Latest Business News
Wall Street eyes strong year‑end after 2025 record highs
US equity indexes are closing 2025 near record levels, with the S&P 500 up ~18% and the Nasdaq ~22% for the year as investors rotate beyond big tech toward financials, healthcare and small caps amid hopes of further Fed easing. Markets are watching Fed minutes and year‑end portfolio flows for potential volatility
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Federal Reserve cuts keep markets on edge as rate outlook shifts
The Fed reduced its policy rate by 75 basis points across three 2025 meetings to 3.50–3.75%, prompting markets to price in additional cuts and investors to reassess risk allocations ahead of 2026 policy decisions. Traders are focused on Fed minutes and the incoming Fed‑chair nomination as key drivers of next year's yield and equity moves
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Bankruptcies surge across sectors, hitting businesses and households
Bankruptcies are rising broadly in late 2025 — from large firms to small businesses and consumers — signaling stress across multiple industries and prompting concern among economists about broader credit conditions. Analysts say the breadth of filings marks an unusual cross‑sector trend rather than isolated pockets of distress
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AkzoNobel and Axalta agree to $25 billion paint‑sector merger
AkzoNobel and Axalta announced a merger to create a combined paint and coatings company valued at about $25 billion, with AkzoNobel shareholders set to receive a significant cash dividend as part of the transaction. The deal is positioned to reshape global industrial and automotive coatings competition
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Hyundai pledges record $85.8 billion investment in South Korea
Hyundai Motor Group unveiled a plan to invest $85.8 billion domestically over five years to accelerate AI, robotics and EV development and boost exports, underscoring automakers' strategic pivot to tech and electrification. The investment aims to strengthen Korea's industrial tech capabilities and EV supply chains
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Nvidia and AI supply‑chain moves continue to reshape tech M&A
Big AI hardware buyers and vendors continued deal activity in 2025, including notable acquisitions that have unsettled some parts of Silicon Valley and accelerated consolidation in specialized AI chip and systems suppliers. Observers say such deals are altering startup exit pathways and prompting strategic realignments across the industry
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Graphite and battery materials return to strategic policy focus
Analysts highlight renewed interest in graphite and other battery minerals — some mines unused for decades are reopening — as nations and firms secure supply chains for lithium‑ion battery production amid EV growth. The move reflects broader efforts to reduce reliance on single‑country suppliers and bolster domestic battery industries
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Russian banking sector flagged for potential crisis risk
Officials and analysts warned of mounting risks in parts of Russia's banking system, citing nonpayment pressures and sharp increases in unpaid wages as signals that could elevate banking-sector stress. The warnings prompted closer market monitoring for contagion risks in regional finance
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Media and entertainment firms revise remote‑work and RTM strategies
Major media companies are updating remote‑work and return‑to‑office policies while planning restructurings and cost measures ahead of 2026, as streaming economics and advertising shifts pressure margins across the sector. Executives are balancing talent strategies with rising content and distribution costs
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Calls grow for banking governance and regulatory reform after overheating
Commentators and economists argue for stronger bank governance, longer vesting and clawback provisions, and earlier regulatory intervention to curb risky behavior such as leveraged buybacks that inflate asset prices without improving productivity. The debate intensifies as policymakers weigh reforms to prevent future financial shocks
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U.S. Treasury and hedge funds increase activity in bond markets
Hedge funds and institutional investors have stepped back into U.S. Treasury and corporate bond markets in late 2025, changing liquidity patterns and pressuring yields as expectations for Fed cuts evolve. Market participants say this shift reflects a reassessment of fixed‑income opportunities after a volatile multi‑year period
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Africa tourism and investment stories: Namibia and new billionaires
Namibia was named a top authentic travel destination, while coverage noted new dollar billionaires emerging in African markets, reflecting both tourism branding and wealth creation trends in the region. These items highlight growth and investor interest in select African sectors
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