Market Update

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 …

Euro’s Resilient Rally: The euro ended 2025 on a strong note, recovering from earlier lows to trade firmly above 1.1750 in the final sessions of the year. Despite thin holiday volumes and subdued volatility, the common currency has delivered one of its best annual performances in recent memory, appreciating more …

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 …