ताज़ा खबर
Executive summary
Global headlines this week include expectations of a Fed rate cut at the Dec. 9–10 meeting backed by an 82% majority of economists in a Reuters poll (89 of 108) [1], fresh reporting on U.S. military strikes on alleged drug boats and related regional tensions [2] [3], and breaking developments in the Israel–Gaza situation including Rafah reopening after Hamas returned remains [4]. Markets reacted to weak private‑sector employment data and heavy 2025 layoffs approaching 1.2 million year‑to‑date, shaping investor bets on policy and equities [5] [6] [7].
1. Markets read the Fed’s tea leaves: economists overwhelmingly expect a December cut
A Reuters poll shows 82% of surveyed economists (89 of 108) predict a 25‑basis‑point Fed rate reduction at the Dec. 9–10 meeting to “support a cooling labour market” amid persistent inflation above the 2% target [1]. Financial coverage notes markets are pricing in that move, citing weak private employment signals and ADP data that strengthened bets on a cut [5] [6]. Those expectations are central to why equity indexes were little changed or mixed in recent sessions; investors parsed corporate earnings and labour reports ahead of the Fed’s final meeting [6] [7].
2. Jobs data and job cuts are shaping the economic narrative
Private indicators and employer announcements have tilted the story toward slower labour demand: outlets reported weak private‑sector employment signals and major layoffs, with Challenger, Gray & Christmas saying employers announced roughly 1.2 million job cuts through November 2025 — the highest annual tally since the pandemic year of 2020 — a datapoint markets and economists are using to justify easier policy [6] [7]. That combination of softer hiring and large announced reductions is the backdrop for the Reuters poll’s predicted Fed action [1].
3. Corporate news: tech earnings, cuts and more volatility
Market reports highlighted a mix of corporate developments influencing sentiment: big tech names moved on earnings and strategic shifts — for example, Meta is weighing deep cuts in its metaverse group while Salesforce and Nvidia featured in trading narratives — which, together with Fed expectations, created a patchwork market reaction across sectors [6] [5]. CNBC and other market pages emphasized that company‑specific guidance and event calendars (including anticipated company guidance changes) matter as much as macro signals this week [5] [6].
4. International security and regional tensions—U.S. strikes and the Gaza crossing
PBS reported the White House confirmed U.S. forces fired twice at a single alleged drug boat, a development that PBS framed as raising regional tensions and meriting further scrutiny [3]. Separately, PBS highlighted reporting on “deadly U.S. strikes on alleged drug boats” as those stories surfaced alongside other regional security coverage [2]. In the Israel–Gaza arena, aggregated current‑events coverage notes that after Hamas returned the remains of an unidentified person, Israeli authorities announced reopening the Rafah crossing with Egypt to allow Palestinians to leave the enclave — a significant humanitarian and security move reported in contemporaneous briefing compilations [4].
5. Ukraine frontlines remain contested amid heavy combat claims
Independent battlefield assessments report intense fighting and contradictory claims: the Institute for the Study of War noted Ukrainian forces saying Russian units became bogged down in urban combat around Pokrovsk and recorded heavy Russian losses claimed by Ukrainian sources; the same reporting documents ongoing attacks across several directions and highlights repeated Russian misinformation about local gains [8]. That reconstruction underscores a fluid front and competing narratives between Kyiv and Moscow that complicate verification [8].
6. Lighter‑tone items and culture: supermoon, streaming and entertainment lists
Alongside hard news, outlets ran visually engaging and cultural pieces: AP published photos of December’s supermoon, the last full moon of the year and third in a row for 2025 [9]. The New York Times and entertainment outlets rounded up December streaming and film highlights and music lists, such as Rolling Stone selections and Netflix additions referenced in cultural roundups [10] [11]. These stories provide normal‑life counterpoints to geopolitics and markets [9] [10] [11].
Limitations and competing perspectives: The Reuters poll reflects economist expectations, not a Fed statement; Fed Chair Powell has cautioned December action was “far from a foregone conclusion,” demonstrating an internal policymaker divide [1]. Conflict reporting from PBS and ISW compiles claims from U.S., Ukrainian and other officials — those actors advance differing accounts and verification is ongoing [2] [3] [8]. Available sources do not mention any other events beyond those documented above; where reporting is based on party claims, that is indicated in the source material [8] [2] [3].