Bloomberg News Now: Year-End Market Wrap, Ukraine Conflict, and ACA Tax Credits

Year-End Market Performance

• 📉 Stocks, bonds, gold, and silver experienced a subdued close on the last day of 2025, with the S&P 500 losing 51 points, the Nasdaq 177, and the Dow 304.
• 📊 The ten-year Treasury yield closed at 4.16%, and the two-year yield at 3.47%.

Geopolitical Developments

• 📰 An editorial shared by President Trump criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin, suggesting a tougher stance on Russia and casting doubt on Russian claims regarding Ukrainian drone attacks.
• 🇺🇸 The US is discussing stronger security guarantees for Ukraine, with Envoy Steve Witkoff holding productive calls with European leaders on preventing the war from restarting.
• 🚢 The US Treasury Department has added Venezuela-linked crude oil tankers and four China-based entities tied to those vessels to its sanctions list.

Economic and Healthcare Policy Impacts

• 🏥 Enhanced premium tax credits for the Affordable Care Act expire at midnight, potentially increasing costs for about 22 million enrollees and leading to higher credit card debt as consumers struggle with healthcare expenses.
• 🗣️ Former CFPB Director Rohit Chopra predicts rising healthcare costs will drag on consumer spending.
• 🗳️ Political analysts suggest that healthcare costs, particularly rising premiums, could negatively impact Republican support among independent voters in the upcoming re-election campaigns.

Labor Market and New Year Celebrations

• 📈 Weekly jobless claims fell by 16,000, indicating no signs of labor market deterioration, according to Chief Economist Claudia Sahm.
• 🌍 New Year's celebrations are underway globally, with cities like Auckland, Dubai, and Athens welcoming 2026.
• 🏙️ Zohran Mamdani is set to be sworn in as New York City's mayor at midnight, notably on a centuries-old Koran.