3 billion the year before, up 14.5 billion won from last year but down 78 percent from the preceding quarter.
The operating losses were due to ships the company built for low-price contracts, the temporary closure of Samsung Heavy Industries China was due to COVID-19, and an increase in fixed costs due to a lesser number of offshore plants projects.
However, sales jumped 25.3 percent on-year to reach 1.82 trillion won.
Early this month, Samsung Heavy was awarded a 253.6 billion-won deal from a Bermudan shipper to build two huge crude oil carriers.
The deal pushed Samsung Heavy's orders by $5 billion for five vessels, which is 5.9 percent of its annual target of $8.4 billion.
