Browsing: Business

Oil prices surged to multi-month highs as US crude stockpiles fell for the sixth straight week, boosting WTI and Brent amid tightening supplies and bullish technical trends.

The U.S. dollar index hit a two-year high as markets responded to optimism over Donald Trump’s policies and resilient economic performance in 2025.

The U.S. dollar posted strong gains in 2024, boosted by higher Treasury yields and a cautious Fed policy outlook, while markets braced for economic shifts under Trump’s administration.

Gold prices soared 26% in 2024, closing at $2,626 per ounce, fueled by U.S. Federal Reserve rate cuts and economic uncertainty, signaling a strong performance for safe-haven assets.

European stocks dropped as bond yields rose, with STOXX 600 down 0.3% amid inflation fears, policy uncertainty, and rate hike concerns as traders await ECB and Federal Reserve decisions.

French business confidence has dropped for the third straight month, hitting its lowest level since July as fiscal uncertainty and political instability impact hiring and investment.

Germany’s economic contraction extended into December, marking six straight months of decline as weak manufacturing output offset modest stability in the services sector.

UK retailers face rising costs and insolvencies following budget changes, with calls for urgent support to counter weak sales and economic uncertainty.

Oil prices rose Wednesday after U.S. crude inventories fell, but gains were capped as the Federal Reserve hinted at slower rate cuts. A stronger dollar also tempered optimism.

FedEx announces plans to spin off FedEx Freight into a new public company within 18 months, creating North America’s largest LTL carrier and boosting operational efficiency.