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Winter's Dawn: Celebrating the Solstice

The Winter Solstice, which occurred on December 21st, marks the shortest day and longest night of the year, signaling the official start of winter. Mary Walrath-Holdridge and Julia Gomez from USA TODAY explore the significance of this astronomical event and how it is celebrated across different cultures. The solstice, occurring when the North Pole is tilted furthest away from the sun, brings the least amount of daylight and the longest night. This year, the solstice fell on December 21st at 4:21 a.m. EST, marking the astronomical beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. Historically, the Winter Solstice has been a time of celebration and reflection. Ancient civilizations, such as the Romans with their Saturnalia festival and the Norsemen with their bonfires, honored the return of the sun and the promise of longer days ahead. Today, people continue to observe the solstice with various traditions, including gatherings, feasts, and rituals that pay homage to the natural cycles of l...

Global Stock Market Plunge: Nasdaq Futures Sink 4%, Dow Futures Tumble


The global stock market is experiencing a significant sell-off today, with major indices plummeting amid growing concerns over the health of the U.S. economy.

Nasdaq 100 futures have dropped nearly 5%, while Dow Jones Industrial Average futures have cascaded down by 800 points, equivalent to a 4% decline. The S&P 500 futures are also down by almost 3%. This sharp decline follows Friday’s disappointing U.S. jobs report, which has intensified fears that the Federal Reserve may have delayed cutting interest rates for too long.

The sell-off is not confined to the U.S. markets. In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 suffered its largest one-day drop ever, plunging over 12%. European markets are also feeling the pressure, with the Stoxx Europe 600 down more than 3%.

Major tech stocks are among the hardest hitApple has fallen over 6% following news that Berkshire Hathaway has halved its stake in the companyNvidia and Tesla have also seen significant declines, dropping 10% and 8% respectively. The cryptocurrency market is not immune either, with Bitcoin sinking more than 15%.

Investors are flocking to safer assets, driving up the prices of U.S. Treasuries and gold. The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield has fallen below 3.8%, and gold futures have risen as traders seek refuge from the market turmoil.

As the week progresses, all eyes will be on the Federal Reserve and upcoming economic data, particularly the weekly unemployment claims due on Thursday. The market’s reaction to these developments will be crucial in determining whether this sell-off marks the beginning of a more prolonged downturn.


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