Market Brief – 16 Dec 2025

In today’s episode of Market Brief - After Hours, markets traded cautiously as investors weighed a mixed US jobs report against signs of softening momentum and the looming CPI inflation release. The Dow Jones fell over 300 points as early gains faded, the S&P 500 extended its losing streak on weakness in energy and AI-linked stocks, while the Nasdaq edged higher on selective buying outside the crowded AI trade. European equities closed lower amid rising UK unemployment and uneven economic data, while Asia-Pacific markets slid as technology shares weakened across South Korea, Japan, and China. Oil prices dropped sharply to their lowest levels since early 2021 on oversupply concerns, dragging energy stocks lower, while US Treasury yields eased as bond markets focused on downward job revisions and a rising unemployment rate. In currency markets, GBP/USD strengthened as the pound outperformed, EUR/USD struggled to hold recent highs, EUR/GBP drifted lower, and USD/JPY pulled back modestly while remaining in a broader uptrend. Gold paused near record highs as it consolidated recent gains. Stock-specific moves stood out, with Tesla rising to a record high on optimism around autonomous vehicle testing, Circle Internet Group jumping after Visa expanded USDC settlement access, and declines in Booz Allen Hamilton, Humana, and Pfizer following company-specific updates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.