* Japan officials say ready to "take appropriate actions" on yen. * Yen sank to record low vs Swiss franc, near record low to euro. * Yen bears emboldened by lack of hawkish signals from BOJ chief. By Kevin Buckland.
* Gold hits all-time high of $4,391.92. * Silver hits record high of $69.23/oz. * Platinum hits over 17-year high. * Palladium hits near three-year high. By Sherin Elizabeth Varghese. Gold prices surged to a record high on Monday, riding on growing expectations of further ?U.S. interest rate cuts and strong safe-haven demand, with silver also joining the rally to hit ?an all-time peak.
Gold and silver hit record highs on Monday as softer U.S. labour data and a tame inflation reading fuelled bets the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates in January. FUNDAMENTALS. * Spot gold climbed 1% ?to an all-time high at $4,384.50 an ounce by 02:03 GMT.
Spot gold surged to a record high of $4,383.73 per ounce on ?Monday, lifted by expectations ?of further U.S. Federal Reserve ?rate cuts after ?last ?week's quarter-point reduction, sustained safe-haven demand, ?and a ?softer dollar.
Japanese government bonds fell further on Monday, sending short-term yields to a record high, following the central bank's interest rate hike last ?week. The two-year JGB yield, the one most sensitive to central ?bank policy, rose 1.5 basis points to 1.105%, breaking ?through the previous all-time high ?set from ?2007.
China left benchmark loan prime rates unchanged for the seventh consecutive month in December on Monday, matching market expectations. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT. The steady LPR fixings in December suggested that the authorities are not in a rush to deliver fresh ?monetary easing measures as the world's second largest economy appears on track to hit Beijing's growth ?target for the year.
The yen languished near record lows to the euro and Swiss franc on Monday as the lack of hawkish signals from the Bank of Japan emboldened traders, even as Japanese officials stepped up warnings about currency intervention. The Japanese currency also loitered near an 11-month trough against the U.S. dollar and was just shy of ?a 17-month low on the Aussie.
The yen languished near a record low to the euro on Monday, after Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda stuck to his usual cautious rhetoric following an interest rate hike on Friday. The Japanese currency traded near an 11-month trough versus the U.S. dollar and just shy ?of a 17-month low on the Aussie.
Japan's top currency diplomat, Atsushi Mimura, said on Monday authorities will take "appropriate" action against excessive exchange-rate moves, warning ?of the chance of intervention after last week's central bank ?meeting that caused renewed yen declines. "The recent ?foreign exchange moves were one-sided ?and sharp, and ?I'm concerned about them," he told reporters.
A vague outlook from Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda on Friday has given investors the nerve to add to their bets against the yen, which could soon put Japan's currency back at uncomfortably low levels for a government concerned it may already be too cheap.
* AI jitters, Fed interest rate path among key year-end factors. * GDP, consumer confidence reports to shed more light on economy. * S&P 500 set for double-digit percentage gains in 2025, despite shaky December. By Lewis Krauskopf. NEW YORK, Dec 19 - Investors hoping for traditional holiday cheer for the U.S. stock market are encountering turbulence that could keep markets on edge into year-end.
Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Beth Hammack said she saw no need to change U.S. interest rates for months ahead after the central bank cut borrowing costs at its last three meetings, the Wall Street ?Journal reported on Sunday.
By Chris Prentice and Marisa Taylor. A mortgage fraud probe of a Democratic congressman began last month after William Pulte, the Republican head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, referred allegations from a conservative news site to his agency's inspector general for possible criminal investigation, government emails seen by Reuters show.
A mortgage fraud probe of a Democratic congressman began last month after William Pulte, the Republican head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, referred allegations from a conservative news site to his agency's inspector general for possible criminal investigation, government emails seen by Reuters show.
KBRA assigns a long-term rating of AAA to the Dallas Independent School District, TX: Unlimited Tax School Building Bonds, Series 2026A; and Variable Rate Unlimited Tax School Building Bonds, Series 2026B.
White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett, who is on a shortlist to potentially become Federal Reserve leader, said on Fox Business Friday that President Donald Trump is right when he says inflation is low, even as the data, public opinion and most economists stand at odds with this view.
US equity indexes rose on Friday as technology topped sector charts in a broad-based rally, aided by a revival of risk-on sentiment for the so-called artificial intelligence trade.
US equity indexes closed higher Friday as tech stocks paced the rally. * US existing home sales edged up 0.5% in November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.13 million, slightly below expectations for a 4.15 million pace, according to data from the National Association of Realtors.
* BOJ raises rates as expected, Ueda's speech offers few hints. * Yen falls broadly, hits record low against euro. * Japense finance minister warns of action against excessive FX moves. By Chibuike Oguh and Amanda Cooper.
Nyxoah Announces Issuance of First Tranche of Convertible Bonds Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium ? December 19, 2025, 10:05pm CET / 4:05pm ET ? Nyxoah SA (NYXH), a medical technology company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative solutions to treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea through neuromodulation, today announced the issuance of the first tranche of the convertible bond financing ent...
Supply for the final two weeks of the year will be virtually nonexistent, with only one deal, $24.46 million of taxable multi-family/project bonds from the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority, on the calendar for next week.
* Wall Street helps global index rise, tech offers support. * BOJ hikes 25 bps, signals further tightening ahead. * Japanese bond yields jump, Dollar gains on yen. * Oil rises as geopolitcal uncertainty continues. By Sin?ad Carew and Iain Withers.
Latin American assets edged higher on
Friday, led by gains in Chilean equities aided by copper prices,
while investors assessed geopolitical tensions and Colombia's
central bank kept rates ...
Bitcoin is consolidating below $90,000, but BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes says the pause masks a powerful liquidity-driven move that could send the cryptocurrency to $200,000 in 2026. What Happened: In his latest essay, "Love Language," Hayes argues the Federal Reserve's newly introduced "Reserve Management Purchases" program is effectively a rebranded form of Quantitative Easing.
Existing home sales rose to a 4.13 million seasonally adjusted annual rate in November from a 4.11 million rate in October but were still down 1% from the 4.17 million rate in November 2024. Two of the four US regions posted month-over-month sales gains in November, with a decline in one region and one unchanged reading.
Solidifi, one of the largest appraisal management companies in the United States, today announced the successful completion of its first Uniform Appraisal Dataset 3.6 order, marking a significant achievement in the company?s readiness for the appraisal modernization initiative led by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Financial stocks were advancing in Friday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF each adding about 0.8%. The Philadelphia Housing Index was shedding 0.9%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF was up 0.3%. Bitcoin was rising 2% to $87,200, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was rising 3 basis points to 4.15%....
Financial stocks were advancing in Friday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF each adding 0.8%. The Philadelphia Housing Index was shedding 0.9%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF was up 0.3%. Bitcoin was rising 2% to $87,200, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was rising 3 basis points to 4.15%. In co...
After an upside surprise in Q3 GDP tied to an export recovery, CIBC's Avery Shenfeld on Friday said Q4 looks to be off to a "weak start", with October GDP on Tuesday expected to post a decline.
US consumer sentiment improved after a four-month downturn, while inflation expectations hit 11-month lows, final University of Michigan survey results showed Friday. The main sentiment index rose to 52.9 this month from 51 in November.
* Existing home sales increase 0.5% in November. * Median home price rises 1.2% to $409,200 from a year ago. * Housing inventory at eight-month low. * Modest improvement in consumer sentiment in December confirmed. By Lucia Mutikani.
Existing home sales in the US rose for a third consecutive month in November amid lower mortgage rates, data from the National Association of Realtors showed Friday. Sales increased 0.5% sequentially to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.13 million units last month.
In a move cheered by public power companies, the House passed a bill that would give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission authority to keep power plants open if their closure threatens reliability.
NEW YORK, Dec. 19, 2025 Zamansky LLC reports that investors reviewing year-end account statements may be shocked to learn that losses this year in the Easterly ROCMuni High Income Municipal Bond Fund have not been recouped as anticipated, with the fund still down approximately 50% from where it traded before its precipitous decline in June.
Xcel Energy (XEL) ?Inc: * ?Xcel Energy (XEL) ?ANNOUNCES ?PRICING ?TERMS OF ?CASH ?TENDER OFFERS FOR CERTAIN ?OUTSTANDING ?FIRST ?MORTGAGE BONDS ISSUED ?BY NORTHERN STATES POWER ?COMPANY. * ?Xcel Energy (XEL) - ANNOUNCES PRICING TERMS ?FOR $345 MILLION TENDER OFFERS Source text: Further ?company coverage: ;))
* Wall Street indexes rise in tech-led rally. * BOJ hikes 25 bps, signals further tightening ahead. * Japanese bond yields jump, Dollar gains on yen, By Sin?ad Carew and Iain Withers.
Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) announced today the pricing terms of its previously announced three separate offers to purchase for cash up to $345,000,000 aggregate principal amount of three series of first mortgage bonds issued by Northern States Power Company, a Minnesota corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Xcel Energy.
The U.S. central bank has been mulling the idea of a "skinny" version of master accounts for firms that want payments access without the deeper Fed demands.
The larger story could be that some of the larger issuers are asking water lobbyists and lawmakers to push the EPA because of worries the administration may tamper with or even eliminate the program, said a WIFIA expert.
* BOJ raises rates as expected, Ueda's speech offers few hints. * Yen falls broadly, hits record low against euro. * Japense finance minister warns of action against excessive FX moves. * BoE cut much closer run than market expected; sterling steady. By Chibuike Oguh and Amanda Cooper.
BOSTON, Dec. 19, 2025 Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston awarded $47 million in grants, loans, and interest-rate subsidies through its Affordable Housing Program to support 49 affordable housing initiatives in New England and beyond. The grants and loans will be used for construction, acquisition, or rehabilitation costs.
Latin American currencies rose on
Friday, led by gains in the Colombian peso as investors
awaited the central bank's final meeting of the year, where it
is expected to keep interest rates ...
The Equitable School Revolving Fund, which has more deals in the works, has maintained its strong credit profile even as the sector has experienced headwinds.
The University of Michigan consumer sentiment index was revised down Friday to a reading of 52.9 for December from the 53.3 reading in the preliminary estimate, compared with expectations for an upward revision to 53.5 in a survey compiled by Bloomberg. That was still above the final reading of 51.0 in November.
* Nike (NKE) slides as Q2 gross margins drop. * Oracle up as ByteDance agrees deal on TikTok US app. * Indexes up: S&P 0.55%, Nasdaq 0.69%, Dow 0.54% By Sruthi Shankar and Shashwat Chauhan. Wall Street's main indexes gained on Friday, as technology stocks extended their rebound from a selloff earlier in the week, while Nike (NKE) tumbled after weak China sales weighed on its quarterly results.
In general the bond market is volatile, and fixed income securities carry interest rate risk. (As interest rates rise, bond prices usually fall, and vice versa. This effect is usually more pronounced for longer-term securities.) Fixed income securities also carry inflation risk and credit and default risks for both issuers and counterparties. Unlike individual bonds, most bond funds do not have a maturity date, so avoiding losses caused by price volatility by holding them until maturity is not possible.
Lower-quality debt securities generally offer higher yields, but also involve greater risk of default or price changes due to potential changes in the credit quality of the issuer. Any fixed income security sold or redeemed prior to maturity may be subject to loss.
Before investing, consider the funds' investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Contact Fidelity for a prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus containing this information. Read it carefully.
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