Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
Oil Prices Rebound in Asia as Venezuela Sanctions Risks Offset Ukraine Peace Hopes 
Judge Orders Return of Seized Evidence in Comey-Related Case, DOJ May Seek New Warrant 
Bolivia Orders Pre-Trial Detention of Former President Luis Arce Over Embezzlement Probe 
US Signals Openness to New Trade Deal as Brazil Shows Willingness, Says USTR Greer 
Japan Weighs New Tax Breaks to Boost Corporate Investment Amid Spending Debate 
Asian Currencies Steady as Fed Delivers Hawkish Rate Cut; Aussie and Rupee Under Pressure 
Modi and Trump Hold Phone Call as India Seeks Relief From U.S. Tariffs Over Russian Oil Trade 
Trump Claims Thailand-Cambodia Ceasefire After Intense Border Clashes 
Australia’s Labour Market Weakens as November Employment Drops Sharply 
U.S. Soldiers Killed in ISIS Attack in Palmyra, Syria During Counterterrorism Mission 
Fed Near Neutral Signals Caution Ahead, Shifting Focus to Fixed Income in 2026 
Brazil Arrests Former Peruvian Foreign Minister Augusto Blacker Miller in International Fraud Case 
Gold Prices Hold Firm as Markets Await Fed Rate Cut; Silver Surges to Record High 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Oracle Earnings Miss Reignites AI Spending Concerns 
International Outcry Grows Over Re-Arrest of Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi in Iran 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
U.S. stock index futures gained on Monday evening as reports eased fears of disruptive trade tariffs under President-elect Donald Trump. Bloomberg reported that his team may propose a gradual tariff increase of 2%-5% monthly to enhance trade leverage while managing inflation risks, rather than imposing steep duties immediately. This approach, under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, remains unconfirmed but could signal a tempered stance on trade policy.
Wall Street saw a mixed session, with cyclicals offsetting tech losses. The S&P 500 Futures rose 0.3% to 5,892.50 points, Nasdaq 100 Futures added 0.5% to 21,046.25, and Dow Jones Futures increased 0.2% to 42,607.0 by 18:13 ET.
Monday's gains come despite broader market caution over a slower pace of Federal Reserve rate cuts in 2025. December’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, due Wednesday, could offer insights into inflation trends following strong payroll numbers last week. These data points may solidify expectations of continued high interest rates.
Major earnings reports this week will also shape market sentiment, with JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, and Citigroup among those set to release results.
While the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.9% to 42,297.12 points and the S&P 500 edged up 0.2% to 5,836.0 points on Monday, the Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.4%, closing at 19,087.82, near a two-month low.
Investor focus remains on inflation, earnings, and Trump’s evolving trade strategies, all of which could drive market volatility. Continued monitoring of tariff policy and Federal Reserve signals will be crucial for traders navigating early 2025's economic landscape.
