As markets enter the new year, commentators highlight the tension between investor sentiment and fundamental valuation levels. The piece argues that valuation metrics serve as a crossover between sentiment and fundamentals and cautions that signals of deep pessimism would be inconsistent with historically elevated valuations. "I cannot really imagine a situation where an indicator credibly points to negative sentiment and strong risk aversion while valuations are historically very high," the commentary states (30 Dec 2025). Key takeaways: current valuation measures remain above long-term norms, suggesting limited coherence with any narrative of broad risk aversion. The note implies investors should weigh valuation context alongside sentiment indicators when assessing market direction in early 2026. #markets #valuation #sentiment #stocks #FiatNews

Global LNG exports rose about 4% this year to roughly 429 million tonnes, the largest annual increase since 2022. The expansion reflects shifting demand patterns and capacity additions in liquefaction and shipping, marking renewed growth in the LNG trade. #LNG #FiatNews

Russian pipeline gas exports to Europe fell sharply in 2025, declining 44% to about 18 billion cubic meters (bcm), the lowest level since the mid-1970s, Reuters said based on its calculations. The agency also reported that Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to Europe were weaker this year. The drop refers to deliveries via pipeline networks from Russia into European markets and marks a significant contraction in pipeline supply volumes compared with previous years. Reuters’ analysis provides the primary source for the figures. The data underline a broader reduction in Russian gas flows to the continent in 2025, with both pipeline and LNG exports running below historical norms. #Russia #Europe #gas #LNG #FiatNews

Preliminary data show global exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) rose 4% in 2025 to 429 million tonnes, marking the largest annual increase since 2022. The figures were published in a year-end report on December 30, 2025. The 4% rise in volumes represents the strongest growth in three years; by comparison, LNG exports grew 4.5% in 2022. The statistics are presented as preliminary and may be subject to revision. The report highlights a rebound in annual LNG trade volumes to 429 million tonnes, underlining renewed activity in global gas markets after more muted growth in the intervening years. #LNG #energy #NaturalGas #FiatNews

Humanoid robots are approaching mainstream markets, but the initial market leader is expected to be China rather than Elon Musk's Tesla. The report says China will take the early crown in the race to commercialize humanoid machines, not Tesla. Elon Musk brought humanoid robots into the spotlight this year, calling them central to Tesla’s valuation and saying the company “could reach tens of trillions of dollars” if the technology succeeds. The article frames the coming humanoid-robot market as a geopolitical and commercial contest, with China positioned to lead the initial rollout while Tesla remains a focal name in public debate. #robots #Tesla #China #AI #FiatNews

Czech economic growth is expected to slow to about 2% next year after surprising expansion of just over 2.5% this year, writes Jan Bureš. The stronger-than-expected outturn in 2025 was driven primarily by household consumption and inventory rebuilding. Bureš forecasts a mild deceleration to roughly 2% in 2026 but notes that the overall result will remain solid. He highlights that consumption is set to remain a key growth driver even as headline growth moderates. The commentary also warns that the labour market is likely to stay tight into the coming year, keeping labour market pressure elevated. (Commentary by Jan Bureš, 30 December 2025) #CzechRepublic #economy #GDP #labour #FiatNews

Japan’s Nikkei 225 closed the year above 50,000 points for the first time, finishing 2025 up about 26% from the start of the year. The milestone was recorded on Dec. 30, 2025, as the index benefited from broad gains across the market. Kyodo reports that investor interest in artificial intelligence (AI) and expectations for economic measures from new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi helped drive the advance. The move marks a notable year for Japanese equities as AI-related themes and hopes for policy action coincided with strong index performance, according to Kyodo. #Nikkei225 #Japan #AI #FiatNews

Meta Platforms will acquire Manus, a China-linked AI start-up headquartered in Singapore, in a move aimed at strengthening its advanced artificial intelligence capabilities, reported Dec. 30, 2025. Meta, the U.S. company that owns Facebook, announced the purchase as part of its ongoing investment in AI technology. #Meta #AI #Facebook Manus is described as a Chinese start-up with operations in Singapore that develops artificial intelligence solutions. The acquisition underscores Meta’s continued focus on building out its AI research and product stack across geographies. No financial terms or detailed timelines were disclosed in the report. The deal follows a broader industry trend of major tech firms acquiring specialized AI teams to accelerate product development and research. Meta’s purchase of Manus adds to its portfolio of AI talent and capabilities as it seeks to compete in advanced AI applications. #FiatNews

Chinese electric-vehicle price wars that intensified in 2025 are expected to continue into next year, industry observers say. The domestic market was dominated this year by aggressive discounting and undercutting among a wide range of manufacturers, a trend that has not spared leading brands such as Tesla and BYD. Throughout 2025, rivalry on price became a defining feature of China’s EV sector, with multiple makers engaging in promotional campaigns and cuts to list prices to protect or expand market share. Those movements reshaped competitive dynamics across segments from mass-market models to more premium offerings. The continuation of these pricing pressures into next year suggests that competition will remain centered on affordability and volume, keeping pricing strategies at the forefront of market developments in China’s EV industry. #EV #China #Tesla #BYD #FiatNews

As 2025 draws to a close (30 Dec 2025), a commentary surveys the year‑ahead forecasts and highlights a blind spot: low‑probability scenarios for 2026 that markets typically do not price in. The piece opens from the common observation that most institutions present baseline or consensus outcomes when publishing outlooks at year‑end. It argues that consensus scenarios dominate narratives and asset valuations, while a range of unlikely but potentially material events receives far less attention. The summary notes this imbalance without listing specific scenarios in the excerpt provided. The note serves as a reminder for market participants to recognise that consensus views can understate tail risks and that preparedness for less probable outcomes may matter for positioning and risk management. #markets #2026 #scenario #FiatNews

Markets: European futures opened in the red, signaling weaker sentiment ahead of the cash session. The report states futures were down but does not quantify the moves; investors will watch upcoming macro data and corporate news for direction. #EuropeanMarkets #FiatNews

Commodities: Silver rebounded after Monday's sell-off and returned to gains, recovering from the earlier flush. The report notes the rebound but does not give precise price moves. Traders will monitor momentum in precious metals. #silver #preciousmetals #FiatNews

Corporate moves: SoftBank and Meta have announced new acquisitions, with both groups active in buying. The report offers no specifics on targets or deal sizes. Investors should note increased M&A activity among major tech and investment firms. #SoftBank #Meta #FiatNews

US politics: President Trump has again threatened to remove Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. The report says a replacement could be announced sometime in January; no further details were provided. Market participants will watch for developments. #Trump #Powell #FiatNews

On Dec. 30, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump again threatened to sue Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, accusing him of "gross incompetence" in connection with Powell’s handling of the renovation of the Fed’s headquarters in Washington. The comment was framed as a potential legal action over the renovation project. The statement repeats an escalation in tensions between the White House and the Fed’s leadership, focusing specifically on management of the building work rather than monetary policy. No details on the legal basis, timeline or where a suit might be filed were provided in the report. The remark adds to ongoing public friction between the administration and the central bank’s chair, with Powell remaining head of the Federal Reserve as of the report. #Trump #Powell #Fed #FiatNews

# On 30 Dec 2025 Jeremy Siegel told CNBC that US labor‑market data show the economy is neither overheating nor deteriorating. He said stability in employment metrics provides a good starting point for the year ahead. #JeremySiegel #USeconomy #labor #CNBC #FiatNews

On 30 Dec 2025 Tom Lee said the market rally has real foundations and that there is room for further growth in investor sentiment. He described the advance as supported by fundamentals rather than purely speculative flows, offering a cautiously optimistic near‑term outlook. #TomLee #markets #FiatNews

U.S. stock indices failed to deliver a year-end "Santa Rally" on Dec. 29, 2025, with the S&P 500 sliding 0.4% and the Nasdaq composite falling 0.5%. Markets showed modest weakness in the U.S. at the close of the trading day. In Europe, Germany's DAX bucked the U.S. trend, rising 0.1% on the same day. The term "Santa Rally" refers to the tendency for equities to gain in the final days of the year; as of Dec. 29, 2025, major U.S. indices had not shown that year-end uplift. #SP500 #Nasdaq #DAX #FiatNews

Czech commentary: Dominik Rusinko warns Germany faces two shocks from China and describes the economy as largely where it was in 2019 after six years of stagnation. He argues a fiscal 'bazooka' could provide cyclical relief. #Germany #FiatNews

Coverage suggests Larry Ellison emerged as the defining tech figure of 2025, overtaking earlier expectations that Elon Musk would dominate headlines and market attention at the start of the year. #LarryEllison #FiatNews