Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Oil Prices Slip as U.S.–Iran Talks Ease Supply Disruption Fears 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
Asian Markets Slip as AI Spending Fears Shake Tech, Wall Street Futures Rebound 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
China’s economic momentum showed further signs of strain in November as key indicators pointed to slower growth in industrial output and a sharper-than-expected slowdown in consumer spending, according to official data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Monday. The figures highlight ongoing challenges facing the world’s second-largest economy amid fragile domestic demand and a prolonged property sector downturn.
Industrial output, a major measure of manufacturing and production activity, increased by 4.8% year-on-year in November. While still reflecting moderate growth, this marked a slight deceleration from October’s 4.9% rise and fell short of the 5.0% increase forecast by economists surveyed by Reuters. The weaker-than-expected industrial performance suggests that factory activity remains under pressure despite policy support measures aimed at stabilizing growth.
Retail sales, widely viewed as a key indicator of household consumption, slowed more sharply. Sales grew just 1.3% year-on-year in November, down from a 2.9% expansion in October and well below market expectations of a 2.8% increase. The slowdown underscores persistent caution among Chinese consumers, who continue to rein in spending due to concerns over income growth, employment prospects, and falling property values.
Adding to the mixed economic picture, fixed asset investment declined by 2.6% in the January-to-November period compared with the same period a year earlier. This represented a deeper contraction than the 1.7% decline recorded in the January-to-October period and was slightly worse than the 2.3% drop anticipated by analysts. Weak investment reflects subdued activity in infrastructure, manufacturing, and especially real estate, which remains a major drag on economic growth.
Together, the latest China economic data suggest that while industrial production is holding up modestly, domestic demand and investment remain fragile. The figures are likely to reinforce expectations that policymakers may need to introduce additional stimulus measures to support growth and boost confidence in the months ahead, as China navigates a challenging global and domestic economic environment.
