Group 1 - The holiday shopping season is experiencing a significant decline in temporary Christmas hiring, with retailers expected to hire only 265,000 seasonal workers, down from 442,000 in 2024, marking the lowest pace since 2012 [7] - Walmart's limited-edition "Mac Friday Box," containing 65 boxes of Kraft Mac & Cheese, sold out within seconds at a price of $19.37, which is 75% off the regular price, indicating high consumer interest in novelty items [4][5] - US tariff revenues reached a record high of over $31 billion in October, although this is insufficient to address the federal government's fiscal challenges, where 24 cents of every tax dollar goes to interest on the debt [11][14] Group 2 - Recent inflation data shows core prices increased by 3% year-over-year in September, the lowest inflation level entering the holiday shopping season since 2020, suggesting a potential easing of consumer price pressures [7] - The average American's purchasing power, when adjusted for gold, has decreased by 77% since 1998, highlighting the long-term impact of inflation on real income [20] - The performance of major asset classes year-to-date through November 30 shows gold up 61%, silver up 101%, and gold miners up 140%, indicating strong interest and investment in precious metals amidst economic uncertainty [26]

The unlisted shares of India’s commodity bourse have surged after investors bought stakes in the company ahead of its foray into equities https://t.co/fnFhHXreEt ...

Core Insights - Abaxx Technologies Inc. announced a partnership with Zhonggong Petroleum & Natural Gas Co., Ltd. to explore liquefied natural gas (LNG) procurement and trading services [1][2] - The partnership aims to connect Zhonggong's LNG infrastructure investments in Shandong and Yunnan, totaling USD 640 million, with Abaxx Exchange's trading infrastructure and international supplier network [2][4] Company Overview - Abaxx Technologies is a financial software and market infrastructure company, and the majority shareholder of Abaxx Singapore, which owns Abaxx Exchange and Abaxx Clearing [1][6] - The company focuses on building markets that address societal challenges, including the energy transition, through better tools and technology [5][7] Partnership Objectives - The partnership will facilitate LNG procurement by connecting Zhonggong's infrastructure projects with overseas LNG imports via Abaxx Exchange [8] - It aims to enhance LNG price discovery and risk management by providing access to Abaxx's trading infrastructure and market data [8] - The collaboration will strengthen logistics coordination and market connectivity within China for LNG delivery and distribution [8] Market Context - China's growing LNG demand is reshaping global trade flows, emphasizing the need for reliable demand centers, as highlighted by Zhonggong's investments [4] - Abaxx Exchange has established a regulated marketplace and a physically-backed forward curve for LNG trading, which is crucial for connecting partners with international supply [4]