Market Update

U.S. equity futures edged higher on Monday as a year-end rally gathered pace, with investors positioning for potential follow-through into 2026 even as liquidity thins in a holiday-shortened week. S&P 500 futures rose 0.3% by 06:09 ET (11:09 GMT), extending Friday’s 0.9% jump—its strongest session in nearly a month. Nasdaq …

European equities edged lower on Monday, struggling to extend gains after ending last week at record levels, as weakness across most sectors outweighed support from technology and commodity-linked stocks in a holiday-shortened trading session. The pan-European STOXX 600 slipped 0.1% to 586.86 by 09:28 GMT. Major regional indices also traded …

Bitcoin edged slightly higher on Monday, stabilizing near the $89,000 level after ending last week in negative territory, as broader financial markets showed signs of improving risk appetite on strong expectations of U.S. interest rate cuts in 2026. The world’s largest cryptocurrency last traded at $89,089.92 by 02:25 ET (07:25 …

Oil prices edged higher on Monday, rebounding from recent losses as fresh geopolitical developments raised concerns over potential supply disruptions linked to Venezuela and broader global tensions. Brent crude futures rose 57 cents, or 0.9%, to $61.04 per barrel by 07:51 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained …

Britain’s economy expanded by a modest 0.1% in the third quarter of 2025, official data showed on Monday, underscoring the persistent lack of momentum in the country’s economic recovery. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) confirmed that gross domestic product growth in the July-to-September period matched its preliminary estimate, coming …

Gold and silver surged to new all-time highs in Asian trading on Monday, extending a powerful multi-week rally as investors piled into safe-haven assets amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and fresh uncertainty tied to U.S.-Venezuela developments. Spot gold climbed 1.4% to a record $4,403.60 an ounce, pushing …

Financial markets ended last week in a state of uncertainty following the release of what were arguably the most consequential U.S. data sets for global trading: employment figures and inflation readings. These developments are the focus of this week’s market summary. U.S. labor‑market data reflected a continued deterioration over the …

Silver prices surged to fresh all-time highs this week, underscoring a powerful rally that continues to defy traditional market headwinds. The metal climbed close to the $67.50 level, extending a strong upward trend that has gathered pace in recent months and captured the attention of global investors. What makes this …

Global financial markets are heading into the final stretch of the year with a mix of cautious optimism and lingering uncertainty, as investors begin to position for 2026. After a volatile 2025 marked by shifting growth expectations, policy adjustments, and sharp price swings across asset classes, attention is now turning …

The latest U.S. inflation figures are not expected to significantly alter the Federal Reserve’s policy direction, as policymakers appear more focused on incoming data rather than reacting to a single report. While recent figures continue to show gradual easing in price pressures, they are widely seen as insufficient on their …