U.S. firms are preparing to raise prices again in 2026 as they continue to recover the impact of higher tariffs, according to Morgan Stanley. Analyst Michael Gapen stated in a note this week that the latest GDP data shows companies have already taken "a significant step towards recovering the costs of tariffs by pushing output prices higher," helping restore profitability and easing recession risks. The analyst noted that "tariffs pushed nonlabor costs sharply higher over the past two quarters," with firms initially responding by hiring less and seeing a hit to profits. However, in the...
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called for a meeting with Donald Trump to hammer out the most sensitive issues in a future peace deal with Russia, such as control of territory, following the latest round of U.S.-Ukrainian talks. In remarks to reporters released by his office on Wednesday, Zelenskiy said Ukrainian and U.S. delegations had inched closer to finalising a 20-point plan at the talks over the weekend in Miami. "This is a document referred to as a framework a foundational document on ending the war, a political document between us, America, Europe, and the Russians,"...
The window dressing phenomenon is expected to again influence financial market movements throughout 2025, especially as each quarter approaches its close. This strategy is generally employed by investment managers to enhance portfolio performance in periodic reports, often encouraging the strengthening of risky assets such as stocks. However, this shift in sentiment also has different implications for hedge funds, particularly gold. Quarter One (Q1): Limited Pressure for Gold At the end of March 2025, Q1 window dressing tended to be moderate. Funds began flowing into blue-chip stocks after...
The White House has ordered U.S. military forces to focus almost entirely on enforcing a Venezuelan oil "quarantine" for at least the next two months, a U.S. official told Reuters, indicating that Washington is currently more interested in using economic rather than military means to pressure Caracas. "While the military option remains on the table, the focus is primarily on using economic pressure by enforcing sanctions to achieve the desired outcome for the White House," the official said on Wednesday, speaking on condition of anonymity. While President Donald Trump has publicly kept his...
As I conclude 2025 from Beijing, I don't claim to have the ability to predict the future. Predictions often fall short when judged by accuracy. However, years as a journalist have taught me something even more valuable: knowing what truly important questions to ask. And as 2026 approaches, there are some big questions that are hard to avoid, especially as the world has just experienced a tumultuous year—tariff wars, technology restrictions, and volatile financial markets. One of the most intriguing issues comes from the relationship between the United States and China. In late November, US...