Evening digest: US job numbers, Iran unrest, OpenAI-SoftBank back AI push

US job growth stalled in December, underscoring a labor market losing momentum, while geopolitical and policy uncertainty weighed on global sentiment.

Iran’s Supreme Leader warned protests could isolate the country further as security forces tightened controls.

In the US, OpenAI and SoftBank moved to secure clean energy for AI infrastructure with a $1 billion renewables investment.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court delayed a ruling on Trump-era tariffs, prolonging uncertainty over trade policy, costs, and presidential authority.

US job growth stalls

US job growth remained stuck at stall speed in December, with employers adding just 50,000 positions as the unemployment rate dipped to 4.4%.

The modest gain fell short of expectations and capped the weakest year for hiring since 2003, with only 584,000 jobs created in 2025.

Restaurants and healthcare drove the gains, while retail, manufacturing, and construction shed workers.

Though the jobless rate ticked down from November’s 4.5%, the broader picture shows a labor market running on fumes, hiring has slowed dramatically from 2024’s pace, and downward revisions to prior months painted an even softer picture than first reported.

Iran’s leader warns of isolation

Iran’s Supreme Leader warned protesters that continued unrest risked leaving the country “cut off from the world,” as authorities tightened their grip after days of nationwide demonstrations.

In a televised speech, he accused foreign enemies of stoking the turmoil and urged Iranians to reject what he called Western plots to weaken the Islamic Republic.

Security forces intensified their presence in major cities, with reports of fresh arrests and internet restrictions aimed at curbing mobilisation.

The warning underscored Tehran’s growing isolation as new Western sanctions and diplomatic censure pile pressure on an economy already crippled by years of mismanagement and conflict.

OpenAI, SoftBank back AI power push

OpenAI and SoftBank Group announced a $1 billion investment in SB Energy, SoftBank’s renewable power unit, as the tech giants deepen their push into clean energy to fuel the AI boom.

The deal values SB Energy at roughly $5 billion and will help expand its solar and battery storage projects across the US and Asia.

With data centres consuming ever more electricity, the partnership aims to lock in reliable, low-carbon power for OpenAI’s massive computing needs.

The move highlights how AI firms are racing to secure energy supplies amid growing concerns about grid capacity and emissions.

US Supreme Court delays tariff ruling

The Supreme Court kept investors and importers in suspense on Friday, declining to rule on the legality of Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs despite intense speculation that a decision was imminent.

Instead, the justices issued a single opinion in an unrelated criminal case, leaving one of the most consequential trade and fiscal questions of Trump’s second term unresolved.

At stake is not just the fate of hundreds of billions of dollars in duties, but also how far a president can stretch emergency powers to reshape trade policy.

Markets now face several more days of uncertainty over costs, refunds, and executive authority.

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