Bonds & Stocks
Stocks wavered and US Treasury yields pared back from a two-month high as traders held off on making big bets ahead of the Federal Reserve’s final interest-rate decision of 2025. S&P 500 futures were little changed after the benchmark halted a four-day rally. The rate on 10-year Treasuries fell two basis points to 4.14% after rising to the highest level since late September. The dollar traded flat while Bitcoin fell nearly 1%.
Economy
Sentiment among US small businesses increased in November, largely due to a surge in optimism about the sales outlook. The National Federation of Independent Business optimism index rose 0.8 point to a three-month high of 99, according to figures released Tuesday. Six of the 10 components that make up the gauge increased, while three decreased. One was unchanged. A 9-point improvement in sales expectations was the biggest contributor to the overall increase in the optimism index, NFIB said. A net 15% of owners anticipate higher sales volumes in the next three months, the largest share since the start of the year.
World
Mexico’s annual inflation accelerated more than expected last month, a week before policymakers are expected to deliver their last rate cut of the year. Consumer prices rose 3.80% in November compared to the same month last year, according to the national statistics institute. The reading came in above the 3.70% median estimate of analysts surveyed by Bloomberg and up from October’s 3.57% print.