Nidec Stock Rises After Accounting Probe Report Eases Delisting Concerns 
FDA Fast-Track Drug Reviews Delayed Over Safety and Efficacy Concerns 
Japan Inflation Expectations Rise as BOJ Rate Hike Timing Faces Uncertainty 
UK Wage Growth Slows to 3.6% as Inflation Pressures Complicate Bank of England Outlook 
J.P. Morgan Downgrades Essity AB on Rising Costs and Weak Earnings Outlook 
Oil Prices Slip Amid Iran Ceasefire Extension, Hormuz Disruptions Keep Markets Tense 
Oil Prices Surge Amid U.S.-Iran Tensions and Strait of Hormuz Disruptions 
Asian Stocks Rise on AI Optimism and Iran Peace Talk Hopes 
Moderna to Pay Up to $2.25B to Settle LNP Patent Dispute Over COVID-19 Vaccine Technology 
Eli Lilly and Insilico Medicine Forge $2.75 Billion AI-Driven Drug Discovery Deal 
US-Iran Peace Talks Fuel Market Optimism Amid Ongoing Tensions 
The four types of dementia most people don’t know exist 
Indonesia and Toyota Explore $300M Bioethanol Investment to Boost Renewable Energy Goals 
Asian Currencies Slip as Dollar Gains Safe-Haven Strength Amid U.S.-Iran Tensions 
Novo Nordisk Warns of Profit Decline as Wegovy Faces U.S. Price Pressure and Rising Competition 
Weight-Loss Drug Ads Take Over the Super Bowl as Pharma Embraces Direct-to-Consumer Marketing 
China's manufacturing activity contracted sharply in December for the third month in a row, according to Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI)
The coutry’s PMI came in at 47 points, down from November's 48 and well below the 50-point mark separating growth from contraction, despite China loosening COVID restrictions at the beginning of the month.
For over two years, China had imposed a zero-COVID strategy with strict quarantines, lockdowns, and mass testing that led to unannounced plant closures, disrupted supply chains, and forced permanent company closures.
China abruptly loosened pandemic restrictions on December 7, but the country is still struggling to recover due to a surge in COVID cases.
NBS senior statistician Zhao Qinghe noted that the pandemic has had a significant impact on business production and demand, staff presence, logistics, and distribution.
The index has not been in positive territory since September, and December's figure was lower than the 47.8 reading predicted by Bloomberg analysts.
For its part, the non-manufacturing PMI -- which includes the services and construction sectors -- also contracted further this month, to 41.6 points from 46.7 in November.
