Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Closes Unchanged Amid Mixed Global Signals 
Asian Currencies Hold Firm as Dollar Rebounds on Fed Chair Nomination Hopes 
U.S.–Venezuela Relations Show Signs of Thaw as Top Envoy Visits Caracas 
Starmer’s China Visit Highlights Western Balancing Act Amid U.S.-China Rivalry 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Markets Brace for Big Tech Earnings and Key Data 
U.S. Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Boost American Investment After Maduro Ouster 
Gold and Silver Prices Plunge as Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair 
UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
BOJ Policymakers Warn Weak Yen Could Fuel Inflation Risks and Delay Rate Action 
Oil Prices Slide Nearly 3% as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Geopolitical Tensions 
South Korea Exports Surge in January on AI Chip Demand, Marking Fastest Growth in 4.5 Years 
U.S. Government Faces Brief Shutdown as Congress Delays Funding Deal 
India Budget 2026: Modi Government Eyes Reforms Amid Global Uncertainty and Fiscal Pressures 
JPMorgan Lifts Gold Price Forecast to $6,300 by End-2026 on Strong Central Bank and Investor Demand 
Asian Markets Slide as Silver Volatility, Earnings Season, and Central Bank Meetings Rattle Investors 
IMF Forecasts Global Inflation Decline as Growth Remains Resilient 
Philippines Manufacturing PMI Hits Nine-Month High Despite Weak Confidence Outlook 
China’s industrial sector saw a notable rebound in August, with profits rising 20.4% year-on-year, reversing a 1.5% decline recorded in July, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). This turnaround marked the strongest monthly growth in nearly a year. For the first eight months of 2024, overall industrial profits grew 0.9%, compared to a 1.7% drop in the January–July period. Despite the improvement, concerns over weak domestic demand and broader economic headwinds continue to weigh on the outlook.
The profit recovery comes as Beijing intensified efforts to curb excessive price competition, particularly in high-profile industries like automobiles and solar energy, where aggressive discounting had eroded margins. Electric vehicle giant BYD, for instance, reported its first quarterly profit decline in three-and-a-half years, highlighting the impact of relentless price wars across the sector. Policymakers’ crackdown on such practices has eased producer deflation, with factory-gate prices showing smaller declines in recent months.
Still, structural challenges persist. China’s housing downturn, sluggish labor market, and weak consumer sentiment have limited demand recovery. In August, both factory output and retail sales grew at their slowest pace since last year, signaling that businesses remain cautious despite short-term profitability gains.
State-owned enterprises underperformed, with profits falling 1.7% in the January–August period, while private firms posted a 3.3% increase. Foreign companies also registered modest growth, with profits up 0.9%. Analysts suggest that while selective policy support is helping stabilize margins, the absence of large-scale stimulus reflects Beijing’s caution about stoking financial risks or overheating equity markets.
Global monetary policy shifts could provide some relief. If the U.S. Federal Reserve continues rate cuts, the People’s Bank of China may gain flexibility to ease its own policies without triggering capital flight or sharp yuan depreciation.
Industrial profit figures track companies with annual revenues above 20 million yuan ($2.81 million). As China seeks to balance growth with financial stability, August’s rebound offers cautious optimism but underscores the fragility of its recovery.
