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CME Group raised margins on precious metals futures again, and gold and silver eased as some investors booked profits. Spot gold fell about 0.8% and spot silver fell about 6% after a very strong 2025 rally.

Walt Disney World is offering discounts for 2026 that can lower trip costs. Some deals include up to $250 off per night and special Disney+ subscriber ticket pricing.

Stocks are ending 2025 with overall gains but futures were trading lower before the last session. Silver fell after the CME raised margin requirements for precious metals.

Chris Fallica offered a pick for the Cotton Bowl Classic between Ohio State and Miami. He favored Ohio State in his pregame prediction.

Gold and silver closed the year with visible price swings. Gold is up about 65% for 2025.

Coinbase says U.S. rules stopping stablecoins from paying interest could make them less competitive. China will allow interest on the e‑CNY starting January 1, 2026.

Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz questioned whether roughly 16,703 active XRP addresses justify a market value near $115 billion. On-chain data shows XRP and Cardano have far fewer active addresses than networks like Solana.

Analysts are naming Microsoft as a leading pick for 2026 because its AI-related businesses are expanding. The company posted sales growth and strong margins while its stock traded below recent averages.

Ultragenyx shares climbed about 15.5% after a steep fall the day before. Two Phase 3 trials of setrusumab missed their main goal, though the studies showed gains in bone mineral density.

Plug-in hybrids pair a larger rechargeable battery with a gas engine so short trips can be done on electricity. The piece highlights the 2026 Toyota Prius Plug-in, Kia Niro Plug-in, and Hyundai Tucson Plug-in as accessible choices under $55,000.

Goldman Sachs is reported to be helping finance new power sites to serve AI data centers in south Dallas. Each campus is planned to use modular natural gas plants and target about 1.5 GW of capacity.

Thieves drilled into a bank vault in Gelsenkirchen on Dec. 29 and took cash and valuables from many safe deposit boxes. Police reported the loss at around €30 million and said about 2,700 customers were affected.

The 137th Rose Parade will air live from Pasadena on Jan. 1, 2026 at 11 a.m. ET on ABC. Magic Johnson is the grand marshal and the parade is followed by the Rose Bowl game at 4 p.m. ET.

Finnish authorities said they took control of a vessel after a fault was detected in a telecommunications cable between Helsinki and Tallinn. A criminal investigation has been opened and a news conference is scheduled for later today.

As the year ends, a range of experts shared simple ways to close one chapter and begin another. Tips included quieting possessions, setting small habits, separating holiday spending from January goals, and starting fitness plans gently.

Operators and start-ups have announced plans for more trains through the Channel Tunnel. Some groups, including Trenitalia and new entrants, aim to run direct services to Paris and other European cities.

The average retired worker is set to receive $2,071 per month in Social Security benefits in 2026. That reflects a 2.8% cost-of-living increase, roughly $56 more each month.

Auckland rang in 2026 with a brief fireworks display from the Sky Tower. Rain led to cancellations of some smaller community events on New Zealand's North Island.

The Federal Reserve is reported to be leaning toward cutting rates in 2026. Different products will respond differently: short-term rates tied to the Fed may fall more readily, while long-term rates like 30-year mortgages depend on the 10-year Treasury and inflation expectations.

Coca‑Cola and Target are highlighted as steady dividend stocks amid a volatile market year. Coca‑Cola raised its quarterly dividend to $0.51 and has a 63‑year streak; Target is undergoing a CEO change on Feb. 1.

Analyst Dan Ives named Apple among his top AI picks and described the company’s approach as low-profile while integrating AI into products. Wedbush estimates successful AI monetization could add roughly $75–$100 per share in the coming years.

Warren Buffett retired as Berkshire Hathaway CEO at the end of 2025. Berkshire has been a net seller, with $184 billion in net stock sales over the last 12 quarters, even while holding a large cash reserve. For now, we'll stick to the confirmed facts.

Singapore's economy grew 4.8% in 2025, a stronger outcome than expected. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said keeping that pace will be challenging and that initial proposals to address the outlook will be announced soon.

Mali and Burkina Faso said they will impose entry restrictions on US citizens after Washington announced travel curbs. Burkina Faso cited reciprocity and Mali issued a similar directive.

Heirs Holdings, led by Tony Elumelu, agreed to buy a 20% stake in Seplat Energy for $496 million. The deal adds to his growing energy investments in Nigeria.

The IRS announced a $7,500 annual IRA contribution limit for 2026. Putting that amount into an S&P 500 index fund from age 27 to 67 could grow to about $1.38 million, while a 60/40 stocks-and-bonds mix could yield roughly $882,000.

National average HELOC rate is 7.44% and the average home equity loan rate is 7.59% as of Dec. 31, 2025, according to Curinos. The Federal Reserve reported homeowners held about $36 trillion in home equity at the end of the second quarter of 2025.

China raised the price threshold to get the full trade-in rebate, requiring a new car price of at least 166,700 yuan for the top 20,000 yuan incentive. The change reduces support for lower-priced EV makers such as BYD, Leapmotor and Geely, Bloomberg reported.

Walmart's Marketside banana nut cake earned an average 4.5 out of 5 stars from shoppers, while a recent ranking noted Starbucks' banana walnut and pecan loaf received criticism for being dry. Reviewers also pointed to differences in portion size and calories per slice between the two products. These are personal taste comparisons and not an objective ruling.

Hyatt has sold its Playa Hotels & Resorts real estate portfolio to Tortuga Resorts for about $2 billion, and has signed long-term management agreements covering most properties.