TLDR Federal Reserve expected to cut interest rates by 0.25% on Wednesday, bringing rates to 3.5%-3.75% range Fed Chair Jerome Powell will hold press conference after rate decision to discuss 2026 monetary policy outlook Major tech earnings reports scheduled from Oracle, Adobe, and Broadcom focusing on AI infrastructure spending Costco reports Thursday after recently suing [...] The post The Week Ahead: Fed Rate Decision and Major Tech Earnings Set to Drive Markets appeared first on CoinCentral.TLDR Federal Reserve expected to cut interest rates by 0.25% on Wednesday, bringing rates to 3.5%-3.75% range Fed Chair Jerome Powell will hold press conference after rate decision to discuss 2026 monetary policy outlook Major tech earnings reports scheduled from Oracle, Adobe, and Broadcom focusing on AI infrastructure spending Costco reports Thursday after recently suing [...] The post The Week Ahead: Fed Rate Decision and Major Tech Earnings Set to Drive Markets appeared first on CoinCentral.

The Week Ahead: Fed Rate Decision and Major Tech Earnings Set to Drive Markets

2025/12/07 22:13

TLDR

  • Federal Reserve expected to cut interest rates by 0.25% on Wednesday, bringing rates to 3.5%-3.75% range
  • Fed Chair Jerome Powell will hold press conference after rate decision to discuss 2026 monetary policy outlook
  • Major tech earnings reports scheduled from Oracle, Adobe, and Broadcom focusing on AI infrastructure spending
  • Costco reports Thursday after recently suing Trump administration over tariff policies
  • Economic data releases include job openings, trade deficit figures, and jobless claims throughout the week

The Federal Reserve will hold its final meeting of 2025 this week. Market participants expect another interest rate cut on Wednesday.

The Federal Open Market Committee will likely reduce rates to a range between 3.5% and 3.75%. This would mark the third consecutive rate cut from the central bank.

Fed officials are making their decision without complete economic data. The government shutdown delayed several key reports including the latest jobs numbers.

Labor market concerns are pushing the central bank toward another rate reduction. Inflation remains above the Fed’s target level but employment worries take priority.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell will speak after the rate announcement. His press conference could provide guidance on the central bank’s plans for early 2026.

Markets currently show an 87% probability of a quarter-point rate cut. U.S. stock indexes posted modest gains last week with the Nasdaq leading higher.

Tech Companies Report AI Infrastructure Spending

Oracle releases its earnings report on Wednesday. The software company’s stock dropped in November over debt concerns related to its AI infrastructure investments.

AI chipmaker Broadcom also reports this week. The company’s share price has risen on optimism about its relationship with Google-parent Alphabet.

Adobe reports Wednesday as well. Investors will examine the graphics software maker’s AI product sales despite recent stock price declines.

Microsoft may shift its chip production from Marvell Technology to Broadcom. The potential change highlights ongoing competition in the AI chip sector.

Retail Earnings Provide Consumer Spending Insights

Costco reports earnings on Thursday. The warehouse retailer recently filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration challenging its trade policies.

AutoZone releases results on Tuesday. The auto parts retailer missed profit expectations last quarter while increasing spending on new store locations.

GameStop reports on Tuesday after market close. The gaming retailer continues to focus on its digital business strategy.

Lululemon reports on Thursday. The athletic apparel company will provide data on holiday season consumer spending patterns.

Economic Data Releases Continue This Week

Job openings data for October arrives on Tuesday. The report will offer insights into labor market demand.

Source: Forex Factory

The U.S. trade deficit numbers for September come out on Thursday. Initial jobless claims for the week ending December 6 will also be released Thursday.

The monthly federal budget report for November is scheduled for Wednesday. Wholesale inventories data for September rounds out the economic calendar.

Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee will speak on Friday. His remarks may provide additional context on the central bank’s thinking.

The post The Week Ahead: Fed Rate Decision and Major Tech Earnings Set to Drive Markets appeared first on CoinCentral.

Disclaimer: The articles reposted on this site are sourced from public platforms and are provided for informational purposes only. They do not necessarily reflect the views of MEXC. All rights remain with the original authors. If you believe any content infringes on third-party rights, please contact service@support.mexc.com for removal. MEXC makes no guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the content and is not responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided. The content does not constitute financial, legal, or other professional advice, nor should it be considered a recommendation or endorsement by MEXC.

You May Also Like

The Role of Blockchain in Building Safer Web3 Gaming Ecosystems

The Role of Blockchain in Building Safer Web3 Gaming Ecosystems

The gaming industry is in the midst of a historic shift, driven by the rise of Web3. Unlike traditional games, where developers and publishers control assets and dictate in-game economies, Web3 gaming empowers players with ownership and influence. Built on blockchain technology, these ecosystems are decentralized by design, enabling true digital asset ownership, transparent economies, and a future where players help shape the games they play. However, as Web3 gaming grows, security becomes a focal point. The range of security concerns, from hacking to asset theft to vulnerabilities in smart contracts, is a significant issue that will undermine or erode trust in this ecosystem, limiting or stopping adoption. Blockchain technology could be used to create security processes around secure, transparent, and fair Web3 gaming ecosystems. We will explore how security is increasing within gaming ecosystems, which challenges are being overcome, and what the future of security looks like. Why is Security Important in Web3 Gaming? Web3 gaming differs from traditional gaming in that players engage with both the game and assets with real value attached. Players own in-game assets that exist as tokens or NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), and can trade and sell them. These game assets usually represent significant financial value, meaning security failure could represent real monetary loss. In essence, without security, the promises of owning “something” in Web3, decentralized economies within games, and all that comes with the term “fair” gameplay can easily be eroded by fraud, hacking, and exploitation. This is precisely why the uniqueness of blockchain should be emphasized in securing Web3 gaming. How Blockchain Ensures Security in Web3 Gaming?
  1. Immutable Ownership of Assets Blockchain records can be manipulated by anyone. If a player owns a sword, skin, or plot of land as an NFT, it is verifiably in their ownership, and it cannot be altered or deleted by the developer or even hacked. This has created a proven track record of ownership, providing control back to the players, unlike any centralised gaming platform where assets can be revoked.
  2. Decentralized Infrastructure Blockchain networks also have a distributed architecture where game data is stored in a worldwide network of nodes, making them much less susceptible to centralised points of failure and attacks. This decentralised approach makes it exponentially more difficult to hijack systems or even shut off the game’s economy.
  3. Secure Transactions with Cryptography Whether a player buys an NFT or trades their in-game tokens for other items or tokens, the transactions are enforced by cryptographic algorithms, ensuring secure, verifiable, and irreversible transactions and eliminating the risks of double-spending or fraudulent trades.
  4. Smart Contract Automation Smart contracts automate the enforcement of game rules and players’ economic exchanges for the developer, eliminating the need for intermediaries or middlemen, and trust for the developer. For example, if a player completes a quest that promises a reward, the smart contract will execute and distribute what was promised.
  5. Anti-Cheating and Fair Gameplay The naturally transparent nature of blockchain makes it extremely simple for anyone to examine a specific instance of gameplay and verify the economic outcomes from that play. Furthermore, multi-player games that enforce smart contracts on things like loot sharing or win sharing can automate and measure trustlessness and avoid cheating, manipulations, and fraud by developers.
  6. Cross-Platform Security Many Web3 games feature asset interoperability across platforms. This interoperability is made viable by blockchain, which guarantees ownership is maintained whenever assets transition from one game or marketplace to another, thereby offering protection to players who rely on transfers for security against fraud. Key Security Dangers in Web3 Gaming Although blockchain provides sound first principles of security, the Web3 gaming ecosystem is susceptible to threats. Some of the most serious threats include:
Smart Contract Vulnerabilities: Smart contracts that are poorly written or lack auditing will leave openings for exploitation and thereby result in asset loss. Phishing Attacks: Unintentionally exposing or revealing private keys or signing transactions that are not possible to reverse, under the assumption they were genuine transaction requests. Bridge Hacks: Cross-chain bridges, which allow players to move their assets between their respective blockchains, continually face hacks, requiring vigilance from players and developers. Scams and Rug Pulls: Rug pulls occur when a game project raises money and leaves, leaving player assets worthless. Regulatory Ambiguity: Global regulations remain unclear; risks exist for players and developers alike. While blockchain alone won’t resolve every issue, it remediates the responsibility of the first principles, more so when joined by processes such as auditing, education, and the right governance, which can improve their contribution to the security landscapes in game ecosystems. Real Life Examples of Blockchain Security in Web3 Gaming Axie Infinity (Ronin Hack): The Axie Infinity game and several projects suffered one of the biggest hacks thus far on its Ronin bridge; however, it demonstrated the effectiveness of multi-sig security and the effective utilization of decentralization. The industry benefited through learning and reflection, thus, as projects have implemented changes to reduce the risks of future hacks or misappropriation. Immutable X: This Ethereum scaling solution aims to ensure secure NFT transactions for gaming, allowing players to trade an asset without the burden of exorbitant fees and fears of being a victim of fraud. Enjin: Enjin is providing a trusted infrastructure for Web3 games, offering secure NFT creation and transfer while reiterating that ownership and an asset securely belong to the player. These examples indubitably illustrate that despite challenges to overcome, blockchain remains the foundational layer on which to build more secure Web3 gaming environments. Benefits of Blockchain Security for Players and Developers For Players: Confidence in true ownership of assets Transparency in in-game economies Protection against nefarious trades/scams For Developers: More trust between players and the platform Less reliance on centralized infrastructure Ability to attract wealth and players based on provable fairness By incorporating blockchain security within the mechanics of game design, developers can create and enforce resilient ecosystems where players feel reassured in investing time, money, and ownership within virtual worlds. The Future of Secure Web3 Gaming Ecosystems As the wisdom of blockchain technology and industry knowledge improves, the future for secure Web3 gaming looks bright. New growing trends include: Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs): A new wave of protocols that enable private transactions and secure smart contracts while managing user privacy with an element of transparency. Decentralized Identity Solutions (DID): Helping players control their identities and decrease account theft risks. AI-Enhanced Security: Identifying irregularities in user interactions by sampling pattern anomalies to avert hacks and fraud by time-stamping critical events. Interoperable Security Standards: Allowing secured and seamless asset transfers across blockchains and games. With these innovations, blockchain will not only secure gaming assets but also enhance the overall trust and longevity of Web3 gaming ecosystems. Conclusion Blockchain is more than a buzzword in Web3; it is the only way to host security, fairness, and transparency. With blockchain, players confirm immutable ownership of digital assets, there is a decentralized infrastructure, and finally, it supports smart contracts to automate code that protects players and developers from the challenges of digital economies. The threats, vulnerabilities, and scams that come from smart contracts still persist, but the industry is maturing with better security practices, cross-chain solutions, and increased formal cryptographic tools. In the coming years, blockchain will remain the base to digital economies and drive Web3 gaming environments that allow players to safely own, trade, and enjoy their digital experiences free from fraud and exploitation. While blockchain and gaming alone entertain, we will usher in an era of secure digital worlds where trust complements innovation. The Role of Blockchain in Building Safer Web3 Gaming Ecosystems was originally published in Coinmonks on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story
Share
Medium2025/09/18 14:40