European markets set to open lower as French political upheaval drags on

Opening calls

The FTSE 100 is expected to open 8 points lower at 8,341 on Friday morning, while the German DAX index is slated to lose 24 points at the opening, according to IG, bringing it down to 20,334.

Meanwhile, IG is predicting that the CAC 40 will open around 8 points lower at 7,322.

— Chloe Taylor

CNBC Pro: Top picks for 2025: Stocks from Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and Malaysia among Macquarie’s favorites — all with more than 50% upside

Macquarie has named several Asian companies as its top picks for 2025, with predicted gains ranging from 50% to over 80% in their share prices.

The selection spans multiple sectors including technology, automotive, defense, and power utilities, reflecting the investment bank’s positive view on these industries for the coming year.

CNBC Pro subscribers can read more here.

— Ganesh Rao

Source

World

To justify martial law, former South Korean President Yoon tried to provoke North Korea, prosecutors say

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World

L.A. police investigate 2 deaths at home of actor-director Rob Reiner as apparent homicide

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China’s retail sales growth sharply misses estimates in November, deepening consumption worries

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China’s retail sales growth and industrial production missed estimates in November while investment declined more than expected, data from National Bureau of Statistics showed Monday, indicating consumption remains a major worry. Retail sales rose 1.3% last month from a year earlier, sharply missing Reuters’ median forecast for a 2.8% growth, and slowing from 2.9% rise […]