MARKETS
Asian shares gain as US CPI boosts stocks, bonds
Shares in Japan and Australia climbed along with Hong Kong equity futures, following an 0.8% gain for the S&P 500 and a 1.5% rally for the Nasdaq 100 on Thursday.
BUSINESS
China has bought more than half the soybeans it promised from US
The tally follows a wave of buying from Sinograin, the state company in charge of managing China’s strategic grain reserves.
WORLD
US troops face ‘unsanitary’ border condition, watchdog finds
The problems include “leaking raw sewage, non-functional toilets, and general disrepair of facilities,” according to the report
BUSINESS
US core CPI unexpectedly eases to slowest pace since 2021
The core consumer price index, which excludes the often-volatile food and energy categories, increased 2.6% in November, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data out Thursday
BUSINESS
Lufthansa lands $400 million windfall 747 sale to US Air Force
The Boeing Co. 747-8 planes will be used for training and parts as the company works on next-generation versions of Air Force One, the Air Force said.
BUSINESS
Gold steadies near record as platinum extends meteoric climb
Platinum extended a breakneck rally, surging close to $2,000 an ounce before paring gains.
BUSINESS
UK sanctions Pakistani tycoon Lakhani for Russian energy role
The British sanctions also designated a cadre of companies, including Lakhani’s Mercantile & Maritime Group.
WORLD
Stock bulls have a worryingly long list of 2026 risks to ponder
The long list of things that could go wrong suggests that drawdowns and volatility spikes are likely during 2026, especially given an investor base that is so determined to chase the market higher. Here’s a closer look at the challenges to the upbeat outlook.
WORLD
Russia will be paying for its war on Ukraine long after it ends
While economists in Russia are divided on whether such a trajectory is financially sustainable, the more immediate challenge for the government is the rising cost of servicing its debt.
BUSINESS
How BP’s new boss became the most powerful woman in fossil fuels
To supporters, she is exactly the leader BP needs. To critics, she represents an industry choosing regression over reinvention
INDIA
India insurance move opens pension firms to 100% foreign holding
The measure is an 'enabler' that will help draw interest from global investors in the pension fund sector over time, chief of India's pension fund regulator said
WORLD
BP makes O’Neill first female Big Oil CEO in bid for revival
The management shakeup comes as BP lags behind its rivals due to a combination of corporate disasters, war, lackluster returns from its renewables efforts and some bad luck
BUSINESS
Ford scraps $6.5 billion EV battery contract with Korea’s LG Energy Solution
Ford notified LG of the canceled order on Wednesday, the South Korean company said in a regulatory filing in Seoul
WORLD
OpenAI discussed funding at $750 billion value: Report
The tech news website said Wednesday that the discussions were preliminary and the details could still change
WORLD
SpaceX’s record IPO plan pushes obscure fund into spotlight
The ERShares Private-Public Crossover ETF (ticker XOVR) has taken in more than $470 million since December 8 — more than half its total assets
ARTIFICIAL-INTELLIGENCE
World-beating 55,000% surge in India AI stock fuels bubble fears
The rally is now showing signs of strain — and regulators are taking a closer look
MARKETS
Asian stocks decline as traders retreat from tech
Shares in Japan and Australia dropped along with equity futures for Hong Kong. The tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 declined 1.9% Wednesday with Nvidia Corp. slipping 3.8% to its lowest since September.
BUSINESS
AI chip startup mythic raises $125 million in bid to take on Nvidia
Mythic, which tapped Nvidia veteran Taner Ozcelik as its chief executive officer last year, raised the money from a group led by venture firm DCVC
BUSINESS
Ford scraps $6.5 billion EV battery contract with Korea’s LG
The amount is equivalent more than a third of LG’s total revenue last year.
BUSINESS
Warner Bros. urges investors to reject 'inferior' Paramount bid
The Paramount offer 'remains inferior' to the Netflix merger, the Warner Bros. board wrote. The board unanimously recommended the Netflix deal, saying the terms of the Netflix merger are 'superior'.
BUSINESS
Rupee roars back on RBI's support, up most in seven months
The rupee rose as much as 1%, the most since May 23, to 90.0963 on Wednesday, after closing at a record low in the previous session.
BUSINESS
Fleet of Russian oil tankers builds up off China coast as India pulls back
At least five vessels carrying about 3.4 million barrels were idling in the Yellow Sea as of Wednesday, double the volume of last week and the highest level for the grade in that region in more than five years
BUSINESS
US readies new Russia sanctions if Putin rejects peace deal
The new measures could be unveiled as early as this week, some of the people said.
WORLD
Bondi shooter charged with 59 counts including murder, terrorism
The 24 year-old, who’s been identified as Naveed Akram, remains under police guard in the hospital, New South Wales police said in a statement
