Economic Report

Crude oil prices climbed on Thursday, December 4, as global markets reacted to a combination of geopolitical tensions and expectations of U.S. interest rate cuts. Brent crude rose to $63 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) approached $60, reflecting renewed market caution following attacks on Russian oil infrastructure in …

The euro slipped slightly against the US dollar on Thursday, pausing after an eight-day winning streak as investors reassessed market sentiment ahead of major economic releases. The pair retreated from its earlier highs near 1.1660—the strongest level since mid-October—pressured by a mild rebound in the US Dollar and mixed data …

China’s renewed crackdown on cryptocurrencies in late 2025 has reignited debate over the future of digital assets. Yet instead of undermining Bitcoin, the latest warnings from the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) may strengthen Bitcoin’s appeal as a neutral hedge in an era of shifting monetary power. As Beijing accelerates …

As trading floors close on December 4, 2025, one outcome looks almost inevitable: the Federal Reserve will cut its benchmark rate by a quarter point next week, lowering the target range to 3.50%–3.75%. Futures markets are assigning better than an 84% probability to that move — a complete about-face from …

The number of Americans filing for first-time unemployment benefits fell sharply last week, hitting the lowest level in more than three years and signaling continued resilience in the labor market despite broader signs of cooling. Seasonally adjusted initial jobless claims dropped to 191,000 in the week ending November 29, according …

U.S. stock futures nudged higher on Thursday, as investors looked ahead to fresh labor market data and next week’s closely watched Federal Reserve policy meeting. By 05:35 ET (10:35 GMT): Dow Jones futures were up 50 points (+0.1%) S&P 500 futures gained 5 points (+0.1%) Nasdaq 100 futures climbed 18 …

Bitcoin held mostly steady on Thursday, consolidating after a powerful rebound that lifted the cryptocurrency back above the $93,000 mark on Wednesday, supported by improving regulatory sentiment in the U.S. and rising expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut next week. The world’s largest digital asset inched 0.3% lower to …

European stocks rose on Thursday, extending recent gains as investors positioned for a widely expected interest rate cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve next week and awaited fresh eurozone data. By 03:05 ET (08:05 GMT), Germany’s DAX index was up 0.8%, France’s CAC 40 gained 0.5%, and the U.K.’s FTSE …

Gold prices edged lower in Asian trading on Thursday, as profit-taking outweighed rising confidence that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates next week. By 02:28 ET (07:28 GMT), spot gold slipped 0.3% to $4,191.55 an ounce, while February U.S. gold futures fell 0.3% to $4,219.46. US data reinforce expectations …

Oil prices rose modestly in Asian trading on Thursday, supported by renewed attacks on Russian energy assets and stalled diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine, even as weak U.S. demand data capped gains. By 22:53 ET (03:53 GMT), February Brent futures were up 0.4% at $62.89 a barrel, …