Italy’s Economy Outpaces Eurozone Peers as Investment Spending Fuels Growth 
Canada, British Columbia Launch $5 Billion Infrastructure Partnership to Boost Housing, Transit, and Healthcare 
Trump Questions USMCA Renewal as Trade Talks Continue 
Gold Prices Slide as Hawkish Fed and Strong Dollar Weigh on Bullion 
Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Index Hits New 52-Week Low; Gold Falls and Oil Mixed 
Asian Stocks Surge as Oil Prices Fall and Strong US Dollar Weighs on Markets 
Asian Currencies Steady as Dollar Holds Firm Ahead of Fed Decision and US-Iran Deal Details 
Oil Prices Drop as U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Eases Supply Concerns 
Europe EV Demand Surges as Fuel Prices Rise Amid Iran Conflict 
Yen Near 40-Year Lows Despite BOJ Rate Hike, Markets Brace for Possible Intervention 
Fed Chair Kevin Warsh Signals Policy Overhaul as Hawkish Rate Outlook Rattles Markets 
Australia Eases Capital Gains Tax Reforms to Support Small Businesses and Startups 
Trump and Iran Sign Framework Peace Deal in France Amid Ongoing Middle East Tensions 
Japan Inflation Stays Below BOJ Target Despite Rate Hike and Rising Energy Cost Risks 
Dollar Hits One-Month High as Hawkish Fed Outlook Boosts Greenback 
Asian Stocks Rally as Japan and South Korea Reach Record Highs on US-Iran Peace Deal 
Canada Imposes 10% Tariff on Canned Vegetable Imports 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.
