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Melania Trump Showcases Elegant 2025 White House Holiday Décor

  Melania Trump has unveiled the 2025 White House holiday decorations, continuing her tradition of bringing a refined and artistic touch to the season. This year’s theme emphasizes unity and timeless elegance, with rooms adorned in shimmering golds, deep reds, and sparkling white lights. The East Wing features towering Christmas trees decorated with handcrafted ornaments symbolizing American heritage, while the Grand Foyer is lined with garlands and wreaths that highlight the craftsmanship of artisans from across the country. The State Dining Room showcases a centerpiece inspired by winter wonderlands, complete with crystal accents and cascading lights. Melania Trump emphasized that the decorations are meant to celebrate the spirit of togetherness and gratitude, inviting visitors to experience the warmth of the season. The annual reveal has become a highly anticipated tradition, blending festive cheer with a showcase of artistry and cultural pride. This year’s design reflects b...

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US Futures Fall as Rate-Cut Bets Get a Reality Check

 


US stock futures fell on Wednesday, signaling no let-up in a rough January. Investors’ optimism for interest rate cuts got a reality check, and worries about China’s economy grew. Dow Jones Industrial Average ( ^DJI) futures fell 0.4%, while S&P 500 ( ^GSPC) futures slid 0.4%, set to build on Tuesday’s losing start to the holiday-shortened week. 

Futures on the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 ( ^NDX) were down roughly 0.5%. Stocks have struggled as policymakers push back against persistent bets that central banks will cut rates early and often in 2024. ECB president Christine Lagarde on Wednesday joined the likes of Federal Reserve Governor Chris Waller in warning that expectations of imminent loosening are too high. Another knockback came from disappointing GDP data suggesting that China’s growth is flagging despite stimulus measures. 

Oil prices fell amid fears of a pullback in demand from the world’s second biggest economy. Hopes now rest on quarterly earnings, with the season set to pick up pace, and the release of the December retail sales report later Wednesday. 

Fed officials have been keen to stress that their policy decision making will be driven by incoming economic data. Regional bank fourth-quarter results are in focus in the morning after earnings from Wall Street’s big lenders got a mixed reception.

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