International News 10 November 2025
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Expedia Shares Jump 15% on Strong B2B Growth and Upbeat 2025 Outlook
Expedia’s stock surged 15% on Friday (Nov 7, 2025) after the online travel agency forecast stronger revenue and margin growth for 2025, driven by a surge in corporate bookings. The Seattle-based company reported that its B2B segment — serving corporate travel managers, offline agents, and financial institutions — saw bookings jump 26% year-over-year in Q3, boosted by new travel agency clients and an expanded loyalty program. CEO Ariane Gorin said the company plans to continue investing in its B2B operations, while raising its 2025 revenue growth forecast to around 6.5%, up from 4% previously, and projecting a 2% improvement in adjusted profit margins. Analysts view this margin expansion as a positive sign amid a broader tech environment marked by high investment pressures. Expedia also recorded its fastest U.S. room growth in Q3, even as domestic travel softened due to inflation and economic uncertainty. Internationally, room nights in Asia climbed over 20%, highlighting the region’s faster recovery. Unlike some travel rivals that rely heavily on luxury demand, Expedia reported broad-based strength across customer segments. Analysts from Baird and Truist noted that Expedia may be benefiting from price-sensitive travelers shifting away from competitors, signaling a gain in market share. Despite the rally, Expedia remains relatively undervalued, trading at 12.8 times forward earnings — below the industry median of 14.3 — suggesting continued upside potential if growth momentum holds.
Gold Prices Rise as Fed Rate Cut Bets and U.S. Shutdown Fears Boost Safe-Haven Demand
Gold prices climbed on Friday (Nov 7, 2025), supported by growing expectations of further Federal Reserve rate cuts and heightened concerns over the prolonged U.S. government shutdown. Spot gold rose 0.6% to US$3,999.89 per ounce, while U.S. gold futures for December delivery gained 0.4% to US$4,008.20. Analysts noted that strong central bank purchases and prospects of lower interest rates continue to underpin the bullish trend. Independent analyst Ross Norman said “the underlying themes for gold’s strength remain very much in place,” while ANZ strategist Soni Kumari highlighted that uncertainty over macroeconomic data and the U.S. shutdown has increased gold’s safe-haven appeal. Data released Thursday showed job losses in the U.S. government and retail sectors in October, with corporate layoffs rising amid cost-cutting and AI adoption. The weak labor market fueled market expectations for another Fed rate cut in December, with odds climbing to 67% from 60% earlier in the week. The Fed lowered rates last week, and Chair Jerome Powell hinted it could be the final cut of the year. With official data delayed due to the record-long shutdown, investors and policymakers are increasingly relying on private sector indicators — a dynamic that continues to favor gold demand.
Oil Prices Edge Higher but Set for Second Weekly Loss amid Oversupply Concerns
Oil prices rose on Friday (Nov 7, 2025) but remained on track for a second straight weekly decline, weighed by persistent fears of oversupply and slowing U.S. demand. Brent crude gained 0.8% to US$63.88 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) climbed 0.9% to US$59.94. Despite the rebound, both benchmarks are expected to post weekly losses of over 1.5% as leading global producers ramp up output. Analysts said rising U.S. crude inventories — up 5.2 million barrels last week — and concerns over the prolonged U.S. government shutdown continued to pressure sentiment. OPEC+ agreed to a modest production increase in December but delayed further hikes in early 2026 amid oversupply risks, while Saudi Arabia sharply cut oil prices for Asian buyers next month. On the demand side, weak U.S. labor data and reduced refinery activity added to bearish sentiment, though rising Chinese imports provided limited support. China’s crude imports rose 2.3% from September and 8.2% year-on-year in October, reflecting strong refinery utilization. European and U.S. sanctions on Russia and Iran also disrupted supplies to major importers such as China and India. Meanwhile, Swiss trader Gunvor withdrew its bid to buy Lukoil’s foreign assets after U.S. authorities labeled the company a Russian proxy, signaling continued geopolitical pressure on Russian energy firms. Analysts expect oil prices to stay under pressure in the near term, with oversupply and weak demand outweighing geopolitical risks.