Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
Japanese Yen Holds Steady as Intervention Hopes Grow Ahead of U.S. CPI Data 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
IEA Warns China Rare Earth Export Curbs Could Threaten $6.5 Trillion in Global Production 
Gold Price Holds Near $4,000 as Middle East Tensions and Fed Rate Hike Bets Grow 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
Asian Stocks Rally as Cooling U.S. Inflation Boosts Fed Rate Cut Hopes 
Australian Business Conditions Hold Steady as Easing Cost Pressures Face New Oil Price Risks 
U.S. stock markets closed higher on Monday, extending recent gains as investors look to finish the year on a strong note despite thinning trading volumes in a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 rose 0.5% by the closing bell at 4 p.m. ET, while the Nasdaq 100 gained 0.6%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also advanced around 0.5%, adding roughly 227 points, reflecting broad-based optimism across major sectors.
Market participants expect quieter trading sessions in the coming days as U.S. exchanges shift to a shortened holiday schedule. Wall Street will close early on Wednesday and remain closed on Thursday for Christmas Day, conditions that typically reduce liquidity and can amplify short-term price movements. Historically, such periods see lighter volumes, which may contribute to sharper swings even on modest news flow.
Financial stocks were among the standout performers, continuing a strong rally that has pushed the sector to recent highs. Major Wall Street banks extended their upward momentum, with Citigroup shares jumping more than 3% to reach a new 52-week high. Investor confidence has been supported by robust deal-making activity, steady trading revenues, and renewed optimism around potential deregulation in the financial services sector. Shares of Blackstone, Charles Schwab, and BlackRock also posted notable gains, helping lift the broader financial sector by more than 1%.
Technology and artificial intelligence-related stocks also contributed to the market’s strength. After a recent pullback, AI leaders such as NVIDIA, Oracle, and Broadcom rebounded, signaling renewed confidence in the long-term growth prospects of the AI trade. Their recovery provided additional support to the broader equity market, particularly the Nasdaq.
Meanwhile, investors continued to monitor developments surrounding the Federal Reserve’s leadership transition. With Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s term ending in May and President Donald Trump reportedly interviewing several potential successors, markets are closely analyzing signals related to future interest rate policy and monetary strategy, factors that could shape market direction in the months ahead.
