Market Update

Morgan Stanley capped off 2025 with a robust fourth-quarter performance, beating market expectations on both revenue and profit as investment banking activity rebounded sharply. The U.S. investment bank reported net revenues of $17.9 billion for the quarter, ahead of analysts’ forecasts of $17.72 billion. Earnings per share came in at …

Bitcoin rose on Thursday, extending a recent recovery as markets digested developments around a proposed U.S. bill aimed at establishing a regulatory framework for cryptocurrency. The world’s largest crypto rebounded from a sluggish start to the year after top corporate holder Strategy disclosed a major purchase this week. Still, Bitcoin …

The U.S. dollar edged higher on Thursday, continuing its rebound from a shaky start to the week as expectations for near-term Federal Reserve rate cuts continued to fade. At 03:00 ET (08:00 GMT), the Dollar Index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six major currencies, rose 0.1% to …

Spain’s European Union-harmonised 12-month inflation rate eased to 3.0% in December, down from 3.2% in November, according to final data released Thursday by the National Statistics Institute (INE). The reading matched both the preliminary “flash” estimate published two weeks ago and the average forecast from analysts polled by Reuters. Core …

The U.K. economy returned to growth in November after a disappointing start to the fourth quarter, although the country’s economic prospects remain uncertain. Data from the Office for National Statistics showed that gross domestic product grew by 0.3% on the month, after contracting by 0.1% in October. On an annual …

Oil prices edged lower in Asian trading on Wednesday after the previous session’s sharp rally driven by fears of supply disruptions in Iran, as investors turned their attention to data showing a sizeable build in U.S. crude inventories. Brent futures for March slipped 0.4% to $65.19 a barrel by 01:18 …

The U.S. earnings season accelerated in mid-January as several major banks reported fourth-quarter 2025 results, offering an early test of investor confidence in the financial sector. While the numbers largely exceeded expectations, the market response told a different story. Bank shares fell, dragging broader indexes lower and signaling unease beneath …

The latest Beige Book released by the Federal Reserve highlights a gradual pickup in economic activity across most regions of the United States since mid-November. According to the survey of regional contacts, the pace of growth ranged from “slight to modest,” marking an improvement compared to the previous three reporting …

Tech Giants Drag Market DownU.S. financial markets pulled back for a second straight day as investors digested corporate earnings and geopolitical developments. The S&P 500 fell 1.1%, the Dow Jones lost 333 points, and the Nasdaq dropped 1.6%, with technology stocks leading the decline. Semiconductor firms faced the heaviest losses …

Despite easing price pressures, senior Federal Reserve officials are making it clear that the inflation fight is not finished. As 2026 begins, policymakers are signaling caution, arguing that the U.S. economy remains strong enough to keep inflation risks alive.Recent comments from Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic and Minneapolis Fed President …