Bonds & Stocks
US stocks rise on Friday as the revival of Federal Reserve policy-easing bets pushed Treasury yields lower.
Economy
Industrial production rose in Dec. by more than forecast, helped by a pickup in factory output that indicates manufacturing is stabilizing after two years of weakness. The 0.9% increase in production at factories, mines and utilities followed an upwardly revised 0.2% advance a month earlier, Federal Reserve data showed Friday. The Dec. gain exceeded all projections in a survey of economists.
World
Israel’s high-level security cabinet approved a ceasefire and hostage-prisoner exchange deal with Hamas, paving the way for a weeks-long pause from Sunday to the 15 months of fighting in Gaza.