News

Ukrainian President Zelensky: Appointed Canadian MP Freeland (Ukrainian origin) as economic development adviser.

Southbound funds made a substantial net purchase of 18.723 billion yuan today. In terms of Southbound Connect (Shanghai), Tracker Fund and Xiaomi Group-W received net purchases of HK$5.272 billion and HK$602 million respectively; Tencent Holdings ranked first in net sales, amounting to HK$438 million; in terms of Southbound Connect (Shenzhen), Tracker Fund and Kuaishou-W received net purchases of HK$1.554 billion and HK$1.154 billion respectively; Tencent Holdings ranked first in net sales, amounting to HK$481 million.

The annual rate of M4 money supply in the UK in November was 4.3%, compared with the previous value of 3.50%.

The Bank of England's consumer credit in November was 2.077 billion pounds, which was expected to be 1.1 billion pounds. The previous value was revised from 1.119 billion pounds to 1.713 billion pounds.

The monthly rate of M4 money supply in the UK in November was 0.8%, compared with the previous value of -0.20%.

The Bank of England's mortgage loans in November were 4.49 billion pounds, compared with the expected 4.5 billion pounds. The previous value was revised from 4.273 billion pounds to 4.156 billion pounds.

The Bank of England approved 64,530 mortgage loans in November, compared with the expected 64,400. The previous value was revised from 65,018 to 65,010.

Russian Ministry of Defense: The Ministry of Defense carried out strikes against Ukrainian defense industry enterprises, military airports, drone production workshops, and Ukrainian Armed Forces drone operator training centers.

The Eurozone's Sentix investor confidence index in January and the UK's central bank's mortgage loan approval in November will be released in ten minutes.

Russian Defense Ministry: Russian troops have taken control of the Hrabovske region in eastern Ukraine.

U.S. precious metal miners rose before the market opened. Kinross Gold (KGC.N) rose 2%, AngloGold rose 1.4%, and Barrick Gold (GOLD.N) and Newmont Mining (NEM.N) both rose more than 2%.

U.S. oil stocks were stronger before the market opened, with Chevron (CVX.N) up about 9%, ConocoPhillips (COP.N) up 8.6%, Halliburton (HAL.N) up 11.25%, and Schlumberger (SLB.N) up 10.7%.

Switzerland's SVME Purchasing Managers' Index in December was 45.8, compared with the previous value of 49.7.

Hong Kong stocks closed at the close, with the Hang Seng Index closing up 0.03% and the Stock Exchange Index closing up 0.09%. Kuaishou (01024.HK) rose by more than 11%, NIO (09866.HK) fell by about 6%, and Xpeng Motors (09868.HK) fell by more than 4%.

The European Stoxx Basic Resources Index rose 1.76%, hitting a two-year high.

The actual annual retail sales rate in Switzerland in November was 2.3%, compared with the previous value of 2.70%.

Switzerland's real retail sales for November will be released in ten minutes.

Alstom has been awarded three contracts with a total value of approximately 2.5 billion euros.

Alstom: A contract to supply railway vehicles to a customer in the Americas, worth approximately 1.4 billion euros.

Acting President of Venezuela: Invites the U.S. government to coordinate on the cooperation agenda; hopes to prioritize the establishment of balanced and mutually respectful international relations with the United States.