Markets rallied after a lighter-than-expected U.S. CPI and upbeat tech earnings. S&P 500 and Nasdaq led gains while the Dow lagged but snapped a losing run. Volatility eased as investors priced in lower US inflation risk and BOJ-driven global rate repricing; AI and semiconductors outperformed, energy and utilities lagged amid shifting rate expectations.
The Bank of Japan has resumed aggressive policy tightening, raising rates to levels unseen in three decades. Policymakers signalled more hikes if inflation and wage projections hold, recalibrating global rate expectations.
€90bn – Size of the EU joint loan package agreed to fund Ukraine for 2026-27.
Markets digested Japan’s policy shift: JGB yields surged and the yen weakened, complicating export/import dynamics. The move is pushing foreign investors back into Japanese equities while rattling global bond markets.
U.S. consumer-price data showed an unexpected slowdown but analysts warned the delayed report may be distorted. Debate over the reliability of November CPI clouds Fed rate expectations.
ICICI Prudential IPO Pops — Shares Jump 20% on Debut
ICICI Prudential Asset Management’s market debut rallied about 20% as investor demand flooded in, underscoring appetite for large, fee-generating asset managers in India.
More on asia.nikkei.com
Markets rebounded on softer inflation and tech strength, snapping recent losing streaks. Gains were led by AI-related names as investors priced back in growth optimism.
ByteDance and U.S. investors struck binding deals to keep TikTok operating in America via a new joint venture. The transaction clears a major regulatory hurdle and transfers control of key U.S. operations.
Nike Shares Slide as China Weakness Deepens — Turnaround Uncertain
Nike slipped after reports showed soft sales in Greater China, raising doubts about the pace of its recovery and the effectiveness of current turnaround plans.
More on ft.com
EU leaders agreed on a large, joint borrowing package to fund Ukraine for the next two years after plans to use frozen Russian assets faltered. The move marks an unprecedented fiscal step by the bloc.
Washington cleared a major arms package to Taiwan, prompting strong objections from Beijing. The sales represent one of the largest defense commitments to Taipei in years.
Major policy moves: the Bank of Japan tightened to a 30-year high; the White House reclassified marijuana to Schedule III, easing research and banking paths; the EU authorised joint borrowing for Ukraine; the US launched export reviews on advanced AI chips to China.
Trump Media announced a surprise tie-up with a fusion-energy developer in a deal that repositions the social-media parent as an energy play. The unconventional merger sparked sharp investor interest and market volatility.
The White House moved to loosen federal cannabis restrictions, reclassifying marijuana and opening new paths for research and banking. Markets and the cannabis sector reacted sharply to the policy shift.
Rate hikes will continue if current economic projections hold.
— Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda
The U.S. launched a review of Nvidia H200 chip exports to China, a move that could shape the future of AI hardware trade. The probe signals renewed scrutiny of high-performance chip flows to adversary markets.
The Bank of England signalled policy easing with a headline rate cut ahead of the holidays. The move offers short-term relief to borrowers while reigniting debate on the timing of future cuts.
Instacart agreed to a major settlement with U.S. regulators over deceptive billing and subscription practices. The $60m remedy forces refunds and tighter consumer protections.
Micron surprised markets with a strong beat and bullish guidance as AI memory demand surged. Analysts compared the print to Nvidia’s breakout, lifting chip and AI-adjacent stocks.
Crypto thefts and state-backed hacks surged in 2025, with North Korea’s operations setting a new annual record. The findings underscore persistent security gaps across wallets and exchanges.
Authorities confirmed the suspect in the Brown University shooting was found dead, closing a tense manhunt that had rattled campuses. Investigations continue into links with other incidents and evidence gaps.
Rapid data-center expansion is colliding with grid limits and local politics as communities push back on higher power costs. Large managers and funds are accelerating investments despite the regulatory friction.
OpenAI is expanding commercial reach while lining up massive new capital to scale compute and products. Moves include a developer app store plus talks of a landmark fundraising round.
Congress and the White House finalized a massive defence budget amid geopolitical tensions. The package secures funds for force posture and signals Washington’s long-term military priorities.