European markets start the final trading day of the year relatively flat, but the benchmark Stoxx 600 remains on course to notch its best annual performance since 2021. Silver prices move lower following a volatile year which has seen the precious metal rise by more than 150 per cent. Ukraine continues to deny an alleged drone attack on President Putin’s compound in the north-western Novgorod region while Russia deploys nuclear-capable ‘Oreshnik’ ICBMs to Belarus.

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European markets edge into the green with the Stoxx 600 still on course to notch its best annual performance since 2021. Investors are now awaiting minutes from the FOMC later today. Russia vows to respond, following alleged Ukrainian drones targeting President Putin’s state residence in the northwestern Novgorod region, which threatens to derail peace talks between the two countries. Precious metal prices move higher with copper leading the charge, recording its highest annual rise in more than 15 years.

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Precious metals are seeing profit taking this morning after a strong rally last week saw the likes of gold and silver continue their strong years. On the flip side, cyptocurrencies are higher today, after a fourth quarter rout had previously spoiled any hopes of a Santa rally. Geopolitics continues to dominate the holiday period, with Trump and Zelenskyy meeting this past weekend at the White House to hammer out the details of a potential peace deal. The two leaders praised progress in negotiations, with Zelenskyy emphasing the strides made on security guarentees, a key sticking point for his country and the Europeans. Elsewhere, Ubisoft dives after one of its games was hacked over Christmas.

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European markets see meagre trading volumes this Christmas Eve but the Stoxx 600 is due to record its best annual trading performance since 2021. The U.S. GDP data comes in far hotter than expected, prompting investors to dial down expectations of a Fed rate cut while the S&P 500 sees yet another record session. BP shares surge after the British oil giant sells off its majority stake in its Castrol lubricants unit to U.S. infrastructure firm Stonepeak for $6bn.

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The Stoxx 600 reaches a new intra-day high with investors now anticipating the U.S. GDP print later today. Drug giant Novo Nordisk sees its shares soar as it seeks to gain U.S. approval for the pill-form version of its weight-loss drug Wegovy. President Trump has reiterated previous calls for acquiring Greenland from Denmark for national security reasons as he appoints a new envoy to the Arctic territory.

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European markets move lower but the Stoxx 600 is on track to notch its best year since 2021. Oil prices rise and gold hits a new record high as the U.S. navy pursues a suspected third ‘dark fleet’ tanker near the Venezuelan coast. In Miami, U.S. officials hail ‘productive’ peace talks between Russia and Ukraine but negotiations show no signs of breaking the impasse.

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The BoJ hikes interest rates to levels not seen for 30 years, causing yields to spike to multi-decade highs. Governor Kazuo Ueda says the central bank will continue to tighten should the economy move in line with forecasts. After a 16-hour summit, European Union leaders have agreed on a €90bn loan to Ukraine after failing in negotiations to unfreeze Russian assets. Nike scores a top and bottom line beat but the results are marred by poor sales in China, dragging the sports apparel giant’s shares down.

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BP ousts its CEO Murray Auchincloss overnight following investor frustration with net zero strategy and share under-performance. He is replaced by Woodside Petroleum’s Meg O’Neill who becomes the oil major’s fourth boss in six years. EU leaders gather in Brussels at a crucial summit to decide funding for Ukraine. And European investors await ‘Super Thursday’ with central banks’ rates decisions expected from the ECB, Riksbank, Norgesbank and BoE later today.

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