TOKYO, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Japan's manufacturing activity expanded in January for the first time in seven months, buoyed by the biggest rise in new export ​orders in more than four years, a private-sector survey showed. The S&P Global flash ‌Japan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) increased to 51.5 in January from December's final reading of 50.0, marking a ‌return to expansionary territory for the first time since June 2025. Readings above 50.0 indicate growth in activity, while those below ...

Tariffs remain a moving target for U.S. businesses, and the constant recalibration of trade policy has turned what was once episodic disruption into a standing operational challenge for finance and product leaders.By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions .Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all ...

Core Viewpoint - The transition of leadership at Berkshire Hathaway marks the end of an era with Warren Buffett stepping down, but the company retains significant financial flexibility and potential for growth under new CEO Greg Abel [1][3][4]. Financial Position - As of the end of Q3 2025, Berkshire Hathaway holds $382 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and short-term Treasury bills, surpassing the combined market cap of Robinhood Markets, Spotify, and Adobe [5][8]. - The company earns substantial interest from its $305 billion in T-bills, potentially generating around $9.15 billion annually at a 3% interest rate [7]. Leadership Transition - Greg Abel, a veteran of Berkshire Hathaway since 1992, has been appointed as the new CEO, handpicked by Buffett, indicating a strong level of trust in Abel's capabilities [3][4]. - Despite concerns regarding the post-Buffett era, the company’s structure and leadership in subsidiaries are designed to operate autonomously, ensuring continuity in operations [11]. Investment Strategy - Berkshire Hathaway's significant cash reserves provide the company with the flexibility to pursue high-quality investments, particularly in distressed businesses, similar to past acquisitions like GEICO and American Express [8][9]. - The company is expected to maintain a disciplined investment approach under Abel's leadership, focusing on strategic opportunities rather than impulsive decisions [9]. Business Operations - Berkshire Hathaway operates a diverse range of subsidiaries that generate steady cash flow, including GEICO, Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF), and Berkshire Hathaway Energy, which are expected to continue their operations effectively [11].

Group 1: Eurozone Industrial Output Recovery - Eurozone industrial activity showed a phase of improvement in November, with industrial output rising by 0.7% month-on-month, slightly better than market expectations [3] - The rebound is seen as a localized repair rather than a comprehensive recovery, with capital goods being a key driver of industrial output growth [3] - Energy output contracted significantly, and production of consumer goods, both durable and non-durable, declined, indicating persistent weakness in end-demand [3] Group 2: Strong U.S. Retail Sales - U.S. retail sales data for November demonstrated strong performance, confirming the role of consumer spending in supporting the economy [5] - The month-on-month retail sales growth exceeded market expectations, alleviating concerns about a sharp decline in year-end consumption [5] - Core sales data, excluding automobiles and energy, showed a robust upward trend, indicating a solid foundation for consumer improvement [5] Group 3: Moderate Recovery in the UK Economy - The UK economy showed unexpected signs of recovery in November, with monthly GDP achieving moderate growth, providing a buffer for year-end economic prospects [7] - The growth was driven by both the services and manufacturing sectors, reflecting improvements in economic activity across multiple levels [7] - Over the past three months, the economy has seen slight growth, maintaining positive year-on-year growth rates, indicating resilience without falling into recession [7] Group 4: Federal Reserve Beige Book Insights - The latest Federal Reserve Beige Book presents a relatively balanced view of the U.S. economy, with most regions experiencing slight to moderate expansion [9] - The report indicates a stable labor market, with no significant signs of cooling, while businesses emphasize flexibility in hiring practices [9] - Wage growth remains moderate, and many businesses report that cost pressures are normalizing, providing a realistic basis for further inflation cooling [9]

Jan 8 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court is set to issue rulings on Friday on cases related to the legality of ​tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump under the International Emergency ‌Economic Powers Act. The administration faces the possibility of having to refund nearly $150 billion paid in ‌tariffs to importers if the court declares that the sweeping duties Trump has imposed under the IEEPA are illegal. Major corporations such as Costco, Revlon, Ray-Ban eyeglass maker EssilorLuxottica, Bumble Be ...

Group 1 - Private sector job creation turned positive in December with companies adding 41,000 hires, a reversal from the loss of 29,000 in November [2][4] - Payroll growth was entirely in services industries, with education and health-related fields adding 39,000 jobs and leisure and hospitality contributing 24,000 [3] - Nearly all job gains came from companies employing fewer than 500 workers, while larger firms added only 2,000 jobs [4] Group 2 - Wage gains remained tempered, with those staying in their jobs seeing an average annual increase of 4.4%, while job changers saw gains of 6.6% [5] - Economists expect 73,000 new jobs for the month of December, with the unemployment rate projected to edge down to 4.5% [6]

Brazilian equities posted strong gains on Tuesday, supported by higher oil prices and fresh signs of improving domestic economic activity. According to InfoMoney, the Ibovespa — the benchmark index — … ...

Group 1: Keynote Insights at CES - Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and AMD CEO Lisa Su will deliver keynote speeches at CES, which could significantly influence sentiment in the AI infrastructure sector heading into 2026 [1][2] - Huang's presentation will be closely watched for announcements regarding next-generation AI accelerators and data center roadmaps, as well as customer demand sustainability [1] - AMD's Lisa Su is under pressure to showcase the adoption of the MI300 series and competitive positioning against Nvidia in data center GPUs, with potential wins from cloud service providers enhancing AMD's credibility [1] Group 2: Economic Data and Market Sentiment - The week features a comprehensive economic data calendar culminating in the December jobs report, which will provide insights into labor market conditions and influence Federal Reserve policy expectations [2][3] - Key economic indicators such as ISM Manufacturing and Non-Manufacturing PMIs will offer insights into industrial and services sector health, impacting market sentiment and potential sector rotation [4][6] - The absence of major earnings reports allows economic data and CES announcements to dominate market focus, testing whether the market can maintain momentum from any year-end rally [2][6] Group 3: Inflation and Federal Reserve Policy - The week's economic data will provide multiple perspectives on inflation, with ISM prices components and wage growth data being crucial for assessing inflationary pressures [7] - The Federal Reserve's December meeting highlighted the need for sustained evidence of disinflation before committing to further policy easing, making this week's inflation signals particularly significant [7] - Any evidence of reaccelerating price pressures could impact rate-sensitive sectors and support the dollar, while benign inflation readings may provide relief for risk assets [7]

Vi e w p o i n t | 30 Dec 2025 23:43:08 ET │ 9 pages China Economics 2025 Ends with PMI Surprise CITI'S TAKE PMIs beat expectations in the final month of 2025. The improving soft data makes us more confident with our long-held 2025 GDP forecast at 5%. Following the recent CEWC, we keep full-year expectations realistic, seeing an "around 5%" growth target and incremental fiscal funds of ~RMB1trn, as likely a ceiling. The pace of policy deployment between now and the NPC could be more important to watch. The ...

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The report focuses on the economic activity data from China for November, highlighting significant misses in market expectations across various sectors, particularly retail sales and industrial production [1][2][3]. Core Insights and Arguments 1. **Industrial Production (IP)** - IP growth decreased to **4.8% year-on-year** in November from **4.9%** in October, falling short of forecasts (GS: **5.1%**, Bloomberg consensus: **5.0%**) [2][8]. - Sequentially, IP showed a **0.5% month-on-month** increase after seasonal adjustment, contrasting with a **-0.4%** decline in October [8]. - The slowdown in IP was primarily driven by reduced output in the automobile and utilities sectors, which outweighed gains in special equipment and pharmaceuticals [8]. 2. **Fixed Asset Investment (FAI)** - FAI contracted by **-2.6% year-to-date** year-on-year in November, worsening from **-1.7%** in October [3][9]. - On a single-month basis, FAI fell by **-10.7% year-on-year** in November, slightly improving from **-11.4%** in October [9]. - The decline in FAI is attributed to statistical corrections by the NBS and ongoing issues in the property sector [9]. 3. **Retail Sales** - Retail sales growth significantly slowed to **1.3% year-on-year** in November, down from **2.9%** in October, missing expectations (GS: **2.3%**, consensus: **2.9%**) [6][11]. - The decline was broad-based, with notable drops in auto sales (-8.3%) and home appliances (-19.4%) [11]. - The earlier start of the "Double 11" Online Shopping Festival distorted demand, pulling some sales from November into October [11]. 4. **Services Industry Output** - The Services Industry Output Index growth moderated to **4.2% year-on-year** in November from **4.6%** in October, indicating a slowdown in the services sector [12]. 5. **Property Market** - The property market continued to show weakness, with new home starts and completions contracting by **-27.6%** and **-25.3%** year-on-year, respectively [13]. - Property sales volume fell by **-17.0%** and value by **-24.6%** in November, reflecting ongoing challenges in the sector [13]. 6. **Labor Market** - The nationwide unemployment rate remained stable at **5.1%** in November, with the youth unemployment rate for ages 16-24 declining slightly to **17.3%** [14]. 7. **GDP Growth Forecast** - Incorporating October-November data, there is a small downside risk to the Q4 real GDP growth forecast of **4.5% year-on-year**, with a sequential improvement in December activity needed to achieve a **5%** full-year growth [15]. Additional Important Insights - The report emphasizes that the recent slump in economic indicators should not be over-interpreted, as statistical corrections have played a significant role alongside fundamental economic challenges [1][9]. - The data reflects broader economic trends in China, including the impact of "anti-involution" policies and a prolonged downturn in the property market, which are critical for investors to consider [1][9].