U.S. Indicators Move Stocks, Oil, and Gold (December 29 – January 2, 2026, Recap)

Last week, markets were shaped by a series of key U.S. economic releases, including updates on housing activity, oil inventories, labor market conditions, and manufacturing trends. Alongside these indicators, movements in currencies, commodities, equity markets, and company earnings provided a broad snapshot of investor sentiment and overall market performance during the period.

Major Economic Indicators and Events in Review

Monday, December 29

17:00 – USA: Pending Home Sales m/m (USD)

Pending home sales increased by 3.3% in November from the previous month and were 2.6% higher than a year ago, according to the National Association of Realtors. The rise was seen across all major U.S. regions, pointing to a broad improvement in housing demand.

The pickup suggests buyer activity is gradually returning, helped by slightly lower mortgage rates, rising wages, and more homes available for sale, even though confidence remains below last year’s levels.

The EURUSD fell by 0.22% on the day.

Tuesday, December 30

17:30 – USA: Crude Oil Inventories (USD)

U.S. crude oil stockpiles increased by 400,000 barrels, lifting total inventories to 424.8 million barrels, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Refinery activity eased slightly, with plants processing 16.8 million barrels per day while operating at 94.6% of capacity. Gasoline production rose, oil imports declined from the previous week, and total commercial petroleum inventories saw a small overall increase, pointing to a modest build in U.S. energy supplies.

The EURUSD fell by 0.23% on the day.

Wednesday, December 31

15:30 – USA: Unemployment Claims (USD)

New U.S. jobless claims fell in the week ending December 27, showing fewer people applied for unemployment benefits than the week before, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Initial claims dropped to 199,000, suggesting the labor market remains relatively strong.

The overall unemployment picture was steady. The insured unemployment rate stayed at 1.2 percent, while the number of people continuing to receive unemployment benefits declined slightly. Taken together, the data points to stable job conditions as the year ended, with no signs of a sharp slowdown in the labor market.

The USDJPY rose by 0.1% compared to the previous day.

Friday, January 2

16:45 – USA: Final Manufacturing PMI (USD)

U.S. manufacturing kept expanding in December but lost momentum, according to the S&P Global. The Manufacturing PMI eased to 51.8, its weakest reading in five months, showing slower growth.

New orders fell for the first time in a year, and exports remained weak, partly due to tariffs. Even so, factories continued to raise output and hire more workers. Costs stayed high, though price pressures cooled slightly, suggesting growth is continuing but becoming harder to sustain without stronger demand.

The EURUSD fell by 0.23% on the day.

Commodities

1. Crude Oil
   Crude oil prices increased by 0.70% over the past week
2. Brent Oil
   Brent was up 0.75% compared to the previous week
3. Gold
   The precious metal Gold (XAUUSD) concluded the week on Friday with a 4.44% weekly decrease
4. Silver
   XAGUSD decreased by 8.18% from last week

Stock Market

1. S&P 500 decreased by 1.02%
2. DJIA was down 0.71%
3. NASDAQ 100 decreased by 1.66%

Top Gainers

1. Brand Engagement Network, Inc. (BNAI) 214.17%
2. Republic Power Group Limited (RPGL) 152.98%
3. Sidus Space, Inc. (SIDU) 124.35%

Top Losers

1. Smart Digital Group Limited (SDM) -86.60%
2. SMX (Security Matters) Public Limited Company (SMX) -82.26%
3. Mereo BioPharma Group plc (MREO) -77.90%

Company Earnings (December 29- January 2)

Monday, December 29: DJCO (Daily Journal Corporation)

Monday, December 29: CODI (Compass Diversified)

Wednesday, December 31: TAYD (Taylor Devices, Inc.)

Daily Journal Corporation reported a strong Q4 and full-year 2025, delivering record revenue of $87.7 million and earnings per share of $81.41, supported by continued growth in its Journal Technologies business.

DJCO shares fell by 2.94% compared to the previous week.

Compass Diversified reported its second-quarter 2025 results and said it is making steady progress toward bringing its financial reporting up to date. The company said operations across its subsidiaries remained solid.

Compass Diversified reaffirmed its full-year 2025 outlook, expecting subsidiary adjusted EBITDA of $330 million to $360 million, while continuing to focus on disciplined capital allocation and long-term value for shareholders.

CODI shares fell by 4.91% from the previous week.

Taylor Devices, Inc. reported a strong second quarter, with sales rising to $11.6 million from $8.5 million a year earlier, setting a new company record. First-half sales also increased to $21.5 million.

Profits climbed sharply as well, helped by higher sales and efficient operations. While the company’s order backlog dipped slightly, strong demand from aerospace and defense customers is helping offset weaker conditions in other markets, supporting continued growth outlook.

TAYD shares rose by 4.71% from the previous week.

Conclusion

Overall, last week’s data painted a mixed but stable picture of the U.S. economy. Housing and labor markets showed resilience, while manufacturing growth slowed, and energy supplies edged higher. Financial markets reflected cautious sentiment, with equities and precious metals under pressure, even as select companies delivered solid earnings, highlighting a market environment that remains selective and data-driven.