Russia’s pipeline gas exports to Europe plummeted by 44% in 2025, reaching their lowest level since the mid-1970s, driven by the closure of the Ukrainian route and the European Union’s ongoing phase-out of Russian fossil fuel imports, Reuters calculations showed on Tuesday. The European Union has made a firm declaration that it intends to completely
Reflections and stock-taking are usually a part of the end-of-year celebrations. For investors in the crude oil market, 2025 has been a rather underwhelming year. Brent oil price began the year on its front foot, rallying to a six-month high within the first two weeks at $82.66. It has since plunged by over 25% to
Gold prices slipped on Wednesday, but were on track for steepest annual gains since 1979. Silver prices more than doubled in 2025 even as the white metal retreated sharply on the last trading of the year. Meanwhile, the picture is quite different for crude oil. Oil prices were headed for its biggest annual decline since
US employers added 64,000 jobs in November, data released Tuesday by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed, exceeding economists’ expectations of a gain of 50,000. At the same time, the unemployment rate rose to 4.6%, up from 4.2% a year earlier. The increase in nonfarm payrolls by 64,000 in November followed a revised decline
The Federal Reserve cut rates by a quarter percentage point on December 10, but beneath the surface, the official meeting minutes reveal a sharply divided committee. The FOMC is wrestling with a troubling concern: inflation could become permanently stuck above the Fed’s 2% target. The 9-to-3 dissent vote exposes the real source of tension within
Fuelled by expectations that the demand for copper—a key metal in electrification—will exceed supply, the metal is set to record its largest annual gain since 2009. Copper, often referred to as the “red metal,” has seen a remarkable rally on the London Metal Exchange this year, surging by over 40% and hitting a series of
US jobless applications fell to 199,000 in the week ending December 27, marking the lowest reading in weeks. The figure signals that employers remain reluctant to cut payrolls despite economic uncertainties approaching the year’s end. The unexpected decline, down 16,000 from the previous week’s revised 215,000, underscores a labor market characterised by minimal layoff activity,
Chinese artificial intelligence startup MiniMax is preparing for a major public debut in Hong Kong, with Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) set to anchor the offering, reported Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter. The deal positions MiniMax at the forefront of a closely watched race among China’s generative AI
Micron stock price was in a relentless bull run in 2025, making it the top gainer in the Nasdaq 100 and S&P 500 indices. It jumped to a record high of $294, much higher than the year-to-date low of $62, with its market capitalization rising to over $331 billion. MU’s jump mirrored that of other
Gold prices bounced back on Tuesday from the previous session’s sharp losses as safe-haven demand boosted the market. Silver prices rebounded more than 7% after having plunged more than 10% on Monday. Meanwhile, crude oil extended gains as investors focused on rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which raised fears of lower supply. Gold