U.S. September retail sales MoM at 0.2% (vs. 0.40% expected, 0.60% prior)

- Perplexity AI and PayPal launch a free AI shopping tool enabling personalized searches and direct purchases from 5,000+ merchants via PayPal integration. - The tool challenges OpenAI's paid Instant Checkout by offering fee-free transactions, though Perplexity remains silent on monetization strategies. - Niche startups like Onton and Daydream argue vertical-specific AI models trained on curated datasets outperform generic tools in fashion and home goods markets. - Legal risks emerge as Perplexity faces Am

- Bitcoin fell nearly 30% from its October peak to $85,100 amid massive ETF outflows and macroeconomic pressures, with U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs losing $3.79 billion in November alone. - BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) led redemptions at $2.1 billion, while a stronger dollar and Fed policy uncertainty worsened selling pressure in risk-off markets. - Technical indicators show oversold conditions (RSI: 25.47), yet ARK Invest added $39 million to crypto-linked stocks, maintaining a long-term bullish sta

- Oil prices fell sharply as U.S.-brokered peace talks between Ukraine and Russia raised hopes for lifting Western sanctions on Russian energy exports. - Zelenskiy's potential U.S. visit and revised peace plans contrast with Russia's unconfirmed acceptance and ongoing missile strikes on Kyiv. - Analysts warn of 2M bpd global oil surplus risks by 2026 if sanctions ease, with Russian oil stored in tankers threatening market rebalancing. - European gas prices dropped below €30/MWh while metals markets showed

- Zcash (ZEC) surged to top Coinbase's November 2025 search rankings, outpacing Bitcoin and XRP amid a 10-fold price spike and $10B+ valuation. - The rise stems from 2024 halving-driven scarcity, 27% shielded transaction adoption, and NU6.1 governance upgrades allocating 20% block rewards to community development. - Regulatory clarity and optional privacy features (via view keys) positioned Zcash as a compliance-friendly alternative to fully opaque coins like Monero after its 2025 exploit. - Analysts debat