Markets Slide as Fed Hold Signals, Bitcoin Surges and Global Risks Mount | The Integrity Ledger

Welcome to The Integrity Ledger — as stocks slide, Bitcoin rockets, and fraud probes explode across borders, today’s financial system is being tested in ways that could reshape markets, power, and trust worldwide.

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J.P. Morgan’s chief US economist Michael Feroli forecasts that the Federal Reserve will maintain interest rates steady throughout 2026 after cuts in late 2025, with the next rate hike likely in 2027. Despite market expectations of further cuts in 2026, Feroli expects accelerating job growth and core inflation above 3% to prevent rate reductions next year.

If the Fed holds rates steady, mortgage rates are likely to remain elevated above 6%, impacting borrowing costs through 2026. Investors and policymakers should monitor labor market and inflation trends closely, as significant changes could shift the Fed's stance before 2027.

New York Post

US stocks extended their decline for a second consecutive day as economic data reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve will maintain current interest rates. The S&P 500 dropped 0.7% and the Nasdaq 100 fell 1% amid stronger-than-expected wholesale inflation and retail sales figures for November. Meanwhile, mixed earnings reports from major banks and geopolitical tensions in Iran added to market uncertainty.

The Federal Reserve’s likely pause on rate cuts until mid-2026 suggests a cautious monetary policy stance that could pressure equities in the near term. Investors should monitor upcoming earnings closely, as failure to exceed expectations could weigh further on market sentiment.

Financial Post

The Jeff Wyler Automotive Family has acquired Midwestern Auto Group’s 14-premium-brand campus for $500 million, marking Ohio's largest auto retail transaction. The deal includes Ferrari, Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and other luxury franchises, expanding Wyler’s portfolio to 64 franchises across multiple states.

This acquisition significantly strengthens Jeff Wyler's luxury automotive presence in the Midwest and preserves a longstanding Ohio-based private business legacy. It sets a high benchmark for automotive retail transactions and demonstrates strategic succession planning in the sector.

Globe News Wire

Corporate digital asset treasuries have added approximately 260,000 Bitcoin in the past six months, raising their holdings from 854,000 to 1.11 million BTC, according to Glassnode. This growth far exceeds the estimated 82,000 coins mined during the same period, signaling strong demand from institutional buyers. Michael Saylor’s Strategy holds 60% of this total, with 687,410 BTC worth around $65.5 billion.

The substantial corporate accumulation indicates a tightening Bitcoin supply, which could pressure prices upwards. Continued inflows from spot Bitcoin ETFs and major corporate purchases may accelerate market demand, suggesting bullish prospects for investors paying attention to institutional activity.

Bitcoin Ethereum News

Depthfirst, an AI-native cybersecurity startup founded in October 2024, secured $40 million in a Series A round led by Accel Partners. The company’s General Security Intelligence platform helps organizations detect threats from credential exposures and vulnerabilities in open-source and third-party code. Depthfirst plans to expand its applied research, engineering, and sales teams with the new funding.

As AI-driven cyberattacks escalate, Depthfirst’s platform offers a vital defensive tool by automating threat detection and protection within software development workflows. The funding boost will accelerate innovation and help companies safeguard their codebases against increasingly sophisticated, AI-powered exploits.

Tech Crunch

Airia has introduced its AI Governance product, the third pillar in its enterprise AI management ecosystem, complementing existing AI Security and Agent Orchestration tools. The new platform offers enterprises end-to-end visibility, compliance, and control over AI deployments, addressing accountability challenges amid evolving regulations like the EU AI Act and NIST AI Framework. Gartner forecasts over 40% of agentic AI projects may be canceled by 2027 due to inadequate risk controls, underscoring the need for robust governance.

Airia's AI Governance platform enables organizations to maintain continuous oversight and regulatory compliance as AI systems become more autonomous. Its integration with existing security and orchestration tools allows for unified management, helping enterprises balance innovation with accountability and risk mitigation in a rapidly evolving AI regulatory landscape.

Benzinga

Bluspark Global, a US shipping technology company, exposed internal systems and plaintext passwords online, leaving decades of customer shipment data vulnerable. Security researcher Eaton Zveare discovered five major vulnerabilities in Bluspark’s platform, including an unauthenticated API that allowed full administrative access to sensitive shipping records.

This incident highlights the serious cyber risks facing the shipping industry amid rising cargo theft via cybercrime. Companies should strengthen their API security and establish clear vulnerability disclosure programs to prevent data breaches and operational disruptions.

Tech Crunch

Donald Trump’s return to the White House initially boosted market rallies and dealmaking, with banks benefiting from deregulation promises. However, recent populist policy moves, including a proposed 10% cap on credit-card interest rates and threats to institutional investment and defense sector pay, have stirred concerns among Wall Street executives and investors, leading to declines in major bank shares following disappointing fourth-quarter results.

The proposed interest rate cap and governmental interventions could slow economic growth and tighten banking revenues, prompting top US lenders to consider resistance strategies. Investors should brace for increased cost pressures and regulatory uncertainty that may temper earnings and dampen market optimism in the near term.

Financial Post

The Serious Fraud Office has launched a major investigation into Home REIT, a social housing firm suspected of £300 million in fraud and bribery. The company, which raised £850 million from investors aiming to house vulnerable groups, faces allegations its properties were misused and misrepresented. Six individuals were arrested following raids across the UK and Italy.

The investigation undermines confidence in social impact investing and highlights risks to vulnerable populations relying on promised housing. Regulators and investors may increase scrutiny of similar firms, while the case emphasizes the need for transparent asset management and tenant verification in social housing.

Mirror

Two former executives of U.S. subprime lender Tricolor Holdings pleaded not guilty today in federal court to charges stemming from an alleged over $1 billion fraud and financial crimes scheme. Prosecutors say the company misled lenders by using the same collateral for multiple loans and manipulating asset values before selling them in securities, leaving investors including large banks exposed to major losses. The case underscores ongoing risks in credit markets where opaque lending practices and weak oversight can result in large-scale investor harm.

The Tricolor case highlights how weaknesses in asset-backed lending and securitization can quickly turn into billion-dollar investor losses, raising the risk profile of credit markets. Expect tighter scrutiny from regulators and more cautious behavior from banks and investors toward subprime and structured-finance products.

Reuters

Iran faces a severe economic crisis marked by a currency collapse with the rial plunging from 42,000 to over 1.1 million per dollar, and inflation soaring to nearly 49% in October 2025. This crisis has triggered deadly protests with over 2,400 deaths and highlights Iran’s continued economic instability amidst sanctions and internal pressures.

The Independent

The United States has suspended visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, including Somalia and Iran, as part of a major escalation in immigration enforcement. The State Department has ordered consulates to halt visa approvals indefinitely while reviewing security vetting procedures. This move signals heightened scrutiny on immigration from multiple nations.

The Economic Times

Russia’s foreign minister firmly rejected any discussions of a ceasefire that do not include a comprehensive peace agreement in Ukraine. This stance underscores Russia's continued hardline policy, indicating that the country is not willing to compromise or ease its position without achieving its broader strategic objectives. As a result, this approach is likely to prolong the conflict, exacerbating the economic and security pressures already being feltsm from opposition and human rights groups as an attempt to control information and suppress dissent.

Financial Times

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps arrested dozens of suspects near its 909 km border with Pakistan, accusing them of being contract attackers linked to Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir amid heightened internal unrest. Iran alleges these groups aimed to destabilize the country using US- and Israeli-made weapons, intensifying suspicions of Pakistani involvement in anti-Iran operations.

Zee News

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— The Integrity Ledger Team