cryptocurrency and blockchain explained Featured

Analyst: Britain's economic contraction for the second consecutive month sounded the alarm. AJ Bell analyst Danni Hewson said in a report that one month's data can't tell the whole story, but when the British economy contracted for two consecutive months-just like September and October-it is worthy of attention. The last time the economy contracted for two consecutive months was during the first pandemic blockade in 2020. She said that the uncertainty before the government budget may lead individuals and businesses to avoid spending for fear of possible tax increases. Bars, restaurants and art industries were hit hard in October. Hewson said that such discretionary expenses can be easily cut. In addition, looking back over the past six months, except August, the economic activity in each month was flat or decreased.UBS raised the target price of Broadcom from $200 to $220.Wen Bin, chief economist of Minsheng Bank: The "scissors gap" between M2 and M1 continues to narrow, reflecting the positive trend of the economy. "The total financial volume has grown steadily, and the liquidity is reasonable and abundant, which has maintained strong support for the real economy." Wen Bin, chief economist of China Minsheng Bank, believes that the year-on-year growth rate of narrow money (M1) balance rebounded in November compared with last month, and the "scissors gap" between M2 and M1 continued to narrow, reflecting the positive economic trend. Wen Bin introduced that the medium and long-term loans of households in China are mainly personal housing mortgage loans. With the real estate financial policy taking effect, the phenomenon of early repayment of personal loans has been significantly reduced, and personal loans will continue to stabilize and rebound. The recent improvement of commercial housing transaction data and financial data confirms each other, and the confidence of the real estate market and residents is further enhanced.

Bosch has reached a preliminary agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce, and will receive a chip subsidy of 225 million U.S. dollars. On December 13, local time, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced that it has reached a preliminary agreement with Bosch, a German auto parts supplier, to provide it with a subsidy of up to 225 million U.S. dollars for producing silicon carbide power semiconductors in California. This fund will support Bosch's planned investment of $1.9 billion to transform its manufacturing plant in Roseveare, California to produce silicon carbide (SiC) power semiconductors. The US Department of Commerce will also provide Bosch with about $350 million in government loans.The Nasdaq 100 index rose 1% and the S&P 500 index rose 0.4%.Hokkaido, Japan will levy accommodation tax from 2026, and it is estimated that the annual tax revenue will reach 4.5 billion yen. On December 12, the plenary session of Hokkaido Parliament of Japan passed a regulation to levy accommodation tax on tourists staying in hotels and hotels in Daodao, which is expected to be implemented from April 2026. The accommodation fee per person per night is 500 yen if it is above 50,000 yen (about 2,380 yuan), 200 yen if it is between 20,000 and 50,000 yen, and 100 yen if it is below 20,000 yen. It is estimated that the annual tax revenue will reach about 4.5 billion yen, which will be used for transportation infrastructure construction and "excessive tourism" (tourism pollution) countermeasures.

Increase the countercyclical adjustment of macro policies. A series of reform measures will be introduced next year. From the national development and reform work conference held by the National Development and Reform Commission, we learned that in order to fully implement the spirit of the Central Economic Work Conference, we will increase the countercyclical adjustment of macro policies next year, and solidly promote economic stability, structural improvement and development trend. The relevant person in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission said that a more active and promising macro policy will be implemented next year to enhance the consistency of macro policy orientation.Ministry of Commerce: Innovate diversified consumption scenarios, expand service consumption, and actively develop the starting economy. On December 13, Wang Wentao, Party Secretary and Minister of the Ministry of Commerce, presided over a special meeting of the party group to convey the spirit of studying the Central Economic Work Conference, and study and deploy the implementation work. The meeting stressed that it is necessary to vigorously boost consumption. We will intensify efforts to expand the scope, implement the trade-in policy for consumer goods, innovate diversified consumption scenarios, expand service consumption, and actively develop the first-round economy. It is necessary to expand high-level opening to the outside world and stabilize foreign trade and foreign investment. We will expand independent opening and unilateral opening in an orderly manner, steadily expand institutional opening, and promote the free trade pilot zone to improve quality and efficiency and expand the reform mandate. Efforts should be made to stabilize trade in goods and actively develop service trade, green trade and digital trade. We will deepen the reform of foreign investment promotion system and mechanism, steadily push forward the opening of service industry, expand the pilot projects in the fields of telecommunications, medical care and education, and continue to build the brand of "Investing in China". Promote high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road", deepen and implement, and improve the overseas comprehensive service system.Dow opened up 0.1%, S&P 500 rose 0.3%, Nasdaq rose 0.5%, Broadcom rose 18.7%, and Q4 AI revenue increased 220% year-on-year. Furniture retailer RH rose 15.8% and raised its performance forecast. EVgo rose by 9.0% and was supported by a loan of $1.25 billion from the US Department of Energy. Xpeng Motors fell 3.8% and was downgraded to "sell" by UBS.