Multiple news sources indicate that US job creation slowed significantly in 2025, averaging only 49,000 new jobs per month, the weakest performance since the Covid-19 pandemic despite a 4.3% economic growth rate. The slowdown included downward revisions to previous months and losses in retail and manufacturing, though the unemployment rate dipped to 4.4%.
Oil executives, including Exxon Mobil's CEO Darren Woods, expressed skepticism about investing in Venezuela's energy sector despite President Trump's plan to revive it with a potential $100 billion investment, citing past asset seizures and current instability rendering it "uninvestable." The industry's hesitation highlights the significant risks and challenges involved in Trump's ambitious plan to control Venezuela's oil reserves and influence global oil prices.
Meta is reportedly planning to lay off 10-15% of Reality Labs' 15,000 employees, impacting its metaverse-focused division, as the company redirects resources towards AI development. This move comes as CEO Mark Zuckerberg prioritizes AI research, increasing the budget for the TBD Lab, amid growing competition from companies like OpenAI and Google, while also asking executives to cut their 2026 budgets. The layoffs, while a small fraction of Meta's 78,000-strong workforce, signal a strategic shift away from the metaverse and towards AI.
Saks Global, parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, is reportedly preparing to file for bankruptcy amid worsening financial struggles since its $2.7 billion acquisition of Neiman Marcus in 2024. The retailer faces inventory shortages and questions about its future, impacting shoppers, vendors, and investors. The merger, intended to cut costs and strengthen brands, has seemingly failed to deliver anticipated benefits.
GRU Space, a startup founded by a recent UC Berkeley graduate, is now accepting reservations for a lunar hotel with deposits ranging from $250,000 to $1 million, targeting the emerging space tourism market. Despite the company's small size, the ambitious project aims to establish lunar habitats within six years, potentially impacting the future of commercial activity on the Moon. This venture signals growing interest and investment in lunar tourism as a viable long-term business opportunity.
Oil executives, including Exxon Mobil's CEO Darren Woods, expressed skepticism about investing in Venezuela's energy sector despite President Trump's plan to revive it with a potential $100 billion investment. Woods cited past asset seizures and current instability, deeming the country "uninvestable" under present conditions, suggesting significant hurdles to industry buy-in for the costly and risky endeavor. Trump aims to control Venezuela's oil reserves to manipulate global oil prices following the U.S. military's intervention and capture of Nicolás Maduro.
Paramount has sued Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) in Delaware court, challenging WBD's $82.7 billion deal with Netflix and arguing that Paramount's $108.4 billion hostile takeover bid offers superior value to shareholders. The lawsuit seeks transparency on WBD's valuation of its Global Networks division and the Netflix transaction, aiming to sway shareholders before the January 21 deadline to tender their shares.
Analysts predict a "booming" UK mortgage market by 2026, fueled by increased competition among lenders and a surge in available mortgage products to an 18-year high. While mortgage rates have fallen below 5% since August, offering relief to borrowers, global economic uncertainty could still impact further improvements. Over 80% of mortgage holders are in fixed-rate deals, facing potential financial adjustments upon renewal.
A new executive order from President Trump protects Venezuelan oil revenue held in the U.S. from private claims, aiming to safeguard funds for governmental and diplomatic purposes. This move comes as the administration seeks to encourage U.S. oil companies, like ExxonMobil, to invest in Venezuela's reconstruction, with Trump estimating the U.S. is taking control of $30 to $50 million in Venezuelan oil sales. The order addresses concerns about political instability and potential asset seizures that have made Venezuela an unattractive investment environment.
Analysts predict a "booming" UK mortgage market in 2026, fueled by increased competition among lenders and a surge in available mortgage products to an 18-year high. While mortgage rates have fallen since August 2023, when the average two-year fixed rate dipped below 5%, global economic uncertainty could still impact further improvements for borrowers, over 80% of whom have fixed-rate deals.
Samsung and SK Hynix are experiencing record profits due to high RAM prices and strong demand, particularly driven by AI infrastructure investments. Samsung forecasts approximately $13.8 billion in operating profit for Q4 2025, a significant increase from 2024, while SK Hynix reported a record $7.8 billion in operating profit for Q3 2025 with a 47% operating margin. These financial gains highlight the positive impact of memory market dynamics on leading manufacturers.
NZXT, a prominent PC gaming hardware company known for its aesthetically driven cases, offers various discounts, including up to $250 off daily deals on PC cases and accessories, and savings of up to $150 on gaming gear bundles. The company also provides a subscription-based PC rental service, Flex, starting at $59 per month, targeting gamers seeking a more affordable entry point into high-end gaming. These promotions aim to expand NZXT's market reach beyond its core case business into peripherals and complete system solutions.
Paramount has sued Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) in Delaware court, challenging WBD's $82.7 billion deal with Netflix and arguing that Paramount's $108.4 billion all-cash offer of $30 per share is superior. The lawsuit seeks transparency on WBD's valuation methods, aiming to sway shareholders before the January 21 deadline to tender their shares.
Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on any country conducting business with Iran, a move that could significantly impact global trade relations. The tariff, announced via social media, targets major economies like Russia, China, and Turkiye, all of which have substantial trade ties with Iran, potentially disrupting existing trade agreements and supply chains. This decision intensifies economic pressure on Iran amidst ongoing domestic unrest and follows recent threats from Trump, signaling a more aggressive stance towards the country.
Millions of American households are struggling with soaring energy prices, leading to increased utility debt and service disconnections. A recent report indicates that nearly 5% of households are at risk of having their utility debt sent to collections, with severely overdue debt rising by 3.8% in the first half of Trump's second term, highlighting the growing financial strain on consumers.
Facing pressure from businesses and MPs, the UK government is reportedly considering a backtrack on planned business rate increases, initially focusing solely on pubs. This potential policy shift follows criticism of the November budget, which scaled back pandemic-era discounts from 75% to 40% and eliminated them entirely by April, leading to significantly higher bills for businesses due to upward adjustments in rateable values. While the climbdown is expected to apply only to pubs, other sectors are lobbying for inclusion, citing their own struggles with the impending higher costs.
Greggs acknowledges that the increasing popularity of weight-loss drugs is impacting its sales, as consumers opt for smaller portions and healthier, protein-rich options. This shift in consumer behavior, coupled with a broader health trend, contributed to the company's reported lacklustre profits and muted forecast for the coming year, prompting Greggs to adapt its menu with new product offerings. Tesco has also noted the trend toward healthier eating, with growth in fresh produce sales.
Millions of US households are struggling with soaring energy prices, leading to increased utility debt and service disconnections. A recent report indicates that nearly 5% of US households are at risk of having their utility debt sent to collections, with severely overdue debt rising by 3.8% in the first half of the year, highlighting the growing financial strain on consumers.
GRU Space, a startup founded by a recent UC Berkeley graduate, is accepting reservations for a lunar hotel with deposits ranging from $250,000 to $1 million, targeting the emerging space tourism market. Despite the company's small size, the ambitious project aims to establish lunar habitats within six years, capitalizing on the long-term potential of tourism on the Moon. This venture could significantly impact the nascent space tourism industry, pending successful development and execution.
Businesses are urging Chancellor Rachel Reeves to extend any planned business rates relief for pubs to include other struggling sectors like retail and music venues. These businesses face sharp rate increases over the next three years as Covid-era support ends, despite additional support measures announced in the November budget. Lobby groups and MPs argue that many businesses will struggle to pay the higher costs, potentially impacting market stability.
