Key Points - The article discusses the recent economic developments, including the Bank of Japan's interest rate hike and weaker-than-expected U.S. non-farm payroll and CPI data [2][64][76] - The Japanese government has approved a significant economic stimulus plan amounting to 18.3 trillion yen (approximately 118 billion USD), marking a 31% increase from the previous year's budget [64] - The U.S. unemployment rate rose to 4.6% in November, with non-farm payrolls adding 64,000 jobs, which was above market expectations [74] - The U.S. CPI for November was reported at 2.7% year-on-year, significantly below market expectations, influenced by data quality issues due to the government shutdown [76] Asset Classes & Overseas Events & Data Asset Classes - The Japanese yen depreciated rapidly, while COMEX silver saw a significant increase [2] - Major stock indices in developed markets showed mixed performance, with the S&P 500 up 0.1% and the Nasdaq up 0.5% [3] - The WTI crude oil price decreased by 1.6% to 56.5 USD per barrel, while COMEX gold increased by 1.2% to 4,354.0 USD per ounce [2][45] Economic Data - The U.S. unemployment rate increased to 4.6%, with non-farm payrolls adding 64,000 jobs in November, surpassing expectations [74] - The CPI for November was reported at 2.7%, significantly lower than expected, with core CPI at 2.6% [76] - The Bank of Japan raised interest rates by 25 basis points, while the European Central Bank maintained its rates [2][64] Commodity Prices - Most commodity prices saw increases, with WTI crude oil down 1.6% and COMEX silver up 9.4% [45][52] - The prices of various metals, including LME copper and aluminum, also increased [52]

Core Viewpoint - The recent appreciation of the RMB is not primarily driven by "settlement" but rather influenced by a weaker USD and central bank interventions, with settlement rates showing a decline rather than an increase [2][3][4]. Group 1: RMB Appreciation and Settlement - Since mid-October, the RMB has appreciated significantly by 1.42% against the USD, while the USD index only weakened by 0.34%. This has sparked discussions about a potential "year-end settlement wave" [3][4]. - Despite the RMB's appreciation, the settlement rate has decreased from 63.1% in September to 54.1% in October and 52.0% in November, indicating that the expected settlement wave has not materialized [3][4][8]. - Various indicators suggest that a settlement wave typically leads to higher swap points, increased RMB transaction volumes, and reduced foreign exchange deposits. However, since November, swap point spreads have decreased from 97 pips to 36 pips, and foreign exchange deposits have continued to grow [3][4][19]. Group 2: Year-End Settlement Patterns - Historically, "year-end settlement" tends to occur in December due to increased current account income, but improvements in settlement rates are not significant. The growth in settlement amounts is attributed to concentrated export receipts in Q4, significant increases in primary and secondary income, and slight increases in settlement rates [4][19]. - The changes in year-end settlement rates are influenced by prior RMB performance and the timing of the Spring Festival. When the RMB strengthens, the selling rate typically declines, while improvements in settlement rates often lag by 1-2 quarters [4][55]. Group 3: Potential for RMB to Break "7" - A delayed settlement wave may provide some short-term support for the RMB, with historical data indicating that after two consecutive quarters of appreciation, settlement rates tend to improve. The upcoming Spring Festival may also extend this improvement into January [4][77]. - However, risks associated with a potential USD rebound and central bank interventions may affect the pace at which the RMB breaks the "7" level. Current non-commercial short positions in the USD have reached a record high, indicating a risk of reversal [4][88].

Key Points - The article discusses the recent economic events, including the Bank of Japan's interest rate hike and weaker-than-expected U.S. non-farm payroll and CPI data [2][70][76] - The Japanese government has approved a significant economic stimulus package amounting to 18.3 trillion yen (approximately $118 billion), marking a 31% increase from the previous year's budget [64] - The U.S. unemployment rate rose to 4.6% in November, with non-farm payrolls adding 64,000 jobs, which was above market expectations [74] - The U.S. CPI for November was reported at 2.7% year-on-year, significantly below market expectations, influenced by data quality issues due to the government shutdown [76] Group 1: Major Assets & Overseas Events & Data - The Japanese yen depreciated rapidly, while COMEX silver saw a significant increase [3] - Developed market indices showed mixed performance, with the UK FTSE 100 and France's CAC40 rising by 2.6% and 1.0%, respectively, while the Nikkei 225 and Hang Seng Index fell by 2.6% and 1.1% [3] - The S&P 500 and NASDAQ indices increased by 0.1% and 0.5%, respectively, while the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield decreased by 3.0 basis points to 4.16% [2][3] Group 2: Employment Data - The U.S. non-farm payrolls added 64,000 jobs in November, exceeding the market expectation of 50,000, while the unemployment rate increased from 4.4% to 4.6% [74] - The labor force participation rate was reported at 62.5%, slightly above the expected 62.4% [74] Group 3: Inflation Data - The U.S. CPI for November was reported at 2.7% year-on-year, with core CPI at 2.6%, both significantly lower than market expectations [76] - The data collection for CPI was affected by the government shutdown, leading to potential distortions in the reported figures [76]