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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
New Mexico villages still facing flooded homes and poisoned water wells after wildfire
When it rains, Victoria Lovato’s ranch in northern New Mexico is flooded by three muddy torrents. The torrents are the result of New Mexico’s largest wildfire ever that burned mountains above her property over three years ago.
This type of post-wildfire flood is making Western United States homes unlivable, and destroying infrastructure like roads and water treatment facilities. Climate change causes blazes to burn larger areas at higher temperatures.
Ranch dogs follow Lovato's GMC truck as she, Ismael, and their daughter Mia, 11, drive north through a high mountain valley that is ringed with torched trees following the Hermit's Peak - Calf Canyon Fire of 2022. Lovato, 41 points out the "nuked mountains" above her 52-acre Mora ranch, located about 64 km (40 miles) northeast of Santa Fe. Two U.S. Forest Service prescribed blazes that were mishandled started the drought-fuelled blaze. It was hot enough to melt rock and bake the soil to the consistency asphalt.
The soil is no longer able to absorb water, and there are no trees or shrubs left to slow the flow. Rain flows off the burn scars like water from a parking area, sweeping away soil and boulders with debris flows and flash floods. According to a recent study in Nature Sustainability, the number of Americans who live in areas that are exposed to wildfires has doubled in the last two decades to almost 22 million. According to a study by 2020, the area of Western forests that are burned with the intensity required to create the post-apocalyptic landscape Lovato can see from her home has increased eight-fold over the past three decades. Jason Kean, an hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, maps wildfire burn zones to assess risks of debris flows and flash floods. He worked on more than 105 fires last year, covering an area of 6 million acres. This is nearly twice as large as Connecticut. He said that because flood risks can persist for up to 10 years, the area of heavily burned land susceptible to flash flooding is growing every year.
Kean said, "You begin to accumulate a lot more vulnerable terrain." Coconino County, in northern Arizona, has slowed down or diverted flooding by creating features like alluvial fan sediment fields which act like giant sponges to soak up the water. Lucinda Andreani visited Mora, Arizona to share the lessons learned after $118 million was spent by federal, state, and local funds on watershed restoration following wildfires in the county surrounding Flagstaff.
Around a dozen residents, contractors, and activists from the community said that this type of funding and collaboration among authorities still isn't present in Mora County.
FLOODS CLAIM MUCH MORE LIFE THAN FIRE
Lovato's house survived the fire which destroyed hundreds of homes but did not cause any deaths. Since then, her valley has been inundated over twenty times. The water has flooded her outbuildings, her neighbors' homes and knocked down fences, allowing cattle to escape. It even came to her doorstep this year. In 2022, a flood drowned an automobile. A 2022 flood drowned a motorist.
According to data from the state and local governments, New Mexico has lost seven lives in the past five years due to post-wildfire floods, while five people have died in fires.
According to emergency management officials in Washington, Utah, and Colorado, no national data have been developed on deaths after wildfires and flooding. These states only launched post-wildfire disaster reduction programs within the past six years.
Collin Haffey is the head of Washington State's post-fire program. He compared the current situation to the Dust Bowl, which was a severe soil erosion that occurred in the Great Plains during the 1930s, forcing many people to migrate.
CONTAMINATED WEELLS
According to County Commissioner Veronica Serna, dozens have been abandoned in Mora County - one of the most impoverished counties in the United States - due to a mold infestation after flooding. According to a study conducted by Zeigler Geologic Consulting in October, toxic heavy metals were washed into wells as a result of flash flooding. The company analyzes the groundwater quality in Mora County. Lovato is among the residents who say it's become harder to get assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency after President Donald Trump started dismantling that agency and cutting grants and jobs at other federal offices. FEMA officials did not respond when asked for comments.
According to local officials and businesspeople, the misery of repeated flooding has forced dozens of families and companies out of Mora County and San Miguel County with a combined total population of around 30,000. New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management announced that it is working with U.S. Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service in order to identify funding for restoration of watersheds. The state agency announced that it had launched a survey to identify areas of high risk and was developing potential projects for those areas.
Requests for comments were not immediately responded to by the NRCS or USFS.
George Trujillo, chair of the Mora County commission, said that the county is focused on a plan worth $41 million to repair roads. He said that the USFS (which manages burned land in and around Mora) and private landowners needed to restore mountain watersheds for valley flooding to stop.
Trujillo said that it would be a waste of time to fix the floodwater in the bottom, if the top parcels were not fixed.
Lovato, standing by a culvert which becomes a giant fire hydrant during a rainstorm, is frustrated that county officials paved the dirt road this summer rather than work on restoring its watershed.
She said, "We want to find a real solution." (Reporting and editing by Donna Bryson, Aurora Ellis and Andrew Hay from New Mexico)
(source: Reuters)