Spot gold hit $2,700 per ounce, down 0.65% in the day. COMEX gold futures fell more than 1.00% in the day and are now quoted at $2,729.00 per ounce.Government statement: British Prime Minister Stamer will attend the informal meeting of EU leaders in Brussels on February 3rd.Central Economic Work Conference: Enhance people's sense of happiness and security, and implement employment support programs for key areas, key industries, urban and rural grassroots and small and medium-sized enterprises. The Central Economic Work Conference was held in Beijing from December 11 to 12. The meeting stressed that efforts should be made to ensure and improve people's livelihood and enhance people's sense of happiness and security. Implement employment support plans for key areas, key industries, urban and rural grassroots and small and medium-sized enterprises to promote the employment of key groups. Strengthen the protection of workers' rights and interests in flexible employment and new employment forms. We will implement policies to help industries and employment, ensure that large-scale return to poverty does not occur, and ensure the basic livelihood of people in need. Promote the high-quality and balanced development of compulsory education and solidly promote the expansion of high-quality undergraduate courses. Implement the medical and health foundation project and formulate policies to promote fertility. Develop community-supported home-based care for the aged and expand inclusive care for the aged. Adhere to and develop the "Fengqiao experience" in the new era and strengthen the public security system. (Xinhua News Agency)
European Central Bank President Lagarde: Reiterating the European Central Bank policy statement.Government statement: British Prime Minister Stamer will attend the informal meeting of EU leaders in Brussels on February 3rd.The US dollar just broke through the 7.2700 yuan mark against the offshore RMB, and the latest report was 7.2689 yuan, down 0.12% in the day; The US dollar against the onshore RMB was recently reported at 7.2688 yuan, up 0.10% in the day.
NATO Secretary General Rutte: We will need to spend far more than 2% of GDP on national defense.The rise in food prices has pushed the wholesale inflation in the United States to accelerate unexpectedly. The prospect of interest rate cuts next year is uncertain. The wholesale inflation rate in the United States unexpectedly rose in November, and the soaring egg price masked the moderate impact of price increases in other regions. According to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Thursday, the producer price index (PPI) rose by 0.4% month-on-month, the biggest increase since June, and economists surveyed by Bloomberg expected a median of 0.2%. PPI increased by 3% compared with the same period of last year, the biggest increase since the beginning of 2023. The core PPI excluding food and energy increased by 0.2% from the previous month and 3.4% from the same period of last year. The CPI report released on Wednesday showed that the core inflation rate in the United States remained firm for the fourth consecutive month. This series of data brought uncertainty to the outlook of prices and interest rates next year, especially when Trump threatened to raise import tariffs after taking office. Economists pay close attention to the PPI report because several of its breakdown data will affect the personal consumption expenditure price index (PCE) that the Federal Reserve is concerned about. Although PCE data will not be released before the Fed policy meeting next week, central bank officials will have a good understanding of the data according to CPI and PPI reports. The market generally expects the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates by 25 basis points next week, but the pace of interest rate cuts is expected to slow down next year.European Central Bank President Lagarde: The decline in corporate profit margins is due to the increase in the cost of absorbing labor. European Central Bank President Lagarde: It is observed that corporate profit margins have declined. Inflation risk is not a two-way street. The prospect of economic productivity is improving. The decline in profit margin is due to the increase in the cost of absorbing labor.