Latest Business News
Wall Street indexes hit fresh records after mixed US jobs report
US stocks closed at **record highs** as the S&P 500, Dow and Nasdaq all rallied following a December jobs report showing slower hiring but a better‑than‑expected unemployment rate. The data reinforced a “low‑hire, low‑fire” labor market that may delay further Fed rate cuts, while power firm Vistra and homebuilder stocks surged on nuclear power deals with Meta and optimism over lower mortgage rates.
Trump proposes $200 billion mortgage-bond buying plan to cut rates
President Trump announced a plan for the government to buy **$200 billion in mortgage‑backed securities** to push home-loan rates lower, boosting homebuilder and housing‑linked stocks. The move echoes past Federal Reserve quantitative easing in mortgage markets and comes alongside a broader push to stimulate the housing sector.
GM warns EV retrenchment will cost an additional $6 billion
General Motors said it will take about **$6 billion in fourth‑quarter charges** tied to scaling back its electric‑vehicle strategy in the US, on top of earlier write‑downs. Business Insider reports that GM expects EV‑related losses to continue for now as weaker demand, reduced tax incentives and looser emissions rules undermine its original growth assumptions.
TikTok splits US staff into separate entities as it prepares for sale
TikTok informed some US employees they will work for a **new global entity** separate from the joint venture being formed with Oracle and other partners, as it prepares for a mandated US divestiture. The internal restructuring aims to clarify which workers will be part of the US‑focused business that must comply with American ownership and data‑security requirements.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang calls US–China tech ‘decoupling’ idea naive
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said the notion that the US and China can fully **decouple** in advanced chips and AI is “naive” and “not based on any common sense,” underscoring China’s importance as a market. His comments highlight how export controls and geopolitical tensions collide with multinational chipmakers’ dependence on Chinese demand and supply chains.
Trump pushes ban on Wall Street purchases of single-family homes
Trump has proposed banning **large Wall Street investors** from buying single‑family homes, arguing institutional ownership worsens affordability, but industry insiders say the model has already shifted away from bulk buying. Treasury Secretary Bessent added that any such rules would not require private‑equity landlords to sell existing portfolios, limiting immediate market disruption.
US job growth concentrated in health care and social services, pointing to ‘hiring recession’ elsewhere
Analysis of 2025 US labor data shows that **most net job gains** came from health care and social assistance, while other sectors saw outright job losses. Economists cited by Fortune describe the pattern as a “hiring recession” or “jobless boom,” with growth in output and profits outpacing overall employment gains.
OneStream to go private in $6.4 billion deal to accelerate AI in finance
Corporate performance management software firm **OneStream** agreed to a **$6.4 billion go‑private transaction**, which its CEO says will speed development of AI-driven tools for finance departments. Management told Fortune that private ownership offers more flexibility to invest heavily in AI features and expand globally without the short‑term pressure of public markets.
Elliott’s Amber Energy set to win forced sale of Citgo amid Venezuela turmoil
Hedge fund billionaire Paul Singer’s Elliott Management, via **Amber Energy**, is poised to acquire Citgo in a court‑supervised forced sale tied to Venezuelan debt and arbitration claims. The deal would give Elliott access to Citgo’s US refining and distribution assets and additional Venezuelan crude supply as the sale proceeds alongside political change in Caracas.
SEC moves to ease regulatory burden by redefining ‘small’ investment advisers
The US SEC has proposed raising the **“small RIA” threshold** from firms with under $25 million in assets under management to those under **$1 billion**, dramatically expanding which advisers qualify. According to industry analysis, the change would subject fewer firms to the most onerous rulemakings and could encourage formation of new advisory businesses by reducing compliance costs.