U.S. Stock Index Futures Steady as Markets Await Fed Policy Clues in Holiday-Thinned Trade 
U.S. Dollar Starts 2026 Weak as Yen, Euro and Sterling Hold Firm Amid Rate Cut Expectations 
Trump Administration Approves Nvidia H200 AI Chip Sales to China Under New Export Rules 
Nvidia Appoints Former Google Executive Alison Wagonfeld as First Chief Marketing Officer 
Trump Urges Iranian Protests as Tehran Accuses U.S. of Destabilization 
U.S. Justice Department Sues to Block California Oil and Gas Buffer Zone Law 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Tech and Financial Stocks Weigh on Markets Amid Thin Holiday Trading 
Russia Launches Massive Winter Assault on Ukraine’s Cities and Energy Grid 
AFT Leaves X Over AI-Generated Images of Minors 
xAI Cash Burn Highlights the High Cost of Competing in Generative AI 
Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration From Cutting $80 Million in Minnesota SNAP Funding 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Year-End Trading Turns Cautious 
TSMC Set to Post Record Q4 Profit as AI Chip Demand Accelerates 
South Korea Exports Hit Record High as Global Trade Momentum Builds 
Trump Signals Caution on Iran Protests as U.S. Military Intervention Risks Grow 
U.S. Schools Set to Bring Back Whole Milk After 15-Year Ban 
Japanese Business Leaders Urge Government Action as Weak Yen Strains Economy 
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to establish a sovereign wealth fund within a year, aiming to generate national wealth and potentially acquire TikTok. The order directs the Treasury and Commerce Departments to develop a plan within 90 days, outlining funding, investment strategies, and governance.
Trump has long advocated for such a fund to finance major infrastructure projects. However, since the U.S. operates at a deficit, experts say Congress must approve funding. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated the fund would leverage liquid assets and other government resources for investment.
One possible model involves converting the U.S. International Development Finance Corp (DFC) into a sovereign fund. Trump recently nominated Benjamin Black, son of Apollo Global co-founder Leon Black, to lead the agency.
While sovereign wealth funds are common in resource-rich nations, their feasibility in the U.S. remains uncertain. Colin Graham of Robeco questioned the logic of creating such a fund without a budget surplus.
In a surprising move, Trump suggested the fund could buy TikTok. The app’s Chinese parent, ByteDance, faces a looming deadline to sell or risk a U.S. ban. Trump, who delayed enforcement of the ban, said discussions are ongoing, and a decision is expected soon.
With over 170 million U.S. users, TikTok remains a hotly debated national security concern. Trump hinted at a deal, stating, “If we make the right move, we’ll do it. Otherwise, we won’t.” The move signals a strategic shift in U.S. economic policy, blending state-backed investment with geopolitical maneuvering.
