Market Update

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 …

Gold prices rose modestly in Asian trading on Tuesday, recovering slightly after a steep drop from near record highs in the previous session, as year-end profit-taking eased and investors reassessed a range of geopolitical risks. By 00:12 ET (06:12 GMT), spot gold was up 0.7% at $4,362.30 per ounce, while …

Economic Data Fuels Dollar Momentum: The US dollar rose to a one-week high on Tuesday, boosted by encouraging economic indicators and market expectations of a cautiously managed Federal Reserve. Recent data showed home prices increasing steadily across major cities, signaling resilience in the housing sector. The monthly and annual growth …

Oil prices fell on Tuesday as a stronger US dollar and rising American inventories weighed on the market, but robust Chinese demand, ongoing geopolitical tensions, and OPEC+ production freeze plans limited the losses.The market appears poised for a period of cautious equilibrium, balancing supply pressures with sustained global demand.Crude futures …

Dollar Gains Strength as Fed Signals More Rate Cuts: As the year winds down, forex markets are digesting the latest insights from the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) December meeting. The released minutes revealed that many Fed officials are open to additional rate cuts if inflation continues to ease, while …

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) released the minutes of its December meeting, signaling that most officials are open to further interest rate reductions if inflation continues its gradual decline. The document also highlighted a modest upward revision to the U.S. economic growth forecast compared to the October meeting. Policymakers …