Asian shares were mixed and thin

Market Overview - Asian shares exhibited mixed performance amid thin holiday trading, with most markets closed for Christmas. The Nikkei 225 in Tokyo increased by 0.1% to 50,407.79, marking a nearly 30% gain for the year [1] - The Shanghai Composite index in mainland China rose by 0.5% to 3,959.62, while Hong Kong's exchange was closed [1] Central Bank Actions - The People's Bank of China (PBOC) reassured investors by committing to ensure adequate money supply to support financing, economic growth, and inflation targets. The PBOC maintained its key short-term lending rates earlier in the week [2] US Market Performance - The S&P 500 index increased by 0.3% to 6,932.05, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 0.6% to 48,731.16, and the Nasdaq composite added 0.2% to 23,613.31 [3] - The S&P 500 has gained over 17% this year, driven by investor optimism regarding the Trump administration's deregulatory policies and the potential of artificial intelligence to enhance profits across various sectors [5] Economic Indicators - The US economy experienced a robust growth rate of 4.3% annually in Q3, the fastest in two years, primarily fueled by consumer spending despite high inflation [7] - Jobless claims in the US decreased by 10,000 to 214,000 for the week ending December 20, remaining below the forecast of 232,000 new applications, indicating a still healthy labor market [8] Company News - Dynavax Technologies' shares surged by 38.2% following Sanofi's announcement of acquiring the company for $2.2 billion, which will enhance Sanofi's vaccine portfolio [9] - Novo Nordisk's shares rose by 1.8% after receiving US regulatory approval for a pill version of its weight loss drug Wegovy, although the company’s shares are down nearly 40% this year due to increased competition from Eli Lilly, whose shares have increased by 40% this year [10]