On Monday, a groundbreaking development from a Chinese AI startup sent shockwaves through U.S. stock markets.

On Monday, US President Trump was re-elected and sworn into office. In his inaugural address, he emphasised priorities such as strengthening immigration and border security, expanding the United States’ presence in space, and introducing tariffs to protect American businesses.

UK headline inflation eased to 2.5% year-on-year in December, down from 2.6% in November. Core CPI, which excludes volatile components like food and fuel, also slowed, declining from 3.5% to 3.2%.

Market performance has been mixed so far this week, driven by a variety of factors impacting sentiment.

China’s retail sales data for November painted a mixed picture on Monday, with growth coming in below expectations at 3% compared to the same period a year ago.

In the UK, businesses scaled back their hiring plans last month, reflecting the cautious approach adopted by employers ahead of the Labour government’s autumn budget announcement.

In October, Eurozone unemployment remained at a record low of 6.3% for the third consecutive month.

US markets will pause for the Thanksgiving holiday, with stocks and bonds closing tomorrow (Thursday, 28th) and limited trading on Friday.

This morning, the UK’s CPI for October was reported at 2.3%, a sharp increase from 1.7% in September, marking a significant uptick.

After weeks filled with key economic indicators, markets are enjoying a relatively quiet spell.