Global markets slipped as Wall Street set a softer tone. Europe’s Stoxx 600 fell 0.2%; Amsterdam’s AEX lost >1% while DAX, FTSE 100 and CAC 40 were slightly up. Gold and silver trimmed gains, oil rose ~1.5%. EUR/USD ~1.167, CZK/EUR 24.27. Prague PX +0.2%. #FiatNews

The United States trade deficit narrowed sharply in October, falling 39% month‑on‑month to $29.4 billion (611.8 billion CZK), the smallest deficit since June 2009. Officials attributed the decline in the gap largely to a drop in imports in October. Measured in dollars, the October shortfall represents a marked swing from the previous month and underscores a significant month‑on‑month adjustment in cross‑border flows. The report did not provide detailed import breakdowns in the summary released. This development follows recent volatility in goods and services trade balances and will factor into near‑term economic and policy monitoring. #USTrade #USD #Economy #FiatNews

Reuters survey: The Czech koruna is expected to stay near multi-year highs through the first half of 2026 and to outperform other Central European currencies, which are forecast to weaken. The koruna’s resilience is attributed to accelerating economic growth and stable interest rates. Respondents in the Reuters poll pointed to the mix of robust domestic growth and steady policy rates as key supports keeping the currency firm in H1 2026. Other regional currencies are seen cooling after recent rallies. The outlook reflects investors’ focus on growth differentials and monetary-policy paths across the region. #CZK #CentralEurope #FiatNews

U.S. moves to unlock Venezuelan oil as refiners and traders rush to secure supplies after the administration of Donald Trump said it would take control of up to 50 million barrels, Bloomberg reports. The move has prompted rapid activity among U.S. refiners and oil traders aiming to secure access to that crude. The administration’s control of as many as 50 million barrels would represent one of the largest unexpected supply inflows in recent years. Market participants are reportedly accelerating contracts and logistics planning to integrate the Venezuelan volumes. Bloomberg is the source of the report. #Venezuela #oil #Trump #FiatNews

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday evening called for a $500 billion increase in annual defense spending but simultaneously threatened defense suppliers that would benefit most, posts on his Truth Social account showed. The announcements sent shares of arms manufacturers sharply lower. In his first post he demanded the large boost in military outlays, a move that market watchers say would normally raise defense-sector profits. In a subsequent message he warned he could cut out companies that stood to gain the most from such an increase. The conflicting signals — a call for much higher spending paired with threats toward top beneficiaries — injected immediate volatility into defense stocks and added uncertainty for contractors and investors. #Trump #Defense #US #FiatNews

Morning trading on 8 January 2026 (report at 11:17 CET) sees equities broadly in the red, with markets following Wall Street’s downward lead from yesterday. Both Chinese and European bourses are trading lower today. The DAX, which had been the last major European index to remain in positive territory, has flipped to negative and other indices are likewise showing declines. Commodity markets are also adjusting: gold is retreating from recent gains and is trading down. Market participants are watching whether these early losses persist through the session as regional markets digest overnight moves in the US. #DAX #Gold #Europe #China #FiatNews

Czech industrial output in November came in slightly above expectations, with data pointing to solid year-on-year growth and a broader improvement across sectors. The report highlights gains from automotive production as well as recoveries in sectors that had lagged, including electronics and metalworking. #CzechRepublic #manufacturing #GDP November’s figures show a broad-based pickup in production rather than gains concentrated in a single industry, suggesting more widespread momentum in industrial activity. While the release did not provide detailed numeric breakdowns in the summary, the descriptive data indicate healthier production trends compared with recent months. Analysts note that the stronger-than-expected industrial performance could prompt a modest upward revision to Czech GDP forecasts for 2026. The assessment is based on the November production profile and its implications for near-term output and growth trajectories. #FiatNews

Bloomberg reports Chinese authorities plan to permit the import of some Nvidia H200 AI chips as soon as this quarter, potentially restoring access for the U.S. chipmaker to one of the world’s largest markets despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and strict export controls. The move would mark a notable shift in implementation of trade restrictions affecting advanced semiconductor technology. The H200 is one of Nvidia’s high-end accelerators for large-scale AI workloads. Allowing its import would enable Chinese cloud providers and AI developers to legally acquire certain H200 units, though Bloomberg’s report indicates the approval would cover only some models or shipments rather than a full reopening of the market. The decision follows months of export restrictions by Western authorities aimed at limiting the transfer of cutting-edge AI chips to China. Details on the scope of permitted chips, timing and licensing conditions were not specified in the report. #NVDA #China #AI #FiatNews

Samsung Electronics said preliminary fourth-quarter results show operating profit more than tripled to a record 20 trillion won in Q4 2025, the company reported on January 8, 2026. The figure marks a sharp rise from 6.5 trillion won in the same quarter a year earlier. The 20 trillion won translates to roughly 287 billion Czech koruna. Samsung described the number as a preliminary operating-profit figure for the quarter, signalling a year‑on‑year jump exceeding threefold. The report covers the South Korean conglomerate’s preliminary Q4 results; the company has not provided further detail in this summary. #Samsung #SamsungElectronics #FiatNews

The Czech koruna came under pressure after December inflation undershot expectations, remaining at 2.1% year‑on‑year versus the forecasted 2.4% and the Czech National Bank’s 2.3% projection. Prices fell 0.3% month‑on‑month, driven mainly by a surprising 1.2% drop in food, alcohol and tobacco prices. Key figures: annual CPI 2.1% (consensus 2.4%, CNB 2.3%), monthly change -0.3%, food/alcohol/tobacco -1.2%. The weaker inflation print is cited as the immediate factor weighing on the koruna. The report’s headline also noted a strengthening US dollar and suggested a Venezuelan development that could have implications involving China, though no further details were provided in the text. #CZK #CPI #USD #FiatNews