China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Strength 
Prudential Financial Reports Higher Q4 Profit on Strong Underwriting and Investment Gains 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Uber Ordered to Pay $8.5 Million in Bellwether Sexual Assault Lawsuit 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Baidu Approves $5 Billion Share Buyback and Plans First-Ever Dividend in 2026 
Global PC Makers Eye Chinese Memory Chip Suppliers Amid Ongoing Supply Crunch 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
American Airlines CEO to Meet Pilots Union Amid Storm Response and Financial Concerns 
Nasdaq Proposes Fast-Track Rule to Accelerate Index Inclusion for Major New Listings 
Washington Post Publisher Will Lewis Steps Down After Layoffs 
TrumpRx Website Launches to Offer Discounted Prescription Drugs for Cash-Paying Americans 
Hims & Hers Halts Compounded Semaglutide Pill After FDA Warning 
Tencent Shares Slide After WeChat Restricts YuanBao AI Promotional Links 
Top global investment banks (IB) forecast the South Korean economy to grow 3.4 percent this year, up by 0.1 percentage point from their previous estimate.
Credit Suisse upgraded its estimate by 0.7 percentage point to 3.6 percent and HSBC by 0.5 percentage point to 2.7 percent.
Others surveyed in late December, Barclays, BoA-Merrill Lynch, JP Morgan, Citi, Goldman Sachs, Nomura Securities, and UBS, have retained their previous projections ranging from 3 percent to 4.1 percent.
UBS gave the rosiest outlook of 4.1 percent.
South Korea's Ministry of Economy and Finance recently forecasted a 3.2 percent growth, while the Bank of Korea gave a 3 percent outlook.
The average 2021 outlook for the global economy stood at 5.7 percent.
The forecast for China was an 8.4 percent growth, while the US was given a 4.4 percent growth outlook. Japan is expected to grow 3 percent.
