Economy

• Bessent says U.S. will finish the year with 3% GDP growth, sees 'very strong' holiday season - Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the economy will end the year on strong footing and said the president was disappointed in economic coverage in the media.
• Trump trade war shift away from Chinese manufacturing has reached tipping point - A long-term supply chain shift pulls the rest of Asia even with manufacturing giant China, but for importers, a short-term cash crunch from tariffs is looming.
• Asia-Pacific markets slide after subdued Wall Street session - Asia-Pacific markets slid on Friday following a subdued Wall Street session.
• Layoff announcements this year top 1.1 million, the most since 2020 when pandemic hit, Challenger says - The firm said layoff plans totaled 76,835 in November, a step down from October but still enough to bring the 2025 total up to 1.17 million.
• Ukraine, trade, pandas: What China's Xi and France's Macron discussed in Beijing - China said it is open to importing more high-quality goods from France while urging a "fair, conducive environment" for Chinese businesses in the European nation.
• Bessent says Trump admin will be able to replicate tariffs even if it loses Supreme Court decision - The Treasury secretary cited several sections of 1962 Trade Act that give the president sweeping powers over import duties.
• November private payrolls unexpectedly fell by 32,000, led by steep small business job cuts, ADP reports - The payrolls decline marked a sharp step down from October, which saw an upwardly revised gain of 47,000 positions.
• Delayed tariff impact starting to hit, could cause companies to reduce head count in 2026 - President Trump's tariffs, aimed at reshoring American jobs lost to overseas manufacturing, could end up lowering head count instead
• Euro zone inflation up a notch to 2.2% in November, flash data shows - Euro zone inflation stood at 2.2% in November, a slight rise from the previous month, flash data from data agency Eurostat showed Tuesday.
• As regime change looms at the Fed, one candidate emerges as frontrunner for chair - President Donald Trump knows who he's going to select as the next Federal Reserve chair but isn't saying yet.