December starts in risk-off mode

Hawkish comments from the Bank of Japan put stock markets under pressure. Record-breaking Black Friday spending suggests U.S. shoppers are still splurging online - but inflation and shaky confidence tell a more complicated story. Meanwhile, OPEC+ is holding oil output steady heading into 2026. Today’s recommended read: Hassett may be 'shadow Fed Chair' for five months, Mike Dolan Subscribe to Mike Dolan's Morning Bid newsletter, and check out his columns on Reuters Open Interest. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices