International News
Europe close: Stocks slip amid strength in euro
Stocks on the Continent slumped amid holiday-thinned volumes after a Chinese diplomat sounded a confident note on trade, leading to a back-up in longer-term government bond yields and a rising euro.
Spain's PSOE and Podemos commit to partial roll-back of labour market reforms
Spain's Socialists (PSOE) and far-left Podemos party have unveiled the political programme that they intend to pursue if they garner the parliamentary support thay need to form a coalition government, including a roll-back of the previous government's labour market reforms, higher taxes on capital gains, and on those individuals in the highest personal income tax brackets.
US foreign trade deficit in goods drops sharply in November
America's shortfall in trade on goods with the rest of the world shrank significantly last month.
US pending home sales rise more slowly than expected in November
A closely-followed lead indicator for activity in the US housing sector picked up more slowly than anticipated last month.
Chicago area factory activity suprises to the upside in December
A slump in factory sector activity around the Chicago area eased more than expected at the end of the year, the results of a closely-followed survey revealed.
Asia report: Markets finish mixed ahead of New Year's Eve
Markets in Asia finished mixed on Monday, which was the last full trading session for a number of major bourses in the region.
US pre-open: Futures point to flat open
US futures were pointing to a flat open on Monday ahead of the year's second-to-last session.
Beijing will honour trade commitments, Chinese ambassador to US says
A top Chinese diplomat said Beijing would honour its commitments under the phase one trade deal that was soon to be signed between Beijing and Washington, even as he criticised talk of a new Cold War as "very irresponsible".