Markets paused after mixed U.S. data: S&P 500 futures inched higher while Nasdaq lagged as techs digest AI funding news. The Dow was pressured by energy swings after geopolitical moves lifted oil. Volatility rose as jobs and Fed-succession chatter set the 2026 rate narrative.
President Trump’s order to block sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers has rattled energy markets and raised supply-risk fears, sending crude higher. Markets and traders are assessing the geopolitical fallout and potential for prolonged disruptions to shipments.
4.6% – U.S. unemployment rate (November), highest since 2021.
Warner Bros. Discovery’s board has publicly rejected Paramount Skydance’s hostile cash bid, urging shareholders to back a Netflix deal instead. The dispute centers on financing certainty and perceived value, keeping the media M&A race volatile.
Paramount’s takeover push suffered fresh blows as key financiers pulled back, weakening the hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery. Exit by high-profile backers raises doubts about the offer’s credibility and funding path.
Medline’s IPO smashes expectations – $6.2bn raise crowns year’s biggest debut
Medline raised $6.2 billion in a blockbuster IPO, signalling robust investor demand for healthcare supply chains and providing a major win for private-market exits.
More on chicagotribune.com
OpenAI is in advanced talks with Amazon over a multibillion-dollar investment and possible chip licensing, a potential reshuffle in AI infrastructure financing. The talks, if completed, would deepen AWS-OpenAI ties and alter industry chip dynamics.
Databricks closed a massive funding round, lifting its private valuation and intensifying IPO speculation as AI demand heats up. The deal underscores investor appetite for software companies positioned to commercialize generative AI.
CoreWeave slides as AI infrastructure doubts deepen – stock tumbles
CoreWeave stock plunged further amid investor concerns over AI datacenter oversupply and valuation, leaving the shares far below 2024 highs and stoking sector contagion fears.
More on investors.com
China’s MetaX and U.S. startups are fueling a new wave of AI chip listings and funding, spotlighting the contest to dethrone Nvidia. Investors are piling into smaller chip makers even as valuation and supply risks rise.
Oracle’s planned $10bn Michigan data center stumbled after funding talks with Blue Owl stalled, raising doubts about the project’s timeline. The funding breakdown rippled across tech stocks and data-center financing markets.
FAA to spend $6bn on multibillion-dollar air-traffic control upgrade; FDIC proposes stablecoin application framework under GENIUS Act; UK inflation drop accelerates BoE rate-cut planning.
Hut 8’s pivot from bitcoin to AI infrastructure was validated by a long-term deal to host Fluidstack and Anthropic capacity, a major commercial commitment for GPU compute. The lease signals rising institutional demand for purpose-built AI data centers.
Binance is exploring ways to restructure its U.S. arm and is stepping up fraud controls, moves aimed at stabilizing regulatory exposure and restoring growth prospects. The firm’s reward program and recapitalization plans signal a bid to rebuild U.S. operations.
I will absolutely emphasize the Federal Reserve’s independence — that is non‑negotiable.
— Fed governor candidate Christopher Waller
Christopher Waller, a contender for Fed chair, is stressing central bank independence and commenting on labor market softness as the Fed succession nears. His remarks and scheduled appearances are shaping expectations about the next Fed leader.
The delayed U.S. jobs reports show cooling payroll gains and a rising unemployment rate, renewing debate over the timing of Fed rate cuts. Markets are parsing the data for signs of durable slowdown versus a soft landing.
Large banks are repositioning liquidity ahead of expected policy moves, with JPMorgan reallocating reserves into Treasuries while Fed liquidity measures calm year-end funding stress. Money-market dynamics remain a key market focus.
Ukraine’s forces are attempting local counterattacks amid Russia’s intensified offensive, even as Moscow claims strategic initiative. The battlefield sees mixed signals with high operational stakes for Europe’s security response.
Australian authorities have treated the Bondi Beach mass shooting as a terrorist act, prompting criminal charges and national security scrutiny. The attack has sparked investigations into potential networks and inspired policy debates on domestic extremism.
Law enforcement in the U.S. is intensifying appeals to the public to help identify a masked suspect in the Brown University shooting, as campus communities demand answers. The case has spotlighted campus security and police coordination.
Ford is pulling back on big EV bets, cancelling a major battery contract and scrapping the all-electric F-150, signaling a strategic pivot after costly missteps. The moves underline industry-wide recalibration amid shifting policy and demand.
Tesla faces regulatory heat in California over Autopilot marketing and a temporary sales suspension was threatened, forcing the company into defensive legal and compliance maneuvers. The probe raises reputational and sales risks for the EV leader.
UK inflation cooled more than expected, strengthening the case for an imminent Bank of England rate cut. Lower food and clothing prices have shifted market expectations and pressured gilt yields.