Lana

After all, when economies and politics are steady, there are fewer wildcards to knock trends off course.

But when policies and outlooks change by the day, markets lurch around and company results become much harder to call.

Unfortunately, we are firmly in that second bucket right now.

The Japanese bond sell-off rippled through global markets, with long-term U.S.

bond yields reaching their highest level since September.

In this kind of jittery backdrop, it's no surprise that investors have been gravitating toward classic safe havens.

Precious metals have lived up to their name, with gold up around 10% this year and silver roughly 32%, both breaking even more records after a stellar 2025.

Before we dive into the next story, it's time for our daily check-in with Carl.

You've got questions, he's got your answers.

Carl, what have you got for us?

Thanks, Carl.

Next up.

The UK's unemployment rate held steady at 5.1% for the three months to November, staying at its highest level since 2021.

And it'll take more than a spoonful of sugar to make that go down.

British employers seem nervous, even though the economy has thus far managed to avoid a downturn.

Rather than simply slowing or freezing recruitment, they're actively cutting roles.

In fact, separate payroll figures all show that around 220,000 jobs have disappeared over a little more than a year, and new job listings aren't keeping pace with rising layoffs.

Retail and hospitality jobs were the most vulnerable over the timeframe, as companies in the sector were pressured by weak demand and higher costs.

And for those still in work, overall wages only rose by 4.5%, down a touch from the period before.

Narrow it down to the private sector, and they grew at their slowest pace in five years.