Markets
- Trip.com shares plunge over 20% as China opens antitrust probe into Asia's largest online travel firm - In a statement, Trip.com said it would "actively cooperate" with the investigation, and added its business operations remain normal.
- Iran briefly closes airspace as U.S. tensions rise, flights rerouted across region - Iran temporarily closed most of its airspace late Wednesday, forcing airlines to reroute flights as tensions with the United States escalated.
- Asia-Pacific markets trade mixed as investors await Bank of Korea decision - Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed as investors awaited a policy decision from the Bank of Korea.
- Oil falls nearly 2% after Trump signals he could hold off on attacking Iran - Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that "we've been told that the killing in Iran is stopping. It's stopped. It's stopping, and there's no plan for executions."
- Why the stock market keeps shrugging as Trump sows more political chaos - The market rebounded back to all-time highs Monday despite the probe.
- Wholesale inflation was softer than expected, retail sales moved higher in November - Wholesale prices moved up less than expected while consumers kept up a heavy buying pace, according to economic data Wednesday.
- Big Tech is poaching energy talent to fuel its AI ambitions - Hires of energy-related talent by Big Tech was 30% higher in 2025 than pre-AI levels.
- China's December exports sharply beat estimates, imports also top expectations - China's exports growth in December sharply beat expectations, catapulting the annual trade surplus to a record high.
- Japan's Nikkei 225 set to hit another high as Asia markets look past geopolitical worries - This comes as Japan's ruling LDP under new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is expected to call an election likely in February.
- Oil prices rise more than 2% after Trump cancels meetings with Iran, tells protesters help is on the way - President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to intervene if the Islamic Republic kills protestors.