U.S. Dollar Starts 2026 Weak as Yen, Euro and Sterling Hold Firm Amid Rate Cut Expectations 
Asian Markets Slip as Precious Metals Cool, Geopolitical Tensions Weigh on Sentiment 
Forex Markets Hold Steady as Traders Await Fed Minutes Amid Thin Year-End Volumes 
Asia Manufacturing PMI Rebounds as Exports and Tech Demand Drive Growth into 2026 
Asian Stock Markets Start New Year Higher as Tech and AI Shares Drive Gains 
South Korea Factory Output Misses Forecasts in November Amid Ongoing Economic Uncertainty 
South Korea Exports Hit Record High as Global Trade Momentum Builds 
Japanese Business Leaders Urge Government Action as Weak Yen Strains Economy 
U.S. Stocks Slip as Gold Rebounds Ahead of Year-End, Markets Eye 2026 Outlook 
Federal Reserve Begins Treasury Bill Purchases to Stabilize Reserves and Money Markets 
China Manufacturing PMI Rebounds in December, Offering Boost to Economic Growth Outlook 
USDA $12 Billion Farm Aid Program Draws Mixed Reactions from Row Crop Farmers 
U.S. Dollar Steadies Ahead of Fed Minutes as Markets Eye Policy Divisions 
Oil Prices Stabilize at Start of 2026 as OPEC+ Policy and Geopolitical Risks Shape Market Outlook 
Singapore GDP Growth Surges in 2025 but Outlook Remains Cautious Amid Global Trade Risks 
Asian Currencies Trade Flat as Dollar Weakens in Thin New Year Trading 
Vacancies for jobs in Britain continued to decline in December, reinforcing growing evidence that the UK labour market is cooling after several years of tight conditions. According to the latest survey from online jobs portal Adzuna, the number of advertised roles fell to 716,791 in December, down from 745,448 in November. This represents a 15% year-on-year decline and marks the weakest full-year performance for job vacancies since 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted hiring activity.
December marked the sixth consecutive month of falling vacancies, suggesting that hiring momentum is slowing across the UK economy. Adzuna noted that competition for roles has intensified as employers reduced recruitment plans, with the usual year-end uplift in hiring failing to materialise. Many of the UK’s largest sectors experienced slower hiring, adding to concerns about a deteriorating jobs market despite tentative signs of improving economic activity among businesses and consumers.
While overall hiring remained subdued, there were early indications of recovery in graduate and entry-level roles. Adzuna co-founder Andrew Hunter described these developments as potential “green shoots” for the year ahead, offering some optimism for younger workers and new labour market entrants.
Wage growth also showed signs of easing. Adzuna’s survey revealed that average advertised salaries were 6.8% higher than a year earlier, down from a 7.7% annual increase recorded in November. This moderation in pay growth is being closely monitored by Bank of England policymakers, who are assessing labour market conditions and wage pressures as part of their decisions on interest rates and inflation control. Slowing wage growth could reduce inflationary pressures but may also limit the scope for repeated interest rate cuts in 2026.
Additional data from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) painted a similar picture of cautious optimism. The CBI’s growth indicator for the next three months improved to -20 from -30 in December, while its measure of activity over the past three months remained deeply negative. According to the CBI, businesses continue to face fragile confidence, cautious spending, and households that are increasingly downtrading, underscoring ongoing uncertainty in the UK economy.
