European stocks closed Friday lower, amid uncertainty surrounding Brexit talks and a new government stimulus package in the US. The STOXX Europe 600 index finished lower by 0.5%. The UK’s FTSE100 declined by 0.66%, while the German DAX plummeted by 1.24%. Meanwhile, the French index CAC40 closed lower by 0.61%.

The University of Michigan’s preliminary US consumer sentiment index increased by 4.5 points to 81.4 during December, from 76.9 in November, data showed on Friday. This is the second-highest level for the index since March, according to Bloomberg. The current conditions index rose to 91.8, its highest reading since March. …

Industrial capacity utilization rate in Canada rose during the third quarter (Q3) of 2020, but remained at a record low level, data showed on Friday. The capacity utilization rate reached 76.5% in Q3, rising by 5.8% on a quarterly basis, compared with its level in Q2 at 70.7%, according to …

Producer prices in the United States rose slightly last month, in line with expectations that inflation could start to rise in the near term, data showed on Friday. The US producer price index (PPI) increased by 0.1% in November, after rising by 0.3% in October, according to data by the …

The US Dollar (USD) declined on Thursday to its lowest level since April 2018, amid anticipation for a new stimulus package and news about the rollout of Coronavirus vaccines in the United States. The decline also comes after the European Central Bank (ECB) decided to maintain interest rates and expanded …

Oil prices rose on Thursday, supported by a positive investors’ sentiment regarding Coronavirus vaccines. The global benchmark, Brent crude futures rose above the $50 a barrel mark for the first time since March, adding $1.53, or 3.13%, to settle at $50.39 per barrel. Meanwhile, the US benchmark West Texas Intermediate …

Gold prices settled lower on Thursday, despite the decline of the US Dollar (USD), amid improved investors’ sentiment and anticipation for new Coronavirus vaccines and the outcomes of Brexit talks. The decline also comes following the European Central Bank’s (ECB) decision to expand its stimulus program and maintain interest rates. …

Airbnb is expected to double its share price in its initial public offering (IPO) debut on Thursday, CNBC reported. Shares, priced at $68 on Wednesday, are now forecast to go as high as $155.5 when the stock starts trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). This will raise the …

The President of the European Central Bank (ECB), Christine Lagarde, said on Thursday that the decision to extend the ECB stimulus program comes as the Eurozone is expected to achieve herd immunity from the Coronavirus, helping the economy operate normally, by the end of 2021, the Guardian reported. “We have …

The Australian Dollar (AUD) rose on Thursday against its US counterpart (USD) to reach its highest level since June of 2018. The AUD/USD pair is trading higher for the day by around 1.1% at 0.7528. The pair has been moving throughout the day in a range between 0.7427 and 0.7533, …