U.S. Dollar Steadies Ahead of Fed Minutes as Markets Eye Policy Divisions 
South Korean Won Slides Despite Government Efforts to Stabilize Currency Markets 
Oil Prices Slide in 2025 as Oversupply and Geopolitical Risks Shape Market Outlook 
Federal Reserve Begins Treasury Bill Purchases to Stabilize Reserves and Money Markets 
U.S. Dollar Slides Toward Biggest Annual Loss Since 2017 as 2026 Risks Loom 
Trump Delays Tariff Increases on Furniture and Cabinets for One More Year 
Oil Prices Slip Slightly as Markets Weigh Geopolitical Risks and Supply Glut Concerns 
USDA $12 Billion Farm Aid Program Draws Mixed Reactions from Row Crop Farmers 
Asian Currencies Trade Flat as Dollar Weakens in Thin New Year Trading 
Asian Markets Slip as Precious Metals Cool, Geopolitical Tensions Weigh on Sentiment 
Citi Forecasts a Volatile but Ongoing Bull Market for S&P 500 in 2026 
South Korea Factory Activity Returns to Growth in December on Export Rebound 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Tech and Financial Stocks Weigh on Markets Amid Thin Holiday Trading 
Oil Prices Stabilize at Start of 2026 as OPEC+ Policy and Geopolitical Risks Shape Market Outlook 
U.S. Stock Index Futures Steady as Markets Await Fed Policy Clues in Holiday-Thinned Trade 
Japanese Business Leaders Urge Government Action as Weak Yen Strains Economy 
Asia Manufacturing PMI Rebounds as Exports and Tech Demand Drive Growth into 2026 
Retail sales in the US increased by 17.7 percent in May to shatter the lofty 8 percent estimate of economists surveyed by Dow Jones as consumers freed from lockdowns began shopping again.
Clothing and accessories stores posted the biggest gain at 188 percent while hobbies, sporting goods, books, and musical instruments surged 88.2 percent.
Motor vehicles and parts climbed by 44.1 percent as food services and drinking places rebounded by 29.1 percent.
Many states started allowing outdoor dining in May after the food establishments were limited to pickups and delivery.
While the monthly gains set records, total sales were down 6.1 percent from last year ago.
The robust numbers revealed an hour before stock trading provided an upbeat Wall Street mood with Dow going up by more than 500 points by late morning.
