Global central banks are navigating inflationary pressures and economic slowdowns, with the US Federal Reserve facing data distortions and the Bank of England enacting interest rate cuts, while European and Asian economies show mixed signals amid efforts to boost investment.

• Economists warn of flaws in US inflation report — Financial Times -
• A change of approach to the youth unemployment problem — Financial Times -
• ECB holds interest rates at 2% — Financial Times -

• U.S. Inflation Slowed to 2.7% in November as Shutdown Distorts Data — The New York Times Business -
• Why the Affordability Crisis Is Likely to Stalk Trump — The New York Times Business -
• Lenders set to lower UK mortgage rates in early 2026 — Financial Times -
• Interest Rate Cut and Slower Inflation Offer Britons a Reprieve — The New York Times Business -
• What to know about the report. — The New York Times Business -
• Berlin launches ‘Germany Fund’ to lure private equity investors — Financial Times -
• Drop in CPI reduces Fed dilemma on rates — Financial Times -
• BoE cuts rates by quarter point to 3.75% — Financial Times -
• What do UK companies need to be successful? You asked, John Gapper answered — Financial Times -
• Inflation and interest rates tracker: see how your country compares — Financial Times -
• ECB holds rates at 2% with broadly neutral guidance — Financial Times -
• BoE cuts rates with relatively dovish guidance — Financial Times -
• Monetary Policy Radar preview: the BoJ will raise rates again — Financial Times -
• Trump defends record on economy in combative address — Financial Times -
• India’s central bank governor cheers ‘goldilocks’ economy — Financial Times -
• Japan’s $580bn hidden asset? In the back of the cupboard — Financial Times -
• South Korea’s market moonshot is a model for other economies — Financial Times -

The business world is buzzing with high-profile mergers like **Trump Media's $6 billion deal with a fusion energy firm and the Hogan Lovells/Cadwalader legal giant formation, alongside promising tech startup funding rounds and potential IPOs for retail chains and battery innovators**.

• Massachusetts Battery Start-Up to List on Stock Exchange — The New York Times Business -
• Trump Media to Merge With Nuclear Fusion Firm in $6 Billion Deal — Wall Street Journal -
• Trump Media to Merge With TAE Technologies, a Nuclear Fusion Firm, in a $6 Billion Deal — The New York Times Business -

• Lovable, a Start-Up That Makes Anyone a Coder, Raises $330 Million — The New York Times Business -
• Hogan Lovells and Cadwalader to Merge, Creating $3.6 Billion Law Firm — Wall Street Journal -
• Trump family deal with fusion energy firm adds to complicated UK-US ties — Financial Times -
• Hedge Fund Elliott Considering IPO for Barnes & Noble, Waterstones — Wall Street Journal -
• Trump is on to something: finance and fusion have much in common — Financial Times -
• Bill Ackman strikes $2.1bn deal for insurer in bid to build ‘modern Berkshire Hathaway’ — Financial Times -
• Two ‘Airbnb for Boats’ Companies Are Merging — Wall Street Journal -
• Trump media group agrees $6bn merger with Google-backed fusion energy company — Financial Times -
• US activist targets Premier Inn owner Whitbread — Financial Times -
• BNP Paribas’s Vehicle-Leasing Business in Talks to Buy Mercedes-Benz Leasing Unit — Wall Street Journal -
• New York hedge fund approached by Warner shareholder to buy CNN — Financial Times -
• Elliott gears up to list Barnes & Noble and Waterstones in London or US — Financial Times -
• Warner Demands Larry Ellison’s Personal Guarantee in Paramount Bid — Wall Street Journal -
• Elliott Builds Over $1 Billion Stake in Lululemon — Wall Street Journal -
• BP Turns to Outsider as Next CEO — Wall Street Journal -

Major companies are reporting diverse financial outcomes, with Nike grappling with weak China sales, FedEx and Scholastic showing revenue growth, CarMax cutting prices, and Micron's strong results signaling potential chip shortages, all reflecting a dynamic and challenging market environment.

• Nike’s Struggles Continue, but Turnaround Plan May Be Working — The New York Times Business -
• Nike shares fall sharply as weak China sales dent faith in turnaround — Financial Times -
• FedEx Reports Higher Second-Quarter Revenue as Package Volumes Rise — Wall Street Journal -

• KB Home Delivers Fewer Homes, Narrows Profit Amid Housing Market Stagnation — Wall Street Journal -
• Scholastic Widens Second-Quarter Profit On Rising Back-to-School Revenue — Wall Street Journal -
• Nike Sales Tick Up, But China Weakness Persists — Wall Street Journal -
• Jefferies’ 2025 in review — Financial Times -
• CarMax Cutting Prices to Draw Car Shoppers Back — Wall Street Journal -
• Darden Posts Higher Profit, Shrugging Off Beef Inflation — Wall Street Journal -
• Accenture Sales Rise on AI Bookings — Wall Street Journal -
• Birkenstock Shares Sink Premarket as Company Warns of Tariff Hit — Wall Street Journal -
• Micron’s Blowout Results Are Bad News for Anyone Buying a New Phone or PC Next Year — Wall Street Journal -

The energy landscape is marked by a **landmark $35 billion Israel-Egypt gas deal, volatile oil prices influenced by geopolitical tensions, and a growing strategic focus on nuclear fusion technology as BP names a new CEO and oilfield services pivot to data centers**.

• Why Fusion Is Considered Energy’s Elusive Holy Grail — Wall Street Journal -
• Energy & Utilities Roundup: Market Talk — Wall Street Journal -
• Former Tory donor hit with UK sanctions over alleged Russian energy role — Financial Times -

• BP Names New Boss After Its C.E.O. Steps Down — The New York Times Business -
• Israel, Egypt Sign $35 Billion Gas Deal — Wall Street Journal -
• BP’s New CEO Is an American Defender of Oil and Gas — Wall Street Journal -
• A Surprisingly Great Year for Green Stocks — Wall Street Journal -
• Netanyahu approves $35bn Israel-Egypt gas deal — Financial Times -
• Israel Approves $37 Billion Deal to Deliver Gas to Egypt — The New York Times Business -
• Can Venezuela’s Maduro survive Trump’s oil blockade? — Financial Times -
• Oilfield service companies pivot to data centres as drilling market slows — Financial Times -
• The $8 Billion Black Market for Venezuelan Oil Is Suddenly Closing Down — Wall Street Journal -
• Oil Prices Climb Amid Geopolitical Tensions — Wall Street Journal -

TikTok's efforts to avoid a US ban through investor agreements highlight a complex regulatory environment for social media, while advancements in AI continue to drive startup valuations and reshape industries, and innovations in automotive technology aim to enhance safety.

• TikTok Signs Agreements With Investors in Step Toward Avoiding a U.S. Ban — The New York Times Business -
• Tech, Media & Telecom Roundup: Market Talk — Wall Street Journal -
• This Tech Could Reduce Drunken Driving. What’s Holding It Back? — Wall Street Journal -

• Opinion | Why Self-Driving Cars Have Stalled in D.C. — Wall Street Journal -
• A Billion-Dollar Question Hangs Over the New AI Search Marketing Industry — Wall Street Journal -
• Sleep Cots and Graham Crackers at Elon Musk’s Child Care Program — The New York Times Business -
• Meta’s LeCun targets €3bn valuation for AI start-up — Financial Times -
• Two views of AI and Big Tech — Financial Times -
• US tech stocks slide as Oracle data centre setback reignites AI concerns — Financial Times -

International trade agreements face delays like the EU-Mercosur deal, while US arms sales to Taiwan underscore global tensions, and discussions around Ukraine's financial future and Russian asset utilization remain critical international issues.

• Brussels delays signing of EU-Mercosur trade deal until January — Financial Times -
• FirstFT: US approves $11bn arms package for Taiwan — Financial Times -
• Ukraine seals restructuring of controversial growth-linked debt — Financial Times -

• EU leaders vow to agree funding for Ukraine — Financial Times -
• All trials of UK’s Ajax armoured vehicles paused after another soldier injured — Financial Times -
• The hard politics of climate overshoot — Financial Times -
• Rheinmetall Joint Venture Wins $2 Billion Space-Reconnaissance Contract — Wall Street Journal -
• FirstFT: US offers Taiwan $11bn of military support — Financial Times -
• The EU’s economic security blanket is patchy and thin — Financial Times -
• US approves $11bn arms sale to Taiwan — Financial Times -
• Zelenskyy to confront De Wever in stand-off over Russian assets loan — Financial Times -
• Canada defends US exemption from global minimum tax deal — Financial Times -
• Putin’s retaliation threat over frozen assets rattles EU capitals — Financial Times -
• China Is Feeling Strong and Senses an American Retreat — The New York Times Business -
• All That Cheap Chinese Stuff Is Now Europe’s Problem — Wall Street Journal -

Antitrust actions by regulators are influencing major corporate takeovers, while compliance burdens on financial institutions are being adjusted, and ethics concerns involving lawmakers and UK public procurement scandals draw scrutiny.

• Opinion | How Lina Khan Killed iRobot — Wall Street Journal -
• Trump Administration Tries to Stop Some Immigrants From Driving Trucks — The New York Times Business -
• US regulator loosens some compliance burdens for Citigroup — Financial Times -

• Democratic Lawmakers Request Review of Howard Lutnick’s Possible Conflicts — The New York Times Business -
• Motability boss handed bumper pay rise — Financial Times -
• Michelle Mone-linked medical supplier PPE Medpro wound up — Financial Times -
• EU agrees rules to boost retail investment in capital markets — Financial Times -
• UK to water down regulations for financial benchmarks — Financial Times -
• Carmakers sour on EU’s ‘disastrous’ petrol engine rule changes — Financial Times -
• How a Swiss compromise could save UBS billions — Financial Times -