US TRADE DEFICIT SURGES AS IMPORTS RISE

The US trade deficit widened to $56.8B in November, up from the lowest level since 2009, as imports rebounded and exports fell, Commerce Department data show. Imports rose 5%, led by pharmaceuticals and capital goods, while exports fell
(@FirstSquaw)

FED INDEPENDENCE WORRIES PRESSURE DOLLAR, COMMERZBANK SAYS

Concerns about political influence on the Fed weighed on the dollar after it held rates steady. Fed Chair Powell defended central bank independence, while Christopher Waller’s vote for a cut fuels speculation of politics
(@FirstSquaw)

AP REPORTER ON X: IRAN ISSUED A WARNING TO SHIPS AT SEA THURSDAY THAT IT PLANNED TO RUN A DRILL NEXT WEEK THAT WOULD INCLUDE LIVE FIRING IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ
(@FirstSquaw)

IRAN ISSUED A WARNING TO SHIPS AT SEA THURSDAY THAT IT PLANNED TO RUN A DRILL NEXT WEEK THAT WOULD INCLUDE LIVE FIRING IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ, POTENTIALLY DISRUPTING TRAFFIC THROUGH A WATERWAY THAT SEES 20% OF ALL THE WORLD'S OIL PASS THROUGH IT. - AP
(@FirstSquaw)

CATERPILLAR EXPECTS TARIFF SITUATION TO IMPROVE IN Q2
(@FirstSquaw)

LOCKHEED EXPECTS TO PRODUCE 156 OF ITS F-35 FIGHTERS IN 2026
(@FirstSquaw)

OIL PRICES STAY HIGH AMID GEOPOLITICAL RISKS

- Tensions with Iran, Kazakh outages, U.S. production freezes, and tighter Russian oil restrictions are keeping oil prices elevated, says Citi’s Anthony Yuen.

- Geopolitical risks add $3–$4 per barrel, lifting WTI 3.4% to $65.36
(@FirstSquaw)

U.S. OIL PRICES RISE 5% AS IRAN RISKS SWELL
(@FirstSquaw)

MUSK SAYS OPTIMUS 4 WILL BE BUILT IN TEXAS AT MUCH HIGHER VOLUME
(@FirstSquaw)

DOW JONES UP 71.11 POINTS, OR 0.15 %, AT 49,086.71 AFTER MARKET OPEN

S&P 500 UP 13.25 POINTS, OR 0.19 PERCENT, AT 6,991.28 AFTER MARKET OPEN

NASDAQ  DOWN 29.79 POINTS, OR 0.13 PERCENT, AT 23,827.66 AFTER MARKET OPEN
(@FirstSquaw)

MICROSOFT - SHARES TUMBLE 11% IN BIGGEST DROP SINCE MARCH 2020
(@FirstSquaw)

SNB'S SCHLEGEL SAYS SWISS GROWTH MORE RESILIENT THAN EXPECTED
(@FirstSquaw)

BOEING - RECENT CONTRACT INCREASES THE TOTAL VALUE OF THE AWARD TO MORE THAN $262 MILLION DOLLARS
(@FirstSquaw)

BOEING - NEW ORDER RAISES THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MH-139A AIRCRAFT UNDER CONTRACT TO 38
(@FirstSquaw)

SCHLEGEL SAYS PRICE PRESSURE IN SWITZERLAND HAS BARELY CHANGED
(@FirstSquaw)

MASTERCARD CEO MIEBACH SAYS DOESN'T AFFECT MASTERCARD DIRECTLY, ENGAGED IN DIALOG
(@FirstSquaw)

U.S. STOCKS EXTEND FALL, NASDAQ DOWN 1.01%
(@FirstSquaw)

GOLD SOARS PAST $5,500 AMID STRONG DEMAND

- Gold tops $5,500 an ounce, reaching $5,579, up 5% in a day.

- Banks see more upside: SocGen and Deutsche Bank target $6,000, Morgan Stanley $5,700, and Goldman Sachs $5,400 by year-end.

- Rising demand, potential rate cuts, and
(@FirstSquaw)

SCHLEGEL SAYS GLOBAL GROWTH MORE RESILIENT THAN EXPECTED (CORRECT)
(@FirstSquaw)

ECB'S CIPOLLONE SAYS RETAIL PAYMENTS INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS DIGITAL EURO'S NEEDED TO KEEP OUR HOUSE IN ORDER
(@FirstSquaw)

ECB'S CIPOLLONE SAYS SELF-RELIANCE ON PAYMENTS CAN STRENGTHEN EUROPE'S NEGOTIATING POSITION VS U.S.
(@FirstSquaw)