U.S. Government Faces Brief Shutdown as Congress Delays Funding Deal 
Wall Street Slips as Tech Stocks Slide on AI Spending Fears and Earnings Concerns 
Philippine Economy Slows in Late 2025, Raising Expectations of Further Rate Cuts 
Why Trump’s new pick for Fed chair hit gold and silver markets – for good reasons 
Asian Currencies Trade Flat as Dollar Retreats After Fed Decision 
Trump Threatens 50% Tariff on Canadian Aircraft Amid Escalating U.S.-Canada Trade Dispute 
Canada’s Trade Deficit Jumps in November as Exports Slide and Firms Diversify Away From U.S. 
U.S.–Venezuela Relations Show Signs of Thaw as Top Envoy Visits Caracas 
Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Closes Unchanged Amid Mixed Global Signals 
Oil Prices Hit Four-Month High as Geopolitical Risks and Supply Disruptions Intensify 
Gold and Silver Prices Plunge as Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair 
Asia Stocks Pause as Tech Earnings, Fed Signals, and Dollar Weakness Drive Markets 
Gold Prices Pull Back After Record Highs as January Rally Remains Strong 
China Home Prices Rise in January as Government Signals Stronger Support for Property Market 
Wall Street Slides as Warsh Fed Nomination, Hot Inflation, and Precious Metals Rout Shake Markets 
South Korea Exports Surge in January on AI Chip Demand, Marking Fastest Growth in 4.5 Years 
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.
