Japan Signals Preference for Low Interest Rates as BOJ Policy Debate Intensifies 
Gold Prices Rise Above $4,000 as Inflation Data and Weaker Dollar Boost Demand 
Australia Jobs Growth Strengthens Rate Hike Outlook 
SpaceX Eyes Starlink Mobile Phone Service to Challenge Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile 
Bessent Says U.S. Must Strengthen Supply Chains and Economic Security 
BOJ Hawk Signals Faster Interest Rate Hikes Amid Inflation Risks 
Asian Stocks Sink as Apple Price Hikes Spark AI Valuation Fears, South Korea and Japan Lead Selloff 
Iran Attack in Strait of Hormuz Pushes Oil Prices Higher 
Asian Currencies Trade Mixed as Yen Hovers Near 40-Year Low, Dollar Holds Firm on Fed Outlook 
There is more good news from China on better than expected exports for December, showing that the devaluation of the CNY (aka Chinese Yuan) is working. China's exports grew in CNY terms but fell marginally -1.8 percent in dollar terms, but this was far better than the -8 percent expected. This is hardly great news but despite this China managed to increase its share of global trade and the news has helped oil prices bounce.
According to China's General Administration of Customs full year exports fell -1.8 percent and its imports fell -14.1 percent, but its trade surplus surged to $594.5 billion from $382 billion in 2014.
"China continues to diverge from the Fed with its extraordinary monetary easing and the impact takes time. Meanwhile, Eurozone industrial production disappointingly decreased by -0.7 percent month-over-month in November with a 1.1 percent year-over-year increase", says Voya Global Perspective.
