WORLD
Asian stocks to rise before payrolls, oil jumps
The dollar was slightly stronger Thursday, while oil moved higher as investors monitored developments in Venezuela and Iran. Silver retreated further from its record struck earlier in the week, while gold inched higher.
BUSINESS
Meta hires former DOGE, Trump election lawyer as lobbyist
Bill McGinley’s high-profile hire is the latest indication of the company’s increasingly cozy relationship with President Donald Trump and his administration.
WORLD
Microsoft founder Allen’s estate sells stake in $11 billion firm
Allen’s estate last year agreed to sell the Trail Blazers to a group led by investor Tom Dundon, adding to earlier disposals of his art collection as well as a 414-foot superyacht, Octopus.
BUSINESS
Boeing CEO sees more work on company turnaround in 2026
Boeing got an added boost when long-time customer Alaska Air Group Inc. unveiled the largest airplane order in its history on Wednesday.
WORLD
US spy chief Gabbard excluded from Maduro plan over past views
As a Democratic congresswoman in 2019, Gabbard said the US needs to “stay out” of Venezuela, and as recently as last month she railed against “warmongers” pushing the US into conflict.
WORLD
Post-Maduro 124% rally stuns Venezuela’s battered stock exchange
Apart from being shallow — with a total market capitalization of $22.5 billion at the official exchange rate and fewer than 40 listed companies — local stocks also face regulatory hurdles and currency concerns that hinder both local and foreign investment.
BUSINESS
Trump's Venezuela meeting is shaping up to be a who's who of us oil
Exxon and ConocoPhillips previously operated there but left after their assets were nationalized by Maduro’s predecessor, Hugo Chávez, in the mid-2000s.
CURRENCY
Dollar defies Trump turmoil, rising with focus on the fed’s path
Traders ratcheted up their bets against the US currency heading into the new year, wagering it would be dragged down again as the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates, giving global investors incentive to shift cash to places where payouts are higher.
WORLD
Trump cuts shrink federal workforce across nearly all agencies
The new system will report changes monthly. OPM is also releasing monthly statistics — like retirement eligibility, performance scores and telework — that were often inconsistently reported across agencies.
BUSINESS
China to approve Nvidia H200 buying as soon as this quarter
However, the H200 chip will be barred from the military, sensitive government agencies, critical infrastructure and state-owned enterprises due to security concerns
BUSINESS
HSBC agrees to pay €300 million to end French tax dividend probes
HSBC said in court on Thursday that the bank acknowledges the underlying facts, which involved transactions carried out by traders in Paris between 2014 and 2019
INDIA
Germany and India on verge of $8 billion submarine agreement
The agreement, negotiated ahead of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s visit to the South Asian nation next week, would for the first time include technology transfer for submarine production,
WORLD
US unveils strategy on Venezuelan oil, spurring sudden rush for access
The return of Venezuelan barrels to US buyers could mark one of the most significant shifts in global energy markets in recent years
WORLD
No room for another superpower: Trump opens new front against China with Maduro arrest
The US military’s raid on Venezuela marked an audacious debut of what Trump has called the 'Donroe Doctrine'
BUSINESS
Ford hints at robotaxis with plans for eyes-off-road technology
Ford said Wednesday it will launch so-called Level 3 autonomy in 2028 on its Blue Cruise driver-assist feature that currently allows drivers to take their hands off the wheel, but requires them to keep their eyes on the road
WORLD
Patients gain weight faster coming off obesity drugs than after a diet
People return to their original weight in less than two years after stopping weight-loss treatments as they regain about 0.4 kilos (0.9 pounds) on average each month
BUSINESS
US Justice dept digs in on the dueling takeover bids for Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. on Wednesday again rejected Paramount’s bid as insufficient, opting to stick with Netflix’ offer
WORLD
Asia stocks fall as optimism fades, US bonds hold gains
Stocks opened lower in Japan and South Korea. A gauge of global stocks and the S&P 500 Index both posted their first declines of 2026 on Wednesday
BUSINESS
Jefferies takes $30 million hit on First Brands as profit drops
Net earnings for the fiscal fourth quarter declined 7.2% from a year earlier to $191 million, Jefferies said in a statement Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Samsung posts record profit after AI supercharges memory market
South Korea’s largest company reported a preliminary operating profit of 20 trillion won ($13.8 billion) in the December quarter, compared with the average analyst estimate for 17.8 trillion won.
BUSINESS
De Beers bets on India’s rich to boost natural diamond demand
India is now the firm’s second-largest market after the US. Long a hub for cutting and polishing rough stones, the country is increasingly central to its consumer-driven growth strategy.
WORLD
Asian stocks set to fall as 2026 momentum fades
Global affairs remained in focus as US forces seized two more sanctioned oil tankers as part of its energy quarantine of Venezuela. European leaders closed ranks behind Denmark as President Donald Trump amplified threats to seize Greenland.
BUSINESS
Trump says Venezuela to purchase US goods with oil deal revenue
Trump has been pressuring Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodriguez, to increase economic ties with the US after last weekend’s operation to capture strongman Nicolas Maduro.
BUSINESS
Exxon says oil slump cut $1 billion from fourth-quarter results
Exxon is the first of the oil supermajors to report quarterly guidance just weeks before the reporting season is scheduled to kick off.
