The International Energy Agency has authorized a historic release of 400 million barrels of oil from its member nations’ strategic reserves to stabilize energy markets disrupted by ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. This release surpasses the previous record set in 2022.
On U.S. stock markets, the S&P 500 Index is up 0.20%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average is down 0.26%. The Nasdaq 100 Index has risen by 0.46%. Notably, Oracle’s shares have surged over 10% following strong sales and positive guidance on AI computing demand. As for inflation, the latest Consumer Price Index showed a 0.3% increase month-over-month and a year-over-year rise of 2.4%, slightly above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target.
In the private credit sector, JPMorgan Chase is restricting lending amid concerns over markdowns, affecting the $1.8 trillion market, which is already challenged by investor withdrawals. Nearly 95% of S&P 500 companies have reported Q4 earnings, with 74% exceeding expectations, while overall earnings growth is projected at 8.4%.
