Weekly Global Market & Economic Update | Week Ending December 19, 2025

Headline Global & U.S. Market and Economic News

U.S. Markets: Major U.S. equity indexes finished the week higher as tech stocks led a rally and softer inflation data boosted expectations for future interest rate cuts. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq posted weekly gains, while the Dow also closed higher on Friday. Markets were influenced by rebounding AI shares and continued optimism around equity performance ahead of year-end.

Inflation & Policy: U.S. CPI data showed inflation easing, supporting investor expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts in 2026. Upcoming economic releases — including delayed GDP and durable goods figures — are expected to influence market direction in the final days of the year.

Global Markets: Asian equities rallied in response to Wall Street gains, with Japan’s Nikkei posting strong performance after another Bank of Japan interest rate increase. South Korean and Taiwanese markets also advanced, while ECB and BoE maintained cautious monetary stances.

Middle East & Gulf: Most Gulf markets closed higher, supported by rising oil prices and expectations of U.S. rate cuts, with Saudi Arabian and Qatari indexes posting gains.

Commodities: Soybean markets extended declines to multi-week lows, reflecting ongoing agricultural price pressures.

Global Exchange Closings (Week Ending Dec 19, 2025)

U.S. Exchanges

• Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) – 48,134.89 (Closing Friday)

• S&P 500 – 6,834.50 (Closing Friday)

• NASDAQ Composite – 23,307.60  (Closing Friday)

  
  

Canada

• S&P/TSX Composite: - 31,755.80

• S&P/TSX 60: - 2,060.68

  
  

Europe

• ATX (Austria): - 5,234.55

• BFX (Belgium): - 5,074.52

• CAC 40 (France): - 8,151.38

• DAX (Germany): - 24,288.40

• AEX (Netherlands): -944.59

• OSE (Norway): - 1,017.37

• OMXSPI (Sweden): - 1,029.09

• Swiss Market Index: -13,171.80

• FTSE 100: -9,897.42

• IBOVESPA (Brazil): -158,473.00

  
  

Asia Pacific

• Shanghai Composite: - 3,890.45

• Hong Kong Hang Seng: - 25,690.50

• Nikkei 225 (Japan): - 49,507.20

• Taiwan Weighted Index: - 27,696.35

• ASX 200 (Australia): - 8,621.40

• New Zealand Index: -14,499.20

  
  

Notable Cryptocurrency Movements

• Bitcoin (BTC-USD): - 87,828.70

• Ethereum (ETH-USD): - 2,963.61

• XRP (XRP-USD): - 1.900

  
  

Cryptocurrency markets were influenced by broader equity movements and the “triple witching” expiration week, contributing to elevated trading volumes and price action across major digital assets.

Commodities & Energy

Oil Markets: Oil prices climbed modestly with geopolitical factors — including U.S. tanker blockades and Russia-Ukraine developments — affecting sentiment. Brent and WTI futures were mixed for the week as supply concerns persisted.

• WTI Crude Oil: - 56.54

• Brent Crude Oil: - 60.52

  
  

Precious Metals:

• Gold: - 4,368.70

  
  

Agriculture: Soybeans extended declines to multi-week lows, continuing recent agricultural price trends.

Bond Market & Rates

• U.S. 10-Year Treasury Yield: - 4.1490

• U.S. 30-Year Treasury Yield: - 4.8270

  
  

Bond yields rose alongside equity gains, reflecting ongoing adjustments in rate expectations as markets anticipate policy moves from the Federal Reserve.

Looking Ahead

As markets close the penultimate full week of 2025, investors will face a holiday-shortened calendar with key economic releases — including late GDP and durable goods reports — that could set the tone for early 2026. Continued focus on inflation trends, policy shifts, and geopolitical developments will shape investor sentiment through year-end.

Disclosure: The information provided herein is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. Market conditions are subject to change, and past performance is not indicative of future results. Please consult with a financial advisor before making any investment decisions.