IlluMyFi

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, on the final trading day of the year

2024 has also been a strong year for the US dollar, whcih is on track to record strong gains in 2024 against most currencies.

The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of rival currencies, is up 6.5% over the last year.

This, in turn, is likely to result in stronger US growth, higher inflation, and, subsequently, higher interest rates, all of which contribute to a stronger US dollar.

Furthermore, Trump’s election victory is anticipated to result in tariffs on imports from countries, including China. Mexico, Canada and the EU which will dampen growth expectations outside the US and weigh on commodity prices.

Sentiment

0.55

Bearish/Bullish

100

05.01.25 07:00

by theguardian.com

New year, new deal: the buyout boom poised to take over City lawyers’ lives

Around-the-clock work will be commonplace to tackle an M&A surge fuelled by tax changes, activist investors … and the Trump factor

Whether they’re on skis or a sunlounger, there is no beach, mountain or fireside that can spare lawyers from the urgent calls of zealous, dealmaking executives and private equity bosses. After a breathless 2024, the City’s army of corporate lawyers are set for another year of masking their poolside backgrounds on video calls, braced for an even busier 2025.

“Sadly, we were incredibly busy in July and August. We were both on holiday and working up to 14 hours a day,” says Patrick Sarch, partner at law firm White & Case and head of its public mergers and acquisitions (M&A) division. He and Sonica Tolani, another partner at the same firm, specialise in advising activist investors.

United States of America