Core Viewpoint - Japanese retail stocks have faced significant declines due to a warning from China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism advising Chinese tourists to avoid traveling to Japan, coupled with negative economic data indicating a contraction in Japan's GDP [1][4][6]. Group 1: Stock Market Impact - The Japanese stock market experienced a broad decline, with the Nikkei 225 index falling by 0.7% and the Tokyo Stock Exchange index dropping by 0.8% [3]. - Notable retail and tourism-related stocks saw substantial drops, including Shiseido, which fell over 11%, and Mitsukoshi Isetan, which plummeted more than 12% [3][4]. - Fast Retailing, the parent company of Uniqlo, saw its stock price decrease by nearly 7% [4]. Group 2: Economic Data - Japan's Cabinet Office reported a 1.8% year-on-year decline in real GDP for the third quarter, marking a return to negative growth since the first quarter of 2024 [6][7]. - The GDP decreased by 0.4% quarter-on-quarter, with exports of goods and services falling by 1.2% due to the impact of U.S. tariffs [7]. - Domestic consumption, which constitutes over half of Japan's economy, showed only a slight increase of 0.1% in the same period, indicating weak internal demand [7]. Group 3: Tourism and Economic Forecast - The decline in Chinese tourists, who account for approximately 25% of foreign visitors to Japan, is expected to significantly impact the tourism sector [5]. - Analysts estimate that a substantial drop in Chinese visitors could reduce Japan's GDP by 0.36%, leading to an economic loss of approximately 2.2 trillion yen (about 101.16 billion RMB) [5]. - The Japanese government has revised its economic growth forecast for the fiscal year 2025 from 1.2% to 0.7% due to ongoing economic pressures [7]. Group 4: Government Response - The Japanese government is considering a stimulus plan worth approximately 17 trillion yen (around 110 billion USD) to counteract economic downturns [8].

Core Viewpoint - Japan's economy is experiencing a contraction, which may prompt Prime Minister Kishida to implement a large-scale stimulus plan, despite the Bank of Japan's intention to raise interest rates in the coming months [1][3]. Economic Performance - Japan's real GDP contracted at an annualized rate of 1.8% for the third quarter, marking the first decline in six quarters, although this was better than economists' median forecast of -2.4% [1][3]. - Private residential investment and exports were the main factors dragging down overall output, aligning with market expectations [3]. - Consumer spending, which accounts for the largest share of GDP, remained nearly flat and failed to offset the economic weakness [3]. Government Response - The GDP data may strengthen the Kishida administration's position to boost fiscal spending to stimulate the economy, with an economic plan expected to be announced soon [3][6]. - Economists anticipate that the scale of the economic stimulus will slightly exceed last year's 13.9 trillion yen (approximately 89.9 billion USD) [6]. Inflation and Consumer Behavior - Private consumption, which constitutes over half of the economy, only increased by 0.1%, indicating that households are controlling discretionary spending amid high living costs and stagnant real wages [6]. - Core inflation in Japan has consistently met or exceeded the Bank of Japan's 2% target for three and a half years [6]. Business Investment - Despite pressures from tariffs leading to lower profit expectations, large enterprises plan to increase capital investment this year, with capital spending growing by 1.0%, surpassing expectations of a slight decline [6]. - The strong capital spending reflects robust corporate confidence amid labor shortages and market competition, suggesting that wage growth momentum is likely to remain stable [6]. Monetary Policy Outlook - The Bank of Japan is expected to announce its next policy decision on December 19, with half of the observers anticipating a rate hike, and nearly all economists predicting action by January at the latest [7]. - The economic outlook from the Bank of Japan is not expected to change significantly, with a baseline expectation of a rate hike in December, although a delay until January is possible [7].

Core Viewpoint - Japan's GDP contracted by 1.8% on an annualized basis in Q3 2025, marking the first economic shrinkage in six quarters [1] Economic Data - Japan's real GDP decreased by 0.4% compared to the previous quarter [1] - The annualized decline of 1.8% indicates a significant downturn in economic performance [1] Trade Relations - In September, a trade agreement was reached between the US and Japan, resulting in a 15% baseline tariff on nearly all Japanese products entering the US [1] Government Response - The Japanese government is formulating a stimulus plan to alleviate the impact of rising living costs on households [1] - The recent GDP data may complicate the Bank of Japan's plans for further interest rate hikes [1]

Core Viewpoint - The depreciation of the Japanese yen, which has fallen below 155 against the US dollar for the first time since February, is primarily driven by the lack of commitment to interest rate hikes from the Bank of Japan amid a new economic stimulus plan proposed by Prime Minister Kishi Sanae [1][3][5]. Group 1: Economic Policy and Currency Impact - The meeting between Prime Minister Kishi Sanae and Bank of Japan Governor Ueda Kazuo did not yield any signals for interest rate hikes, leading to a significant drop in the yen's value [3][5]. - Kishi's economic stimulus plan of 14 trillion yen aims to increase spending and printing money, which conflicts with the need for interest rate increases to stabilize the currency [6][11]. - The yen's depreciation is exacerbated by global investors favoring the US dollar, especially after the US government resolved a budget crisis, prompting a sell-off of the yen [7][11]. Group 2: Impact on Businesses and Consumers - Export-oriented companies like Toyota and Sony benefit from the weaker yen, as it increases their profits when converting foreign sales back to yen [9][10]. - Conversely, ordinary Japanese consumers face rising prices for imported goods, with significant increases in the cost of essentials like beef and gasoline due to the yen's depreciation [9][10]. - Small and medium-sized enterprises are struggling with increased costs for imported materials, leading to potential layoffs and price hikes that ultimately affect consumers [10][11]. Group 3: Central Bank's Dilemma - The Bank of Japan is caught in a difficult position, needing to balance between not raising interest rates to support economic growth and the pressure of rising inflation and a depreciating currency [11][13]. - Internal disagreements within the Bank of Japan highlight the urgency for action, with some members advocating for immediate interest rate hikes to combat inflation [11][13]. - The upcoming December meeting of the Bank of Japan is critical, as it will determine the future direction of monetary policy and its impact on the economy and the yen [11][13].

Market Overview - The central bank conducted a reverse repurchase operation of 195.5 billion yuan for 7 days at a fixed rate of 1.40%, with a net injection of 130 billion yuan after accounting for 65.5 billion yuan maturing that day [3][4]. Funding Conditions - The interbank market saw a balanced improvement in funding conditions, with overnight repurchase rates dropping by 9 basis points to around 1.41%. The overnight quotes on the anonymous X-repo system also fell to 1.43% [5][6]. Interbank Certificates of Deposit - The latest transaction rate for one-year interbank certificates of deposit among major banks remained stable at approximately 1.63% [7]. Government Bond Futures - The closing prices for government bond futures showed slight increases: 30-year contracts rose by 0.09%, 10-year by 0.02%, 5-year by 0.03%, and 2-year by 0.01% [11]. Government Procurement - The Ministry of Finance announced that the national government procurement scale for 2024 is projected to be 3,375.043 billion yuan, with goods, engineering, and services accounting for 23.54%, 41.01%, and 35.45% respectively [12]. Global Macro Developments - Japan's Prime Minister is set to propose a significant economic stimulus plan, indicating potential substantial spending to support the economy [14]. - South Korea's M2 money supply reached 4,430.5 trillion won (approximately 3.02 trillion USD) in September, marking a 0.7% month-on-month increase and an 8.5% year-on-year surge [14]. Bond Issuance Events - The China Development Bank plans to issue up to 19 billion yuan in three phases of fixed-rate bonds on November 13 [16]. - The Japanese Ministry of Finance will auction 800 billion yen of 20-year government bonds on November 19 [16]. Negative Events in Bond Market - Several companies, including Aerospace Hongtu and Zhejiang Yitian, have seen downgrades in their credit ratings or outlooks, indicating potential risks in the bond market [17]. Non-Standard Asset Risks - Various non-standard assets have been flagged for risk, including trust plans and private equity funds, highlighting ongoing concerns in the investment landscape [18].

Group 1 - China's gold consumption in the first three quarters reached 682.73 tons, a year-on-year decrease of 7.95% [1] - Domestic gold ETF holdings increased by 79.015 tons, a year-on-year growth of 164.03%, with total holdings reaching 193.749 tons by the end of September [1] - Hong Kong plans to launch a multi-currency digital bond issuance for the third time in 2023, with previous issuances totaling 6.8 billion HKD [1] Group 2 - The U.S. Senate passed a temporary funding bill to end the government shutdown, providing funding until January 30, 2026 [1] - The U.S. Treasury Secretary stated that President Trump's proposal for a $2,000 tariff refund for each American could be implemented through tax relief measures in existing economic legislation [1] - The U.S. and Thailand reached a trade framework agreement, with Thailand eliminating 99% of tariffs on U.S. goods while the U.S. maintains a 19% tariff on Thai products [1] Group 3 - The Federal Reserve Governor advocates for a faster pace of interest rate cuts, suggesting a reduction of at least 25 basis points to address economic downturn risks [2] - The San Francisco Fed President noted that while demand may weaken, inflation caused by tariffs is manageable, recommending an open approach to further rate cuts [2] - October container imports in the U.S. fell by 7.5% year-on-year, with expectations of significant declines in November and December [2] Group 4 - COMEX gold futures rose by 2.83% to $4,123.40 per ounce, while silver futures increased by 4.70% to $50.41 per ounce [4] - U.S. oil futures increased by 0.5% to $60.05 per barrel, and Brent crude rose by 0.5% to $63.95 per barrel [4] - The U.S. dollar index rose by 0.07% to 99.62, with various currency pairs showing mixed performance against the dollar [4]

Market Overview - Trade tensions are easing, contributing to a significant recovery in market sentiment, with Asian stocks rising and technology stocks leading the gains [1] - US stock index futures are collectively up, with S&P 500 futures rising by 0.26%, Nasdaq 100 futures up over 0.4%, and Dow Jones futures increasing by nearly 0.16% [1][5] - The Korean Composite Stock Price Index surged over 2%, reaching a new high of 3941.59 points, driven by gains in technology stocks, particularly Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix [2] Currency and Commodity Movements - The Japanese yen continues to weaken against the US dollar, with the exchange rate at 152.81, marking the sixth consecutive day of decline [4] - Recent economic data indicates persistent inflation in Japan, with the core CPI rising by 2.9% in September, above the Bank of Japan's 2% target [4] - Gold prices have dropped nearly 0.9%, currently at $4089 per ounce, ending a nine-week upward trend as the market reassesses previous gains [8] Company Performance - Intel shares rose by 8% in pre-market trading after the company reported a return to profitability in Q3 and optimistic revenue guidance [5] - Chinese concept stocks showed mixed performance in pre-market trading, with Bilibili and Xiaoma Zhixing up by 1%, while companies like Li Auto and NIO saw declines of 1% [5]

Group 1 - The Republican Party is showing signs of internal anxiety as they modify rules to confirm 48 positions, including key departments like Defense and Energy, indicating a lack of unified support for President Trump's agenda [1] - Trump's influence over the Federal Reserve is limited, as evidenced by the recent 25 basis point rate cut, which did not meet his expectations of at least 50 basis points [1] - The struggle for control over the federal government is evident, with Trump's ability to influence the Federal Reserve being significantly constrained [1] Group 2 - The $35.1 billion agricultural subsidy, which helped Trump gain support from agricultural states during the last election, is now under threat due to rising national debt and budget deficits [3] - The Democratic-controlled House is particularly cautious about agricultural subsidies, which are seen as driven by electoral considerations, complicating Trump's ability to fulfill his promises [3] - Farmers' support for Trump is wavering, and failure to deliver on subsidies could lead to a loss of backing from this crucial voter base [3] Group 3 - Trump's strategy to encourage the EU to purchase more U.S. soybeans is facing resistance, as European officials are wary of being drawn into a trade conflict with China [4] - The EU's economic ties with China complicate Trump's push for increased purchases, as any tariffs on Chinese goods could disrupt their supply chains [4] - The "America First" policy is leading to international isolation, reducing the effectiveness of domestic economic strategies [4] Group 4 - The combination of a narrow victory in Senate confirmations, the pressure of agricultural subsidies, fiscal constraints, and international isolation presents a significant challenge for Trump's administration [7] - The current situation reflects structural pressures rather than short-term political struggles, indicating a critical test for Trump's governance [7]

Core Points - The Thai cabinet has approved the transfer of 26 billion THB to the central budget for emergency or necessary expenditures, following the return of some stimulus funds to the government [1] - The central budget for emergency or urgent reserve projects in the fiscal year 2025 is set at 96.6 billion THB, which will increase to 123 billion THB after the transfer of the 26 billion THB stimulus funds [1] - The government has previously allocated a total of 157 billion THB for economic stimulus, with part of the funds being reallocated from the remaining balance of the digital wallet cash distribution plan to boost the economy affected by trade disruptions [1] Economic Stimulus Plan - The first phase of the stimulus plan includes investments in 481 projects totaling 115 billion THB [1] - The second phase amounts to 18.4 billion THB, aimed at supporting a competitiveness enhancement fund of 10 billion THB, with the remaining funds allocated to a student loan fund [1] - The cabinet meeting acknowledged progress in implementing the economic stimulus plan within the budget framework, with a total of 8,431 expenditure projects approved to stimulate the economy, amounting to a total budget of 110 billion THB [1]

Group 1 - The South Korean government has launched its first large-scale economic stimulus initiative, the "Welfare Consumption Voucher," aimed at boosting grassroots consumption and revitalizing local economies [2][3] - The consumption vouchers are available to all South Korean citizens, with amounts varying based on individual economic status and residence, ranging from 150,000 KRW to 450,000 KRW per person [2] - The application period for the vouchers will last until September 12, with distribution methods including credit cards, debit cards, prepaid cards, and local love gift certificates [2] Group 2 - The usage of the consumption vouchers is strictly limited to small merchants with annual sales not exceeding 3 billion KRW, and cannot be used in large supermarkets, department stores, duty-free shops, e-commerce platforms, or entertainment and gambling sectors [3] - Major financial institutions and retail chains in South Korea have quickly responded to the voucher launch, initiating promotional activities and incentives to encourage usage, including a lottery with a total prize of 2.5 billion KRW [3] - Local governments are expressing concerns over the financial burden of the consumption voucher program, with Gyeonggi Province reporting a tax revenue decrease of 81.6 billion KRW from January to May, while needing to allocate 180 billion KRW for the voucher budget [3]