United News of Bangladesh

Germany’s economy returned to modest growth last year after two consecutive years of contraction, official data showed Thursday, raising expectations that government investment in infrastructure and defense could help break years of stagnation. The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 0.2% in 2025, driven by stronger consumer and government spending, while exports remained subdued due to tougher U.S. trade policies under President Donald Trump, the German Federal Statistical Office reported. This followed GDP contractions of 0.5% in 2024 and 0.9% in 2023. “Germany’s export sector faced significant headwinds from higher U.S. tariffs, a stronger euro, and growing competition from China,” said Ruth Brand, head of the statistics office, in a statement. Looking ahead, analysts expect slightly stronger growth this year as Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government ramps up infrastructure spending to address years of underinvestment. Defense expenditure is also rising amid heightened security concerns following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Read more: Germany to increase its funding contribution to Saidabad WTP Phase III project Germany has faced extended economic stagnation since the COVID-19 pandemic. Rising energy costs from the Ukraine war, growing competition from China in key sectors such as automobiles and industrial machinery, higher tariffs on EU goods imposed by the U.S., and a stronger euro have all weighed on the export-driven economy. Structural challenges, including bureaucratic hurdles and a shortage of skilled labor, have also constrained growth. Preliminary data indicate that the German economy expanded by 0.2% in the final quarter of 2025. A group of leading economists has projected 0.9% growth for 2026, though they caution that slower-than-expected government spending could limit the recovery.

U.S. trade deficit in goods and services in October 2025 saw a month-on-month decrease for the third consecutive month in a row and reached the lowest monthly trade gap since June 2009, according to data issued by the U.S. Department of Commerce on Thursday. Driven by higher exports and lower imports in goods, the United States posted a 29.4 billion U.S.-dollar trade deficit in October 2025, down 39 percent from the previous month. In particular, U.S. exports of goods and services grew 2.6 percent month on month to 302 billion dollars, while the imports of goods and services shrank 3.2 percent to 331.4 billion dollars. U.S. exports of non-monetary gold and other precious metals increased by 6.8 billion dollars and 3.6 billion dollars, respectively, according to official data. Meanwhile, U.S. imports of consumer goods dropped 14 billion dollars month on month due to a significant fall in imports of pharmaceutical preparations. The imports of industrial supplies and materials dipped by 2.7 billion dollars in the month, while the imports of capital goods increased by 6.8 billion dollars. Moreover, the U.S. trade deficit in the first ten months of 2025 added 56 billion dollars or 7.7 percent from the same period of 2024.

An anonymous cryptocurrency trader made more than $436,000 by betting on the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro shortly before U.S. authorities officially announced the operation, raising concerns over possible use of inside information. Data from Polymarket, a crypto-based prediction platform, showed a sharp rise in bets that Maduro would be removed from power just hours before U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on Saturday that the Venezuelan leader was in U.S. custody. One account, created last month, placed four Venezuela-related bets worth about $32,500 and earned nearly half a million dollars. The odds of Maduro’s exit stood at just 6.5% on Friday afternoon but climbed rapidly overnight before Trump’s announcement on Truth Social. Polymarket has not commented on the unusual trading activity. Financial reform advocates said the trade showed signs of insider knowledge. Following the incident, a U.S. lawmaker introduced a bill to bar government employees from trading on prediction markets using nonpublic information. Prediction markets have grown rapidly in the United States but face limited regulation compared to traditional stock markets.   With inputs from BBC

Oil prices ticked higher in early Asian trading on Monday, while precious metals surged as investors reacted cautiously to the US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a weekend operation. Equity markets opened mostly higher across the region, with benchmark indices in Japan and South Korea extending record-setting runs. US futures were mixed after modest gains on Wall Street late last week. In early trading, US benchmark crude added 12 cents to $57.44 a barrel, while Brent crude rose 14 cents to $60.89 a barrel. Venezuela’s oil industry, weakened by years of sanctions and underinvestment, remains in poor shape. Analysts say it could take years and substantial capital to significantly lift output, though some believe production could eventually double or even triple from its current level of around 1.1 million barrels a day. The US action sent ripples through global markets, boosting demand for safe-haven assets. Gold climbed 2 percent, while silver and platinum each surged about 6 percent. Asian share markets posted strong gains. Japan’s Nikkei 225 jumped 2.9 percent to 51,777.99 in its first session after the year-end break. South Korea’s Kospi rose 2.3 percent to 4,406.55, adding to a record close on Friday. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 edged up 0.1 percent to 8,735.60, while Taiwan’s benchmark index advanced 2.1 percent. In currency trading, the US dollar strengthened 0.2 percent to 157.15 yen, while the euro slipped 0.2 percent to $1.1702. On Friday, US stocks closed slightly higher in subdued trading. The S&P 500 rose 0.2 percent to 6,858.47, building on gains of more than 16 percent in 2025. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.7 percent to 48,382.39, while the Nasdaq composite dipped marginally to 23,235.63, weighed down by losses in major technology stocks including Microsoft and Tesla. Furniture retailers gained after President Donald Trump delayed higher tariffs on upholstered furniture, with shares of RH and Wayfair rising sharply. The first full trading week of the new year will bring several key US economic reports, including updates on the services sector, consumer sentiment and the labour market. Investors are watching closely for clues on how the US economy ended 2025 and what lies ahead in 2026.

The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on four Venezuelan oil companies and added four more oil tankers to its list of blocked property, accusing them of supporting President Nicolás Maduro’s government through a shadow fleet. The move is part of the Trump administration’s sustained campaign to pressure Maduro. U.S. authorities have also seized two tankers off Venezuela’s coast, pursued another vessel, and carried out a series of strikes targeting suspected drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. The attacks announced Wednesday raised the reported death toll to at least 110 since early September. Last week, the CIA reportedly conducted a drone strike at a Venezuelan docking area used by drug cartels, marking the first known operation directly on Venezuelan soil. The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated the ships Nord Star, Lunar Tide, Rosalind, and Della, along with their ownership companies. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the sanctions are intended to “disrupt the network supporting Maduro and his illegitimate regime.” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized that the U.S. will prevent Maduro’s government from profiting from oil exports while allegedly trafficking drugs into the country. President Trump has called for a blockade of sanctioned Venezuelan tankers and demanded the return of assets previously seized from U.S. oil firms. Source: AP

Asian stock markets showed a mixed performance on Wednesday, with several major exchanges closed for year-end and New Year holidays. Markets in Tokyo and Seoul were shut, while trading continued elsewhere in the region. In China, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 0.9% to 25,630.54, whereas the Shanghai Composite edged up 0.1% to 3,969.75. Taiwan’s Taiex advanced 0.9% to 28,963.60. Australia’s benchmark S&P/ASX 200 in Sydney slipped marginally, falling less than 0.1% to 8,714.30. Tokyo markets are scheduled to remain closed through Friday for New Year holidays and will reopen on Monday, while South Korean markets will also be closed on Thursday. On Wall Street, trading continued Wednesday ahead of a holiday closure on Thursday, though activity remained subdued. The S&P 500 slipped 0.1% to 6,894.24, though it remains on course for an annual gain exceeding 17%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.2% to 48,367.06, and the Nasdaq composite declined 0.2% to 23,419.08. Technology stocks continued to carry significant influence. Nvidia and Apple posted modest declines, while Meta Platforms gained 1.1% following news of its acquisition of artificial intelligence startup Manus. Commodities saw stronger moves, with gold rising 1.4% and silver surging nearly 11%. Copper climbed 4.4% and is up more than 40% for the year on strong demand tied to global energy needs and AI-related infrastructure. In energy markets, oil prices edged slightly lower, while U.S. Treasury yields were mixed amid expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged at its January meeting. Source: AP

Wall Street stocks remained mostly flat as trading for 2025 nears its conclusion. Early Tuesday, the Dow slipped 0.3%, the S&P 500 edged down 0.1%, and the Nasdaq rose slightly by less than 0.1%. The main activity, however, continues in the commodities market, where gold, silver, and copper recovered after steep losses the previous day. Gold rose 1.3%, silver surged 7.7%, and copper climbed 3%, while oil increased 0.6%. Monday’s declines followed the Chicago Mercantile Exchange’s request for traders to post additional funds to trade precious metals. Gold futures jumped 1.7% Tuesday after dropping 4.6% on Monday, marking over a 64% increase for the year. Silver futures advanced 7.7% after falling 8.7% and have more than doubled in 2025. Copper also regained some losses with a 3.1% gain and has risen more than 42% this year, its best annual performance in 16 years, driven by strong demand linked to energy infrastructure and AI technology. Mining stocks, including Freeport-McMoRan and Newmont, rebounded more than 2% following Monday’s pullback. In Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi marked the final trading session of 2025, emphasizing Japan’s aim to attract global investment. The Nikkei 225 ended at 50,339.48, up nearly 25% for the year, its first year-end close above 50,000. With just two trading days remaining, many major investors have closed positions, keeping trading volumes light. Most global markets will be closed Thursday for New Year’s Day, with some also observing closures on Wednesday and Friday. In early European trading, Germany’s DAX was nearly flat at 24,348.38, Britain’s FTSE 100 gained 0.1% to 9,876.73, and Paris’ CAC 40 remained largely unchanged at 8,112.37. In Asia, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 0.9% to 25,854.60, while Shanghai Composite stayed steady at 3,965.51. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 dipped 0.1% to 8,717.10, South Korea’s Kospi fell 0.2% to 4,214.17, Taiwan’s Taiex dropped 0.4%, and India’s Sensex was nearly flat. U.S. crude oil gained 27 cents to $58.35 per barrel, though it has fallen nearly 20% this year. Brent crude increased 26 cents to $61.75 per barrel. Source: AP 

Asian shares showed a mixed performance on Monday in light trading following a muted post-Christmas session on Wall Street, even as tensions escalated over Taiwan. U.S. futures were largely unchanged. The Chinese military said it dispatched air, naval, and rocket forces to conduct joint exercises near Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory, citing concerns over separatist activity and “external interference.” Taiwan, in response, placed its forces on alert and denounced Beijing as “the biggest destroyer of peace.” The drills followed U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and a statement by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that Japan could intervene militarily if China acted against the island. The Chinese military did not specifically reference the United States or Japan in its Monday statement. In regional markets, Taiwan’s benchmark index rose 0.8%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 0.3% to 25,887.33, and the Shanghai Composite added 0.3% to 3,975.92. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.2% to 50,663.90. South Korea’s Kospi jumped 1.9% to 4,207.36, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 declined 0.3% to 8,732.70. Precious metals saw notable movements, with gold dropping 0.4% to $4,535.50 per troy ounce, while silver surged 3% to $79.87 amid supply constraints. Rising demand for safe-haven assets has pushed both metals to record highs this year, bolstered by expectations of U.S. Federal Reserve rate cuts and dollar weakness. Mining stocks, including Freeport-McMoRan, posted solid gains, climbing 2.2% on Friday. U.S. stock indexes showed little movement after reopening Friday, with the S&P 500 down less than 0.1% at 6,929.94, the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling to 48,710.97, and the Nasdaq dipping 0.1% to 23,593.10. In commodities, U.S. crude rose 60 cents to $57.34 per barrel, Brent crude gained 62 cents to $60.86. The dollar slipped to 156.28 yen, while the euro remained at $1.1770. Source: AP 

Asian markets showed mixed performance Thursday amid light holiday trading, with many exchanges in the region and worldwide closed for Christmas. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 dipped less than 0.1% to 50,317.43, marking nearly a 30% gain for the year. The dollar weakened slightly to 155.70 yen from 155.94, while the euro held steady at $1.1780. Mainland Chinese markets rose, with the Shanghai Composite up 0.3%, although Hong Kong remained closed. Investors were supported by the People’s Bank of China’s pledge to maintain sufficient liquidity to back financing, growth, and inflation targets. Thailand and Indonesia saw share declines. In the U.S., the S&P 500 rose 0.3% to 6,932.05 on Wednesday, the Dow Jones added 0.6% to 48,731.16, and the Nasdaq gained 0.2% to 23,613.31. Trading volumes were light due to early closures for Christmas Eve and Thursday’s holiday, with roughly 1.8 billion shares traded on the NYSE, about a third of a typical day. Full trading resumes Friday, although volumes are expected to remain subdued as many investors wrap up positions for the year. The S&P 500 has climbed over 17% this year, boosted by deregulatory policies and optimism over artificial intelligence benefiting technology firms and broader corporate earnings. Investors are now watching U.S. economic trends and the Federal Reserve’s upcoming rate decisions, widely expected to remain steady in January. U.S. economic data showed a 4.3% annualized growth in Q3, the fastest in two years, fueled by strong consumer spending despite inflation concerns. Jobless claims fell to 214,000 last week, below forecasts, signaling continued labor market strength. In corporate news, Dynavax Technologies surged 38.2% after Sanofi announced a $2.2 billion acquisition, while Novo Nordisk gained 1.8% following U.S. approval for a pill version of its weight-loss drug Wegovy. Oil prices closed at $58.35 a barrel for U.S. crude and $61.80 for Brent. Source: AP 

Asian markets mostly rose Wednesday after the S&P 500 in the U.S. closed at a record high, following a report showing the U.S. economy grew at an unexpectedly strong annual rate of 4.3% in the third quarter. The initial government estimate for July–September growth indicated persistent inflation, while a separate report showed consumer confidence declined further in December. In comparison, the U.S. economy had expanded at a 3.8% annual pace in the second quarter. Trading in Asia was light ahead of Christmas, with many global markets set to close Thursday. U.S. markets will close early Wednesday for Christmas Eve and remain closed Thursday. In Asia, Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 remained flat at 50,411.10, while South Korea’s Kospi slipped 0.1% to 4,113.83. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 0.2% to 25,818.93, and China’s Shanghai Composite rose 0.2% to 3,929.25. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell nearly 0.4% to 8,762.70. Markets in Hong Kong and Australia closed early for Christmas Eve. Taiwan’s Taiex inched up less than 0.1%, and India’s Sensex rose 0.1%. Gold and silver extended gains after reaching record highs earlier in the week amid geopolitical tensions. Gold rose 0.4% to $4,525.50 per ounce, while silver climbed 1.8%. U.S. futures were slightly lower early Wednesday. On Tuesday, strong gains in tech stocks pushed the S&P 500 up 0.5% to 6,909.79, even though most stocks fell. The Dow Jones rose 0.2% to 48,442.41, and the Nasdaq gained 0.6% to 23,561.84. Nvidia advanced 3%, and Alphabet added 1.5%. Novo Nordisk surged 7.3% after U.S. regulators approved a daily pill version of its weight-loss drug Wegovy. The report also showed inflation higher than the Federal Reserve’s target. The Fed’s preferred gauge, the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) index, climbed to a 2.8% annual rate last quarter from 2.1% in the second quarter. Investors expect the Fed to maintain interest rates at its January meeting amid high inflation, slowing labor markets, and weak retail sales. Early Wednesday, the dollar fell against the yen to 155.96 from 156.17, after officials suggested possible intervention. The euro slipped to $1.1793 from $1.1796. Oil prices rose slightly, with U.S. crude at $58.45 per barrel and Brent crude at $61.90, as traders monitored supply risks in Venezuela and Russia. Source: AP