First Brands Aims to Assure Lenders by Chasing Trapped Funds

U.S. stocks experienced a significant decline as a selloff in technology shares deepened, reflecting negative sentiment in the market. Analysts Romaine Bostick, Katie Greifeld, Carol Massar, and Tim Stenovec provided insights during Bloomberg's closing bell coverage, highlighting the impact of this downturn on investor confidence.

Wall Street has faced significant volatility throughout the year, with analysts anticipating a major shift in market dynamics. This uncertainty has left investors grappling with fluctuating trends and mixed signals, contributing to a climate of apprehension in financial markets.

US prosecutors are investigating potential violations of securities, bank, and wire fraud laws related to the collapse of First Brands, a car parts manufacturer. This scrutiny comes as the company faces significant financial distress and ongoing bankruptcy proceedings.

Bloomberg Markets on December 12, 2025, featured discussions on market movements across various global asset classes, with insights from notable guests including BitGo Co-Founder and CEO Mike Belshe, along with Bloomberg analysts Ed Ludlow, Keith Naughton, Dave Lee, and Poonam Goyal.

First Brands, an auto-parts manufacturer, has filed a request for expedited relief to access $250 million in customer receipts, which are either held by customers or segregated as part of its bankruptcy process. This move comes as the company navigates significant financial distress amid ongoing bankruptcy proceedings.

Oracle Corp.'s new investment-grade notes are trading at levels typically associated with junk bonds, driven by delays in data center completions and concerns over profitability from its artificial intelligence investments. This shift reflects a significant deterioration in the company's credit risk, which has reached its highest point since 2009.

Major US bank stocks have achieved their longest winning streak since August, posting gains for three consecutive weeks, driven by positive updates from an industry conference that suggest continued benefits from a resilient economy and favorable interest rate trends.

The US Supreme Court is set to rule on the legality of tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump in April, which previously caused significant market fluctuations. This ruling could have substantial implications for various stocks that have experienced growth since the tariffs were enacted.