Breaking News Today – Monday 15 December 2025

Business News Today

India’s Markets and Currency Hit Major Headwinds

The Indian rupee slid past 90.6 per US dollar this morning, continuing to set fresh record lows, pressured by the lack of a finalised trade deal with the US with prolonged negotiations and persistent foreign outflows from local equities and sovereign bonds. The currency has fallen -5.5% this year, making it Asia’s worst performing currency, hurt by steep US tariffs that have weighed on exports and dampened investor interest in local markets. international investors have offloaded more than $18 billion in stocks so far in 2025, with over $500 million in bond sales in December alone. 

India’s BSE Sensex index dropped 369 points, or 0.4%, to 84,898 in morning trade this morning, exacerbating the hurt, while the Nifty 50 fell 0.5%, with both indices erasing a two-session gain amid the ongoing foreign capital outflow. Foreign investors sold shares worth INR 11.1 billion ($122.6 million) on Friday alone, according to provisional data, extending their selling streak to six consecutive sessions.

Barrick Gold Returned

In a step towards normalising business and mining operations in Mali, A Malian judge has ordered the return of three metric tons of gold, valued at roughly $400 million, seized nearly a year ago from Barrick Gold’s Loulo-Gounkoto complex. The bullion, containing all of the seized gold, has been held at Banque Malienne de Solidarité in Bamako since January, when it was confiscated by authorities using a military helicopter following a court order. This decision aligns with Mali’s military-led government efforts to stabilize politically and attract foreign investments.

However, under the latest ruling, Barrick will be responsible for transporting the gold from the vaults, marking a step toward normalising operations at the Loulo-Gounkoto complex. The return of the gold follows last month’s agreement between Canadian mining major Barrick and the Malian Military Junta’s Leadership, in which the company agreed to a $430 million settlement payment, ending a two-year dispute that had halted operations at one of its key gold mines.

Gold Proving its Metal as Stable Investor Haven

Gold prices climbed towards $4,330 per ounce on Monday, approaching its all-time high level, as investors awaited a series of key US economic releases this week for further clues on the Federal Reserve’s interest rate trajectory. Attention will mainly be on the jobs report due to be released on Tuesday and the inflation data on Thursday. Last week, the Fed delivered its third 25bps rate cut of the year. However, the decision was not unanimous, with three policymakers dissenting, and opinions remain divided on the potential scope of further rate easing in 2026.

Two Fed officials who opposed the cut said on Friday that inflation remains elevated and that it would have been “more prudent” to wait for additional data before reducing rates. Gold has surged over 60% year-to-date, on track for its strongest annual gain since 1979, driven by robust central bank purchases, strong ETF inflows, safe-haven demand, and a shift away from sovereign bonds. Gold has delivered a welcome bonus for the overall African economy this year. Gold export revenue from Africa in 2025 are projected to end around 30%-40% higher than 2024 despite volumes shrinking in some regions such as Mali.

Crypto Currency Markets hit Fresh Momentum

Crypto currency markets are clawing back lost ground in early trade today, with Bitcoin up 1.6% and Ether and Solana up almost 2% this morning. Most major crypto currencies are in positive territory after a major crypto currency slide over the last two weeks. Bitcoin is down almost 4% year-to-date despite it hitting record highs in October 2025. Binance is the best performing crypto currency so far in 2025, with a year-to-date growth of 27.5% and the stand-out crypto currency in a turbulent market. Binance is up 1.4% today despite it also having seen a steep drop from an all time high of $1309 in October.

Breaking News Shorts: 

• Woolworths commented this morning regarding a class action proceeding which had been filed against it in the Australian Federal Court, alleging potential underpayments to team members in South Australia.The company said that the allegations, involving a Woolworths subsidiary, were based on a South Australian state law that had been repealed, which deemed Sundays public holidays.
• Spinny, an Indian online marketplace for used cars, is raising around $160 million as it moves to acquire car services startup GoMechanic.The Series G round, which includes a mix of primary and secondary transactions, would value the 10-year-old startup at about $1.8 billion post-money raise.
• Australia’s Fortescue announced today, its intention to buy the remaining 64% of Alta Copper, in a deal with a total equity value of around $101 million US, for the Toronto-listed copper miner.Fortescue, through its Nascent Exploration division, is offering C$1.40 per share in cash for all remaining shares in Alta.
• A Los Angeles jury has awarded $40 million to two women who claimed that talcum powder made by global health care group Johnson & Johnson, caused their ovarian cancer. The company said it would appeal the jury’s liability verdict and compensatory damages.The verdict is the latest development in a longstanding legal battle over cancer cause claims over the talc in Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower body power.
• The military-led governments of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have launched a regional investment bank capitalised at $895 million to finance infrastructure, energy and agricultural projects. The bank aims to fund infrastructure, energy, and agricultural projects using resources from these nations.

Markets by Numbers 

Currency markets indicate the US dollar weaker today, with the Euro trading against the US dollar at 1.17331 while the Pound is trading at 1.33615 to the US dollar. The Yen is currently trading at 155.07 to the dollar. The rand (ZAR) is maintaining its strength below the key R17 mark to a weaker US dollar and is currently at R16.84.

Commodities:  

• Gold futures have seen upward momentum this morning, and up almost 1%, and are currently trading around $4339.00 per ounce.  
• Copper prices have gained over 0.9% today, with prices currently around $5.3331
• Silver futures prices are near record highs and up more than 100% year-to-date., and currently trading around $62.959
• Platinum futures have hit a new record high – up over 3.2% this morning, and currently trading at $1814.00, While Palladium prices are over 2% higher this morning, and currently trading around $1544.00 per ounce.
• Brent crude oil prices are trending upwards today, and currently at $61.45 with WTI trading at $57.77
• Cocoa futures are flat today, and currently trading around $6279 per ton. 
• Coffee futures are trending lower this morning, and are currently trading at around $3.9511 per pound

Crypto Currencies: 

• Bitcoin prices are trending higher today, and trading at around $89616 per coin currently 
• Ether prices are up by almost 2% this morning, and are currently trading around $3119.74
• $Trumpcoin are trending lower today, and currently trading around $5.509

(All prices quoted at approximately 07H55 Central African Time) 

Africa News Briefs:

• West African regional bloc ECOWAS, yesterday rejected a transition programme that had been tabled by Guinea-Bissau’s Interim Military Leaders, and demanded an immediate return to constitutional democratic rule, warning of targeted sanctions against those obstructing the process. Military officers in Guinea-Bissau, branding themselves the Military High Command, toppled President Umaro Sissoco Embalo on November 26 and installed Major-General Horta Inta-a as interim president the following day.
• The United Nations has condemned a recent drone attack that targeted its Sudanese logistics in the central region of Kordofan base in Kadugli, resulting in six fatalities, with further injuries to members of the Bangladeshi Peacekeeping contingent.UN Secretary General António Guterres said in a statement that attacks against UN peacekeepers like this one are unjustifiable & may constitute war crimes.