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Rising Tensions in the Gulf as Iran Strikes and Trump Rebukes Allies

  An aerial view of the island of Qeshm, separated from the Iranian mainland by the Clarence Strait. Iran has launched a new wave of attacks on U.S. Gulf allies, escalating an already volatile regional conflict. On Tuesday, Iranian forces targeted the United Arab Emirates in what officials described as retaliatory strikes amid the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. President Donald Trump publicly criticized Gulf allies for what he called a lack of gratitude and cooperation during a tense naval standoff in the Strait of Hormuz.  Escalating Conflict The conflict, now in its third week, has seen Iran expand its attacks beyond expected targets, striking both the UAE and Israel. U.S. officials revealed that Trump had been warned such retaliation was likely, despite his claims of being caught off guard.  Strategic and Economic Fallout The Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed, with U.S. allies refusing Trump’s requests to help reopen the critical waterway. This blo...

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U.S. stocks open mixed and turn lower after inflation report as Fed decision looms


  • Inflation data: The U.S. cost of living increased 0.1% month over month and 3.1% year over year in November, slightly higher than expected. Core inflation was in line with estimates at 0.3% month over month and 2.3% year over year.
  • Market reaction: U.S. stocks opened mixed and turned lower after the inflation report, as investors weighed the implications for interest rates and the Fed’s policy outlook. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.43%, the S&P 500 slid 0.39%, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.2% on Tuesday.
  • Fed decision: The Federal Reserve is set to announce its interest rate decision on Wednesday, with no change expected in the current range of 5.25% to 5.50%. The Fed is also expected to provide an update on its balance sheet reduction plan and its economic projections for 2024 and beyond.
  • Market outlook: The S&P 500 index is near its record high, having gained 20.4% year to date, partly on hopes of slowing inflation and rate cuts in the future. However, some analysts warn that the inflation trend is still above the Fed’s 2% target and that the central bank may have to tighten monetary policy more than expected to keep inflation under control.

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