Markets Hold Steady as Inflation Softens, AI Deals Surge, and Crypto Ends 2025 in Fear

Welcome to The Integrity Ledger — where calm markets mask hidden risks. While numbers whisper stability, power shifts quietly through cyberattacks, capital flows, and corruption probes. Today’s signals don’t scream danger — but history shows it’s the silence that precedes pressure.

Global currencies remained largely range-bound last week as softer US inflation data reinforced expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts, while the Bank of Japan's 25 basis point rate hike to 0.75% failed to support the yen. The Indian rupee stood out, appreciating 1.6% despite volatility, after hitting a record low of Rs 91.09 against the dollar. Meanwhile, the ECB held rates steady at 2%, and the Bank of England cut rates by 25 basis points to 3.75%.

Investors should watch upcoming US growth and inflation data closely, as the dollar’s next moves depend on disinflation pace and labor market trends. The yen's weakness despite BoJ tightening highlights ongoing challenges for Japanese monetary policy. The divergent monetary policies of major central banks signal continued volatility in currency markets.

ABP News

The Reserve Bank of India surprised markets by lowering the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25%, despite strong economic growth and low inflation. This strategic cut aims to encourage private investment and broaden India’s growth beyond consumption and government infrastructure spending.

Cheaper borrowing costs may stimulate manufacturing, MSMEs, and housing sectors, potentially unlocking stalled capex projects. However, success depends on resolving regulatory hurdles and ensuring execution of labor reforms to improve business confidence and sustain investment momentum.

The Times Of India

Dynavax Technologies surged 39.26% in premarket trading after Sanofi announced a $2.2 billion all-cash acquisition at $15.50 per share, representing a 39% premium over its recent closing price. The deal, expected to complete in Q1 2026 pending regulatory approvals, strengthens Sanofi’s adult immunization portfolio with access to Dynavax’s hepatitis B vaccine and a promising shingles vaccine candidate.

Sanofi’s acquisition accelerates its strategic expansion in vaccines, potentially disrupting the shingles vaccine market dominated by GSK. Investors may see increased value as Sanofi leverages Dynavax’s assets and global reach to boost vaccine sales and pipeline development.

Investing UK

Bitcoin closed 2025 in ‘extreme fear’ territory after a 23% decline in Q4, marking the second-worst quarterly performance after 2018’s 42% drop. Binance founder Changpeng Zhao highlighted past ‘extreme fear’ periods as buying opportunities, recalling BTC’s surge from $54K in September 2024 to over $126K by October 2025. Analyst sentiment is split on BTC’s trajectory into 2026, with some predicting further declines while others anticipate recovery tied to miner stability and ETF demand.

Investors may view the current extreme fear as a potential entry point, especially if miner sell-offs remain subdued and ETF activity resumes. However, tax season and macroeconomic factors in early 2026 could limit upside, suggesting cautious monitoring of Bitcoin’s underlying market dynamics is essential.

Bitcoin Ethereum News

Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services are projected to account for $20.2 billion in consumer spending during the 2025 holiday season, an 11% rise from last year, according to Adobe Analytics. Annual BNPL spending is expected to hit $116.7 billion in 2025, doubling since 2022. PayPal reports that half of holiday shoppers may use BNPL options, with offerings boosting average order values by up to 91% for enterprises.

As BNPL becomes mainstream, rising consumer debt and missed payments—up to 41% of users—raise financial concerns. Regulatory scrutiny is intensifying, highlighted by legislative proposals and multistate investigations targeting major providers, signaling potential shifts in industry oversight and consumer protections.

Benzinga

Min Kyriannis, CEO of Amyna Systems, highlights critical flaws in modern network security, emphasizing that 82% of breaches involve human error. She argues that legacy systems and reactive 'patch and pray' methods leave networks vulnerable, advocating for proactive, device-level anomaly detection to address root causes swiftly.

Kyriannis’ insights underscore the need for security professionals to shift from reactive patching to proactive defense strategies, especially in environments with legacy infrastructure. Adopting granular anomaly detection can significantly reduce vulnerabilities and enhance real-time threat mitigation.

Benzinga

Security researchers at Rapid7 Labs identified a new malware called SantaStealer, targeting Microsoft Windows users with password and data theft. Available as a subscription service costing $175-$300 monthly, the malware steals credentials, sensitive documents, and wallet information, operating mainly in-memory to evade detection. The threat was first observed in early December and is actively promoted on Telegram and underground marketplaces.

Windows users should remain vigilant against suspicious links, attachments, and requests to run unknown commands, especially during festive seasons. Avoiding pirated software, unverified browser extensions, and consulting Microsoft's official security resources can help mitigate the risk of infection from this modular, stealthy malware.

Forbes

Nvidia will purchase chip startup Groq's assets for approximately $20 billion, marking its largest deal to date aimed at expanding its AI hardware dominance. The acquisition includes Groq’s specialized inference chip technology and engineering team, while Groq’s cloud business GroqCloud will remain independent under finance chief Simon Edwards.

This landmark deal strengthens Nvidia’s AI platform by integrating Groq’s low-latency processors for broader AI inference applications. It also highlights ongoing industry consolidation amid escalating competition from tech giants developing in-house AI chips, underscoring Nvidia’s strategic push to maintain its market leadership.

The Economic Times

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urged a comprehensive investigation into the alleged business ties between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's aides and Qatar. Smotrich emphasized that even if Netanyahu was unaware, the situation remains problematic and stressed that corrupt officials should face severe penalties.

The call for a full probe increases political pressure on Netanyahu's government and highlights ongoing concerns over corruption. It signals potential legal and reputational risks for officials involved and underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in governance.

Haaretz

The U.S. Small Business Administration has halted $5.5 million in federal pandemic relief funds to Minnesota following revelations of alleged fraud involving COVID-19 relief loans. SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler cited links to indicted fraud suspects and thousands of suspicious cases, while Governor Tim Walz contested the allegations, highlighting the state's anti-fraud efforts. The funding freeze impacts six SBA-backed programs and remains until further federal review.

This freeze underscores heightened federal scrutiny of pandemic-era relief funds and signals increased enforcement against alleged fraud. States receiving SBA aid may face more rigorous audits, affecting timely fund disbursement and program continuity.

The Times Of India

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova warned the EU it will never recover the €90 billion sent to Ukraine, suggesting Europe may only reclaim resources or property. She accused EU and UK leaders of favoring escalation over diplomacy and criticized Europe for blocking Russia's perspective. Zakharova reiterated Russia's willingness to legally commit to non-aggression with NATO and the EU.

The Times Of India

A securities class action, Nayak v. Klarna Group plc, has been filed alleging that Klarna's September 2025 IPO documents misled investors by understating credit risks. Following a 102% year-over-year spike in credit loss provisions reported in Q3 2025, Klarna's shares fell nearly 20%, prompting legal scrutiny over transparency in its loan portfolio disclosures.

Globe News Wire

Thousands of Venezuelan immigrants, including Mariela Gómez and her family, faced hardships returning to Venezuela after being deported from the U.S. under Trump's immigration crackdowns, with over 14,000 migrants returning in 2025. Gómez struggles with unemployment and poverty but hopes for health and a job in the coming year. This migration reversal reflects intense U.S. restrictions impacting Venezuelan diasporas.

AP News

North Korea unveiled its first nuclear-powered submarine, an 8,700-tonne vessel capable of launching surface-to-air missiles, with Kim Jong Un touring it alongside his daughter. Experts predict the submarine could be seaworthy within months, marking a significant escalation in the naval arms race amid heightened regional tensions.

Metro

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