Warner Bros. Discovery will again reject a takeover offer from Paramount, according to reports on Dec. 31, 2025. The decision closes the door on another approach by Paramount and keeps the companies on separate strategic paths. #WBD #PARA #FiatNews

Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Dec. 31, 2025 that China will meet its economic targets for the year, signaling confidence in the country’s policy measures and recovery efforts. The comment underscores Beijing’s focus on stabilizing growth amid global headwinds. #China #FiatNews

Federal Reserve minutes from the December meeting, released Dec. 31, 2025, show policymakers signaled a willingness to consider further interest-rate reductions. The record highlights debate over timing and pace of cuts as officials weigh inflation trends and economic data. #Fed #FederalReserve #FiatNews

Moody's Analytics warns that U.S. growth around 2% is unlikely to generate strong job gains. Mark Zandi said the latest labor data show a positive development in initial unemployment claims, but firms remain reluctant to add many new employees. He stresses that sustained job creation is essential to prevent the economy from tipping into recession.

Zandi highlighted the disconnect between improving claims figures and weak hiring: while layoffs may be easing, payroll growth has not picked up enough to support broader demand. Growth near 2% typically does not deliver the level of job creation needed to close slack in the labor market.

The assessment underscores the importance of monitoring payrolls and hiring trends as indicators of whether modest GDP growth can be translated into stronger employment and a more resilient economy. #US #Jobs #MoodysAnalytics #FiatNews

Fed minutes from the December meeting reinforced market expectations for additional rate cuts next year, while U.S. equities traded nearly unchanged and overall market sentiment remained calm on Dec. 30, 2025. The release did not prompt large moves, with investors appearing to have already priced in prospective easing. The minutes supported bets on lower policy rates in the coming year, confirming the Fed discussion on the timing of adjustments. Market calm following the note suggests limited surprise in the details and a steady reaction across equities and bond markets. #Fed #USStocks #InterestRates #FiatNews

As markets enter the new year, commentators highlight the tension between investor sentiment and fundamental valuation levels. The piece argues that valuation metrics serve as a crossover between sentiment and fundamentals and cautions that signals of deep pessimism would be inconsistent with historically elevated valuations. "I cannot really imagine a situation where an indicator credibly points to negative sentiment and strong risk aversion while valuations are historically very high," the commentary states (30 Dec 2025).

Key takeaways: current valuation measures remain above long-term norms, suggesting limited coherence with any narrative of broad risk aversion. The note implies investors should weigh valuation context alongside sentiment indicators when assessing market direction in early 2026. #markets #valuation #sentiment #stocks #FiatNews

Global LNG exports rose about 4% this year to roughly 429 million tonnes, the largest annual increase since 2022. The expansion reflects shifting demand patterns and capacity additions in liquefaction and shipping, marking renewed growth in the LNG trade. #LNG #FiatNews

Russian pipeline gas exports to Europe fell sharply in 2025, declining 44% to about 18 billion cubic meters (bcm), the lowest level since the mid-1970s, Reuters said based on its calculations. The agency also reported that Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to Europe were weaker this year.

The drop refers to deliveries via pipeline networks from Russia into European markets and marks a significant contraction in pipeline supply volumes compared with previous years. Reuters’ analysis provides the primary source for the figures.

The data underline a broader reduction in Russian gas flows to the continent in 2025, with both pipeline and LNG exports running below historical norms. #Russia #Europe #gas #LNG #FiatNews

Preliminary data show global exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) rose 4% in 2025 to 429 million tonnes, marking the largest annual increase since 2022. The figures were published in a year-end report on December 30, 2025.

The 4% rise in volumes represents the strongest growth in three years; by comparison, LNG exports grew 4.5% in 2022. The statistics are presented as preliminary and may be subject to revision.

The report highlights a rebound in annual LNG trade volumes to 429 million tonnes, underlining renewed activity in global gas markets after more muted growth in the intervening years. #LNG #energy #NaturalGas #FiatNews

Humanoid robots are approaching mainstream markets, but the initial market leader is expected to be China rather than Elon Musk's Tesla. The report says China will take the early crown in the race to commercialize humanoid machines, not Tesla.

Elon Musk brought humanoid robots into the spotlight this year, calling them central to Tesla’s valuation and saying the company “could reach tens of trillions of dollars” if the technology succeeds.

The article frames the coming humanoid-robot market as a geopolitical and commercial contest, with China positioned to lead the initial rollout while Tesla remains a focal name in public debate. #robots #Tesla #China #AI #FiatNews

Czech economic growth is expected to slow to about 2% next year after surprising expansion of just over 2.5% this year, writes Jan Bureš. The stronger-than-expected outturn in 2025 was driven primarily by household consumption and inventory rebuilding.

Bureš forecasts a mild deceleration to roughly 2% in 2026 but notes that the overall result will remain solid. He highlights that consumption is set to remain a key growth driver even as headline growth moderates.

The commentary also warns that the labour market is likely to stay tight into the coming year, keeping labour market pressure elevated. (Commentary by Jan Bureš, 30 December 2025) #CzechRepublic #economy #GDP #labour #FiatNews

Japan’s Nikkei 225 closed the year above 50,000 points for the first time, finishing 2025 up about 26% from the start of the year. The milestone was recorded on Dec. 30, 2025, as the index benefited from broad gains across the market.

Kyodo reports that investor interest in artificial intelligence (AI) and expectations for economic measures from new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi helped drive the advance.

The move marks a notable year for Japanese equities as AI-related themes and hopes for policy action coincided with strong index performance, according to Kyodo. #Nikkei225 #Japan #AI #FiatNews

Meta Platforms will acquire Manus, a China-linked AI start-up headquartered in Singapore, in a move aimed at strengthening its advanced artificial intelligence capabilities, reported Dec. 30, 2025. Meta, the U.S. company that owns Facebook, announced the purchase as part of its ongoing investment in AI technology. #Meta #AI #Facebook

Manus is described as a Chinese start-up with operations in Singapore that develops artificial intelligence solutions. The acquisition underscores Meta’s continued focus on building out its AI research and product stack across geographies. No financial terms or detailed timelines were disclosed in the report.

The deal follows a broader industry trend of major tech firms acquiring specialized AI teams to accelerate product development and research. Meta’s purchase of Manus adds to its portfolio of AI talent and capabilities as it seeks to compete in advanced AI applications. #FiatNews

Chinese electric-vehicle price wars that intensified in 2025 are expected to continue into next year, industry observers say. The domestic market was dominated this year by aggressive discounting and undercutting among a wide range of manufacturers, a trend that has not spared leading brands such as Tesla and BYD.

Throughout 2025, rivalry on price became a defining feature of China’s EV sector, with multiple makers engaging in promotional campaigns and cuts to list prices to protect or expand market share. Those movements reshaped competitive dynamics across segments from mass-market models to more premium offerings.

The continuation of these pricing pressures into next year suggests that competition will remain centered on affordability and volume, keeping pricing strategies at the forefront of market developments in China’s EV industry. #EV #China #Tesla #BYD #FiatNews

As 2025 draws to a close (30 Dec 2025), a commentary surveys the year‑ahead forecasts and highlights a blind spot: low‑probability scenarios for 2026 that markets typically do not price in. The piece opens from the common observation that most institutions present baseline or consensus outcomes when publishing outlooks at year‑end.

It argues that consensus scenarios dominate narratives and asset valuations, while a range of unlikely but potentially material events receives far less attention. The summary notes this imbalance without listing specific scenarios in the excerpt provided.

The note serves as a reminder for market participants to recognise that consensus views can understate tail risks and that preparedness for less probable outcomes may matter for positioning and risk management. #markets #2026 #scenario #FiatNews

Markets: European futures opened in the red, signaling weaker sentiment ahead of the cash session. The report states futures were down but does not quantify the moves; investors will watch upcoming macro data and corporate news for direction. #EuropeanMarkets #FiatNews

Commodities: Silver rebounded after Monday's sell-off and returned to gains, recovering from the earlier flush. The report notes the rebound but does not give precise price moves. Traders will monitor momentum in precious metals. #silver #preciousmetals #FiatNews

Corporate moves: SoftBank and Meta have announced new acquisitions, with both groups active in buying. The report offers no specifics on targets or deal sizes. Investors should note increased M&A activity among major tech and investment firms. #SoftBank #Meta #FiatNews

US politics: President Trump has again threatened to remove Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. The report says a replacement could be announced sometime in January; no further details were provided. Market participants will watch for developments. #Trump #Powell #FiatNews

On Dec. 30, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump again threatened to sue Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, accusing him of "gross incompetence" in connection with Powell’s handling of the renovation of the Fed’s headquarters in Washington. The comment was framed as a potential legal action over the renovation project.

The statement repeats an escalation in tensions between the White House and the Fed’s leadership, focusing specifically on management of the building work rather than monetary policy. No details on the legal basis, timeline or where a suit might be filed were provided in the report.

The remark adds to ongoing public friction between the administration and the central bank’s chair, with Powell remaining head of the Federal Reserve as of the report. #Trump #Powell #Fed #FiatNews

# On 30 Dec 2025 Jeremy Siegel told CNBC that US labor‑market data show the economy is neither overheating nor deteriorating. He said stability in employment metrics provides a good starting point for the year ahead. #JeremySiegel #USeconomy #labor #CNBC #FiatNews

US stocks appear poised for another year of gains, Ed Yardeni of Yardeni Research said on CNBC on 17 December 2025, highlighting current valuations in the technology sector. He noted that "the technology sector is now trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of thirty; at the height of the internet bubble it was around fifty."

Yardeni’s remark frames the valuation picture for tech: a P/E of 30 today versus roughly 50 at the dot‑com peak. The comparison was offered as context for whether the market can sustain further upside after recent rallies.

Investors and analysts will likely watch tech earnings and valuation metrics as they assess prospects for continued gains into the coming year. #USStocks #Tech #Valuation #Yardeni #FiatNews

OpenAI has taken a stake in the investment fund Thrive Holdings, while Chinese startup DeepSeek unveiled new versions of its AI model—moves that underscore ongoing strategic investments and product development across the AI landscape. #FiatNews

Alibaba’s AI app Qwen recorded over 10 million downloads within a week of its relaunch and rebranding. The company said it will roll out additional AI features in the coming months to support shopping across its platforms, including Taobao. #Alibaba #Qwen #AI #FiatNews

UK budget uncertainty: Chancellor Rachel Reeves backed away from planned income tax increases, a move that triggered a sharp sell-off in UK gilts and depreciation of the pound as markets reacted to the policy reversal. #UK #gilts #FiatNews

US ISM manufacturing for October fell to 48.7 (from 49.1), below consensus ~49.5; subindices were mixed, prices eased to 58 (from 61.9) while employment and new orders were slightly stronger. The print had limited impact given ongoing Fed hawkish rhetoric. Continued US government closure is constraining new data flows; ECB speakers are scheduled today. #EURUSD #ISM #FiatNews

Automakers are re-evaluating future demand for internal-combustion vehicles and EVs. Mark Fields, who served as CEO of Ford, said US automakers are now trying to estimate demand for both powertrain types. #EVs #FiatNews

Tech and speculative stocks led the pullback. Tesla, Netflix and Texas Instruments were among the biggest decliners after disappointing outlooks; Tesla also issued a recall of thousands of vehicles for a defect that can cause sudden loss of power. #TSLA #NFLX #TXN #FiatNews

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signalled the U.S. may extend a pause on tariffs on Chinese goods beyond three months if China abandons planned export controls on rare earths. G7 ministers are considering a coordinated response to deter Beijing from restricting rare earth exports. #China #G7 #FiatNews

UBS said the bull market remains intact, pointing to steady corporate earnings growth combined with expected monetary easing as the supporting factors. The firm’s view suggests these dynamics could sustain equity-market resilience amid near-term volatility. #UBS #FiatNews

Shares of Broadcom closed about 10% higher after OpenAI agreed a multi‑year partnership to buy Broadcom chips and networking equipment. The deal forms part of OpenAI’s plan to expand AI infrastructure; OpenAI will design hardware and jointly develop it with Broadcom, according to a joint statement. #Broadcom #OpenAI #FiatNews

Chinese stocks closed notably higher after Alibaba announced plans to increase investment in artificial intelligence, a move that helped lift sentiment across the region. Alibaba shares rose to multi‑year highs following the announcement, supporting gains in Asian tech. #Alibaba #FiatNews

Germany’s Ifo business climate index unexpectedly fell in September, mirroring yesterday’s weaker manufacturing PMI. Analysts say the surprise softening reflects sentiment among smaller firms but is not seen as likely to trigger major market moves in the immediate term. #Ifo #PMI #FiatNews

European markets open slightly softer after Wall Street losses: DAX, FTSE100 and CAC40 are down roughly 0.2% while the AEX posts small gains. The move is described as modest and not dramatic, with most European bourses trading mixed in the morning session. #DAX #FTSE #CAC40 #FiatNews

The OECD has raised its forecast for global economic growth this year by 0.3 percentage point to 3.2%, citing stronger-than-expected resilience in the first half of the year as industrial production and trade were supported by pre-tariff stockbuilding. The organisation left its 2026 world growth projection unchanged at 2.9%; world GDP grew 3.3% last year. (23 September 2025)

Country specifics: the OECD expects US growth to slow to 1.8% this year (down from 2.8% last year) but revised that estimate up 0.2 pp since June; US growth is seen at 1.5% in 2026. China’s 2025 outlook was raised to 4.9% from 4.7%, with 2026 growth forecast at 4.4%. The eurozone forecast was nudged up to 1.2% for 2025 (from 1.0%), while next year’s estimate was trimmed to 1.0% (from 1.2%).

The OECD warned the full impact of higher US tariffs introduced under President Donald Trump has not yet been felt: firms have so far absorbed much of the shock through margin compression and pre‑tariff inventory purchases. The effective US import tariff rate was estimated at about 19.5% through end‑August, the highest level since 1933. Investment in artificial intelligence in the US and fiscal support in China have propped up activity, but the inventory boost is fading and higher tariffs are likely to weigh on investment and trade.

On policy, the OECD expects most major central banks to ease or keep monetary policy loose next year if inflation pressures continue to wane. If higher tariffs do not spark broader inflation, the Fed could cut rates amid a softer labour market, while the ECB is expected to keep policy unchanged as inflation remains near its 2% target. #OECD #GDP #tariffs #AI #FiatNews

Selected FX quotes at 11:10 CET: CZK/EUR 24.2539 (+0.0180%), CZK/USD 20.5455 (-0.0292%), USD/EUR 1.1804 (+0.0322%), JPY/EUR 174.1790 (-0.0923%). These reflect minor intraday moves versus yesterday’s European close. #CZK #EURUSD #FiatNews

Prokop highlights loopholes enabling corporate tax avoidance: sales of firms between related holdings, routing property via companies to sidestep transfer taxes, and untaxed capital extraction. He suggests rethinking exemptions, tighter rules on capital transactions and targeted relief for first investments. #TaxAvoidance #CorporateTax #FiatNews

#Former ECB president Mario Draghi warned in Brussels that the EU’s inability to act decisively jeopardizes not only competitiveness but also its sovereignty. He made the remarks at a conference on competitiveness. #EU #Draghi #FiatNews

American Express shares rose 1.7% after the issuer announced upgrades to its US Platinum card, adding new benefits valued at over $3,500 per year while increasing the annual fee by $200. #AmericanExpress #creditcards #FiatNews

Darden Restaurants shares dropped 7.7% after Olive Garden’s parent reported fiscal Q1 earnings and revenue that missed expectations and confirmed guidance that only narrowly meets consensus. The results weighed on investor sentiment for the restaurant operator. #Darden #restaurants #FiatNews