WTI crude oil futures fell below $70/barrel, down 0.43% in the day; Brent crude oil fell 0.43% in the day to $73.05/barrel.Central Economic Work Conference: Strengthening Expectation Management and Promoting Policy Implementation and Expectation Guidance in Coordination. The Central Economic Work Conference was held in Beijing from December 11th to 12th. The meeting stressed that it is necessary to coordinate development and safety, do a good job in safety production, and effectively prevent and respond to social security incidents in a timely manner. Strengthen synergy, oppose departmentalism, and form a joint force for implementation. Strengthen the expected management, promote policy implementation and expected guidance in coordination, and enhance policy guidance and influence. At the same time, we should accurately grasp the situation of the world, the country, the party and the society, strengthen strategic planning, and formulate suggestions for the 10 th Five-Year Plan of the Central Committee. (Xinhua News Agency)WTI crude oil futures fell below $70/barrel, down 0.43% in the day; Brent crude oil fell 0.43% in the day to $73.05/barrel.
European Central Bank President Lagarde: The impact of the US presidential election is still uncertain. European Central Bank President Lagarde: The impact of the US presidential election is still uncertain.German Finance Minister: We need to work together on initiatives to strengthen the European economy.Dutch International Bank: The European Central Bank will continue to cut interest rates in the new year, Carsten Brzeski, macro director of Dutch International Bank, wrote in a report to customers that the European Central Bank will take action again to reduce borrowing costs. The euro zone central bank cut interest rates by 25 basis points on Thursday, in line with expectations. Inflation is still a worrying problem, but the resistance to growth is even greater, especially the financial crisis in France and the threat posed by the US tariff on European goods. He said that with the change in the tone of the European Central Bank, the bank may cut interest rates again in the new year.
The European Central Bank predicts that inflation will decline in 2025, and the European Central Bank currently predicts that inflation will cool down slightly faster than predicted in September. The bank's latest forecast shows that the average inflation rate in 2024 and 2025 is 2.4% and 2.1% respectively, while the previous forecast is 2.5% and 2.2% respectively. After cutting interest rates by 25 basis points, the European Central Bank said in a statement: "The anti-inflation process is on the right track." The bank said: "Domestic inflation has declined slightly, but it is still at a high level, mainly because wages and prices in some industries are still adapting to the past inflation surge, but there is a great delay." The European Central Bank maintains its inflation forecast of 1.9% in 2026, and predicts that the average inflation rate in 2027 will be 2.1%.Central Economic Work Conference: Support major economic provinces to take the lead, and encourage other regions to develop their strengths according to local conditions. The Central Economic Work Conference was held in Beijing on December 11th and 12th. The meeting proposed to strengthen the implementation of regional strategies and enhance the vitality of regional development. Give play to the superposition effect of regional coordinated development strategy, regional major strategy and main functional area strategy, and actively cultivate new growth poles. Enhance the innovation ability and radiation-driven role of areas with economic development advantages. Support major economic provinces to take the lead, and encourage other regions to develop their strengths according to local conditions. Deepen industrial cooperation in the eastern, central, western and northeastern regions, and vigorously develop the marine economy and the Bay Area economy. (Xinhua News Agency)Analysis: Lagarde's speech increased the market's bet to cut interest rates by 50 basis points. In December, the European Central Bank lowered its economic forecast and inflation forecast. At the press conference, European Central Bank President Lagarde paid attention to the downside risks of economic growth, especially mentioning that trade friction may put pressure on economic growth, and also mentioned that they discussed cutting interest rates by 50 basis points. Therefore, the atmosphere of the whole meeting is biased towards doves. The market then increased its bet on a 50 basis point rate cut after January. Although the possibility of a sharp interest rate cut in January is stable at 30%, the possibility of a 50 basis point interest rate cut in March has increased from 30% before the meeting to 40%, and the possibility of a 50 basis point interest rate cut in April has increased from 0% to 5%.