* Manufacturing production increases 0.2% in December. * Slump in motor vehicles output is offset by jump in primary metals. * Industrial production rises 0.4% as utilities provide a boost. By Lucia Mutikani.
Bringing the Human Edge to AI Transformation, the global workforce leader joins world leaders to advance practical solutions and close the skills gap. MILWAUKEE, Jan. 16, 2026 ?As artificial intelligence reshapes every industry, a critical gap is emerging.
Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman warned that labor market conditions could weaken further and said the central bank should avoid signaling a pause in monetary policy.
US equity indexes were mixed in midday trading on Friday amid gains in government bond yields. The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.2% to 23,572.2, with the S&P 500 up 0.2% to 6,955.1, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average was little changed at 49,458.6. Materials, utilities, and consumer staples were among the steepest decliners.
* Yields edge up, remain range-bound. * Several Fed officials due to speak on Friday. * Trump says he may keep Hassett in current role. By Chuck Mikolajczak. U.S. Treasury yields rose on Friday and were on pace for a weekly advance as investors weigh recent economic data and the path of interest rates from the Federal Reserve in the near term.
Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman said on Friday a fragile job market that could weaken quickly means the U.S. central bank should stand ready to cut interest rates again if needed.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday praised economic adviser Kevin Hassett at a White House event and said he may want to keep him in his current role, as the president considers his nominee for the ?next Federal Reserve chair. "I see Kevin's in the audience, and I just want to thank you. "Kevin ?Hassett is so ?good.
President Donald Trump on Friday praised economic adviser Kevin Hassett at a White House event and said ?he may want to keep him in ?his current role, as the president considers ?his nominee for the ?next ?Federal Reserve chair. "I see Kevin's in the audience, ?and I just ?want to thank you. "Kevin Hassett is so good. "You've been incredible.
Kosmos Energy (KOS) said Friday it has priced $350 million of 11.25% senior secured bonds due 2031 in the Nordic market. Net proceeds will be used to finance the tender offer for up to $250 million of its 7.75% senior notes due 2027, to repay debt, and for general corporate purposes, the firm said. MT Newswires does not provide investment advice.
U.S. factory production unexpectedly increased in December amid a surge in primary metals output that offset a decline at motor vehicle assembly plants, but activity contracted in the fourth quarter against the backdrop of challenges from import tariffs.
Canadian housing starts came in at a "robust" 282,400 annualized units in December, marking an 11% month-over-month increase from November's level, said TD. The picture was unchanged on a trend basis, however, with the six-month moving average of starts clocking in at 264,400 units, the bank added.
As global leaders gather for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, January 19-23, Semperis leadership will be attending the Cyber Future Dialogue 2026, running in parallel to WEF, to ensure that cybersecurity continues to be at the center of the global economic agenda.
Canadian housing starts rose 5.6% in 2025 to 259,028 units ?as starts increased more than expected in December, data ?from the national housing agency showed on ?Friday.
White House adviser Kevin Hassett played down the federal criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Friday, saying he expected there would be "nothing to see here". The Trump administration ?has opened a criminal investigation into Powell over cost overruns for a $2.5 billion ?project to renovate two historical buildings at the Fed's headquarters ?complex.
The total monthly seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts for all areas in Canada was up 11% in December at 282,439 units compared with November's 254,625 units, said the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. Friday. The rural starts monthly SAAR estimate was 12,271 units, noted CMHC.
The PIMCO U.S. Stocks PLUS Active Bond Exchange-Traded Fund aims to outperform the S&P 500 by combining passive equity1 tracking with PIMCO?s active fixed income expertise2 PIMCO, a global leader in active fixed income with deep expertise across public and private markets, is expanding its exchange-traded fund offerings with the launch of PIMCO U.S. Stocks PLUS Active Bond ETF.
Canadian housing starts rose 5.6% in 2025, ?the fifth highest ?annual total on ?record, helped by ?higher-than-expected ?starts in December, ?data from ?the national housing agency showed ?on Friday.
The measure would fund 40,000-plus homes to address the state's persistent supply gap, supporters say. Time is tight to qualify it for the June election.
Canada started 2025 with moderate optimism on the housing market with the expectation it would benefit from the easing in the Bank of Canada policy rate since the summer of 2024, along with the resulting decline in mortgage rates, said Scotiabank. The bank was also expecting economic and income conditions to firm up in 2025, which would have added support to housing demand.
White House adviser ?Kevin Hassett played down the ?federal criminal investigation ?into Federal ?Reserve Chair Jerome Powell ?on Friday, ?saying he expected there would be nothing ?to see. The ?Fed ?investigation is a simple request for information which ?should come shortly then will move forward, Hassett said in an interview with ?Fox ?Business Network.
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 16, 2026 The 44th?J.P.Morgan Healthcare Conference was successfully held in San Francisco, the United States, from January 12 to 15. A Global Biopharmaceutical Vision Toward 2030 Building on its expanding innovation pipeline and accelerating global footprint, Dr. Zhu shared Henlius' mid-to-long-term vision as a global biopharmaceutical company.
AUO announced today that its Suzhou Fab has been recognized by the World Economic Forum?s Global Lighthouse Network in the Talent category, becoming the first in the global display industry to receive this honor. Paul Peng, Chairman of AUO said: "As manufacturing races ahead in digitalization and workforce transformation, competitiveness hinges on talent and technology advancing together.
Sterling rose on Friday, and was set for its fifth consecutive weekly rise against the euro, after data this week showed that the British economy grew more strongly than expected ?in November. The pound was up 0.13% to $1.3402. It was on track for a ?0.3% weekly rise, after two consecutive weekly declines.
Canada's data run isn't that encouraging this week, with housing remaining soft in December, while manufacturing and wholesale volumes were weak in November, said Bank of Montreal. Emphasizing the first theme is an expected decline in December housing starts at 8:15 a.m. ET on Friday, noted the bank.
Brazil's IBC-Br economic activity index gained 0.7% in November from the previous ?month, the central bank said on Friday, beating ?the 0.3% expansion expected by economists ?in a Reuters poll. * The ?index ?is a proxy for gross domestic product based ?on central bank ?estimates for agriculture, industry and services, as well as production-related ?taxes.
EverGen Infrastructure (EVGIF) late Thursday announced the closing of its previously announced $13 million asset-level debt facility with Farm Credit Canada through its wholly owned subsidiary Fraser Valley Biogas, the repayment of the majority of the company's corporate debt facility, and the closing of the second tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of...
Mount Logan Capital Inc. (MLCI) today announced that it has priced its previously announced underwritten public offering of $40.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 8.00% senior unsecured notes due 2031. The offering is expected to close on January 26, 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.
Wall Street indexes ended with modest weekly losses on Friday in spite of strong earnings in tech and banking, while the U.S. dollar stood firm near a six-week high as President Donald Trump suggested he might not name his expected candidate, a rate-cutting advocate, as Federal Reserve chair. Gold slowed after a roaring ride on safe haven demand.
* Powell could stay on as a Fed governor for two more years. * Criminal indictment threat may influence his decision. * Powell could become swing vote if he stays on Fed board. By Howard Schneider. At 72, U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has grandkids to play with, a golf game to get back to and a tune or two to master on the guitar.
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) said Thursday that the Federal Reserve Bank of New York has designated its registered broker-dealer, MUFG Securities Americas, as a primary dealer. The company said MUFG Securities Americas, as a primary dealer, will serve as a trading counterparty with the New York Fed. MT Newswires does not provide investment advice.
* Stocks up 0.5%, FX down 0.1% * Poland's 2025 deficit lower than planned. * IMF plans $8.1 billion lending program for Ukraine- Georgieva. * EM equity funds see record inflows of $9.7 bln - J.P.Morgan. * Lebanon's international bonds near six-year highs. By Ragini Mathur and Twesha Dikshit.
Markets will have a lot to ponder in the coming week as January's hectic start continues apace, with U.S. President Donald Trump's appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos taking centre stage. The ongoing battle for control at the Federal Reserve will also head to the Supreme Court and the Bank of Japan meets, with a possible snap election on the horizon.
Euro area benchmark Bund yields were set to end the week little changed, having tracked mixed movements in U.S. Treasuries through the week on ?conflicting signals about the U.S. economy. Germany's 10-year yields were up 0.5 ?basis points at 2.82%, on track for a 0.5 ?bps weekly decline. The spread between U.S. Treasuries and Bunds was at 135 bps and set for a weekly gain of 3 bps.
* Asia shares upbeat on renewed AI optimism. * Geopolitics loom large, Trump adopts wait-and-see posture on Iran. * Dollar gains as traders trim Fed cut expectations. By Rae Wee. Asian stocks advanced on Friday as the artificial intelligence boom regained momentum, while the dollar held near a six-week high after upbeat U.S. economic data left traders trimming bets on Federal Reserve rate cuts.
BridgeBio Pharma, Inc. (BBIO), a new type of biopharmaceutical company focused on genetic diseases, announced today the pricing of $550 million aggregate principal amount of 0.75% convertible senior notes due 2033 in a private offering to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Jerome Powell, head of the U.S. Federal Reserve, said on Sunday the Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation against him for allegedly misleading Congress about a building renovation project at the central bank's headquarters.
(Corrects paragraph 16 to say June. Jerome Powell, head of the U.S. Federal Reserve, said on Sunday the Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation against him for allegedly misleading Congress about a building renovation project at the central bank's headquarters.
* U.S. economic data delays Fed rate cut expectations. * Japanese markets brace for snap election and central bank policy meeting. * ECB chief economist Lane warns of potential shocks affecting rate policy. By Rocky Swift.
Australia's Treasurer on Friday threw his support behind the head of the country's central bank for standing in solidarity with embattled Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, saying ?the decision was "appropriate".
Australia's Treasurer on Friday threw his support behind the head of the country's central bank for standing in solidarity with embattled Federal Reserve Chair ?Jerome Powell, saying the decision was "appropriate".
Australia's Treasurer Jim Chalmers said ?on Friday ?that he thought ?central ?bank ?Governor Michele Bullock's decision ?to ?sign a statement in ?support ?of Federal ?Reserve Chair Jerome Powell was "appropriate". "I ?know Jay Powell," said Chalmers at a ?briefing.
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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