Overnight stock market
On Thursday Eastern Time, the three major indexes of the US stock market collectively closed down, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling 0.53%, the Nasdaq falling 0.66%, and the S&P 500 index falling 0.54%.
The Nasdaq China Golden Dragon Index closed up 0.18%, with popular Chinese concept stocks experiencing mixed performance. Tencent Music rose over 2%, while Pinduoduo and Baidu rose over 1%. In terms of decline, iQiyi and Youdao fell more than 2%, while NIO fell more than 1%.
The three major European stock indexes closed with mixed gains and losses, with the German DAX30 index rising 0.13% to 20426.27 points; The FTSE 100 index in the UK rose 0.12% to 8311.76 points; The French CAC40 index fell 0.03% to 7420.94 points.
Commodity Market
WTI January crude oil futures closed down $0.27, or 0.38%, at $70.02 per barrel. Brent crude oil futures for February closed down $0.11, or 0.15%, at $73.41 per barrel. NYMEX's January natural gas futures closed up 2.28% at $3.4550 per million British thermal units.
International precious metal futures closed sharply lower, with COMEX gold futures falling 1.87% to $2705.2 per ounce and COMEX silver futures falling 4.25% to $31.565 per ounce.
Market News
Military officials: preparing for possible attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities
Israeli military officials stated on the 12th local time that as Iran's proxy group in the Middle East weakens and the Assad regime in Syria steps down, the Israeli Air Force is preparing for possible attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities. The Israeli military believes that an isolated Iran may further advance its nuclear program. Currently, the Israeli Air Force has destroyed the vast majority of Syria's air defense systems and believes there is an opportunity to launch an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities.
White House: Biden approves another aid plan to Ukraine, which will provide more air defense systems, etc
John Kirby, the Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the White House National Security Council, stated at a White House briefing that President Biden approved a new Ukraine security assistance plan on the 12th, which will provide Ukraine with more air defense systems, artillery, drones, and armored vehicles. Kirby said that this is the 72nd such material allocation aid announced by the United States, and the United States will continue to provide additional aid packages until the end of this administration.
Guterres: It is necessary to support Syria's credible, orderly, and inclusive transition arrangements
UN Secretary General Guterres expressed deep concern over the widespread violations of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity in recent times through a spokesperson. The statement specifically mentioned Israel's hundreds of airstrikes on Syria and stated that there is an urgent need to alleviate violence in all aspects of Syria. Guterres said that the 1974 Agreement on Separation of Forces is still valid, and he condemned all actions inconsistent with the agreement, calling on the parties to the agreement to fulfill their obligations, including ending all unauthorized presence in the quarantine zone. The statement emphasizes that while maintaining public order, it is necessary to support Syria's credible, orderly, and inclusive transitional arrangements.
Google and Samsung collaborate to develop the first headset device, expected to be launched next year
On Thursday Eastern Time, tech giant Google released a new version of its Android XR operating system, aimed at providing various natural interaction methods for headsets and smart glasses, enhancing users' experiences in the fields of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). It is reported that Android XR is a new operating system built specifically for next-generation computing, jointly developed by Google and Samsung. It will allow users to interact with VR applications and the real world through voice, motion control, and eye tracking. The first head mounted device based on the Android XR operating system is codenamed Project Moohan, which means "infinite" in Korean and is manufactured by Samsung. This device looks like a hybrid of Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest 3S.
Apple reportedly begins production of a key wireless chip currently provided by Broadcom next year
Apple's ambition to use self-developed components on its devices will include a shift to using its own developed Bluetooth and Wi Fi connectivity chips starting next year, which will replace some of the components currently provided by Broadcom. According to informed sources, this chip, codenamed Proxima, has been under development for several years and is now planned to start its first production in 2025. Like other self-developed chips by Apple, Proxima will be produced by its partner TSMC. This plan is independent of Apple's highly anticipated plan to replace Qualcomm wireless modems, but these two parts will ultimately work together. Insiders say that Apple's goal is to develop an end-to-end wireless solution that is tightly integrated with other components and more energy-efficient. Due to the fact that the relevant plan has not yet been announced, informed sources requested anonymity. Representatives from Apple and Broadcom declined to comment.
Texas Congressman Proposes to Establish Strategic Bitcoin Reserve
Republican Texas Congressman Giovanni Capriglione proposed legislation on Thursday aimed at establishing a strategic Bitcoin reserve. The bill will allow the state to collect taxes, fees, and donations in the form of Bitcoin and hold these bitcoins for at least five years. Giovanni described it as a hedge against inflation. This proposal does not provide a detailed plan for directly purchasing Bitcoin.
Trump: To me, the stock market is everything
US President elect Trump rang the opening bell on Thursday at the New York Stock Exchange, where he was named the 2024 Person of the Year by Time magazine. After ringing the bell, Trump said in an interview, "If you don't produce (goods) here (in the United States), you have to pay a 21% tax. If you produce here, we will work hard to lower the tax rate to 15%, and you must produce your products in the United States." Trump also attributed the nearly rising stock market to defeating Biden, "I have always said that for me, the stock market is everything. This is very important." He also revealed that after returning to the White House, he will establish closer ties with some of the richest and most influential people.
The US House of Representatives passes bill to add 66 federal judges across the United States
The US House of Representatives passed a bill with 236 votes in favor and 173 votes against, planning to add 66 federal judges nationwide to alleviate the shortage of federal court personnel. This is the first significant expansion of the US federal judicial system since 1990. The bill stipulates that the number of judges will be gradually increased in six stages over the next 11 years, covering 25 federal district courts in 13 states including California, Florida, and Texas. Although the bill had previously received widespread support between the two parties and was unanimously passed in the Senate in August, Democratic lawmakers accused the Republican Party of delaying the vote on the bill until Republican President Trump won the election before pushing forward with legislation. This move is considered an opportunity for Trump to prioritize the appointment of new judges.
Canada considers imposing export taxes on uranium and other commodities in response to Trump's trade war
According to informed sources, Canada is currently studying the imposition of export taxes on its major commodities exported to the United States, including uranium, oil, and potassium fertilizers, in response to a potential trade war by US President elect Trump. According to officials involved in internal discussions within the Canadian government, levying export taxes will be Canada's last resort. However, retaliatory tariffs on goods manufactured in the United States and export controls on certain Canadian products are more likely to be introduced first. But these officials say that if Trump decides to launch a full-scale trade war, imposing a commodity export tax on Canada is a practical option. The Trudeau government may also propose expanding its power over export controls.