Here Is The Remarkable Big Picture For Gold As We Head Into 2026 After a wild year of trading in 2025, here is a remarkable look at the big picture for gold as we head into 2026.Gold’s Bigger Picture in a Narrowing 2026December 30 (King World News) – Matthew Piepenburg, partner at VON GREYERZ:  It’s that time of year again to put everything somehow together.But looking back on the knowns of 2025 as we prepare for the inevitable unknowns of 2026, there is little need for the wringing of hands.Preparation vs ...

Not only does it offer better interest rate than many fixed rate investments, including small saving schemes and fixed deposits (FDs), but investors can invest unlimited amount in the bond. Let’s see what makes this bond special and can you make it part of your RBI floating rate bond offers higher rate than many FDsThe RBI bond is offering a higher interest rate compared to FDs of most banks, including public and private banks. After the RBI cut the repo rate by 125 bps in 2025, many banks have reduced FD i ...

Lassila & Tikanoja PlcStock exchange release31 December 2025 at 2.30 pm EET Change of issuer of Lassila & Tikanoja’s EUR 75 million sustainability-linked notes NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, TO ANY PERSON LOCATED OR RESIDENT IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, HONG KONG, SOUTH AFRICA, JAPAN, NEW ZEALAND OR SINGAPORE OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL OR REQUIRE REGISTRATION OR ANY OTHER MEASURES. TH ...

Market Overview - The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 94.87 points (-0.1958%) on December 31, 2025, reflecting a broader trend of lower stock futures and pressure on technology and AI stocks [1] - Year-end profit-taking and concerns about the technology sector, particularly AI-focused companies, were significant narratives influencing the market [2] Sector Performance - The S&P 500 and Nasdaq had a robust year with significant gains driven by advancements in AI [2] - Commodity markets, including gold, silver, and copper, saw notable upward movement after earlier declines [2] Company Highlights - Nike (NKE) was the top gainer in the Dow, rising 1.50% following news of its CEO's share purchase [3] - Other strong performers included Chevron (CVX) up 0.87%, UnitedHealth Group (UNH) gaining 0.74%, Boeing (BA) increasing 0.69%, and Walt Disney (DIS) advancing 0.60% [3] - IBM (IBM) was the biggest laggard, falling 1.32%, with other significant losers including Goldman Sachs (GS) down 0.98%, Cisco Systems (CSCO) declining 0.87%, Nvidia (NVDA) dropping 0.61%, and Walmart (WMT) decreasing 0.60% [3]

Core Insights - Two stocks in the financial sector are identified as potentially overbought, which may concern momentum-focused investors [1] Group 1: UBS Group AG - UBS Group AG has been upgraded from Neutral to Buy by B of A Securities analyst Antonio Reale, with a price target raised from $44 to $60.3 [6] - The stock has gained approximately 21% over the past month, reaching a 52-week high of $47.30 [6] - The Relative Strength Index (RSI) for UBS is reported at 75.5, indicating it is overbought [6] - On the latest trading day, UBS shares slipped 0.1% to close at $46.52 [6] - UBS has an Edge Stock Ratings momentum score of 89.48 [6] Group 2: Assurant Inc - Assurant Inc reported better-than-expected third-quarter financial results, highlighting strong performance in Global Housing and Global Automotive [6] - The stock has increased around 7% over the past month, with a 52-week high of $243.76 [6] - The RSI for Assurant is noted at 74.5, also indicating it is overbought [6] - On the latest trading day, Assurant shares gained 0.3% to close at $242.13 [6]

Core Insights - India's mergers and acquisitions (M&A) pipeline is expected to remain robust in 2026, building on a strong rebound in dealmaking through 2025, with domestic consolidation reaching $104 billion and inbound transactions rising to $30 billion [10][11] - Outbound M&A activity surged to $22 billion, the highest level in a decade, driven by overseas purchases from companies like Tata Motors and Tega Industries [10][11] - The nature of inbound M&A is shifting towards value-focused investments rather than volume-driven, with transaction values increasing despite a decline in the number of deals over the past three years [7][11] Domestic M&A Trends - Domestic consolidation is a defining trend as Indian companies focus on strengthening their positions at home while selectively pursuing overseas opportunities [3][11] - Mid-sized companies, previously absent from M&A transactions, are now actively pursuing acquisitions, as evidenced by recent deals such as Mankind Pharma's acquisition of Bharat Serums and Vaccines [5][11] Inbound M&A Dynamics - Inbound transactions are expected to remain strong in sectors like financial services, consumer-facing businesses, and infrastructure, appealing to long-term foreign investors [6][11] - The largest inbound deal in financial services was Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group acquiring a 20% stake in Shriram Finance for $4.4 billion, followed by significant investments from Emirates NBD and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation [8][11] Regulatory and Economic Factors - Recent regulatory changes, including allowing banks to finance M&A transactions and raising foreign direct investment limits in insurance, are expected to catalyze deal activity [8][11] - Expectations of lower interest rates in the US could provide additional support for M&A activity, as a softer rate environment typically reduces borrowing costs and improves deal economics [9][11]

Core Insights - Shenzhen has produced a number of globally impactful companies, showcasing a shift from "Made in China" to "Created in China" [2] - The 45th anniversary of Shenzhen Special Economic Zone marks a significant milestone in its rapid modernization and brand development [2][3] - The "Shenzhen Brand Development White Paper (1980-2025)" outlines the evolution of Shenzhen's brands and their internal logic and success factors [3][5] Group 1: Brand Evolution - Shenzhen's brand journey reflects a transition from manufacturing to innovation, with key phases including the emergence of local brands in the 1980s and 1990s, and the rise of autonomous brands in the early 2000s [7][10] - The current phase is characterized by cluster upgrades, with companies like Tencent, BYD, and DJI leading in various sectors [8][10] - As of now, Shenzhen has cultivated 1,220 notable local brands, including 13 billion-level brands and 7 trillion-level brands, with Tencent, Ping An, and Huawei each exceeding a brand value of 490 billion [10][11] Group 2: Economic Contributions - The 1,220 notable brands contribute 47.97% of the city's sales, 42.05% of tax revenue, and 32.87% of exports, serving as the backbone of Shenzhen's high-quality economic development [11] - These brands span critical sectors such as electronics, renewable energy, biomedicine, high-end equipment, financial services, and digital economy, forming a robust industrial structure [11] Group 3: Brand Development Factors - Shenzhen's brand success is attributed to a unique ecosystem supported by policy innovation, technological advancement, and collaborative industrial frameworks [15][16][19] - The government has played a crucial role in creating a conducive environment for brand growth through targeted policies and regulatory frameworks [16] - Innovation drives brand competitiveness, with companies investing over 10% of their annual revenue in R&D, fostering a comprehensive innovation ecosystem [17] Group 4: Global Expansion and Responsibility - Shenzhen brands have established clear pathways for international expansion, evolving from processing trade to localized operations and global standardization [20] - Social responsibility is ingrained in the corporate strategy, enhancing brand value and sustainability through practices like tax compliance and community support [21] Group 5: Future Outlook - The release of the white paper is a significant step in documenting Shenzhen's brand journey and providing strategic guidance for future brand development [31] - Shenzhen's brands are expected to continue thriving in emerging sectors like digital and low-altitude economies, contributing to the global narrative of Chinese brands [33][34]

Indian sovereign bonds eligible for inclusion in global indexes are on track for a record monthly outflow, as a weaker rupee and signs the central bank is nearing the end of its interest-rate cut cycle weigh on sentiment.Global funds have sold ₹14,300 crore ($1.6 billion) of bonds so far in December, according to Clearing Corporation of India data. That marks the biggest outflow since the so-called Fully Accessible Route — a framework under which select government bonds have no foreign investment restrictio ...

Group 1 - The Federal Reserve decided to cut interest rates by 25 basis points during the policy meeting on December 9-10, lowering the target range to 3.5%-3.75%, marking the third consecutive rate cut [1] - The decision was reached after extensive debate on the risks to the U.S. economy, with most policymakers supporting the cut as a necessary measure to stabilize the labor market amid slowing job growth and rising unemployment [1] - There were notable dissenting opinions among committee members, with some advocating for maintaining rates and others suggesting a more significant cut, indicating a rare level of disagreement within the Federal Reserve [1] Group 2 - Market expectations for rate cuts in 2026 have cooled, with projections now at approximately 50 basis points due to internal divisions and a cautious approach towards further easing [2] - The recent price movement of silver (TD) shows a decline of over 3% from the previous day's high, followed by a recovery of more than 2%, indicating a volatile trading environment [3] - Key support levels for silver (TD) are identified between 17,500 and 18,000, while resistance levels are noted between 18,500 and 19,000 [3]

Core Insights - Continued momentum in mergers and acquisitions (M&As) is anticipated for 2026, driven by strong balance sheets and growing corporate confidence [2][5] - A broader range of sectors is expected to participate in M&A activity, moving beyond traditional leaders like financial services, technology, and healthcare [2][5] - Domestic consolidation remains a key theme as Indian corporates pursue strategic growth locally while exploring international opportunities [2][5] M&A Activity Overview - Domestic consolidation reached $104 billion in 2025, marking its strongest performance in two years, while inbound deals climbed to $30 billion [4] - Outbound deals surged to $22 billion, the highest in a decade, led by acquisitions from Tata Motors and Tega Industries [4] Shifting M&A Participants - The makeup of M&A participants is changing, with mid-cap companies increasingly entering the M&A arena, previously dominated by conglomerates [3][5] - Recent examples include Mankind Pharma's acquisition of Bharat Serums and Vaccines, Tilaknagar's purchase of the Imperial Blue brand, and Jubilant's acquisition of Hindustan Coca Cola Beverages [3][5] Inbound M&A Trends - Inbound M&A is expected to continue in sectors like financial services, consumer, and infrastructure, which remain attractive to foreign investors [3][5] - The transition from a volume-driven to a value-driven model is noted, with transaction values rising sharply despite declining deal volumes over the past three years [3][5] Notable Inbound Deals - Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group's $4.4 billion acquisition of a 20% stake in Shriram Finance was the largest inbound deal in the financial sector this year [3][5] - Other significant investments include Emirates NBD's $3 billion investment in RBL Bank and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation's $1.6 billion injection into Yes Bank [3][5] Future Outlook - The potential privatization of IDBI Bank is highlighted, with interest from Fairfax Group and Kotak Mahindra Bank as India plans to reduce the number of public sector banks [3][5] - Dealmakers' optimism for 2026 is supported by rising disposable incomes, consumption growth, and a favorable policy environment [3][5] - Recent regulatory changes, such as allowing banks to finance M&A transactions and raising foreign direct investment limits, are expected to boost dealmaking [3][5]