NextFin News - New York

Pre‑Market Performance

• U.S. index futures: Nasdaq 100 −0.38% (25,763.8, −99.5 pts); S&P 500 −0.22% (6,963.8, −15.5 pts); Dow Jones −0.03% (48,985, −13 pts).
• Europe: FTSE 100 +0.02% (9,872.62, +1.94); CAC 40 +0.02% (8,104.95, +1.37); DAX −0.19% (24,294.29, −45.77).
• Commodities: Brent crude $61.31 (+1.1%); WTI $57.39 (+1.15%) as traders weigh geopolitics and Middle East risks. reuters.com
• Metals: Gold $4,455.34 (−1.7%); Silver $75.47 (−4.6%) after hitting fresh records earlier in the session. reuters.com
• FX: The U.S. dollar index hovers near a three‑month low and is on pace for a ~9.5% annual drop; the yen edges firmer. reuters.com

Macroeconomic Policy and Data

Fed policy: The FOMC cut the fed funds rate by 25 bps at the December meeting to 3.50%–3.75%, its third straight cut, while signaling a patient approach to additional easing amid divided votes. tradingeconomics.com

• CPI (Nov): Headline +2.7% y/y (vs +3.1% cons); Core +2.6% y/y (vs +3.1% cons). October data were canceled due to the shutdown, limiting m/m comparisons. Cooler inflation supports the Fed’s gradual‑cuts stance. finance.yahoo.com
• Initial jobless claims (wk ended Dec 20): 214k (cons 224k), prior 224k; continued claims 1.923m (+38k), suggesting slower hiring despite low layoffs. reuters.com
• Week ahead (Dec 29–Jan 2): Pending Home Sales (Nov) expected +0.8% today; Tuesday brings December FOMC minutes; Chicago PMI and Case‑Shiller also due into year‑end. barrons.com

Market impact and positioning: Softer inflation and a labor market in “no hire, no fire” mode keep rate‑cut expectations alive, underpinning duration and precious metals while leaving the dollar soft. Oil’s rebound and bond‑market sensitivity to fiscal dynamics suggest cross‑asset volatility remains tied to geopolitics and Treasury funding signals into year‑end.

Hot News

• Oil firms on geopolitics: Brent and WTI rise ~1% as markets track Middle East risks and U.S.–Ukraine talks after last week’s pullback. reuters.com
• Metals cool from records: Silver and gold retreat after record‑setting surges, with profit‑taking cited amid thin year‑end liquidity. reuters.com
• Dollar weak into year‑end: The greenback lingers near multi‑month lows as 2025 closes with an outsized annual drop amid Fed cuts and global rate convergence. reuters.com
• Bond vigilantes watch U.S. funding: Treasury issuance mix and policy messaging keep yields contained for now, but positioning remains fragile. reuters.com
• U.S.–China chip tariffs delayed: Washington outlines semiconductor tariffs but pushes implementation to June 2027, keeping near‑term supply chains steadier. reuters.com

U.S. Stock Focus

• Nvidia: Licenses Groq’s inference tech and hires key execs (Jonathan Ross, Sunny Madra) in a non‑exclusive deal; reports estimate the transaction value around $20B though the parties frame it as licensing plus hires. Potential to deepen Nvidia’s real‑time AI stack heading into 2026. reuters.com
• Tesla: NHTSA opens a probe into ~179k Model 3 cars (MY22) over mechanical emergency door releases after a defect petition; shares may be sensitive to regulatory headlines. reuters.com
• Apple: Italy’s AGCM fines Apple €98.6m over App Tracking Transparency implementation; Apple plans to appeal. Separately, foreign‑brand phone shipments in China—including iPhone—jumped in November. reuters.com
• Alphabet (Google): Agrees to buy Intersect Power’s data‑center energy business for about $4.75B to secure power for AI growth; deal expected to close in early 2026. ft.com
• Microsoft: Revised OpenAI pact gives Microsoft a 27% stake and long‑term model access, shoring up Azure AI visibility; capital commitments could be substantial over coming years. bloomberg.com
• Amazon: AV unit Zoox recalls 332 vehicles for an ADS software fix that could cause lane violations near intersections; update deployed OTA. reuters.com
• Boeing: Secures a $2B B‑52 engine replacement order as part of USAF modernization and has sought an FAA waiver to sell additional 777F freighters ahead of 2028 emissions rules. reuters.com
• Broadcom: Guides strongly on AI revenue but flags margin pressure from mix; the stock reacted to the prospect of lower gross margins amid big AI system ramps. finance.yahoo.com
• Pfizer: Reports a patient death in a long‑term hemophilia drug study (Hympavzi); the company is working with investigators and an external DMC to review the case and currently sees no change to the safety profile. reuters.com
• Meta Platforms: Italy’s antitrust regulator orders changes to certain WhatsApp terms seen as limiting rival AI chatbots; Meta will appeal. reuters.com

Risk and Positioning

Into the final trading days of 2025, softer inflation and the Fed’s December cut support duration and growth‑style leadership, but thin liquidity and geopolitical currents (energy prices, bond‑market sensitivity to funding) argue for disciplined risk management around catalysts such as housing data, FOMC minutes and any late‑December regulatory headlines. barrons.com