Daily Economic Reports

U.S. stock index futures climbed on the first trading day of 2026, rebounding after Wall Street slipped in the final sessions of 2025, as improving sentiment and renewed risk appetite lifted equity markets. The S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and Nasdaq Composite all delivered double-digit gains in 2025 — …

Gold prices climbed sharply in European trading on Friday, the first session of 2026, as a softer U.S. dollar and expectations of further interest rate cuts reignited demand for bullion following a year of historic gains. Spot gold rose 1.8% to $4,387.09 an ounce by 05:18 ET (10:18 GMT), while …

Oil prices traded modestly higher on Wednesday but were still heading toward their steepest annual losses since 2020, as persistent concerns over a global supply surplus overshadowed recurring geopolitical tensions that offered only limited, short-lived support. As of 05:30 ET (10:30 GMT), Brent crude futures for March delivery rose 0.2% …

Stocks Pull Back Modestly Amid Year-End Adjustments: The Dow Jones Industrial Average softened on the final trading day of 2025, joining other major indexes in a minor retreat. Despite the dip, the year has been impressive: the S&P 500 is poised for a 17% gain, marking its third consecutive year …

Tariffs Take a Backseat to Fiscal Strategy: US President Donald Trump’s tariffs dominated headlines in 2025, yet the year-end economic reality tells a different story. Despite early predictions of a possible recession, the US economy displayed remarkable resilience, with third-quarter growth soaring 4.3%, fueled by strong consumer spending and capital …

As artificial intelligence continues to dominate corporate investment plans and equity market performance, a growing debate has emerged on Wall Street: is the AI boom the early stage of a transformative technological shift, or are markets drifting toward an unsustainable bubble? The question has gained urgency heading into 2026, as …

Oil prices traded modestly higher on Wednesday but were still heading toward their steepest annual losses since 2020, as persistent concerns over a global supply surplus overshadowed recurring geopolitical tensions that offered only limited, short-lived support. As of 05:30 ET (10:30 GMT), Brent crude futures for March delivery rose 0.2% …

European shares traded mixed on Wednesday during New Year’s Eve trading, with several major markets operating on shortened schedules and defense stocks among the notable gainers. By 09:24, the U.K.’s FTSE 100 was down 0.03% and set to close early, while Germany’s DAX remained shut for the holiday. France’s CAC …

Bitcoin rose slightly on Wednesday but remained on course to end 2025 in negative territory, weighed down by a sharp fourth-quarter downturn as thin liquidity and fading risk appetite pressured the broader cryptocurrency market. The world’s largest cryptocurrency was last up 1.3% at $89,010 by 06:56 ET (11:56 GMT). Despite …

Most Asian stock markets were closed on Wednesday, the final trading day of 2025, but the region remained on track to finish the year with strong gains, led by technology and semiconductor shares amid accelerating demand for artificial intelligence, despite periodic volatility tied to U.S. trade policy. With major markets …