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Jobless claims fall again, signaling resilient U.S. labor market

Initial jobless claims declined for another week, surprising forecasters and underscoring steady labor-market conditions as 2026 begins. The continued improvement keeps hopes alive for a soft landing and will factor into the Federal Reserve’s timing on future rate cuts.

Source: Seeking Alpha


Nasdaq ends 2025 on +20% run despite choppy year-end trading

Stocks wobbled into the final session of 2025, but the Nasdaq remains on track for gains of roughly 20% for the year. Thin holiday volumes and profit-taking capped the rally, even as Big Tech leadership and AI enthusiasm defined market tone throughout 2025.

Source: Seeking Alpha


White House delays tariff hikes on furniture and cabinets

The administration postponed planned tariff increases on upholstered furniture and kitchen cabinets, easing near-term cost pressures for importers and retailers. The delay could temper goods inflation early in 2026, while businesses reassess sourcing and pricing plans.

Source: Seeking Alpha


Drugmakers eye U.S. price hikes for 350 medicines in the new year

Pfizer, GSK and other pharma companies are preparing list-price increases across hundreds of drugs, according to a report. The moves, common at the start of the year, will draw fresh scrutiny from payers and policymakers amid ongoing debates over healthcare costs.

Source: Seeking Alpha


Brookfield to launch $10B AI fund and new cloud business – report

Brookfield is reportedly readying a $10 billion fund and a dedicated cloud platform to finance and operate AI infrastructure. The commitment underscores a growing wave of institutional capital targeting data centers, power, and connectivity demanded by AI workloads.

Source: Seeking Alpha


TSMC reportedly gets annual approval to export chipmaking products to China

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. received its annual export approval to ship chipmaking products to China, according to reports. The renewal helps maintain supply-chain continuity for customers while navigating evolving global export controls and compliance requirements.

Source: Seeking Alpha


Argentina reportedly $2.4B short on January bond payments

Argentina faces a funding shortfall for early-January bond obligations, raising fresh concerns about debt sustainability. The report highlights near-term liquidity stress that could pressure sovereign bonds and the peso as officials weigh options to bridge the gap.

Source: Seeking Alpha


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Business — January 1, 2026 | Briefing24