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10:06:42

German Chancellor Merz: Ukraine will receive €90 billion in interest-free loans, which will be sufficient to meet Ukraine's military and budgetary needs for the next two years.

10:03:29

Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama: The Ministry of Finance previously estimated that raising the income tax exemption threshold would result in a tax revenue reduction of 400 billion yen, but the current estimate is 650 billion yen.

09:56:30

According to CNN: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services plans to overhaul the childhood vaccination schedule and recommends reducing the number of vaccinations.

09:50:57

[Germany Launches €30 Billion "Seed Fund" to Leverage €130 Billion in Capital to Reshape Competitiveness] On December 18, the German government officially launched the €30 billion "Germany Fund" program, aiming to leverage approximately €130 billion in private capital through government guarantees, loans, and other financial instruments. The fund will focus on three key areas: energy transition, industrial decarbonization, and deep technology, to enhance the country's industrial competitiveness. The fund will be implemented by the German Development Bank (KfW), with 95% of the funds already approved by parliament as government guarantees, and will be officially launched next year.

09:40:31

[Trump Pressures Ukraine to "Act Quickly"] US President Donald Trump on the 18th again pressured Ukraine regarding the Russia-Ukraine "peace plan," stating, "I want Ukraine to act quickly." Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said, "They (the negotiating parties) are close to reaching some results, but I want Ukraine to act quickly. I want Ukraine to act quickly because Russia is there. You know, every time they take too long, Russia changes its mind." Politico reported on the 17th, citing two sources familiar with the matter, that US and Russian representatives are expected to meet this weekend in Miami, a city in the southern United States, in an effort to advance the US-proposed Russia-Ukraine "peace plan." (Xinhua)

09:30:19

A historic interest rate hike is imminent! The Bank of Japan may launch its biggest tightening storm in 30 years. Details>

09:27:45

The yen hovered near recent lows as markets awaited the Bank of Japan's interest rate decision. 1. The yen traded in a narrow range near recent lows on Friday, with the USD/JPY pair currently at 155.76, not far from the ten-month low of 157.90 reached in November. Traders are closely watching whether the Bank of Japan's meeting will further confirm its path of continued interest rate hikes next year. The euro weakened slightly after the European Central Bank did not signal a rate hike. 2. Following hints from Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda earlier this month, investors almost unanimously expect the central bank to raise interest rates by 25 basis points to 0.75% later on Friday. Market focus will shift to his tone and outlook for future policy. 3. According to sources, the Bank of Japan will not release its latest estimate of the neutral interest rate this time, nor will it use it as its primary communication tool. Instead, it will rely on Ueda to outline the interest rate path at a press conference (14:30 Beijing time). 4. Yuxuan Tang, Global Market Strategist at JPMorgan Private Bank, stated, "We expect a rate hike; fundamentally, it's long overdue. However, this move is unlikely to trigger a significant rebound in the yen. The message from the authorities may indicate that the next rate hike is still some time away. Nevertheless, if the rate is unexpectedly kept unchanged, the USD/JPY exchange rate could surge, potentially leading to a market confidence crisis and forcing the authorities to intervene directly to stabilize the yen."

09:22:54

A summary of CNY HIBOR (Hong Kong Interbank Offered Rate) and its changes: According to FX678, the changes in CNY HIBOR rates over various periods as of December 19, 2025 are shown in the table below: rates rose for 4 periods, fell for 3 periods, and remained unchanged for 2 periods. The largest change was in the 2-week CNY HIBOR rate, which rose by 6 basis points. As shown in the updated data, the overnight onshore RMB HIBOR was 1.20%, down 2 basis points; the 1-week rate was 1.48%, up 4 basis points; the 2-week rate was 1.64%, up 6 basis points; the 1-month rate was 1.75%, down 2 basis points; the 2-month rate was 1.77%, down 3 basis points; the 3-month rate was 1.80%, unchanged; the 6-month rate was 1.80%, unchanged; the 9-month rate was 1.87%, up 2 basis points; and the 1-year onshore RMB HIBOR was 1.95%, up 4 basis points. BP = basis points

09:15:47

On December 19th, the central parity rate of the RMB in the interbank foreign exchange market was as follows (2/2): RMB/South African Rand: 2.3739, down 50.00 points; RMB/Korean Won: 209.4600, up 4.00 points; RMB/UAE Dirham: 0.5215, up 2.70 points; RMB/Saudi Riyal: 0.5325, up 2.10 points; RMB/Hungarian Forint: 46.9184, down 724.98 points; RMB/Polish Złoty: 0.5088, down 2.10 points; RMB/Danish Krone: 0.9047, up 17.00 points; RMB/Swedish Krone: 1.3174, down 25.00 points; RMB/Norwegian Krone: 1.4419, down 61.00 points. The yuan was quoted at 6.0738 against the Turkish lira, up 105.40 points; the yuan was quoted at 2.5529 against the Mexican peso, down 17.00 points; and the yuan was quoted at 4.4624 against the Thai baht, down 62.00 points.

09:15:47

On December 19th, the central parity rate of the RMB in the interbank foreign exchange market was as follows (1/2): Swiss Franc to RMB: 8.8700, up 88.00 points; USD to RMB: 7.0550, down 33.00 points; EUR to RMB: 8.2616, down 143.00 points; 100 JPY to RMB: 4.5274, down 25.00 points; HKD to RMB: 0.9068, down 6.10 points; GBP to RMB: 9.4267, up 15.99 points; AUD to RMB: 4.6578, up 53.00 points; NZD to RMB: 4.0655, up 10.00 points; SGD to RMB: 5.4639, up 42.00 points. The Canadian dollar was quoted at 5.1131 against the Chinese yuan, up 5.00 points; the yuan was quoted at 0.5795 against the Malaysian ringgit, down 5.50 points; and the yuan was quoted at 11.3508 against the Russian ruble, down 640.00 points.

09:15:25

The central parity rate of the US dollar against the Chinese yuan was quoted at 7.0550 today, down 33.00 points from 7.0583 in the previous trading day; the US dollar closed at 7.0412 against the onshore yuan yesterday, and the US dollar closed at 7.0325 against the offshore yuan yesterday.

09:15:24

[Trump Says Ukraine Peace Talks "On the Verge of Success," US and Russian Officials to Meet in Miami This Weekend] 1. Ahead of the meeting between US and Russian officials this weekend, US President Trump stated that he believes negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict are "on the verge of some kind of success." A White House official revealed that Trump's special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner plan to meet with the Russian delegation in Miami this weekend to continue pushing for an agreement between Russia and Ukraine to end the conflict. 2. Previously, after US special envoys held talks with Ukrainian and European representatives in Berlin, US officials stated that approximately 90% of the issues between Russia and Ukraine had been agreed upon, with the main differences remaining focused on territorial disputes. The US has proposed providing Ukraine with security guarantees similar to NATO's Article 5 as part of a peace agreement. 3. While Russia has not directly commented on the latest developments, the Kremlin previously stated that although US-Russian relations have been severely damaged, it hopes to gradually repair relations through progress on the Ukraine issue.

09:06:30

Is the US dollar weaker than expected? A massive capital flight masked by the yen's collapse! Details>

09:02:49

[Bank of Japan May Raise Interest Rates Further, Potentially Hitting Nearly 30-Year High] 1. The market widely expects the Bank of Japan to raise interest rates at its monetary policy meeting ending on Friday, increasing the policy rate from the current 0.5% to 0.75%. If this prediction comes true, it will be the Bank of Japan's first rate hike since January of this year, bringing interest rates to their highest level since 1995. 2. This rate hike is seen as another key step by the Bank of Japan in normalizing its monetary policy. Although the adjusted interest rate remains low globally, it signifies that the country is gradually moving away from its long-standing ultra-loose policy environment. Market focus will be on the press conference held by Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda after the decision is announced, to assess the pace and magnitude of future rate hikes. 3. The main background to this policy adjustment is persistent inflation above the 2% target level and a stabilizing wage growth outlook. The Bank of Japan policymakers believe that these two factors will jointly support sustained inflation stability near the target. In addition, recent fluctuations in the yen exchange rate have exacerbated policymakers' concerns about imported inflation, thus reinforcing the necessity of a rate hike. 4. Most economists believe that after this rate hike, the Bank of Japan's policy rate will be closer to its "neutral" economic forecast range. The market expects the central bank not to update its assessment of the neutral interest rate at this meeting, but Kazuo Ueda may reiterate that the central bank is prepared to continue adjusting policy in the future, while avoiding commitments regarding specific timing and magnitude. 5. Surveys show that the market expects the Bank of Japan to raise interest rates to at least 1% by the end of September 2026. Future policy direction will depend closely on the strength of the economic recovery, the sustainability of wage growth, and the evolution of the inflation outlook.

08:50:28

The EU is considering providing Ukraine with loans of up to €90 billion using joint debt.

08:44:06

US President Trump: He will hold a rally and deliver a speech in North Carolina tomorrow.

08:40:29

The Australian dollar has just touched the 103.00 level against the Japanese yen, and is currently trading at 103.00, up 0.17% on the day.

08:32:05

[Trump Officially Signs $901 Billion National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026] 1. US President Trump officially signed the $901 billion National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 on December 18th, local time. The bill had previously been passed by the House of Representatives (December 10th) and the Senate (December 17th with 77 votes in favor and 20 against). Key provisions of the bill include: 2. Increasing the pay of active-duty US military personnel. 3. Supporting the deployment of the National Guard and active-duty troops along the southwestern border to intercept illegal immigrants and drugs. 4. Developing the Golden Dome missile defense system and enhancing military readiness. 5. Providing $400 million in military aid to Ukraine annually for the next two years. 6. Repealing the 2002 congressional resolution authorizing the government to use force against Iraq and lifting sanctions against Syria. 7. Requiring Defense Secretary Hergsays to submit unedited video footage and copies of the operational orders for the September 2nd US military operation in the Caribbean (an attack on an alleged drug trafficking vessel that resulted in the deaths of two survivors). Hegsays previously stated that the full video would be available only to members of the Congressional Armed Services Committee and would not be released to the public.

08:05:07

On December 18 local time, US President Trump signed the $901 billion National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026.

08:02:26

New Zealand's imports in November totaled NZ$7.2 billion; exports totaled NZ$7 billion.

07:56:45

[Poll: More Than Half of Americans Believe President Trump Has Overstepped the Limits of His Head of State Authority] A Quinnipiac University poll shows that more than half of Americans believe President Trump has overstepped the limits of his head of state authority. According to the poll, 54% of respondents believe Trump is overstepping the limits of presidential authority; more than a third (37%) say Trump is acting within the bounds of his authority; and 7% of respondents strongly believe Trump has failed to fully exercise his authority.

07:55:48

Documents show that Thiago da Fonseca Rodrigues, CFO of Vale U.S., has resigned, and Diego Eduardo Garcia will take over the position on February 1.

07:23:59

The U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions on 29 oil tankers and their management companies on Thursday, targeting a so-called "shadow fleet" transporting oil and petroleum products to Iran. The U.S. claims these sanctioned vessels and companies have used deceptive means to transport hundreds of millions of dollars worth of petroleum products to Iran.

07:10:27

[Major US Exchanges: Stock Markets to Open as Scheduled During Christmas, Partial Federal Shutdown] 1. Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange announced on Thursday that US stock markets will open as planned on December 24 (Christmas Eve) and December 26. Hours earlier, US President Trump had ordered the federal government to shut down on these two days. 2. Exchange operators stated that trading will close early at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on December 24, and will resume normal trading hours on December 26. Trump signed an order on Thursday requiring all federal government departments and agencies to cease operations on Christmas Eve and the day after Christmas, with related employees not required to work.

06:56:07

The U.S. Department of Defense announced that the State Department has approved the sale of Stinger missile components and related equipment to NATO Support and Procurement Agency, a transaction estimated to be worth approximately $136.1 million.

06:16:05

[US Treasury Holding Data Released: UK Increases Holdings in October, Canada Sees Significant Volatility] 1. According to the latest International Capital Flows report released by the US Treasury Department, the UK, the second-largest holder of US Treasury bonds, increased its holdings by $13.2 billion in October, bringing its total holdings to $877.9 billion. 2. Meanwhile, Canada, a neighbor of the US, significantly reduced its holdings of US Treasury bonds by $56.7 billion in October, bringing its total holdings down to $419.1 billion. Since the beginning of this year, Canada's US Treasury holdings have shown significant volatility, with monthly changes exceeding $50 billion on multiple occasions. 3. Due to persistent market concerns about potential foreign investors selling off US Treasury bonds, this type of holding data has received widespread attention this year. However, US Treasury Secretary Bessenter has repeatedly refuted claims of a "sell-off of US Treasury bonds."

05:53:07

US President Trump signed an executive order announcing the shutdown of the federal government on December 24 and 26. However, the New York Stock Exchange stated that the trading hours for these two days around Christmas will not change. The exchange had previously moved the closing time of the stock market on December 24 to 1 p.m. and also posted a notice on its website stating that December 26 will be a normal full trading day.

05:45:38

Twenty-five Democratic lawmakers, led by Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and Pennsylvania Representative Madeline Dean, sent a letter to the Commerce Department's Inspector General's office on Thursday, requesting an investigation into Commerce Secretary Andrew Lutnick for allegedly improperly promoting an artificial intelligence data center project to benefit his family members. An investigation last month revealed that Lutnick's official actions since taking office have consistently overlapped with those of his former companies. He previously transferred his role in the Cantor Fitzgerald corporate network to his two sons, and now all four children jointly hold controlling stakes. Furthermore, many of his official actions have intersected with projects of family-affiliated companies. For example, in tariff negotiations with South Korea, he requested billions of dollars in investment from South Korea to support U.S. industries. Cantor and Newmark are also assisting in financing a proposed AI data center in Amarillo, Texas, which is seeking a share of South Korean funding.

05:43:24

North Carolina authorities say former NASCAR driver Gregory Beverly and his family were reportedly on board the plane in a fatal crash that killed seven people.

05:43:22

On December 18 local time, the White House issued a statement saying that President Trump signed an executive order that day, outlining a vision for an "America First" space policy to ensure that the United States "leads the world" in space exploration, security, and commerce. The order calls on Americans to return to the moon by 2028, establish initial facilities for a permanent lunar outpost by 2030, and directs the deployment of nuclear reactors on the moon and in orbit. It also aims to stimulate private sector innovation and investment by upgrading launch infrastructure and developing commercial pathways to replace the International Space Station by 2030. The order directs the President's Science and Technology Advisor to coordinate national space policy efforts and instructs federal departments and agencies to work together to implement the order, including streamlining procurement processes, implementing relevant space security strategies, and ensuring adequate human resources to achieve these goals.

05:41:13

Brazil's Ministry of Finance has approved a state-guaranteed loan of 12 billion reais to the postal service company Correios.

05:05:13

In October, the U.S. long-term securities portfolio saw a net inflow of $17.5 billion.

05:04:09

In October, the United States experienced a net outflow of $37.3 billion in cross-border investment funds.

04:56:32

U.S. money market funds have reached a record $7.67 trillion in assets, according to data released by the ICI.

04:56:29

A week after the release of a study, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) launched an investigation into the AI-based pricing tools of fresh food delivery company Instacart (CART). The study found that Instacart showed different prices to different users for the same list of the exact same items purchased from the same store, with some items having prices that differed by as much as 23% between different users.

04:42:07

The U.S. Treasury Department has issued updated guidance regarding transactions involving Russia's Lukoil company.

04:36:47

Trump Media shares surged 44% in late trading on Thursday after the company unexpectedly announced a merger with U.S. nuclear fusion energy company TAE Technologies.

04:29:18

U.S. Commerce Secretary Rutnick and members of Congress held talks regarding the Section 232 investigation into the semiconductor and pharmaceutical industries.

04:29:16

The US dollar index rose 0.06% on the 18th, closing at 98.425 in late trading. At the close of trading in New York, the euro was worth $1.1725, down from $1.1745 the previous day; the pound sterling was worth $1.3386, up from $1.3378; the dollar was worth 155.52 yen, down from 155.63 yen; the dollar was worth 0.7940 Swiss francs, down from 0.7953 Swiss francs; the dollar was worth 1.3781 Canadian dollars, down from 1.3789 Canadian dollars; and the dollar was worth 9.2846 Swedish krona, down from 9.2984 Swedish krona.

04:03:24

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that could accelerate energy projects, but the Senate intends to make significant changes to the bill.

03:50:48

U.S. Commerce Secretary Lutnick said Trump has a great candidate for Federal Reserve Chairman.

03:49:44

U.S. Commerce Secretary Lutnick said the new Federal Reserve chairman would lower interest rates.

03:48:42

On the 18th local time, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that U.S. President Trump nominated Joshua Rhodes, currently a lieutenant general in the U.S. Army and deputy commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command since September 2024, to be promoted to the rank of general and appointed him as director of the National Security Agency.

03:43:25

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Acceleration Act with enough votes.

03:39:12

US President Trump said he is considering declaring a national emergency on housing, saying he hopes to make it easier for young Americans to buy homes while keeping housing prices stable.

03:15:41

OpenAI and the U.S. Department of Energy are continuing to expand their collaboration in the field of artificial intelligence. OpenAI stated that the agreement is based on its collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy's national laboratories, which is propelling the Genesis mission toward its goal of accelerating scientific discovery.

03:09:33

The U.S. Department of Energy and OpenAI signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in artificial intelligence.

03:08:13

Nvidia announced it will provide services to the U.S. Department of Energy to integrate a discovery platform connecting the U.S. government, business, and academia.

03:08:13

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit against Instacart, accusing the company of deceptive practices. Instacart will pay $60 million in refunds to consumers to settle the lawsuit.

03:06:48

Nvidia announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Department of Energy, which outlines key areas of collaboration aimed at supporting the acceleration of scientific discovery.

03:05:42

The U.S. government will join hands with Nvidia through the "Biodiversity Mission" program to further increase investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure construction and research and development.

03:04:36

The Mexican central bank stated that the ongoing adjustments to the economic policies of the new US administration continue to add uncertainty to economic forecasts.

02:48:23

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says Instacart will pay $60 million in refunds to consumers to settle a lawsuit brought by the FTC against it for allegedly using deceptive tactics.

02:05:56

According to the Federal Reserve, in the week ending December 17, the outstanding balance of unadjusted foreign commercial paper in the United States increased by $1.1 billion, seasonally adjusted outstanding commercial paper increased by $11.2 billion, and the outstanding balance of unadjusted commercial paper increased by $18 billion.

02:05:53

The U.S. Treasury conducted an auction of $24 billion in five-year Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS). The winning bid rate was 1.4330% (1.182% on October 23), and the bid-to-cover ratio was 2.62 (2.51 previously).

02:05:50

According to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, at approximately 10:00 a.m. on the 18th, a commercial aircraft crashed and caught fire while landing at an airport in the Statesville area of North Carolina. Police reported multiple deaths.

02:01:48

Tammo Diemer, co-head of the German Federal Finance Agency, said Germany plans to sell 20-year government bonds with the first issuance scheduled for 2026. This comes after Germany relaxed strict fiscal rules earlier this year in an effort to increase sales by expanding the range of debt products. The German Finance Agency believes that market demand for 20-year bonds is growing, especially given that reforms to the Dutch pension system are expected to dampen market appetite for longer-term bonds, a niche maturity that has previously been met with a lukewarm reception in the United States.

02:01:39

Goldman Sachs expects TTF natural gas prices to reach €29/20 per megawatt-hour (equivalent to $10/$6.85 per million British thermal units) in 2026/27. Given that the TTF forward curve has not yet fully reflected the current bearish LNG cycle, the institution continues to recommend its "global gas surplus trading" strategy, which involves shorting TTF natural gas futures in the third quarter of 2027.

02:01:26

BMW will launch a second round of share buyback program, with the second phase potentially reaching €625 million. The program is scheduled to take place no later than January 2 to August 31 next year.

02:01:24

According to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, a small plane crashed while landing at Staitzville Regional Airport in North Carolina.

02:01:21

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) projects that global sugar production will reach 189.3 million tons in 2025/26, up 4.6% year-on-year.

02:01:12

Following the release of the latest CPI inflation data by the U.S. government on December 18, several economists questioned whether the data was distorted due to the government shutdown. They pointed out that the fact that housing prices, one of the largest components of the CPI, remained essentially flat over two months cast doubt on the entire estimate. Paul Ashworth, chief economist for North America at Capital Economics, stated in a report that "this may indeed reflect a genuine decline in inflationary pressures, but such a sudden stagnation—especially in more sustainable service items such as rents—is highly unusual, at least in a non-recessionary period." He added, "The end result is that we may have to wait until the December data is released next month to verify whether this is a statistical anomaly or a genuine decline in inflation."

01:18:23

A U.S. House committee passed a bill aimed at preventing chaos in the aviation industry during a government shutdown.

01:17:31

Freddie Mac: For the week ending December 18, the average interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage in the United States was 6.21%, slightly lower than the previous week's 6.22%; the average interest rate for a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage was 5.47%.

01:16:31

Amazon, Google, and 24 other companies have officially joined the U.S. "Breakthrough Initiative" for artificial intelligence.

01:07:01

The U.S. Treasury auctioned four-week Treasury notes, with a winning bid of 3.580% and a bid-to-cover ratio of 3.28. It also auctioned eight-week Treasury notes, with a winning bid of 3.585% and a bid-to-cover ratio of 3.01.

01:06:54

The STOXX Europe 600 index closed up 0.91% at 585.09 points. The STOXX Eurozone 50 index closed up 1.06% at 5741.77 points. The FTSE Eurotop 300 index closed up 0.90% at 2331.47 points.

00:51:40

[Strategist: Sterling Rises Partly Due to Market Positioning Ahead of Decision] Convera strategist George Visey noted in a report that the pound rose after the Bank of England narrowly passed its rate cut decision on Thursday, partly due to market positioning prior to the announcement. He stated that a pessimistic sentiment permeated the pound market before the decision, and speculative short positions appeared excessive. He pointed out that the attractive yields of the pound made it easy for the market to be caught off guard by the Bank of England's narrow 5-4 decision to cut rates by 25 basis points to 3.75%. The pound's rise "precisely reflects this market dynamic."

00:34:16

[US Department of Defense Considers Organizational Restructuring] According to a recent report in the Washington Post (December 15), sources revealed that senior officials at the US Department of Defense are developing a plan to downgrade several major US military commands. The report states that if approved, this would be one of the most significant changes to the US military's top power structure in decades. Experts analyze that this restructuring plan by the US Department of Defense is in preparation for a "strategic shift." (CCTV International News)

00:33:30

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary John F. Kennedy has signed a statement clarifying that gender reassignment surgery is not a safe and effective treatment for childhood gender dysphoria.

00:32:16

Canadian Prime Minister Carney: Canada is unlikely to reach an industry-level agreement with the United States, and related negotiations will likely be carried out within the broader framework of the USMCA review.

00:32:06

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney: Canada will continue to support the dairy supply management system. The leaders of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) have set broad standards for the evaluation of the agreement.

00:09:34

The U.S. Treasury will issue $69 billion in two-year Treasury notes, $70 billion in five-year Treasury notes, $44 billion in seven-year Treasury notes, and $28 billion in two-year floating-rate notes (FRNS). It will also auction $75 billion in six-week Treasury notes, $86 billion in three-month Treasury notes, and $50 billion in 52-week Treasury notes.

23:39:16

[Russia Says It Has Not Yet Received a Response from the US to its Proposal to Extend the New START Treaty] On the 18th local time, Russian Armed Forces Chief of the General Staff Gerasimov stated that Russia has not yet received a response from the United States to its proposal to extend the New START Treaty. Gerasimov stated that if the United States resumes nuclear testing, Russia will take "appropriate reciprocal measures." (CCTV News)

23:36:56

【Citigroup: Fed to Cut Rates by a Total of 75 Basis Points in 2026】 (1) Citigroup released a forecast on Thursday, predicting that the Federal Reserve (Fed) will implement a 25 basis point rate cut in September 2026. (2) The well-known Wall Street brokerage pointed out: "We have included the expectation of another 25 basis point cut in September in our forecast framework, mainly based on two core premises: first, we expect the labor market data to be weak during the summer, and second, this also reflects that the Fed has more room for rate cuts under the new chairman." (3) Citigroup currently maintains its previous judgment that the Fed will implement rate cuts in January and March 2026, and on this basis, it has raised its full-year rate cut expectation to 75 basis points.

23:33:27

The United States has updated its sanctions list targeting Russia.

23:33:24

The U.S. Department of Commerce: Personal income data for July, August, and September will be updated in conjunction with the preliminary estimate of third-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) to be released on December 23.

23:33:24

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis will release its third-quarter GDP report on December 23, along with PCE data for July-September.

23:31:12

[Lagarde: Eurozone Inflation Likely to Fall in the Short Term] European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde stated that inflation is highly likely to decline in the short term, primarily as the impact of previous energy price increases will gradually fade from year-on-year data. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, she said, "The uncertainty surrounding the inflation outlook is higher than usual due to the continued volatility in the international environment."

23:30:30

[US Trade Representative: EU May Face Section 301 Investigation Over Digital Trade Issues] US Trade Representative Jamison Greer stated, "We have investigative tools like Section 301, which are designed to facilitate negotiations and reach an agreement." His statement suggests that the US may initiate a Section 301 investigation against the EU. An investigation conducted under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 would allow the US government to take trade remedy measures, including imposing tariffs.

23:14:06

[The pound's relief rally following the Bank of England's decision may be short-lived] ING analysts said in a report that the pound's relief rally following the Bank of England's narrow 5-4 vote to cut interest rates on Thursday may be short-lived. They stated that the euro should remain above 0.87 against the pound, given the possibility of two more rate cuts by the Bank of England next year. "We see no reason to change our forecast that the euro will rise moderately towards 0.90 by the end of 2026, with some additional upside risks around the UK local elections in May," they said. However, they added that the pound could rise against a weaker dollar, reaching $1.35 by the end of the year and $1.36 in 2026.

23:06:28

[US Pending Home Sales Drop Nearly 6% as Buyers Hesitant] Redfin reported that pending home sales in the US fell 5.8% year-over-year in the four weeks ending December 14, the largest drop since early 2025. Looking at metropolitan areas, all but six of the 50 most populous metropolitan areas saw a decline in pending home sales, with San Jose experiencing the largest drop at 35.1%, followed by Houston at 20.9% and Oakland at 17.6%. The average time to finalize a sale for a US home is 52 days, about a week longer than last year. Redfin stated that homebuyers are hesitant this holiday season due to persistently high mortgage rates above 6% and rising home prices, deterring many potential buyers. Weak demand is also causing potential sellers to remain on the sidelines. New listings fell 3.1% year-over-year, the largest drop in over two years.

22:50:03

Shares of U.S.-listed cannabis companies rose across the board, fueled by expectations that President Trump would deliver a speech on Thursday regarding easing cannabis regulations. Canopy Growth shares jumped 11.5%, Tilray Brands rose 9%, Cronos Group gained 3.6%, and SNDL climbed 4.5%.

22:49:14

[White House Advisor Welcomes Lower-than-Expected Inflation Data] White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett praised the CPI data on Thursday, saying the U.S. economy is currently showing a positive trend of high growth and low inflation. He stated, "I'm not saying we're declaring victory on the price issue, but this is just a surprisingly good consumer price index report." He also mentioned that current wage growth is outpacing price increases, and people can expect to receive large tax refunds next year.

22:48:22

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde: The digital euro has become crucial for the European Council and the European Parliament. A significant moment is approaching for the digital euro.

22:48:11

[Strategist: Diverging US and European Monetary Policies and Interest Rate Differentials May Boost EUR/USD to 2026] Audrey Child-Freeman, Head of FX Strategy, stated that US November inflation data again pressured the dollar, as discussions about a Fed rate cut are expected to continue until at least January. "This contrasts sharply with the ECB's current inaction and the potential completion of its easing measures. This aligns with our view that the relative yield differential between the US and Europe will drive the euro/dollar exchange rate higher through 2026."

22:47:26

White House National Economic Council Director Hassett: The Federal Reserve needs to increase its transparency to 100%.

22:47:11

White House National Economic Council Director Hassett: The Federal Reserve has a lot of room to cut interest rates.

22:47:06

White House National Economic Council Director Hassett: We can reward states that make it easier for people to build new homes.

22:47:05

White House National Economic Council Director Hassett: We can do a lot through regulatory means.

22:45:33

Apple Announces Significant Reduction of "Apple Tax" in Japan, Opens Third-Party App Stores and Payment Channels for iPhones! Experts: China is Treated Differently, with Commission Rates Higher Than in the US, EU, Japan, and South Korea. On December 17th, Apple announced on its official website that, in order to comply with Japan's "Specific Smartphone Software Competition Promotion Law," it has opened third-party app stores and external payment channels for iPhones in the Japanese market. This marks Japan as the first Asian country to break Apple's dual monopoly on in-app purchases (IAP) and app distribution through the App Store. Previously, Apple had requested the opening of third-party payments and a reduction in fees based on relevant South Korean regulations, but did not allow services such as third-party app store downloads. Currently, among Apple's four core global markets (the US, EU, China, and Japan), only China remains subject to Apple's dual monopoly; furthermore, China remains one of the countries with the highest commission rates for Apple's in-app transactions globally.

22:44:51

White House National Economic Council Director Hassett: Major announcements are expected regarding housing reform.

22:44:34

White House National Economic Council Director Hassett: A large meeting on housing issues will be held tomorrow.

22:42:02

[US November CPI Lower Than Expected, Major Stock Indexes Open Higher] US stocks opened higher, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 0.58%, the S&P 500 up 0.98%, and the Nasdaq Composite up 1.45%. Trump Media Technologies opened 22.3% higher after reports that the company will merge with nuclear fusion company TAE Technology in an all-stock transaction. The merged company plans to begin site selection and construction of fusion power plants in 2026. Micron Technology rose 12.58% after the company's revenue guidance far exceeded expectations.

22:33:23

On December 18 local time, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated at a briefing that the process of normalizing relations between Russia and the United States was "not smooth." She indicated that Moscow's willingness to engage in pragmatic dialogue aligns with the wishes of the current US administration. Zakharova also emphasized that the deployment of Western troops in Ukraine, in whatever form, is unacceptable to Russia, and that such personnel will become "legitimate targets" of Russian military action.

22:32:56

White House National Economic Council Director Hassett: Prices are rising slower than wages, and taxpayers will receive large tax refunds.

22:32:55

White House National Economic Council Director Hassett: The CPI report is a "bombshell," and its positive impact is astonishing.

22:32:55

White House National Economic Council Director Hassett: A large-scale tax refund cycle is coming.

22:31:21

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde: We are closely monitoring the situation regarding the appreciation of the euro.

22:19:43

ASML Holding Company: committed €93 million to public infrastructure development aimed at improving accessibility in the "Smart Port" area.