SQUAWK BOX, THURSDAY 4TH JANUARY, 2024

The Dow plunges almost 300 points on the back of perceived Fed hesitation with minutes showing uncertainty about rate cuts. Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin told CNBC colleagues Stateside he will not rule out hikes. Chinese services activity hit a five-month high but this is offset by a poor employment report which has led to calls for more monetary easing. Disney wins the backing of twin hedge funds as it attempts to see off challenges from activist investor Nelson Peltz. Spanish telco Telefonica agrees a deal with unions as it launches a cost-cutting drive affecting up to 20 per cent of its workforce. And in energy news, markets are on edge with oil spiking following a bomb attack in Iran which killed around 100 people.

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