Market Beats | The Longest-Living U.S. President Passes Away; Russia and Ukraine Complete 300-Person Prisoner Exchange; U.S. Pending Home Sales Reach Two-Year High; Venezuela Fines TikTok $10 Million; Nvidia Supplier Faces Production Shortages

1. Another Dark Year for Aviation

2. The Longest-Living U.S. President Passes Away

3. Russia and Ukraine Complete 300-Person Prisoner Exchange

4. U.S. Pending Home Sales Reach Two-Year High

5. Venezuela Fines TikTok $10 Million

6. Vivid Seats Explores Sale

7. Nvidia Supplier Faces Production Shortages

1. Another Dark Year for Aviation

Last week, two plane crashes in South Korea and Azerbaijan occurred within days of each other, making this the deadliest year for aviation since 2018.

According to Cirium data, air crashes have resulted in 318 deaths this year, compared to over 500 in 2018.

Darren Striker, a former air crash investigator in the UAE and Hong Kong, stated that the recent surge in fatalities approaches “black swan event” levels, emphasizing the need for better crew training to handle such crises.

2023 was the safest year in aviation history, with zero fatalities.

______

2. The Longest-Living U.S. President Passes Away

On Sunday, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, the longest-living president in U.S. history, passed away at home at the age of 100.

During his four-year tenure as the 39th U.S. president, Carter helped broker a long-term peace agreement between Egypt and Israel. However, his presidency also faced challenges such as severe inflation, oil shortages, and the Iranian hostage crisis.

In early 2023, Carter chose hospice care at home. His wife passed away in November 2023 at the age of 96 after 77 years of marriage.

Carter’s final wish was to cast his vote for Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.

______

3. Russia and Ukraine Complete 300-Person Prisoner Exchange

Russia and Ukraine announced today that they have each released 150 prisoners, totaling around 300 individuals, in a swap mediated by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Ukraine’s president confirmed that the released detainees included soldiers from various military units and two civilians, who have been transported to Belarus.

Over the past three years, Russia and Ukraine have conducted multiple prisoner exchanges. In June, Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed that Russia held 6,465 Ukrainian soldiers, while Ukraine had 1,348 Russian soldiers in custody—figures that remain unverified.

Since the war began, Russia has returned 3,956 Ukrainian prisoners.

______

4. U.S. Pending Home Sales Reach Two-Year High

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported that its pending home sales index rose 2.2% in November to 79, marking its highest level since early 2023. The increase exceeded analysts’ expectations of 0.8%.

Once a home enters pending status, the transaction is typically completed within one to two months.

NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun stated that buyers need to adjust their expectations regarding mortgage rates and take advantage of temporarily higher housing inventory. Many buyers have accepted that interest rates may not decline significantly.

Last month, pending home sales in the U.S. South led with a 5.2% increase, while the Northeast saw a decline.

______

5. Venezuela Fines TikTok $10 Million

Venezuela’s Supreme Court ruled today that TikTok must pay a $10 million fine within 10 days and establish an office in the country.

Last month, Venezuelan courts summoned TikTok executives after a deadly challenge went viral on the platform, leading to the deaths of three children, the youngest being 12 years old. Authorities accused TikTok of failing to prevent the spread of harmful content.

The Venezuelan court stated that the fine will be used to compensate the victims’ families.

______

6. Vivid Seats Explores Sale

Online ticket marketplace Vivid Seats, which went public via SPAC in 2021, has received acquisition interest and is considering a sale.

Today, Vivid Seats’ stock surged 20%, although it had fallen 40% year-to-date as of last Friday.

The StubHub and SeatGeek competitor is in talks with financial advisors regarding a potential sale, with private equity firms among the potential buyers.

Eldridge Industries, the SPAC sponsor that took Vivid Seats public, currently owns approximately 41% of the company.

______

7. Nvidia Supplier Faces Production Shortages

Ibiden, a key supplier of AI chip substrates for Nvidia, announced that it must significantly expand production capacity to meet soaring demand, with supply shortages expected to persist through next year.

The CEO revealed that the company is building a new plant in central Japan, expected to be completed in Q4 2025. The facility will initially operate at 25% capacity but is expected to reach 50% by March 2026.

Ibiden’s customers, including Intel, AMD, Samsung Electronics, TSMC, and Nvidia, are reportedly concerned about the capacity crunch and are urging the company to accelerate investments.

Many leading brands consult Ibiden early in the product development process.

______

This content is sourced from Financial Times, Bloomberg, and The Real Deal, among other financial news outlets.