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As markets consider rate cuts, stocks are higher and the dollar's losing streak will continue.
The dollar fell and was poised to lose its 10th consecutive day against a basket major currencies, fueled by expectations of a U.S. interest rate cut. The benchmark S&P500 was flat in the early morning trade, after two sessions of gains. The biggest losses were in healthcare, consumer discretionary, and materials stocks, while real estate and financials were on the rise. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.09%. The S&P 500 slipped 0.06%. And the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.14%. STOXX 600 in Europe was up by 0.42%, and is still on track for a modest gain each week. The FTSE 100 index in London was up 0.16%, while the DAX in Germany gained 0.45%. MSCI's global stock index rose by 0.18%. Japanese stocks rose sharply following an auction of government debt that attracted strong demand from investors. This helped set the tone for a broader equity market. The Nikkei rose 2.33%. Michael Farr, CEO of investment advisory firm Farr, Miller & Washington, in Washington, said: "After a 5% drop in stocks in late November, they have recovered and are trading near their pre-pullback highs." BIG DROP IN US PAYROLLS DATA POST The gains were made after the U.S. data on private payrolls posted its biggest drop in over two and a half years. Also, a survey conducted in the services sector showed that activity in November was stable while hiring decreased. Markets may be disappointed if they reduce rates by a quarter point, then pause. This is what every Fed speaker said. Farr added that if they do not cut rates and instead say we will wait until the next Fed meeting, then markets may be disappointed. Fed funds futures have a 90% probability of a quarter point cut at the Fed's meeting on December 10 compared to an 83.4% a week earlier, according CME Group’s FedWatch tool. According to LSEG, the dollar index tracks the performance of the U.S. dollar against six other currencies. It was down 0.08% last day and is on track for its 10th consecutive daily decline. This will be the longest losing streak since at least 1970. The yield on the US Treasury 10-Year Bond has increased by 3.4 basis points The yield of the 10-year Treasury Bond in the United States was at last up 3.4 basis point to 4.092%. The Financial Times reported Wednesday that bond holders had voiced concerns to the U.S. Treasury about Kevin Hassett's potential to aggressively reduce interest rates in order to match President Donald Trump’s preferences. Farr stated that the Trump administration had chosen to announce the President's choice of a new Fed Chairman in a way that would be perceived - whether correctly or incorrectly - as more dovish during this meeting, to appear to be an antidote for the message. The government debt sale in Japan attracted the highest demand for more than six year, helping to calm investor nerves over the long-term financial health of the country, which has stoked fears about similar concerns about other economies. The dollar is down by 0.28% to 154.8 yen, and the yen is on track for its biggest weekly gain in two months against the U.S. dollar. A report that said the Bank of Japan is likely to increase interest rates in December, with the government tolerating such a move, citing sources within the government familiar with deliberations. In Hong Kong, offshore trading, the yuan weakened a bit, resulting in a dollar gain of 0.18%, or 7.070 yuan. On Wednesday, the Chinese currency reached its highest level against dollar in over a year. After a recent run of hot metals, precious metals have cooled. Silver fell 2.4%, to $57.03 per ounce after reaching a record high on Tuesday of $58.98. Gold dropped 0.28%, at $4,195. Brent crude rose 0.06% to $62.71 per barrel.
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Gold stable as rising yields offset dollar weakening; PCE data is in focus
Gold prices were mostly unchanged on Thursday as rising U.S. Treasury rates offset support from the weaker dollar. Markets awaited Friday's U.S. Inflation data to get clues about Federal Reserve policy ahead of their December meeting. As of 1611 GMT, spot gold rose 0.1% to $4.211.19 an ounce. U.S. Gold Futures for February Delivery rose by 0.3% to $4,243.70 an ounce. Edward Meir, Marex analyst, said: "Higher yields keep a little cap on gold's upside. The general dollar index provides some support." The benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury rate rose by 1%. Meanwhile, the U.S. Dollar Index hit a new low for a month, making gold more accessible to overseas buyers. The latest data on Thursday shows that the number of new U.S. unemployment benefits claims fell to 191,000 in the past week, which is lower than it has been for over three years. This figure was also well below what economists had predicted at 220,000. ADP's report on Wednesday showed that private payrolls in the United States fell by 32,000 during November. This was the largest drop in over two and half years. Over 100 economists surveyed by predicted that the Federal Reserve would reduce its key rate by 25 basis point at its policy meeting on December 9-10, as it seeks to support the cooling labor market. Gold is a non-yielding asset that benefits from lower interest rates. Investors will be watching the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation indicator, the Personal Consumption Expenditures report (PCE), due on Friday. Meir said that the markets will remain relatively unchanged between now and next Monday. As for gold, we are likely to be in a trading range which is fairly uneventful. Silver fell 2.5%, to $56.99, after reaching a record-high of $58.98. The metal has risen by 97% in this year due to a structural shortage, market liquidity concerns and its inclusion on the U.S. Critical Minerals list. Palladium fell 1.8% to $1433.50, while platinum dropped 1.1% to $1652.17.
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Shell and Petrobras buy two areas at Brazil's oil auction
In an auction of crude oil held by the state-run PPSA on Thursday, a consortium of Petrobras (Petroleum) and Shell (Shell) secured two offshore fields in Brazil's Tupi & Atapu oilfields. The consortium was the sole bidder at the auction. It offered 7.79 billion reais (1.47 billion dollars) for the Tupi region, which is 2% higher than the minimum price. For the Atapu region, it offered 1 billion reais, or 16% more. The Mero field's third area did not receive any bids. The auction included stakes in fields that were already producing oil but had not been contracted. This gave the companies the right to profit off of additional production. Brent crude prices are falling, and the auction results did not meet the Brazilian government's target of at least 10,2 billion reais in order to increase revenue. Petrobras announced in a filing that it would pay 6.97 billion reais to cover the transactions. The contracts for these transactions are expected be signed before March 2026. It said that the disbursement had been planned. Although volumes were not forecasted, they should fall within a margin set by a production curve projected in its business plan for 2026-2030, published last week. Santander analysts warned that the payment would affect dividends in 2026, despite the positive outlook they had for Petrobras and its increased exposure to highly productive presalt areas. Petrobras preferred shares listed in Sao Paulo rose 1% at midday, while Bovespa's benchmark index rose 1.5%.
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Gold stable as rising yields offset dollar weakening; PCE data is in focus
Gold prices were mostly unchanged on Thursday, as rising U.S. Treasury rates offset support from the weaker dollar. Markets awaited Friday's U.S. Inflation data to get clues about Federal Reserve policy ahead of their December meeting. As of 1505 GMT, spot gold was down 0.2% at $4,195.69 an ounce. U.S. Gold Futures for February Delivery were down 0.2% to $4,224.10 an ounce. Edward Meir, Marex analyst, said: "Higher yields keep a little cap on gold's upside. The general dollar index provides some support." Benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury Yields rose by 0.8%. The U.S. Dollar Index hit a new low for a month, making gold more accessible to overseas buyers. The latest data on Thursday shows that the number of new U.S. unemployment benefits claims fell to 191,000 in the past week, which is lower than it has been for over three years. This figure was also well below what economists had predicted at 220,000. ADP's report on Wednesday showed that private payrolls in the United States fell by 32,000 during November. This was the largest drop in over two and half years. Over 100 economists surveyed by predicted that the Federal Reserve would reduce its key rate by 25 basis point at its policy meeting on December 9-10, as it seeks to support the cooling labor market. Gold is a non-yielding asset that benefits from lower interest rates. Investors will be watching the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation indicator, the Personal Consumption Expenditures report (PCE), due on Friday. Meir said that the markets will remain relatively unchanged between now and next Monday. As for gold, we are likely to be in a trading range which is fairly uneventful. Silver fell 3.3%, to $56.54, after reaching a record-high of $58.98. Silver is up 96% in this year due to a structural shortage, market liquidity concerns and inclusion on the U.S. Critical Minerals list. Palladium fell 2.1%, to $1430.38, while platinum dropped 2.2%, to $1634.15. (Reporting from Anmol Choubey and Naveen Thkral in Singapore, with editing by Leroy Leo.)
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US fuel efficiency rule could bring back station wagons
Trump's administration claims that its proposed fuel-economy rollback could allow automakers resume building station wagons – a popular family vehicle in the 1970s and 1980s. Sean Duffy, Transportation Secretary at CNBC said: "This rule allows you to bring the 1970s Station Wagon back -- maybe with a little wood paneling along the side." "We can give consumers more choice. The minivan may be cool, but the station wagon might also be." In its proposal on Wednesday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the Transportation Department said that fuel efficiency regulations had led manufacturers to change the market in unexpected ways. "For example, almost eliminating station wagon production." Detroit Three automakers stopped producing full-size wagons by the mid-1990s, but smaller wagons were still produced by U.S. automobile manufacturers until 2008. Trucks are subject to more stringent regulations than cars. Station wagons fall under the category of passenger cars, while minivans and crossover utility vehicle are classified as light trucks. Jonathan Morrison, NHTSA Administrator, raised the issue of Station Wagons separately in a phone call earlier this week with automakers. NHTSA announced on Wednesday that it would significantly reduce the fuel efficiency requirements for model years 2022-2031. The average mileage requirement will be reduced to 34.5 miles per galon by 2031 from 50.4 (21,4 km per liter). NHTSA estimates that the proposed rule will reduce average vehicle costs up front by $930 but increase fuel consumption around 100 billion gallons by 2050. This could cost Americans an additional $185 billion in fuel and increase CO2 emissions by 5%. Transportation is the largest contributor to U.S. emissions of greenhouse gases. Trump signed legislation earlier this year that eliminated fuel economy penalties for automobile manufacturers. The NHTSA also said automakers would not be fined going back to 2022. (Reporting and editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Alexandra Hudson.
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Edison CEO: Group accelerates green investments; EDF eyes minority stake sale
Edison's green investment will increase the Italian utility’s borrowings, said its CEO. EDF, the parent company, plans to sell a majority stake in the unit, to avoid an increase in its debt. The Italian utility announced earlier on Thursday that it will begin working on renewable projects in Italy with a combined power of more than 500 megawatts. Edison CEO Nicola Monti said in an interview that "EDF had many investments to be made in France, particularly in the nuclear sector. The intention to open (our) capital – only for a minor stake – is to allow Edison implement its development plans without burdening EDF’s consolidated debt." Monti stated that EDF advisers were currently studying how to reduce Edison's parent company's stake in Edison Capital. Monti added that EDF has not changed its plan to retain the majority of the Italian unit. Italian media reported recently that the national infrastructure fund F2i might form a consortium with investors to acquire Edison's majority. Monti stated that the EDF management has repeatedly stated that the company would only be interested in a minority stake. Edison reported revenues in the amount of 18.4 billion euros (15.4 billion euros) and a core profit of 1.7 milliards euros. State-owned EDF, under the leadership of its new CEO Bernard Fontana has selected Intesa Sanpaolo IMI Lazard and Lazard as partners. Review your assets Two sources familiar with the situation said that EDF may end up selling about 30% of its Italian subsidiary. Edison will accelerate the development of renewable energy in Italy. It aims to double its current green capacity from 2 gigawatts to 4-5 GW by 2030, Monti stated. He added that Edison would continue to take part in auctions in order to receive government incentives in Italy for green power. Monti, the Italian minister of energy, said that Italy completed its first auction, under the FER X incentive program, on Monday, by awarding 400 Megawatts (MW) of renewable power to Edison.
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Sources say that Indian fertiliser companies will sign a deal with Uralchem for the establishment of a Russian plant.
Three sources say that Indian firms will sign a joint venture agreement with Uralchem, Russia's largest potash and ammonium-nitrate producer during the visit of President Vladimir Putin to New Delhi on Friday to build a urea factory in Russia. Sources said that the project, which aims to strengthen India's fertiliser security over the long term, will see India Potash Ltd and Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers Ltd holding each a 22,5% stake in a joint venture. National Fertilizers Ltd. will own a 5% share, while Uralchem holds the remainder and will lead the project. India, Asia’s third largest economy, depends heavily on imported crop nutrition to support its vast agricultural sector. This sector employs approximately 40% of the labor force and contributes about 15% of its $4 trillion GDP. India's imports of fertilisers from Russia increased by more than threefold from 2021 to $1.7 billion, reaching a peak of $2.7 billion in the year 2022. In April-October 2025, the total amount of fertiliser imported increased by 82% on an annual basis to $10 billion. One source said that the new plant would run on natural gases and will follow a similar model to India's long-standing overseas fertiliser joint enterprise in Oman. Uralchem and the Indian companies did not respond immediately to our queries. New Delhi is working to diversify, stabilise and increase the supply of fertilisers amid volatile markets and increasing geopolitical tensions. India imported 5.6 millions metric tons (MT) of urea during the fiscal year 2024/25 ending in March. This is down from 9.8 MT in 2020/21 as domestic capacity increased and sourcing patterns changed. Uralchem, the planned deal to be signed by Putin during his two-day visit to India, is expected deepen India's long term fertiliser cooperation with Moscow, even though Russian trade remains subject to Western sanctions. India imports urea also from Oman and Qatar. It imported 5,9 million tons of agricultural-grade urea between April and October 2025. This is up from 2.5 million tons the previous year. (Reporting and editing by Elaine Hardcastle; Nidhi verma)
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Niger accuses France’s Orano of uranium pollution as the uranium dispute deepens
Niger accused French nuclear fuel company Orano, of "predatory behaviour" and environmental crimes. This escalated a bitter dispute about control of the West African country's uranium mining. Orano, the military-led government, could be prosecuted for "mass crime" after 400 barrels radioactive core were found in Madaouela near Arlit where Orano operated its uranium mining operations. Orano, 90% owned in France by the state, denied that it was operating in Madaouela and said it did not receive any official notification of legal action. In a written answer to questions, the company stated that it did not have an operating license at the Madaouela location and had never conducted any operations there. Justice Minister Alio Daouda stated that the radiation levels in the area were much higher than usual -- approximately 7 to 10 microsieverts an hour, as opposed to the normal 0.5 microsieverts. Two substances were also detected that could cause breathing problems or be harmful for people. ORANO HAS NOTICE OF NIGER'S LEGAL ACTION BUT NO ACTIVITY FROM ORANO Orano lost 63.4% of its stake in the Somair Mine when Niger nationalized it in June. Niger started transporting uranium last week. It said it was exercising its sovereignty right, despite an order from a World Bank Tribunal barring it access to the stockpile. Orano called the move illegal and warned that the shipment was a serious risk to safety and the environment, claiming it did not have any evidence that the transport met international standards. Niger is a major producer of cancer treatment materials and nuclear fuel. France, which relies 70% on nuclear energy for its electricity, purchased about 15% of the uranium it needed from Niger during its peak mining period. The expropriation by Niger of Orano shares reflects a regional shift in which military-led governments are asserting greater control over resources. Previous reports stated that around 1,500 metric tonnes of uranium was stockpiled at Somair. Potential buyers included Turkish, Iranian, and Russian interests. Reporting by Niger Newsroom in Dakar and Maxwell Akalaare Adombila; Editing by Felix Bate, Tomaszjanowski and Tomasz Bate
White House focuses on food, chemicals and overtreatment in report about childhood diseases
On Thursday, a commission headed by U.S. Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. released a report in which it stated that processed foods, chemicals, stress, and the overprescription and vaccinations and medications may be contributing factors to chronic illnesses among American children.
Kennedy said that the report of the commission was "a call to action to act urgently to stop this crisis". This crisis is characterized by an increase in childhood obesity, diabetes and cancer rates, as well as mental disorders, allergies, and neurodevelopmental disorders such autism.
It did not recommend specific regulations or restrictions for pesticides in agriculture, as some farming groups had feared. However, it did draw attention to studies that linked health disorders in animals and humans with the weedkillers glyphosate, and atrazine. The report said that the chemicals needed to be researched further.
Bayer, the company involved in thousands lawsuits involving its herbicide Roundup containing glyphosate, has said that some of the details in this report are not "fact-based".
Bayer stated that "we believe a fact-driven and data driven approach, with robust science following international gold standards, is necessary to support this important initiative."
The report reiterated Kennedy's previous statements that highly-processed foods and additives pose health risks, and that the food and beverage industry has too much influence in forming public health recommendations such as the Dietary Guidelines.
At a press event, he stated that there was consensus on the need to prioritise what he termed as the crisis of ultra-processed foods.
The American Soybean Association criticized the report for being "drafted completely behind closed doors", and incorrectly suggesting that pesticides or soy oil contribute to negative health outcomes.
We're discouraging the consumption of heart-healthy oil and forcing people to use fats which will make them unhealthy and cost more. "This is exactly the opposite of what government should do," said Alan Meadows, ASA Director and soybean farmer.
The report also criticizes the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule, stating that the number of vaccinations recommended for American children is higher than many European countries.
It stated that the effects of vaccine injuries and the link between vaccines, chronic diseases should be investigated. Kennedy, a vaccine skeptic for years, has pushed theories that are contrary to science about vaccine safety.
FARM LOBBY SUBSTANCE PRESSURE
The policy prescriptions are due in August after the report on Thursday.
In February, President Donald Trump issued an executive order establishing the Make America Healthy Again Commission. The commission will investigate chronic illnesses and develop an action plan for combating childhood diseases.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and White House jointly manage the commission, with Kennedy as its chairman and the chief of the Domestic Policy Council as its executive director. It includes Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, other cabinet members and federal health agency heads as well as senior White House officials.
Farm lobby groups warned before the report was published that criticizing certain farm practices would impede collaboration with the health agenda of the administration and could put food production in danger.
A source with knowledge of the issue said that the lobby groups were very insistent on the administration not to mention pesticides.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) head Lee Zeldin told reporters on a conference call that farmers were key partners in the MAHA agenda, and that any change to pesticide regulations should be carefully considered.
He said that "American farmers depend on these products and any further regulation or restrictions of crop protection tools must take into consideration the costs and benefits of adequate protection and alternatives," as well as risk-based scientific processes. Kennedy worked with attorneys from Wisner Baum to win a $289m verdict in 2018 for a Californian man diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma because he used Roundup regularly as part of his job. The verdict was reduced later to $20.5million.
Kennedy also claimed that he had been involved in at least two cases against Roundup maker Monsanto which was acquired Bayer.
The report recommended that as a next step, there be a greater focus on drug safety and research and improved surveillance of drugs and their effects on childhood health. It also called for clinical studies to compare the whole-food and processed-food diets among children.
The report says that ultra-processed foods, which it describes as industrially-manufactured food products, are associated with poor health. The report cites infant food as an ultraprocessed product that is worrying, saying that more parents are buying European brands.
MAHA activists are concerned about certain oils used in infant formula. However, these ingredients provide important fats.
(source: Reuters)