Group 1 - Ken Griffin's Citadel hedge fund experienced a double-digit gain in 2025, successfully navigating a volatile market characterized by sharp swings and trade tensions [1] - Citadel's flagship Wellington fund achieved a return of 10.2% in 2025, while its tactical trading fund rose by 18.6%, the fundamental equity strategy returned 14.5%, and the global fixed income fund advanced 9.4% [2] - The S&P 500 index recorded a 16.4% gain for the year, marking its third consecutive year of double-digit growth, recovering from a downturn in early April [3] Group 2 - Citadel plans to return approximately $5 billion of profits to clients to limit capital growth, which is expected to reduce assets under management from about $72 billion to $67 billion [4] - The Wellington fund has a strong long-term track record, generating an annualized return of 19% since its inception in 1990 [4]

From trade tensions to market resilience, from wars to fragile ceasefires: these are the biggest stories of 2025 https://t.co/yI3LC7Snp4 ...

Core Insights - China's consumer price inflation rose to 0.7% in November, the highest level since February last year, while producer prices fell by 2.2%, indicating ongoing economic challenges [2][3][4] Economic Indicators - Consumer prices increased by 0.7% year-on-year in November, following a 0.2% rise in October, aligning with economists' expectations [2] - Producer prices experienced a decline of 2.2% in November, extending a deflationary trend into its fourth year, compared to a 2.1% drop in October [2] Economic Outlook - Economists predict that deflationary pressures will continue into the next year due to a prolonged housing downturn and weak labor market conditions, necessitating new policy measures to stimulate demand [3] - Despite a slowdown in the economy, China is on track to meet its annual growth target of "around 5%" for the year, bolstered by strong exports to non-U.S. markets [4] Policy Priorities - The Politburo has identified expanding domestic demand and rebalancing supplies as key economic priorities for 2026 [5] - Policymakers are expected to maintain an easing bias but may be less inclined towards broad-based stimulus measures, indicating a need for stronger pro-growth policies next year [6] Upcoming Events - Investors and economists are closely monitoring the upcoming Central Economic Work Conference, where key growth targets and policy priorities for the next year will be established [7]

President Donald Trump has delivered on his promise to provide aid to U.S. farmers hit by his sweeping tariff policy, but that hasn’t freed the agriculture industry from worries of tight margins and volatile markets. On Monday, Trump, alongside Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, and National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett, announced a $12 billion farm aid program, which outlined much-needed relief for farmers who sounded the alarms about increasing input costs ...

President Trump announcing uh the White House will provide 12 billion dollars in aid to farmers impacted by global uh trade tensions. During a r roundt event uh in Washington, the president said that the funds would come from tariff revenues. Most of the money will go toward providing one-time payments to row crop farmers.the rest will go towards specialty crops. There's a certain symmetry here, I think, because it's the tariffs that really cause some of the backlash from other countries to not buy our soyb ...

Core Insights - Hong Kong's financial sector remains crucial for the city's economic stability despite global uncertainties and trade disputes [1] - The strength of capital markets and financial links are identified as key factors supporting resilient business sentiment for 2026 [1] Economic Outlook - A survey conducted from 22 October to 21 November 2025 included 296 professionals, with 63% expecting modest economic growth in Hong Kong for the coming year [2] - Main factors supporting growth include tax regime (39%), capital markets (30%), and economic activity in Chinese mainland (24%) [2] Concerns and Challenges - High living expenses (28%), a slowdown in the global economy (27%), and reduced growth rates in Chinese mainland (26%) are primary concerns for 2026 [3] - Trade tensions have negatively impacted business confidence, with 51% reporting adverse effects on performance in 2025 [4] - The proportion viewing trade tensions as a major concern has increased from 9% to 20% for 2026 [5] Market Activity - Hong Kong's IPO market has seen an upturn, regaining its position as the largest global fundraising hub by Q3 [3] - Looking ahead, 66% of respondents anticipate further increases in IPO activity by 2026 [3] Government Policies - The most useful government policies identified include enhancing financial connectivity with other regions (22%) and China's 'Going Out' strategy (21%) [4] Company Strategies - In response to challenges, 24% of companies have relocated or restructured operations, with 20% moving into different markets and 19% conducting risk assessments [5] - Expansion plans are increasingly focused on domestic opportunities (32%) and Chinese mainland markets (46%) [5] Revenue Expectations - Revenue expectations have become more cautious, with only 39% predicting increases for 2026, down from 51% for the current year [6] - Additionally, 37% expect stable revenue levels [6] Investment Perspective - Hong Kong is viewed as a safe haven for international investors and businesses to manage assets and diversify risks amid geopolitical tensions [7]

Core Insights - The stock market has become highly volatile due to unpredictable tariff policies and trade tensions, particularly during the Trump administration, with significant impacts on major indices and sectors [1][10][16] Group 1: Tariff Announcements and Market Reactions - The Trump administration announced a 25% tariff on Mexican goods, causing immediate market turmoil, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping 600 points shortly after the announcement [3][4] - Following the announcement, major automakers like GM and Ford experienced significant declines in their stock prices due to their manufacturing presence in Mexico and Canada [4] - In March 2025, confirmation of the tariffs led to further declines, with the Dow down 700 points and the S&P 500 losing 100 points, reflecting heightened investor anxiety [5] Group 2: Broader Trade Tensions - The ongoing trade narrative includes threats regarding China's control of the Panama Canal, which, while not directly impacting stock prices, contributes to overall market jitters [6] - In April 2025, sweeping tariff announcements on China led to a dramatic sell-off, with the NASDAQ plummeting 5.7% and major companies like Apple and Nike experiencing significant stock declines [7][8] - Analysts noted that the average applied US tariff rate increased from 2.5% to an estimated 27% from January to April 2025, the highest level in over a century, leading to a surge in tariff revenue [13] Group 3: Legal Challenges and Market Sentiment - Legal challenges against the tariffs are mounting, with companies like Costco suing the U.S. government over the legality of the tariffs, potentially leading to refunds totaling over $100 billion [14][15] - The market's volatility is characterized by rapid swings in response to tariff announcements and clarifications, with the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) reaching levels not seen in years [10][11] - Investment strategies are shifting towards safer assets as uncertainty in trade policies continues, indicating a new era of heightened volatility and unpredictability in the market [12]

China’s yuan is heading for its best annual performance in five years as growing optimism about the nation’s assets and economy outweighs concerns over US trade tensions https://t.co/0xfzBKZT3G ...

China has invested billions of dollars in building ports around the globe, giving Beijing a strategic advantage as trade tensions rise, and sparking security concerns for the rest of the world https://t.co/6FS8TBi5cN https://t.co/dK7k1W4j73 ...

Trade Tensions - China's trade tensions with the US and EU extend beyond green sectors [1] - The tensions impact goods ranging from soybeans to semiconductor chips [1]