Commodities, Business & Shipping

Dow closes 400 points higher as ADP jobs data strengthens Fed rate cut hopes​

Stocks closed higher on Wednesday as the latest jobs data from ADP strengthened investors’ conviction that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates next week.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 408.44 points, or 0.86%, to finish at 47,882.90. The S&P 500 traded up 0.30% to end the day at 6,849.72, while the Nasdaq Composite added 0.17% to settle at 23,454.09.

Payrolls processor ADP reported that private payrolls surprisingly declined by 32,000 in November. Economists polled by Dow Jones had expected an increase of 40,000 for the month. Despite the tough reading, traders were likely betting that the private job losses will lead the Fed to slash rates at its last meeting of the year on Dec. 10.

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Inside Europe’s biggest rare earths factory on Russia’s doorstep​

• Europe’s largest rare earths facility is ramping up magnet production as part of a regional push to break China’s mineral dominance.
• Developed by Canada’s Neo Performance Materials, the firm’s magnet plant is situated in Estonia’s Narva, near the Russian border.
• The company told CNBC it thinks the plant can fulfil 10% of EU’s demand for rare earths, currently being met by China.

NARVA, Estonia — Europe’s big bet to break China’s rare earths dominance starts on Russia’s doorstep.

The continent’s largest rare-earth facility, situated on the very edge of NATO’s eastern flank, is ramping up magnet production as part of a regional push to reduce its import reliance on Beijing.

Developed by Canada’s Neo Performance Materials and opened in mid-September, the magnet plant sits in the small industrial city of Narva. This little-known border city is separated from Russia by the Narva River, which is an external frontier of both NATO and the European Union.

Bancosta Week 48

Fearnleys Week 49

Starbucks Workers United holds rally in NYC as strikes continue for a third week​

• Starbucks Workers United held a rally in New York City outside the Empire State Building as its open-ended strike continued for a third week.
• Baristas launched a strike on Starbucks Red Cup Day last month, seeking new proposals from the company at address its top issues to finalize a contract.
• The two parties have not been in active negotiations to reach a contract after talks between them fell apart late last year.

NEW YORK — Starbucks Workers United held a rally outside the Empire State Building on Thursday as its open-ended strike entered its third week and no signs of an impending resolution.

Adding to the crunch of holiday shoppers and tourists, several hundred picketers gathered outside of the famous landmark, which is also the site of a swanky three-floor Starbucks Reserve location and the company’s regional headquarters.

Members of other unions, like the AFL-CIO and Service Employees International Union, which is affiliated with Workers United, protested alongside baristas, chanting “No coffee, no contract” and “What’s disgusting? Union busting” between speakers.

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S&P 500 is little changed as investors look to rate decision next week: Live updates​

Stocks were relatively unchanged on Thursday as investors prepared for next week’s interest rate decision from the Federal Reserve.

The S&P 500 traded around the flatline, as did the Nasdaq Composite. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was also flat.

Treasury yields traded up, while bitcoin resumed selling, pulling 1%. The cryptocurrency dipped below $85,000 on Monday, hitting its lowest level since March. But, the token rebounded early Tuesday and has continued to trade above the $90,000 level through the week, offering a glimmer of hope to downtrodden crypto investors.

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Breakwave Day 2025​

Dec 5, 2025
Presentations and panel discussions from some of the brightest minds in the crude tanker and dry bulk markets

Breakwave Day 2025

In the hands of the cocaine mafia - How European ports are being infiltrated | DW Documentary​

Dec 5, 2025 #documentary #dwdocumentary #dwdocs
Some dock workers are living dangerously - because they also work for the mafia. International syndicates can only locate containers with cocaine shipments and smuggle them out of ports with the help of insiders.
Some drivers, logistics specialists, and IT employees don't just work for transport companies and shipping lines, but also, secretly, for the mafia. Without the support of these local helpers, international syndicates wouldn't be able to locate cocaine shipments from South America among the thousands of containers. Nor would they be able to smuggle them out of the port, past the controls. Police and customs investigators refer to such individuals as "insiders" or simply "the door." Because they open Europe's ports to the mafia.
After Rotterdam and Antwerp, the Port of Hamburg has become the largest gateway for cocaine smuggling, with delivery destinations throughout Europe. It's thought that authorities only find between 10 and 20 percent of the cocaine that is smuggled in, in this way.
To keep this billion-dollar business running, the mafia relies on a growing number of insiders with relevant expertise. To stop these recruitment attempts, customs and police authorities joined forces with port operators in 2024 to establish the new Port Security Center. The film accompanies investigators as they conduct truck and container inspections with a dog team, or using a mobile X-rays.
The film also provides insights into investigations in Rotterdam. One real-life case shows how the mafia and port criminals operate: from the arrival of a container ship from Ecuador with 600 kilograms of cocaine on board, hidden in banana crates, to the criminal logistics on the quay, to the eventual arrest.
What attracts the perpetrators is money. Those providing logistics services to the cocaine mafia can expect to earn four-to-five-figure sums per job. The problem is, once you're involved with these criminal organizations, it can be difficult to get out. And if you get caught, the penalties are harsh.

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S&P 500 gains for a fourth day, nears record after light inflation reading: Live updates​

The S&P 500 edged higher on Friday, on pace for its fourth straight winning day, as traders digested inflation data that could provide further incentive for the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates next week

The broad market index traded up 0.2%, putting the index about 0.7% off its intraday record. The Nasdaq Composite increased 0.3%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 160 points, or 0.3%.

The market sorted through a fresh slate of economic releases Friday. The Commerce Department said that the core personal consumption expenditures price index for September – which was delayed due to the record-setting U.S. government shutdown – showed an annual rate of 2.8%, lower than the 2.9% Dow Jones estimate. Core PCE’s 0.2% rise on the month was in line with expectations, as were the monthly and annual inflation readings for headline PCE.

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A very interesting YT posting out of China. The Vid has some significant implications if what he's saying is correct & it's taken in the context of the announcement of the BRICS + " Unit " became official.

Link :-
China/BRICS + are making some significant/interesting global moves. Just my view, but I think Trump's Tariff Tantrum has set off a chain of events that have Global Implication, but very uncertain outcomes ( Japan is between a rock & a hard place. It's the largest holder of USA Treasuries, but China is it's Largest Trading Partner )

A sleeper commodity that I watch, along side PM's, is COPPER ! Copper is at the core of technology/industry. The prices of copper is near $5.50 & looks to be working back towards it's ATH.

Commodities are signaling that Paper/Financial markets are faltering & real world HARD ASSETS are becoming more valued than Paper Promises ( stand for delivery on commodity exchanges have been increasing, increasing, increasing, )

2 old saying spring to mind :- " A bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush " & " If u don't hold it, u don't own it ".

Edit to add :- Take a long hard look at the chart of China's raw material consumption & it's implication.