Trump Discusses Ukraine, Israel, Venezuela, and Iran with Bloomberg News

Market Performance and Treasury Yields

• 📉 US stocks slid as traders reduced their exposure to mega-cap tech stocks towards the end of the year.
• 📊 The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 249 points, the Nasdaq lost 119 points, and the S&P 500 closed 24 points lower.
• 📈 The ten-year Treasury yield stood at 4.10%, and the two-year Treasury yield was at 3.45%.

Geopolitical Discussions at Mar-a-Lago

• 🤝 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with President Trump to discuss a ceasefire in Gaza and concerns about Iran's chemical and biological weapons development.
• 🇺🇦 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Trump, requesting long-term US security guarantees to deter future Russian invasions.
• 📞 Trump also held a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding efforts to halt the war in Ukraine, where Putin signaled new complications due to a claimed drone attack.

US Actions and International Relations

• 💥 The U.S. struck a drug trafficking facility inside Venezuela, marking an escalation in its campaign against drug operations and a first for the Trump administration hitting a land target.
• 🚢 Trump highlighted the success of previous operations bombing boats, stating that 97% of drugs coming by sea have been stopped, saving American lives.

Market Trends: Gold, Silver, and Housing

• 📉 Prices for gold and silver sharply fell after setting record highs, possibly due to profit-taking rather than fundamental valuation worries.
• 🏠 Pending sales of U.S. homes climbed more than expected in November, reaching the highest level since February 2023, encouraged by modest improvements in prices and mortgage rates.

Corporate Acquisitions and Boardroom Changes

• 🏢 SoftBank Group agreed to acquire private equity firm Digital Bridge Group for $4 billion, valuing the data center investor.
• 🧘 Lululemon founder Chip Wilson is pushing for board changes before the company selects a new CEO, nominating three director candidates.