latest news in economy
Record $7.1 Trillion Options Expiration May Shake Wall Street This Friday
New York, Thursday, 18 December 2025.
Wall Street prepares for a historic trading session this Friday as a record-breaking $7.1 trillion in options contracts expire. Goldman Sachs warns this unprecedented volume surpasses all historical benchmarks, signaling potential volatility as traders navigate year-end positioning.
Soft Inflation Data and Micron’s AI Outlook Spark Market Rally
New York, Thursday, 18 December 2025.
Wall Street advanced Thursday on cooling inflation data, while Micron Technology fueled a tech rally by forecasting profits nearly double expectations, confirming insatiable demand for AI memory chips.
Markets Await Critical November Inflation Data After Government Shutdown
Washington, Thursday, 18 December 2025.
Markets are bracing for today’s release of the November Consumer Price Index (CPI), the first significant economic gauge since the 43-day government shutdown ended. While the consensus forecast anticipates a 3.1% annual inflation rate, the critical takeaway is the unprecedented lack of context: the cancellation of October’s data has created a historic gap, meaning this will not be a “clean” reading. As the Federal Reserve looks toward 2026, this fragmented dataset must serve as the primary compass for future interest rate decisions despite potential distortions from the political gridlock.