Boy Lost In Thoughts

Major Points Simplified:
Current Market Behavior: The USD/CAD is falling (USD weakening) on Christmas Eve, likely due to extremely low trading volume. However, the market is expected to become choppy and volatile after the holiday period.Short-Term Forecast: The pair is sliding toward a key support level at 1.3550 (a "triple bottom" from summer). This drop is driven by a market belief that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates aggressively.Contrary View & Catalyst for Reversal: The analyst believes the market's expectation for aggressive Fed cuts is wrong. Recent economic data suggests the Fed may need to be cautious and measured, which could eventually lead to a complete market reversal (USD strength). A recent rise in oil prices (which helps the CAD) is also a temporary factor.Long-Term Outlook (2024): The pair has a history of being range-bound. It is likely to trade between 1.35 and 1.40 for most of next year. The interest rate difference between the US and Canada is small and may disappear, which the market is already factoring in.Key Driver: The health of the US economy is the primary driver. Ironically, when the US economy is strong, it boosts Canada, which can cause the USD/CAD pair to fall. The market is approaching a level with historical "memory," meaning it may find support.
Bottom Line: The short-term drop toward 1.3550 is seen as a move based on potentially flawed market expectations. The analyst anticipates choppy trading and a likely range-bound market in 2024, with a risk of a reversal once the Fed's more cautious policy becomes clear.
$BTC
$ETH
$BNB

Miro Mitev, who runs an investment firm called SmartWealth, first discovered AI in 1997 as a student. Today, his company’s investment decisions are made entirely by a network of AI systems.
Even though AI makes the final calls, Mitev believes humans are still the most important part. People are needed to choose the data, set up the systems, check for errors, and keep the AI updated. He warns that once the AI is running, it’s risky to override its decisions—the key is to trust the model.
By removing human emotion from investing, Mitev says his AI-driven approach gets better results. Over the past 10 years, his firm’s performance has significantly outpaced the industry average.
However, AI isn’t perfect—it can make mistakes if it learns from misleading or irrelevant data. That’s why constant monitoring, testing, and updating by humans are essential. Mitev emphasizes that developing this technology in-house over many years is what makes it successful.
Here is the summary divided into major points:
Early AI Visionary: Miro Mitev, an asset management CEO, first learned about neural networks (a core AI technology) back in 1997, long before AI was mainstream.AI-Driven Firm: His company, SmartWealth Asset Management, makes all investment decisions using a network of AI systems, not human fund managers.The Crucial Human Role: Despite this, Mitev insists that "humans are the most important part of the equation." Their job is to select data, build the models, check for errors, and constantly update the system—not to override its decisions.Performance Claim: Mitev argues that removing human emotion from investing leads to better results. His firm claims a 10-year return of 407.63%, vastly outperforming an industry benchmark of 145.34%.The Golden Rule: Trust the Model. Mitev's key principle is that once an AI model is created, humans must resist the urge to overrule it, even if they initially doubt its output.AI's Weakness & the Solution: AI can make mistakes—like "hallucinating" or "overfitting" (focusing on irrelevant data noise). The solution is rigorous human-led testing, validation, and constant data monitoring.Key to Success: In-House Development: Mitev believes the secret is developing the AI technology in-house over many years, which allows for deep refinement and creates a competitive advantage.

$ZEC
$BIFI
$BCH

Here are the major points from the report highlighted:
1. U.S. Conducts Strike in Nigeria at Government's Request
The United States carried out a military strike against Islamic State (ISIS) militants in Nigeria's northwest Sokoto state.The action was performed in coordination with and at the formal request of the Nigerian government, as part of existing security and intelligence-sharing cooperation.
2. Trump's Justification: Protecting Christians
Former President Donald Trump framed the strike as a direct response to ISIS targeting and killing "primarily, innocent Christians" at historically high levels.This aligns with his recent warnings about an "existential threat" to Christianity in Nigeria and threats of military intervention.
3. Details of the Operation
The strike was described as a "powerful and deadly" precision attack from a U.S. warship, targeting multiple militants at known ISIS camps.It follows increased U.S. intelligence-gathering flights over Nigeria since late November.
4. Nigerian Government's Nuanced Position
While cooperating on security, Nigeria's government contests the U.S. framing of sectarian violence, stating that armed groups target both Muslims and Christians.They argue that U.S. claims of Christian persecution oversimplify the complex security situation and ignore efforts to protect all religious groups.
5. Broader Context of Regional Violence
The strike occurs amidst ongoing Islamist insurgent violence in multiple regions of Nigeria.On the same day, a suspected suicide bomber attacked a mosque in northeast Nigeria, killing and injuring dozens.Nigerian President Bola Tinubu used a Christmas message to call for inter-religious peace and reaffirm his commitment to protecting all Nigerians from violence.
6. Political Timing
Trump announced the strike on Christmas Day while at his Mar-a-Lago club, linking the action to the protection of Christians during the holiday.This follows a pattern of recent U.S. large-scale strikes against ISIS targets in Syria.

$USD1

$BNB
$BTC

Core Event:
Super-long Japanese Government Bonds (JGBs) rallied (prices rose, yields fell).Trigger: A Reuters report that Japan may reduce issuance of these bonds next fiscal year, easing oversupply fears.
Key Market Moves:
30-year JGB yield: Fell from a record high of 3.45% to as low as 3.38%.20-year JGB yield: Also fell to 2.94%.Shorter-term bonds (2, 5, 10-year): Yields increased, moving opposite to the long-term trend.
Why the Divergence?
For Long-term Bonds: The potential for reduced supply was the main driver.For Short-term Bonds: A weak auction for 2-year bonds and expectations of another Bank of Japan (BOJ) interest rate hike pushed yields higher.
Broker Commentary (Eiichiro Miura, Nissay Asset Management):
Weak demand at the short-term bond auction reflected bets on the BOJ's next rate hike.Recent yen weakness prompted investors to sell JGBs, as the BOJ didn't signal its next move clearly.
Other Critical Context:
BOJ Stance: Governor Kazuo Ueda stated underlying inflation is gradually approaching the 2% target.Recent Policy: The BOJ recently raised rates to a 13-year high of 0.75%.Yen Watch: The yen strengthened slightly (155.715/USD) amid warnings from Japanese officials about potential market intervention.
In a nutshell: The bond market split: long-term bonds rose on supply hopes, while short-term bonds fell on rate-hike fears, all against a backdrop of BOJ policy shifts and currency market tension.
$ZEC
$BNB
$SOL

Core Conflict: The Federal Reserve in 2025 was deeply divided, facing a stagflation-like scenario where its dual mandates of maximum employment and stable prices were in direct conflict. This led to public dissents over interest rate policy from both hawkish (anti-inflation) and dovish (pro-jobs) sides.
Key Factors from 2025:
Political Pressure & Independence: President Trump's economic policies (tariffs, immigration) created uncertainty. He aggressively pressured the Fed to cut rates, attempted to remove Chair Powell, and fired Governor Lisa Cook. The appointment of White House adviser Stephen Miran to the board raised significant concerns about the Fed's independence.Economic Crosscurrents: While sweeping tariffs initially caused inflation fears, their impact was milder than expected. However, the labor market showed unexpected softening, forcing the Fed to act. A prolonged government shutdown also left the Fed operating without reliable official economic data.Powell's Balancing Act: Despite divisions, Chair Powell forged a consensus for three "insurance" rate cuts in the fall of 2025. The December meeting highlighted the rift, with dissents from officials wanting no cut (due to inflation) and from Miran, who wanted a larger cut.
Outlook for 2026:
Continued Division: The internal splits are expected to persist. The Fed signals a cautious pause to assess the economy, with only one more rate cut currently anticipated for 2026.Leadership Change: A new Fed Chair will be appointed in 2026, likely one favoring lower rates. However, building consensus for cuts will be extremely difficult if inflation remains elevated, with some voting members already stating they favor holding rates steady.Persistent Challenges: The Fed will grapple with muddied economic data (due to the shutdown's aftermath), elevated inflation above its 2% target, cooling but not crisis-level unemployment, and potential fiscal stimulus from tax policy.Market Expectations: Analysts expect a slow start to rate cuts under Powell's remaining tenure, with more aggressive easing possible under a new, more administration-aligned Chair, despite continued internal dissent. The article concludes that the Fed is likely to become "more tied to the administration... than we've seen in a long time."

$BCH
$GIGGLE
$BANANA

Tokyo's core inflation (excluding fresh food) was 2.3% in December, staying above the Bank of Japan's (BOJ) 2% target.The pace slowed from November's 2.8%, mainly due to lower utility bills.A key measure of demand-driven inflation (excluding both food and fuel) rose 2.6%, showing underlying price pressures remain.This data is crucial for the BOJ's next policy meeting on January 22-23, where it will update its economic forecasts.The BOJ recently raised interest rates to a 30-year high (0.75%), signaling a shift from its long-held ultra-easy policy.The central bank is ready to raise rates further if the economy improves, supported by solid wage growth.A weaker yen is noted as a potential factor for future inflation, as it increases import costs.

$DOGE
$SOL
$ZBT

📍 The Big Story: Interest Rates Finally Dropped
The US Federal Reserve (the Fed) cut interest rates in December, marking a shift after a tough year of high rates.The Fed warned future cuts will be slow and depend on new economic data, as inflation isn't fully beaten yet.Other central banks, like the Bank of England, also cut rates, but at different speeds around the world.
📍 Stocks Ended a Strong Year on a High Note
Major US stock indexes (like the S&P 500) neared or hit record highs in December.Technology and AI-related companies were the biggest winners for the year.The market's calm reaction to the rate cut suggests it was already expected by investors.
📍 Gold & Silver Shone Brightly
Gold rose over 60% and silver soared over 100% for the year.They were boosted by the rate cut, global tensions, and strong buying from central banks.Silver got an extra boost from demand in green energy and AI infrastructure.
📍 Oil Prices Had a Weak Finish
Crude oil ended the year under pressure due to concerns about slowing demand, especially from China and Europe.Increased oil production from the US also helped keep prices in check.Geopolitical spikes in price (like from Middle East tensions) did not last long.
📍 Currency Markets Saw Mixed Moves
The US dollar softened slightly after the Fed's cut, giving a brief lift to some other currencies.The British Pound weakened after the Bank of England's rate cut, reflecting worries about the UK's slower growth.
📍 Cryptocurrency Markets Stabilized
Crypto prices (like Bitcoin) steadied in December after a volatile November.The Fed's move and growing institutional interest helped support the market.
What to Watch in January 2026
New Economic Data: Early reports on inflation (CPI) and jobs will be key to see if rate cuts are working without causing prices to spike again.Stock Market Momentum: Stocks could continue to rise with supportive policies, but high prices mean they need to deliver strong results.Global Events: Currencies and commodities will quickly react to any new geopolitical tensions or signs of shifting global economic growth.
Summary: December wrapped up a complex year defined by slowing growth, inflation, and geopolitical risk. The key change was central banks starting to cut interest rates. While stocks and precious metals won big in 2025, all eyes are now on how the economy responds as we move into 2026.

$BTC
$BIFI
$PEPE

On December 25, 2025, the Bank of Japan's (BoJ) Governor, Kazuo Ueda, explained why the central bank raised interest rates for the first time in nearly a year. The bank's goal is to nurture a virtuous economic cycle that lifts both wages and prices permanently.
🔍 The Reason for the Rate Hike: Confidence in a Stronger Economy
The BoJ decided to raise the policy interest rate from 0.5% to about 0.75% because key concerns have started to fade:
U.S. Risks Are Less Severe: While U.S. tariff policies still pose some risk, their negative impact on the U.S. and Japanese economies has been more contained than feared. Corporate profit forecasts in Japan have even been revised upward.The Wage Boom is Continuing: The BoJ sees strong evidence from businesses and labor unions that the high wage increases seen this year will continue into 2026. With a tight labor market, the bank judges that the “wage-price rise mechanism” is solid.
🎯 The Big Picture Goal: Escaping "Zero Norm" for Good
Governor Ueda outlined a clear long-term vision for Japan’s economy:
The Target: A sustainable cycle where corporate profits lead to higher business investment and wages, which boosts consumer spending, leading to moderate price rises and further profit growth.The Stakes: The BoJ wants to permanently escape the decades-old "zero norm," where prices and wages hardly moved. It believes achieving its 2% price stability target through this cycle is the foundation for long-term economic health.The Outlook: Governor Ueda confirmed that if the economy progresses as expected, further interest rate increases will continue to gently reduce monetary support.
📈 How Close is Japan to This Goal?
The speech presented data suggesting Japan is on the path to its target but must keep pushing forward:
📈 Progress Made ✅
Corporate Profits: Have approximately doubled over the past decade.Wage Growth: Wages, which were stagnant for years, are now under strong upward pressure, with high growth observed recently across a broad range of firm sizes and regions.Inflation Trend: Underlying consumer price inflation (excluding temporary factors) is on a moderate uptrend and steadily approaching the 2% target.Economic Shift: The likelihood of Japan's economy returning to a "zero norm" (where wages and prices hardly change) has decreased considerably.
🚀 Challenges & Next Steps
Investment Lag: Growth in personnel expenses (wages) and business fixed investment has remained moderate relative to the substantial increase in corporate profits.Labor Share Decline: The ratio of personnel expenses to the total value added by firms (the labor share) continues on a moderate declining trend.Call to Action: For long-term growth, it is more necessary than ever for firms to proactively invest in people and carry out business fixed investment with an eye to the future.
These points show the Bank of Japan's view that the economy is on the right path but requires continued corporate investment to secure a sustainable future.
In summary, the BoJ’s rate hike is a step of cautious optimism. It signals a belief that Japan’s economy is finally transitioning to a new, healthier phase where steady wage and price growth become the norm, paving the way for sustainable long-term prosperity.
$FIL
$ZEC
$BCH

The Bank of Japan (BoJ) is caught in a dilemma. While it has been hiking interest rates, pushing up long-term Japanese government bond yields, the yen has paradoxically fallen to a 20-year low.
The core reason for this contradiction is Japan's "monstrous level of government debt." The analysis points out that the current yields, though rising, are still artificially low because the BoJ remains a massive buyer of government bonds. As a result, the market's required risk premium for holding Japanese debt—due to its unsustainable fiscal path—isn't reflected in the bond market. Instead, this risk is expressed through a continuing sell-off of the yen.
The conclusion is that the yen's depreciation will not stop until yields are allowed to rise much more significantly. This would force the Japanese government to pursue fiscal consolidation and address its debt burden.
$BTC
$SOL
$ETH

Core Argument: Binance asserts that its compliance program is a global leader, delivering measurable, real-world results that are often misrepresented by selective or outdated public narratives.
Major Points:
1. The True Measure of Compliance is Response, Not Perfection
No platform can prevent all illicit actors from attempting access. The critical test is an organization's ability to detect, report, and cooperate with law enforcement to achieve measurable outcomes.Binance's "litmus test" is its proven capability to quickly identify problems and deploy effective responses.
2. Demonstrated, Quantifiable Success
Data-Driven Results: Between January 2023 and June 2025, Binance reduced its direct exposure to major illicit financial flows by 96%, a rate it claims is significantly better than industry peers.Massive Investment: The company invests hundreds of millions of dollars annually in compliance, supported by a dedicated team of over 600 core compliance professionals and 1,280 total compliance-related roles.Industry-Leading Infrastructure: The program uses advanced, proprietary technology and third-party tools for KYC, transaction monitoring, and behavioral analytics, claiming to meet or exceed traditional finance standards.
3. Extensive, Though Often Silent, Law Enforcement Collaboration
A core function of its compliance work is intentionally non-public to protect sensitive investigations.Binance processes tens of thousands of law enforcement requests annually (e.g., over 65,000 in one year cited), assisting in the confiscation of millions in illicit funds (e.g., over $90 million).It partners with major global agencies (Europol, INTERPOL, DEA, etc.), contributing to takedowns of criminal networks. The company argues that cases cited as "failures" by critics are often instances where its monitoring worked and are part of its active support for ongoing investigations.
4. Refutation of Critical Narratives
Binance challenges external reports as relying on selective cases, outdated assumptions, or misinterpreted data.It emphasizes that the presence of detected suspicious activity is evidence of a functioning system, not a systemic failure.It calls for a "macro perspective" focused on its measurable risk reduction, investment, and law enforcement recognition, rather than isolated incidents.
5. Unwavering Commitment to Continuous Improvement
The company states that its commitment to compliance and user protection is "categorically" strong and foundational to its mission since 2017.It frames its progress as "real, measurable, and recognized" by global law enforcement partners.Binance positions itself as a leader building a safer ecosystem and invites good-faith feedback from researchers and journalists.

$SSV

$BCH
$BIFI

1. 2025 Resilience, But Shifting Patterns:
Global merchandise trade remained stable in 2025 despite new U.S. tariffs, with container volumes growing 2.1% in October. However, U.S. imports fell sharply (−8%), while regions like Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and India saw strong growth — signaling a major reconfiguration of supply chains away from the U.S.
2. 2026: The Year of Tariff Consequences:
Experts warn that 2026 will see the real impact of 2025’s tariffs. Trade turmoil is expected from four main issues:
USMCA Review: The U.S., Canada, and Mexico will renegotiate the 2020 trade deal. Tensions are high — especially with Canada — and "improvements" for one nation could hurt another.Red Sea Reopening Risks: If shipping fully returns to the Red Sea/Suez route, a sudden surge in capacity could cause massive port congestion in Europe, disrupting supply chains.Potential Demand Shock: If the U.S. economy accelerates sharply in 2026, a rush to restock inventories could overwhelm shipping capacity.Fragile New Trade Deals: Recent U.S. agreements (e.g., with Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia) are not binding long-term treaties and face pressure from China. They could easily unravel.
3. Legal Uncertainty Over Tariffs:
A pending U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the legality of Trump’s “reciprocal tariffs” could force the government to refund billions in tariffs to importers — though administration officials doubt widespread refunds will happen. Betting markets give a 75% chance Trump loses the case.
4. Ongoing Frictions with Major Economies:
Contentious trade talks with the EU and India will spill into 2026, and the U.S. has threatened retaliation against the EU over tech regulations. Even the U.K. deal faces new difficulties.
Bottom Line:
The global trading system is undergoing a risky transformation. 2026 will test its stability due to the aftershocks of tariffs, fragile new deals, supply chain re-routing, and legal challenges — with the U.S. at the center of the turbulence.
$SHIB
$BANANA
$AVNT

In a recent address to Japan's leading business federation, Keidanren, Bank of Japan (BoJ) Governor Kazuo Ueda explained the central bank's decision to raise interest rates and outlined a crucial long-term vision: building an economy where wages and prices rise together in a sustainable cycle.
Why the Bank of Japan Raised Interest Rates
Governor Ueda confirmed that the BoJ raised its policy interest rate from around 0.5% to 0.75% in December 2025. This decision was based on a growing confidence in Japan's economic resilience and a clearer path toward its 2% inflation target.
Reduced Overseas Risks: While U.S. tariff policies had created uncertainty, the BoJ now judges that their negative impact, particularly on corporate profits, is contained and not spreading to broader business investment or employment in Japan. U.S. private consumption and AI-related investment have also remained solid, easing global economic concerns.Strong Momentum for Wage Growth: With the labor market remaining tight, companies across various sizes and regions are continuing to raise wages. Information gathered by the BoJ suggests this trend is set to continue into next year's key spring wage negotiations, with little risk of interruption.Steady Progress on Inflation: Underlying consumer price inflation has been rising moderately as companies increasingly pass on higher labor costs to selling prices. The BoJ believes the likelihood is rising that inflation will sustainably meet its 2% target from late 2026 through 2027.
The central bank signaled that if this positive scenario holds, it will continue to gradually raise interest rates to support the economy's long-term health.
The "Virtuous Cycle": The BoJ's Ultimate Goal
Governor Ueda dedicated a significant portion of his speech to describing the "economy in which both wages and prices rise moderately" that the BoJ aims to foster.
The mechanism, as illustrated by the BoJ, is a virtuous cycle that starts with corporate profits:
Strong profits lead to increased business investment and higher wages.Higher wages boost household income and private consumption.This rise in demand allows for moderate price increases, which in turn supports corporate profits.This cycle then repeats, sustaining growth. For real, lasting prosperity, this cycle must be supported by gains in labor productivity from corporate investment.
Japan's Economy: How Far Has It Come?
The speech highlighted that Japan has made significant progress toward breaking free from its deflationary past.
Corporate profits have approximately doubled over the past decade.After years of stagnation, wages are now under strong upward pressure due to a tight labor market shaped by a declining working-age population.The risk of Japan returning to a state where "wages and prices hardly change" is seen as considerably lower.
However, challenges remain. While wages and investment are growing, their increases have been moderate compared to the substantial rise in corporate profits. This is reflected in a gradual decline in labor's share of national income.
A Call to Action for Japan's Businesses
Looking ahead, Governor Ueda emphasized that Japan is entering a critical phase. To secure long-term growth, he called on businesses to take proactive steps:
Invest in People: The Governor praised the broadening wage increases and encouraged firms to continue this momentum to fundamentally change how workers form expectations about their future earnings.Invest for the Future: With profits high, the Governor urged companies to be more forward-looking in their business fixed investment. By investing in technology, innovation, and new markets, firms can boost productivity, which is the ultimate foundation for sustainable real wage growth and national prosperity.
In summary, the BoJ's rate hike is not just a response to current data but a step toward nurturing a new, stable economic era for Japan—one built on a healthy interplay between corporate health, worker pay, and steady prices. The central bank views proactive business investment as the essential fuel for this next chapter of growth.
$BTC
$BIFI
$AVNT

#usgdpupdate
According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) report released on December 23, 2025, the U.S. economy grew at a faster pace in the third quarter (Q3) of 2025. Here are the key points from the article.
📈 Main Economic Growth Figures
The primary data from the initial estimate for July through September 2025 is summarized below.
Real GDP Growth (Annual Rate): 4.3% in Q3 2025, up from 3.8% in Q2 2025.Corporate Profits Increase: +$166.1 billion in Q3, a sharp rise from +$6.8 billion in Q2.Inflation (PCE Price Index): Rose to 2.8% in Q3, up from 2.1% in Q2.Core Inflation (PCE excluding Food & Energy): Increased to 2.9% in Q3, from 2.6% in Q2.
🔍 Key Details from the Report
Growth Drivers: The 4.3% growth was led by increases in consumer spending, exports, and government spending. This was partly offset by a decrease in private investment.Inflation Trend: The price index for personal consumption expenditures (PCE), a key inflation gauge, rose to 2.8% in Q3, up from 2.1% in the previous quarter.Report Timing: This "initial estimate" combines data typically used for two separate reports. It was delayed and released later than usual due to the recent federal government shutdown.Corporate Profits: Preliminary data shows a sharp quarterly increase in corporate profits. The report notes this figure was reduced by several large legal settlements finalized during the quarter.
The next GDP update is scheduled for release on January 22, 2026.

$BCH

$BNB

$FIL

Nvidia has entered into a strategic agreement with AI chip startup Groq, securing the transfer of Groq's top leadership team—including its founder and president—to join Nvidia. This move, structured as a non-exclusive licensing deal for Groq's inference technology, aims to accelerate the development of low-cost AI processing. Despite the leadership shift, Groq will continue to operate independently under new management. The arrangement highlights Nvidia's strategy to strengthen its position in the competitive AI inference market by integrating key talent from a potential rival.
Highlights:
🧠 Strategic Talent Grab: Nvidia has hired Groq's founder, Jonathan Ross, president Sunny Madra, and other key team members under a licensing agreement, in a move reminiscent of an "acquihire."⚖️ Licensing, Not a Sale: The deal is specifically a non-exclusive licensing agreement for Groq's AI inference technology. Reports of a full $20 billion acquisition were denied.🎯 Targeting AI Inference: This strengthens Nvidia in the AI inference market (running trained models), where it faces growing competition, even as it dominates the AI training chip sector.🏢 Groq Remains Independent: Groq will continue as a separate company under a new CEO, Simon Edwards.🛡️ A Trend to Avoid Scrutiny: This "acquihire" model is a growing trend among tech giants (like Microsoft, Google, and Meta) to secure top talent and technology while minimizing antitrust regulatory scrutiny that a full acquisition might trigger.
$DOGE
$ZBT
$ACT

Moody's Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi cautioned that the recently reported strong GDP growth of 4.3% is misleadingly fragile, as it is not supported by meaningful job growth. While celebrating low layoffs as positive, he emphasized that the absence of hiring and a rising unemployment rate create a vulnerable economic foundation. Zandi warned that without job creation, any minor pullback by consumers could trigger job losses and potentially lead to a recession, outweighing the positive GDP figure.
Highlights:
⚠️ Fragile Growth: The 4.3% GDP growth is described as "fragile" because it lacks the crucial support of job creation.📉 Job Market Stagnation: The core concern is flat or negative job growth. Businesses are not laying off workers, but they are also not hiring, leaving the economy vulnerable.🔑 Jobs are Key: Zandi stressed that job creation is the real indicator of economic health, more so than a single GDP figure.🔄 Rising Unemployment: Despite a low headline rate, the unemployment rate is rising and is higher than optimal estimates, accompanied by slowing wage growth.⏸️ Consumer-Led Risk: The economy is in a precarious position where any slight pullback in consumer spending could quickly lead to job losses and start a downward cycle.🎯 Future Uncertainties: Zandi pointed to major 2026 risks on both sides:Upside: Potential fiscal stimulus or a Supreme Court ruling against tariffs.Downside: The disruptive impact of Artificial Intelligence, which could either cause significant job losses from a productivity boom or trigger a market correction if its potential is overstated.
$BANANA

$XRP
$SOL

Simplified Highlights:
Yen Gains on Intervention Threat: The Japanese yen rose slightly against the U.S. dollar. The main driver is increased caution after Japan’s Finance Minister issued a strong warning that Tokyo is ready to act against "excessive" yen weakness.⚠️ Why Officials Are on Edge: Despite a recent interest rate hike, the yen has continued to weaken. With low holiday trading volumes (Christmas closure), analysts see the year-end as a prime time for authorities to step in and support the currency if needed.📊 Mixed Bag for the Dollar: The U.S. dollar's performance was uneven—it rose on the dollar index but fell against the yen and others like the Australian dollar.U.S. Economic Crosscurrents: The dollar has softened this year due to Federal Reserve rate cuts. Markets are watching mixed signals: cooling inflation but still a sluggish jobs market, leading traders to expect more rate cuts in 2024.Cryptocurrency Dip: Bitcoin saw a minor decline, trading around $87,330.
$BIFI
$BTC
$ZEC

Based on the U.S. Department of Labor's weekly unemployment insurance report for the period ending December 20, 2025, here is a simple breakdown of the findings, followed by the key highlights.
✍️ A Simple Rewording of the Report
This report shows how many people filed for unemployment benefits the week before Christmas in 2025.
New Jobless Claims: For the week ending December 20, about 214,000 people filed for unemployment benefits for the first time. This is 10,000 fewer than the week before.People Still Receiving Benefits: Looking at data from the week ending December 13, about 1,923,000 people were still claiming unemployment benefits. This number went up by 38,000 from the prior week. The percentage of the insured workforce claiming benefits was 1.3%, a slight increase of 0.1 percentage points.
When the numbers are not adjusted for normal seasonal patterns (like holiday hiring):
The actual number of new claims was higher, at 264,009.The total number of people claiming benefits in all state and federal programs for the week ending December 6 was 1,905,668, which is about 88,000 fewer than the previous week.
🔍 Major Points from the Report
Here are the major points from the unemployment report, simplified and presented in bullet points.
📌 Key Findings at a Glance
📈 New Jobless Claims (Week ending Dec 20):214,000 people filed for unemployment benefits for the first time (seasonally adjusted).This is a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week.The 4-week moving average also decreased slightly to 216,750.📊 People Still Receiving Benefits (Week ending Dec 13):1,923,000 people were still claiming unemployment benefits (seasonally adjusted).This is an increase of 38,000 from the prior week.The insured unemployment rate is 1.3%, up 0.1 percentage points.🗺️ State-Level Trends:Largest increases in new claims: Rhode Island (+452), West Virginia (+325), Connecticut (+128).Largest decreases in new claims: Illinois (-7,242), New York (-5,720), Pennsylvania (-5,129).Highest insured unemployment rates: New Jersey (2.4%), Washington (2.4%), Massachusetts (2.1%).🎯 Federal & Veteran Programs:Very low levels of new claims from federal employees (805) and newly discharged veterans (391).📉 Total People on All Benefit Programs (Week ending Dec 6):1,905,668 people claimed benefits across all state and federal programs.This is a significant decrease of 88,170 from the previous week.
💡 What This Means
In short, the report for late December 2025 shows a mixed but generally stable job market:
Fewer new layoffs occurred compared to the week before.However, the total number of people remaining unemployed increased slightly.The overall pool of people on benefits shrunk significantly in early December.
Would you like a deeper explanation of any specific part of this data?

💡 How to Read This Data
The two most important numbers to watch each week are:
Initial Claims: A leading indicator of new layoffs and economic momentum.Continued Claims & Insured Unemployment Rate: Shows how many people are actively unemployed and seeking work, indicating the health of the job-finding market.

$XRP

$ZEC
$BANK