Breaking news

• Trump revealed some of Friday's jobs data early in post the prior day - The president indicated that private sector payrolls had expanded by 654,000, a total that would have included Friday's jobs count for December.
• U.S. payrolls rose 50,000 in December, less than expected; unemployment rate at 4.4% - Nonfarm payrolls were expected to rise by 73,000 in December as the unemployment rate moved lower to 4.5%.
• Trump says he’s cancelled second wave of attacks on Venezuela - He added that at least $100 billion will be invested in Venezuela by U.S. oil giants.
• Trade deficit in October hits smallest since 2009 after Trump's tariff moves - The trade shortfall was just $29.4 billion for October, down 39% from the prior month.
• Treasury Secretary Bessent says more Fed rate cuts are 'only ingredient missing' for stronger economy - Bessent on Thursday pressed the administration's desire for lower interest rates, saying they are the key to future economic growth.
• Layoff pace in December hit lowest level since mid-2024, Challenger says - Planned job cuts totaled 35,553 for the month, a 50% slide from November and an 8% decrease from the same period a year ago.
• Private payrolls rose 41,000 in December, slightly below expectations, ADP says - Private sector job creation turned positive in December though at a bit softer pace than expected.
• Elon Musk's xAI raises $20 billion from investors including Nvidia, Cisco, Fidelity - Elon Musk's AI said it raised $20 billion in new funding after CNBC reported in November that a financing round would value the company at about $230 billion.
• Economist Mark Zandi sees the Fed surprising with three rate cuts in first half of 2026 - Markets and Fed officials themselves see only modest easing in the year ahead.
• Fed minutes show officials were in tight split over December rate cut - The Federal Reserve on Tuesday released minutes from its December meeting.