Markets rallied on the Fed’s 25bp cut but volatility lingered as investors digested hawkish signals about future easing. The S&P 500 and Dow posted gains while the Nasdaq underperformed after tech and AI names sold off; traders rotated into banks, energy and precious metals as bitcoin and risk assets pulled back.
U.S. forces have seized a Venezuelan-bound oil tanker, escalating tensions with Caracas and drawing sharp diplomatic condemnations. The move ratchets up pressure on Maduro and risks disrupting regional oil flows amid an already fragile market.
25 bps – Fed cuts benchmark rate to 3.50%-3.75%.
The Federal Reserve delivered a contentious 25bp cut, signaling a pause next year and splitting policymakers. Markets rallied on lower rates but remain jittery as investors parse Powell’s cautious guidance.
Oracle’s mixed quarter and big AI capex surprised investors, triggering steep share losses and renewed scrutiny of AI spending. The results rippled across AI-linked names, heightening sector volatility.
Emerging biotech raises $220M to scale AI drug platform
Privately held biotech firm NeoThera closed a $220 million series C to commercialize its AI-driven drug discovery platform, signaling investor appetite for life-science AI.
TSMC is weighing higher-end output at its second Japan plant to feed surging AI demand, signaling tighter global chip supply dynamics. The move underscores how foundry capacity is being reallocated toward sophisticated nodes.
SpaceX is pressing ahead with IPO plans that could rank among the largest ever, fueling market speculation about timing and valuation. Musk’s hints and multiple reports have already moved related space and satellite stocks.
Retailer faces major data breach — millions of customer records exposed
National retailer ShopCore disclosed a breach affecting customer payment and identity data, triggering regulatory probes and a sharp hit to consumer trust.
Bidders for Warner Bros. Discovery are preparing for a drawn-out fight as Netflix and Paramount jostle for control. The transaction could reshape media consolidation dynamics and prompt regulatory and national-security scrutiny.
Diplomacy around Ukraine advanced as Kyiv sent a draft peace plan to the U.S. while talks with Russia show limited progress. The developments keep markets and capitals on edge about the conflict’s near-term trajectory.
U.S. proposal to collect five years of social-media history from visa-free visitors; ECB moves to simplify bank rules and consider AT1 tweaks; India proposes pricing regime for content used to train AI models.
The Trump administration has rolled out tariffs and trade measures targeting multiple countries, deepening global trade friction. Mexico’s tariff hikes and new U.S. measures threaten to disrupt supply chains and agricultural markets.
The ECB moved to simplify rules for banks and floated changes to AT1 capital to better absorb shocks, aiming to ease compliance burdens for smaller lenders. The proposals mark a notable regulatory shift in Europe ahead of 2026.
We are navigating a very unusual economy — policy must be flexible and cautious.
— Fed Chair Jerome Powell
The IEA trimmed its projected oil surplus as OPEC+ output dips, while oil prices fell after the Fed rate call, reflecting the tug-of-war between fundamentals and macro moves. Supply-side churn and geopolitical risk keep the market volatile.
Google DeepMind unveiled plans for an automated research lab in the U.K. and sealed a sweeping government partnership to accelerate materials and clean-energy breakthroughs. The moves cement Big Tech’s deeper push into applied science.
Gold jumped after the Fed cut rates and silver hit a record as investors sought safe havens; the dollar weakened on the monetary pivot. Precious metals traders are pricing in a looser path for U.S. policy amid global uncertainty.
State attorneys general have drawn a line under AI safety, warning big tech to fix ‘delusional’ chatbot outputs or face legal risk. The move intensifies regulatory scrutiny of generative AI across platforms.
Cryptocurrency markets slid as Oracle’s results and Fed caution dented risk appetite; bitcoin fell below key levels. Crypto derivatives saw large forced liquidations, underscoring fragility in risk-on trades.
The U.S. House passed a $900 billion defense authorization, including pay raises and procurement changes, as Congress grapples with hot political disputes. The bill’s passage signals bipartisan appetite to fund the military despite other legislative fights.
EU investigators raided Temu’s European HQ under foreign subsidy rules amid concerns about unfair Beijing-backed support. The probe heightens scrutiny of China-linked e-commerce players operating in Europe.
Schneider Electric unveiled a large buyback and raised its revenue targets, signaling confidence in margin expansion and cash returns. The aggressive capital-return plan reflects corporate-level optimism amid cyclical demand.
Palantir won a $448 million U.S. Navy deal to address submarine delays as the Pentagon expands AI investments across shipbuilding. The contract highlights defense contractors’ growing role in modernizing military logistics.