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China's Central Bank Halts Bond Purchases Amid Currency Concerns

China's central bank has halted its purchases of treasury bonds, triggering a rise in yields and fueling speculation that the move is intended to defend the weakening yuan, Reuters reports. The People's Bank of China (PBOC) attributed the suspension to a shortage of bonds in the

Bank of England Deputy Governor Backs Gradual Interest Rate Cuts

In a speech at the University of Edinburgh, Bank of England Deputy Governor Sarah Breeden signaled support for gradual interest rate cuts, Reuters reports. While she acknowledged the need for easing monetary policy, she also emphasized the uncertainty surrounding the appropriate pace of rate reductions. "The recent evidence further

Japanese Household Spending Stagnates as Inflation Bites

Japanese household spending showed signs of improvement in November, though the broader consumption trend remains soft, Reuters reports, citing government data released Friday. The trend is attributed to persistent inflationary pressures. Consumer spending decreased by 0.4% year-on-year, slightly better than the anticipated 0.6% decline. However, on a seasonally

Country Garden Proposes $11.6 Billion Debt Reduction Deal

Country Garden, once China's largest property developer, has proposed a deal to its offshore creditors that would slash its debt by $11.6 billion, Reuters reports. This move aims to secure more time from the Hong Kong high court to implement a restructuring plan. The deal, reached with

Australian Retail Sales Growth Stalls, Fueling Rate Cut Expectations

Australian retail sales growth slowed in November, increasing by less than expected despite pre-Christmas and Black Friday discounts, Bloomberg reports. This underscores the cautious consumer sentiment and strengthens the case for an interest rate cut in the near future. Retail sales rose 0.8% month-over-month, falling short of the projected

China's Inflation Nears Zero Despite Stimulus Efforts

China's consumer inflation weakened further in December, ending the year near zero and extending a four-month deceleration, Bloomberg reports. This setback dampens the impact of government stimulus aimed at combating deflation and boosting demand. The consumer price index (CPI) rose just 0.1% year-on-year, matching the median forecast

Japan's Strongest Wage Growth in 32 Years Could Fuel BOJ Rate Hike

Japanese workers saw their base salaries increase at the fastest pace in three decades, a development that could encourage the Bank of Japan (BOJ) to raise interest rates later this month, Bloomberg reports. The labor ministry reported Thursday that base salaries rose 2.7% year-on-year in November, driving nominal wages

Brazil's Industrial Output Suffers Second Consecutive Monthly Decline

Brazil's industrial sector experienced its second consecutive monthly decline in November, according to data released Wednesday and reported by Reuters. This indicates a potential cooling of the economy as the central bank implements a restrictive monetary policy to combat inflation. Industrial production decreased by 0.6% in November

Equinor Extends Norway LNG Outage by 10 Days

Equinor has extended the outage at its Hammerfest LNG plant in Norway by 10 days, Reuters reports. The plant, also known as Melkoeya LNG, is Europe's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility, and the outage is expected to last until January 19. The company initially announced on

Cocoa Plunges as Exchange Curbs Volatility

Cocoa prices tumbled to their lowest point in over a week, with the most-active contract shedding nearly 5% in London. Bloomberg reports that traders are adjusting their positions in response to new measures implemented by Intercontinental Exchange Inc. (ICE) to curb market volatility. ICE Futures Europe on Tuesday lowered the