Market Reports

• Australian Market Report: The S&P/ASX 200 rose 78.5 points, or 0.9 per cent, to 8,699.90 by the close of trade Monday, with all 11 industry sectors in the green..... [more]

• U.S. Market Report: U.S. stocks kicked off the holiday-shortened week on a positive note, as technology stocks extended their recent gains on renewed interest in AI-related companies, while investors awaited key economic data later this week..... [more]

• European Market Report: The major European markets were subdued on Monday amid thin volumes with investors somewhat reluctant to make big moves ahead of upcoming Christmas holidays..... [more]

• Asian Market Report: Asian markets closed with strong gains on Monday, buoyed by Wall Street's tech-led rally on Friday. Sentiment was also boosted by the People's Bank of China keeping its one-year and five-year Loan Prime Rate at record lows.... [more]

Australian Business News

• Australian household spending will soar over the festive period, despite rising inflation and cost-of-living pressures still weighing on the family budget. New survey data released by MLC exclusively for NewsWire shows.... [more]

• Australians are being urged to simply check in with their superannuation over the break, as it could add more than $200,000 to their retirement piggy bank..... [more]

• ChartWatch Markets: Silver, gold, platinum and palladium – the precious metals melt up continues.... [more]

• ASX-listed Reach Resources has wrapped up a chunky infill and extensional drilling campaign at its Murchison South gold project near Payne’s Find in Western Australia..... [more]

• Aureka Limited has hit a new mineralised structure containing spectacular visible gold next to the company’s existing resource at its Comstock project, 125 kilometres north-northwest of Ballarat in Victoria..... [more]

• Viridis jumps 39% on green nod for Brazilian rare earths.... [more]

• The Gina Rinehart-backed St George Mining says its world class Araxá rare earths and niobium resource is set to grow even more after revealing its “best ever intercept” in new diamond drill assays..... [more]

• ASX-listed Pacgold has kicked off maiden drilling at its St George gold-antimony project in north Queensland with early results intersecting multiple thick zones of high-grade mineralisation just below surface..... [more]

• Gas producers will have to set aside a portion of supplies for domestic use under a national plan to ease shortages and exert “maximum downward pressure” on prices..... [more]

• DroneShield to introduce mandatory shareholding policy for directors and executives.... [more]

• Why is everyone talking about DroneShield shares today? DroneShield shares gained attention due to an update on its governance review, addressing issues from recent controversies and selloffs by enhancing disclosure.... [more]

• WiseTech Global - A High-Quality Compounder with Structural Competitive Advantages. Market dislocation offers a chance to invest in a high-quality growth business with durable advantages at a materially improved valuation.... [more]

• Memphasys (ASX:MEM) has executed a long-term European commercial supply agreement with Centro Fertilita Assistita (CFA) Italia, marking the Australian company’s first commercial contract in mainland Europe.... [more]

• City Beach fined $14m by Federal Courtover button battery safety breaches.... [more]

• A former AFL star has been able to wipe millions of dollars in company debt and reopen the collapsed business a few hundred metres down the road, despite owing $4.5 million to staff, suppliers and the tax office. .... [more]

• Opinion - Shani Jayamanne: Best of Shani’s Future Focus in 2025. Hand picked editions that resonated with investors this year..... [more]

• Opinion - The Ecomonist: The five biggest market developments of 2025 and what they mean for global investors. Shareholders around the world have enjoyed another stellar year..... [more]

World Business News

• Central banks in big economies are signalling a change of stance as the Bank of Japan raised interest rates to a 30-year high on Friday. A day earlier the European Central Bank all but confirmed it was done with monetary easing.... [more]

• Strategy pauses Bitcoin buying, builds cash reserves.... [more]

• Why gold and silver just surged to fresh all-time highs.... [more]

• Riding a High, Deal Makers Grow Bullish on 2026. It was a comeback year for I.P.O.s. and mergers and acquisitions. Wall Street is optimistic that the winning streak will continue..... [more]

• Larry Ellison guarantees $40.4 billion in Paramount’s hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery.... [more]

• Netflix (NFLX.O), has refinanced a part of its $59 billion bridge loan to support its potential acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery's (WBD.O), film, TV studios and streaming assets, according to a regulatory filing on Monday..... [more]

• Alphabet to Buy Data Center Partner Intersect for $4.75 Billion.... [more]

• The Trump administration on Monday suspended leases for five large-scale offshore wind projects under construction along the East Coast due to what it said were national security risks identified by the Pentagon..... [more]

• Nvidia aims to begin H200 chip shipments to China by mid-February, sources say.... [more]

• Popular Kentucky bourbon maker Jim Beam plans to pause production at its main distillery on January 1, according to the James B. Beam Distilling Co..... [more]

• Coty (COTY.N), on Monday named Procter & Gamble (PG.N), veteran Markus Strobel as chairman and interim CEO, handing him the reins from outgoing CEO Sue Nabi as the CoverGirl cosmetics owner battles pressure.... [more]

• China will impose provisional duties of up to 42.7% on certain dairy products imported from the EU from Tuesday after concluding the first phase of an anti-subsidy investigation widely seen as retaliation for the bloc’s electric vehicle tariffs..... [more]

• UK consumers feel the pinch from tax increases as economy slows.... [more]

• Rachel Reeves has set a date of 3 March for an early spring statement, as Labour attempts to draw a line under a year of tax speculation that business leaders blamed for damaging Britain’s economy..... [more]

• Uber and Lyft announce plans to trial Chinese robotaxis in UK in 2026.... [more]

• Italy’s antitrust authority fined Apple 98.6 million euros ($116 million) on Monday after determining that operating one of its privacy features restricted App Store competition..... [more]

• Huawei cuts Pura X prices as Samsung and Apple foldables loom. Huawei has cut prices on its widescreen Pura X by as much as 800 yuan, as foldables face fresh pressure from Samsung and Apple launches.... [more]

• China Vanke Co., once the country’s biggest developer before it succumbed to an unprecedented property crisis, won last-minute support from creditors to extend a bond grace period in a reprieve that helps it avoid default,.... [more]

• TikTok owner ByteDance’s valuation hits US$500 billion as US survival plan advances. Figure marks a record for China’s tech giant, which will divest its US entity into a joint venture that includes Oracle and Silver Lake.... [more]

• Japan Has ‘Free Hand’ for Bold Action in FX Market If Needed.... [more]

• India and New Zealand have concluded negotiations on a free-trade agreement, but its immediate impact on merchandise trade is likely to be limited given bilateral flows of just $2.1 billion in FY2025,.... [more]

• India's November infrastructure output grows 1.8% y/y.... [more]

• North Korea’s record-breaking year for crypto theft. N Korean hackers stole estimated $2 billion in cryptocurrency, a 51% year-on-year rise, lifting total crypto heists to at least $6.75 billion.... [more]

• Analysis - Richard Partington: Britain’s economy has been damaged by Brexit. But what should ministers do about it? The idea of a customs union has gained traction, but agreeing a deal would be far from straightforward.... [more]