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Wall Street Futures Climb on Fed Cut Hopes as Bitcoin Extends Steep Decline

US markets staged a rebound Friday morning, with futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq all moving higher after a turbulent week. The rally was fueled by growing bets that the Federal Reserve could cut interest rates at its upcoming December meeting, following dovish comments from New York Fed President John Williams. His remarks shifted sentiment sharply, with nearly 70% of traders now expecting a rate cut. Dow futures gained 0.7% , leading the advance. S&P 500 futures rose 0.5% , while Nasdaq futures added 0.4% . The optimism comes after Thursday’s sharp sell-off, underscoring the volatility gripping markets as investors weigh AI-driven risks and Fed policy divisions. Meanwhile, cryptocurrencies continued to struggle. Bitcoin plunged to around $82,000 , marking its worst month since the 2022 crypto collapse. The decline reflects heavy institutional outflows, miner sell-offs, and broader risk-off sentiment across digital assets.

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Washington Pressures Kyiv With Threats to Halt Military Aid

 

People stand at a makeshift memorial for the victims who were killed when a Russian missile hit an apartment building on Wednesday, , in Ternopil, Ukraine.

The United States has reportedly escalated pressure on Ukraine by threatening to cut off intelligence sharing and weapons supplies unless Kyiv agrees to the framework of a U.S.-brokered peace deal. According to sources familiar with the matter, Washington has presented Ukraine with a 28-point plan that aligns with several of Russia’s demands, including requiring Kyiv to cede additional territory, reduce the size of its military, and abandon aspirations to join NATO.

The move marks the most intense pressure Ukraine has faced from Washington during the war. U.S. officials are said to be pushing for Ukraine to sign the framework by next Thursday, signaling a desire to bring the conflict to a close even if it requires significant concessions from Kyiv. One source noted bluntly, “They want to stop the war and want Ukraine to pay the price.”

A delegation of senior U.S. military officials recently met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv to discuss the proposal. While Zelenskyy has not outright rejected the plan, he has reportedly been cautious in his response, balancing the need to maintain U.S. support with the risk of alienating allies in Europe who may oppose such concessions.

The plan has sparked concern among Ukrainian officials and observers, who fear that accepting it could undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty and embolden Russia. Critics argue that forcing Kyiv into concessions under threat of losing military support risks destabilizing the region further, while supporters of the U.S. approach insist that ending the war—even through compromise—is a priority.

This development underscores the fragile balance between military support and diplomatic pressure in the ongoing war, raising questions about how far Washington is willing to go to secure a peace deal and whether Ukraine can withstand the mounting pressure without fracturing its alliances.


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