NEW YORK, Jan 9, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Global stocks were mixed Thursday while oil prices bounced higher as markets looked ahead to key US employment data expected to influence monetary policy. The geopolitical outlook remained a major uncertainty for traders after the United States toppled Venezuela's president, and as China targeted Japanese imports following Tokyo voicing support for Taiwan. US defense stocks saw some sharp gains after President Donald Trump called for a 50-percent hike of the US defense budget next year. But US indices overall were indecisive, with the Dow advancing, the Nasdaq retreating and the S&P 500 ending flat. Tokyo stocks were weighed down after China announced an anti-dumping probe into imports from Japan of a key chemical used to make semiconductors.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha January 09, 2026 02:44 UTC