1. Christmas Market Attack in Germany: A man drove a truck into a crowded Christmas market in Ludwigshafen, Germany, resulting in at least five deaths and over 20 injuries. The attack has raised concerns about security during the holiday season. (Source:
Global News
Death toll in apparent Christmas market attack in Germany rises to 5 - National | Globalnews.ca
Germans on Saturday mourned victims after a doctor drove into a busy holiday market, killing at least five people, including a small child, and wou...
) 2. US Aid to Ukraine and NATO Spending: Former President Donald Trump is reportedly planning to continue providing aid to Ukraine while pushing for NATO members to increase their defense spending to 5%. This comes amidst tensions between Russia and Ukraine. (Source:
ZeroHedge
ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero
) 3. Biden and Military Families: The incident of President Joe Biden reportedly napping while military families waited for the arrival of fallen service members' bodies has sparked controversy. The White House has denied the allegations. (Source:
The Times of India
Biden napped as military families waited for bodies; White House says 'never happened' - Times of India
US News: Families of the 13 US Marines killed in the 2021 Kabul airport bombing accused President Biden of taking a nap on Air Force One while they...
) 4. Party City Bankruptcy: Party City, a popular party supply store, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time in two years. The company is looking to restructure debt and close some stores. (Source: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/party-city-files-bankruptcy-second-064600393.html) 5. China's Influence in US Elections: Yaoning "Mike" Sun, a Chinese citizen, has been accused of aiding China's influence in US elections. He is reportedly facing charges of acting as an unregistered foreign agent. (Source:
The Times of India
Who is Yaoning ‘Mike’ Sun: The man accused of aiding China's influence in US elections - Times of India
US News: Yaoning "Mike" Sun, a 64-year-old Chinese national, was arrested for acting as an illegal agent of China and conspiring to influence a Sou...
)
1. Christmas Market Attack in Germany: A man drove a truck into a crowded Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, killing one person and injuring several others. The suspect, a 24-year-old man, had shared anti-Islam views on social media. (Relevant link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/12/21/germany-christmas-market-attack-suspect-magdeburg/) 2. Nike's Turnaround Plan: Nike reported quarterly earnings and warned of a drop in revenue as part of its turnaround plan. The company's CEO, Elliott Hill, said the turnaround would be challenging and would hinge on sports. (Relevant link:
Yahoo Finance
Nike warns its turnaround will be a slog, after results beat expectations
Nike offered a muted forecast on Thursday, reversing gains in its shares made earlier in the day after the embattled sportswear seller
) 3. Ukraine-Russia War: Russian forces launched attacks in eastern Ukraine, with drones reportedly striking deep into Russian territory. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attacks and called for international support. (Relevant link: https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/ukrainian-drones-strike-deep-russian-territory-hundreds-miles-117011935) 4. Inflation Report: The United States released its Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index, which measures inflation. The report showed an increase in inflation, putting pressure on the Federal Reserve to consider raising interest rates. (Relevant link:
Barrons
The Inflation Battle Continues. What to Expect From the PCE Report.
Key inflation data on Friday should show some improvement in November, but will likely still emphasize that the Federal Reserve’s fight isn’t d...
) 5. Mortgage and Refinance Rates: Mortgage and refinance rates in the United States remained unsteady, with some rates higher than last year. The fluctuating rates have made it difficult for homebuyers and homeowners to make decisions about their housing. (Relevant link:
Yahoo Finance
Mortgage and refinance rates today, December 21, 2024: Rates are unsteady
These are today
)
1. Government Shutdown Averted: The United States Senate passed a bill to prevent a government shutdown, sending it to President Biden's desk for approval. The bill provides funding to keep the government operating through February 18, 2024. [Link:
Fox News
Senate passes bill to stop shutdown, sending it to President Biden's desk
Congress managed to pass a short-term spending bill through both chambers after going through three different versions of it.
] 2. Trump Tariffs and Retaliation: Japan's Komatsu expressed concern over Canada's retaliation for U.S. tariffs imposed by former President Trump. Komatsu is the world's second-largest construction and mining equipment manufacturer. [Link:
Yahoo Finance
Canada
The top business risk of the Trump presidency for heavy-duty equipment maker Komatsu is not the tariffs he has threatened, but Canada
] 3. Ethereum Price Pullback: Crypto analysts predict a $3,000 retrace for Ether if its current price pullback continues. Ethereum is the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization. [Link:
Cointelegraph
If ETH ‘pullback continues,’ a $3K retrace remains in play — Analyst
In a Dec. 20 markets report, pseudonymous crypto trader Rekt Capital says that Ether may continue to "consolidate" between the wide range of $3,000...
] 4. Tesla Stock Dips: Tesla's stock dipped due to various reasons, including political pressure and concerns over Elon Musk's involvement in social media controversies. [Link: https://www.barrons.com/articles/tesla-stock-musk-politics-94f7c6c9?siteid=yhoof2&yptr=yahoo] 5. FedEx Spin-Off: FedEx announced its plan to spin off its freight trucking division, resulting in a significant jump in its stock price. This move is expected to help the company focus on its core business. [Link: https://www.wsj.com/business/logistics/fedex-to-spin-off-its-freight-trucking-division-c5e8b791?siteid=yhoof2&yptr=yahoo]
1. Government Shutdown Avoided: U.S. House passes a funding bill to avoid a government shutdown and sends it to the Senate for approval. (https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/us-government-shutdown-avoided-1.7416997?cmp=rss) 2. Fed Rate Hike and Market Selloff: The Federal Reserve raises interest rates for the first time since 2018, leading to a selloff in the stock market. (
Barrons
The Dow Is Already Losing Steam
Wall Street’s dip buying spree on Thursday was already wearing thin in the first half-hour of trading. After the Dow spiked more than 400 points,...
) 3. Costco Soda Switch: Sources suggest that Costco is planning to switch its fountain drink syrups to sugar-free options in 2025. (
Fox News
Costco food court chatter suggests soda switch coming in 2025: 'Super happy'
Costco may be switching back to Coca-Cola products in its food courts in 2025 if new rumors are to be believed. Many Costco fans were excited about...
) 4. Tesla Recall: Tesla is recalling nearly 700,000 vehicles due to a tire pressure monitor issue. (
Engadget
Tesla is recalling almost 700,000 vehicles over a tire pressure monitor issue
The latest recall from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration affects almost 700,000 Tesla vehicles.
) 5. Christmas Market Attack in Germany: A speeding car drives into a Christmas market in Germany, leaving at least one dead and dozens injured. (
Al Jazeera
Five dead in car ramming in crowded German Christmas market
The driver involved in the ramming has been taken into custody, with officials calling the incident an attack.
)
1. BlackBerry Stock Jumps 20% on Earnings Beat Ahead of Sale of AI Cybersecurity Platform (Business): BlackBerry reported better-than-expected earnings for its Q3, leading to a 20% increase in its stock price. The company is also planning to sell its AI cybersecurity platform, which could potentially bring in additional revenue. (Link: https://www.barrons.com/articles/blackberry-earnings-stock-price-b4683bee?siteid=yhoof2&yptr=yahoo) 2. Stock Market Dip Buyers Are Back. So Are the Witches. (Business): The stock market experienced a dip, but buyers returned to the market, leading to a bounce-back. The term "witches" refers to traders who are known for buying during market downturns. (Link:
Barrons
Stock Market Dip Buyers Are Back. So Are the Witches.
The stock market continued to fly up and to the right on Friday, defying gravity in a way we haven’t seen in some time. While dip buying was the ...
) 3. CFPB Sues Big Banks Over Fraud on Zelle (Business/Economy): The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) filed a lawsuit against three major banks for allowing widespread fraud on the Zelle payment platform, leading to losses of over $870 million. (Link:
Fortune
JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Zelle sued by regulator that claims the banks lost $870 million | Fortune
The controversial regulator alleges the banks failed to prevent fraud on Zelle, a payment platform they co-own.
) 4. Upstream Jobs in Texas Oil Slipped in Nov, Industry Group Says (Business/Energy): The number of upstream jobs in the oil and gas industry in Texas decreased in November, according to an industry group. This could be a sign of ongoing challenges in the energy sector. (Link:
Yahoo Finance
Upstream jobs in Texas oil slipped in Nov, industry group says
Upstream oil companies wound down hiring in November, the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO) said on Friday, ending...
) 5. Government Shutdown Odds Swing Wildly on Betting Markets as Trump Would Rather See It Start Under Biden (Politics): The odds of a government shutdown on betting markets have been fluctuating wildly, with some bettors believing that President Trump would rather see a shutdown occur under President Biden. (Link:
Down Arrow Button Icon
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1. Federal Reserve Interests Rate Decision and Outlook (Business/Economy) - The Federal Reserve lowered its key interest rate by a quarter-point but signaled fewer reductions next year due to stubbornly high inflation. This decision affected stock markets globally, causing a significant drop in US indices. - Source: <https://finance.yahoo.com/news/federal-reserve-expected-combine-interest-061146177.html> 2. Russia-Ukraine Conflict (Politics/World Events) - Russia launched a massive missile strike on Kyiv following Putin's 'duel' threat, and Ukraine reported at least one death. Meanwhile, there are ongoing efforts to train Ukrainian soldiers close to the front line, which has raised concerns among Western backers. - Source: <https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/12/20/russia-missile-strike-kyiv-putin-duel/> 3. Australia's ANZ CEO Bonus Forfeiture (Business) - Australia's ANZ Bank's outgoing CEO forfeited his 2024 bonus amid shareholder angst over the bank's performance and executive compensation. - Source: <https://finance.yahoo.com/news/anzs-outgoing-ceo-forfeit-2024-221211973.html> 4. Migrant Boat Incident off Greek Coast (World Events) - Eight migrants died after their boat tried to evade a Greek patrol ship, highlighting the ongoing migrant crisis in Europe. - Source: <https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg64rqzzgpo> 5. Tesla Shares Drop (Business) - Tesla shares experienced a significant drop, continuing to slide as the post-election rally loses steam. - Source: <https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/20/tesla-shares-drop-5percent-continuing-to-slide-as-post-election-rally-loses-steam.html>
1. U.S. Government Shutdown Looms: A spending bill failed to pass in the House, leaving the possibility of a U.S. government shutdown ahead of Christmas. (https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/us-trump-spending-bill-fails-congress-1.7415867?cmp=rss) 2. Canada's Cabinet Shuffle: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a cabinet shuffle amid rising discontent and resignation calls. (https://time.com/7203539/canada-trudeau-cabinet-shuffle-resignation-calls/) 3. Cryptocurrency Market: Several articles discussed the performance of various cryptocurrencies, including XRP, Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, and Bitcoin. (
Yahoo Finance
Why Cryptocurrencies XRP, Dogecoin, and Shiba Inu Are Falling Today
Cryptocurrencies pulled back after a big run yesterday and as the Federal Reserve sets to conclude its final meeting of the year, likely with a rat...
,
Cointelegraph
Crypto chatter about ‘buying the dip’ hits 8-month high: Santiment
Mentions of “Buying the Dip” on social media have surged to their highest level since April, following Bitcoin’s drop below $100,000 on Dec. ...
) 4. Fed Interest Rate Decision: The Federal Reserve made an interest rate decision, with officials expecting 2 quarter-point interest-rate cuts in 2025. (
Barrons
Fed Officials Expect 2 Quarter-Point Interest-Rate Cuts in 2025
Federal Reserve officials see fewer interest-rate decreases in 2025 than they did three months ago, before the recent stretch of stronger-than-expe...
) 5. Tesla Market Value: Tesla's market value hit $1.5 trillion, nearly double its worth on Election Day. (https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/federal-reserve-interest-rate-decision-live-12-18-2024/card/tesla-hits-1-5-trillion-in-market-value-nearly-double-its-worth-on-election-day-CKHjUgd5Jxo4y6G2RU3l?siteid=yhoof2&yptr=yahoo)
1. French Rape Trial: In France, 51 men were found guilty in a rape trial that has horrified the nation. The trial involved allegations of sexual assault by a group of men against a teenager in a nightclub in 2018. More details can be found in the following link:
Video: 51 Men Guilty in Rape Trial That Horrified France
Dominique Pelicot, who admitted to drugging and raping his wife for almost a decade and to inviting dozens of strangers to join him, was convicted ...
 2. Salesforce AI Progress: Salesforce announced the release of Agentforce 2.0, which includes significant advancements in AI. The new version aims to improve customer service by providing more accurate and personalized interactions. More information can be found in the following link: https://www.barrons.com/articles/salesforce-stock-ai-agentforce-14d9ee3c?siteid=yhoof2&yptr=yahoo 3. Trump's Debt Limit Increase: House Republicans have agreed on a Plan B government funding bill that includes an increase in the debt limit, as per former President Trump's request. The bill is expected to be voted on soon. More details can be found in the following link:
Fox News
House Republicans agree on Plan B government funding bill with Trump's debt limit increase
House Republicans have reached an agreement on funding the government before Friday's shutdown deadline. The deal would also suspend the debt limit...
 4. Mercedes-Benz and Ford Deal: Mercedes-Benz and Ford have entered into a strategic partnership to develop electric vehicle batteries, self-driving technology, and mobility services. The deal is aimed at reducing costs and accelerating innovation in the automotive industry. More information can be found in the following link: https://www.wsj.com/articles/mercedes-benz-ford-team-up-on-electric-vehicle-batteries-driverless-cars-140000931.html 5. Bitcoin's Price Surge: The price of Bitcoin has surged to new highs, reaching over $67,000 on average. This surge has made Bitcoin investors significantly wealthier, and experts predict that the price could continue to climb in the near future. More details can be found in the following link:
Bitcoin Magazine
Bitcoin Investors Are Now Up $67,000 On Average – And This Is Just The Start
Bitcoin investors are up on average more than the average American yearly salary.
1. Government Shutdown Talks and Elon Musk's Involvement (Politics, Business) - Summary: Discussions around the government funding bill have become a hot topic, with Elon Musk and other business leaders getting involved. Some House Republicans are privately expressing frustration with Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy for their role in the government shutdown talks imploding. (Link: <https://www.foxnews.com/politics/some-house-republicans-privately-furious-elon-musk-after-government-shutdown-talks-implode>) 2. Mortgage Rates and Predictions (Business, Economy) - Summary: The mortgage rate outlook has been a focus in recent headlines, with predictions of rates heading towards 7% and potential factors that could send them lower. (Link: <https://www.barrons.com/articles/mortgage-rates-are-headed-7-percent-what-could-send-them-lower-032a06a3?siteid=yhoof2&yptr=yahoo>) 3. NFL and Drone Threats (Sports, Technology) - Summary: The NFL has urged lawmakers to take action against potential drone threats at stadiums and events, citing concerns about security and fan safety. (Link: <https://www.foxnews.com/sports/nfl-implores-lawmakers-take-action-against-potential-drone-threats>) 4. Housing Market and Home Sales (Business, Economy) - Summary: The housing market has been a point of interest as home sales have picked up pace, reaching their fastest rate since March 2022. (Link: <https://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-home-sales-rose-november-150321099.html>) 5. Bitcoin and Corporate Adoption (Technology, Business) - Summary: There have been recent developments in the adoption of Bitcoin by corporations, with BlackRock releasing a new ad promoting the digital currency. (Link: <https://www.zerohedge.com/crypto/blackrocks-new-bitcoin-ad-monumental-paradigm-shift>)
1. Disney Cuts Transgender Storyline From New Pixar Children's Series (World Events & Politics): Disney has reportedly removed a transgender storyline from its upcoming Pixar series, sparking controversy and discussions about representation and inclusivity in media. [Link](
ZeroHedge
ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero
) 2. Sony Buys Stake in 'Elden Ring' Owner Kadokawa for $320 Million (Business & Economy): Japanese tech giant Sony has invested $320 million in Kadokawa, the company behind the smash-hit game 'Elden Ring'. This move could strengthen Sony's position in the gaming industry. [Link](
Fortune
Sony buys 10% slice of smash-hit game 'Elden Ring' owner Kadokawa for $320 million | Fortune
The move will expand Sony's games and cartoons portfolio, after its 2021 purchase of Crunchyroll, a once semi-legal U.S.-based sharing site that is...
) 3. Senate Prohibits Military Purchases of Chinese Goods (Politics & Business): The U.S. Senate has passed a defense bill that includes a provision prohibiting the military from buying certain Chinese goods, including garlic and drone technology, in an effort to counter China's influence. [Link](
Fortune
New bill bans U.S. military from buying garlic from China | Fortune
The defense authorization bill has not failed to pass Congress in nearly six decades, but the Pentagon policy measure has become a battleground f...
) 4. Microsoft Buys Nvidia Chips (Business & Economy): Microsoft is reportedly one of the "mystery whales" buying up Nvidia chips, a move that could impact the supply and demand dynamics in the tech industry. [Link](
Fortune
Microsoft is the biggest of the mystery whales buying up Nvidia chips | Fortune
The vast majority of Nvidia’s coveted AI chips were bought by just a handful of the largest tech companies.
) 5. Nearly 50 Million Automobile Air Bag Inflators Recall Paused (Business & Economy): The U.S. has temporarily halted a massive recall of nearly 50 million automobile air bag inflators due to ongoing investigations and safety concerns. [Link](
Fortune
U.S. hits pause on massive recall of nearly 50 million automobile air bag inflators | Fortune
The agency has said inflators in about 49 million vehicles from 13 manufacturers are at risk of exploding and hurling shrapnel into drivers and p...
)