Federal Reserve Begins Treasury Bill Purchases to Stabilize Reserves and Money Markets 
Singapore GDP Growth Surges in 2025 but Outlook Remains Cautious Amid Global Trade Risks 
Oil Prices Stabilize at Start of 2026 as OPEC+ Policy and Geopolitical Risks Shape Market Outlook 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Tech and Financial Stocks Weigh on Markets Amid Thin Holiday Trading 
Forex Markets Hold Steady as Traders Await Fed Minutes Amid Thin Year-End Volumes 
Citi Forecasts a Volatile but Ongoing Bull Market for S&P 500 in 2026 
U.S. Dollar Slides Toward Biggest Annual Loss Since 2017 as 2026 Risks Loom 
USDA $12 Billion Farm Aid Program Draws Mixed Reactions from Row Crop Farmers 
Oil Prices Slide in 2025 as Oversupply and Geopolitical Risks Shape Market Outlook 
South Korea Inflation Rises to 2.3% in December, Matching Market Expectations 
Asian Stock Markets Start New Year Higher as Tech and AI Shares Drive Gains 
China Manufacturing PMI Rebounds in December, Offering Boost to Economic Growth Outlook 
Asia Manufacturing PMI Rebounds as Exports and Tech Demand Drive Growth into 2026 
U.S. Dollar Steadies Ahead of Fed Minutes as Markets Eye Policy Divisions 
U.S. Stock Index Futures Steady as Markets Await Fed Policy Clues in Holiday-Thinned Trade 
South Korea Factory Activity Returns to Growth in December on Export Rebound 
China Imposes 55% Tariff on Beef Imports Above Quota to Protect Domestic Industry 
U.S. stocks ended Tuesday modestly lower in a light-volume, pre-holiday session, while gold prices rebounded as global markets approached the penultimate trading day of 2025. Despite the subdued close, Wall Street remains on track to record strong double-digit gains for the year, underscoring the resilience of equities amid economic and geopolitical uncertainty.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.20% to 48,367.06, while the S&P 500 fell 0.14% to 6,896.23. The Nasdaq Composite also edged lower, declining 0.23% to 23,419.08. Trading activity was thin as investors repositioned portfolios before year-end, following a volatile year shaped by tariff disputes, geopolitical tensions, and shifting monetary policy expectations.
Market sentiment was influenced by the release of minutes from the U.S. Federal Reserve’s final meeting of 2025. The minutes revealed broad agreement on interest rate cuts, but also highlighted deep divisions among policymakers regarding inflation risks and labor market weakness. According to Ryan Detrick of Carson Group, strong corporate earnings have continued to justify the bull market, with no major signs of an imminent recession. He added that optimism remains for 2026, particularly if rate cuts support economic growth.
Globally, European stocks outperformed, with the STOXX 600 rising 0.6% to a fresh record high, driven by gains in banking and commodity-linked shares. Asian markets were mixed, as Japan’s Nikkei slipped while broader Asia-Pacific shares posted modest gains. MSCI’s global equity index edged slightly lower, reflecting cautious investor sentiment.
In commodities, gold and silver prices rebounded after profit-taking triggered sharp losses in the previous session. Spot gold rose 0.3% to $4,344.75 per ounce and remains on track for its strongest annual performance since 1979. The U.S. dollar held firm following the Fed minutes but is still heading for its steepest yearly decline in eight years.
Meanwhile, oil prices were steady as fading hopes for a Russia-Ukraine peace deal and Middle East tensions supported crude markets. Bitcoin and Ethereum posted modest gains, while U.S. Treasury yields remained largely unchanged, reflecting stable rate expectations heading into 2026.
