ABCD ropolitan Washington. ESU V1 V2 V3 V4 Democracy Dies in Darkness wednesday, january 8, 2025 . Partly sunny 33/20 • Tomorrow: Mostly sunny, windy 31/19 B6 $4 the funeral procession carrying the casket of former president Jimmy Carter passes the u.s. Capitol, where he will lie in state. Celebrating a 'servant of the people' With a storm just passed and snow blanketing the region, scores of onlookers flanked Pennsylvania Avenue nW, bathed in icy air and waning sunshine, as a military proces- sion escorted ...

Key Points Meta Platforms - **Ending Fact-Checking**: Meta Platforms is ending fact-checking and removing restrictions on speech across Facebook and Instagram. This move is described as an attempt to restore free expression on the platforms. - **Community Notes System**: Meta will replace fact-checkers with a Community Notes system, similar to Elon Musk's X platform. Users will flag posts that need more context. - **Shift in Policy**: This shift in policy is likely motivated by Meta's desire to mend fences with Republicans and head off regulation. It also responds to the message sent by voters who elected Donald Trump. - **Content Moderation**: Zuckerberg acknowledged that content moderation had gone too far, leading to too many mistakes and censorship. U.S. Economy - **Labor Market**: The share of workers who quit their job in November fell from a month earlier, indicating weakening in the labor market. - **Inflation**: Inflation remains a concern, with the Federal Reserve trimming borrowing costs again and companies preparing for a new administration in Washington. - **Services Activity**: U.S. services activity increased more than expected in December, but the index remains below the level booked in October, suggesting services businesses remain wary ahead of Donald Trump's presidency. Technology - **Amazon Cloud and AI Infrastructure**: Amazon.com plans to spend at least $11 billion to expand its cloud and artificial-intelligence infrastructure in Georgia to meet a boom in demand. - **Microsoft India Expansion**: Microsoft plans to spend $3 billion over the next two years to expand its cloud and artificial-intelligence infrastructure in India. - **Shein and Forced Labor**: The U.K. parliamentary committee grilled representatives of China-founded bargain site Shein over the sourcing of its cotton and declared severe dissatisfaction with Shein's lack of answers regarding forced labor concerns. Real Estate - **Office Vacancy**: Office vacancy remains near record levels in many cities, where a glut of unwanted and aging workspace is keeping a lid on rents and depressing office values. - **Tenant Demand**: Large tenants are increasingly finding slim pickings for top-shelf workspace, especially in hot spots like New York City's Park Avenue, Miami's Brickell district, and Century City in Los Angeles. - **Landlord Response**: Some of the country's largest office owners are moving to fill the void by investing in renovations and new developments. Other - **Cintas Bid for UniFirst**: Cintas, a maker of workplace products, made a $5.1 billion offer for smaller uniform supplier UniFirst, which has been rebuffed multiple times. - **Paychex Acquisition of Paycor HCM**: Payroll-services company Paychex is acquiring rival Paycor HCM in a deal with an enterprise value of about $4.1 billion. - **Getty and Shutterstock Merger**: Getty Images Holdings and photo rival Shutterstock said they will join forces to form a company worth about $3.7 billion to meet the demand for licensed images and videos. - **U.S. Rent Collusion Suit**: The Justice Department is adding six major apartment landlords to its lawsuit against real-estate software company RealPage, expanding the scope of its allegations that the rent-setting algorithm enabled illegal price fixing. - **JPMorgan Return-to-Office Plan**: Senior executives at JPMorgan Chase are discussing a plan to require all of the bank's roughly 300,000 employees to return to the office five days a week. - **ING Organic Expansion**: ING Groep is sticking to its plans to grow organically in markets where it already operates, even as several European rivals turn to mergers and acquisitions to expand. - **JPMorgan Exiting Climate Coalition**: JPMorgan Chase said it would withdraw from a pandemic-era climate coalition, the last of the U.S. megabanks to do so as American corporations continues its broad pullback from ESG initiatives. - **WuXi Selling Vaccine Plant**: WuXi Biologics agreed to sell an overseas vaccine facility to Merck & Co. for half a billion dollars, a move that could strengthen the company's cash flow and margins as it navigates global uncertainties.

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Company/Industry Involved - The conference call primarily discusses the political landscape in Canada, focusing on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's resignation and its implications for the Canadian economy and U.S.-Canada relations [33][41]. Core Points and Arguments 1. **Trudeau's Resignation**: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his intention to step down amid political turmoil and economic uncertainty, particularly in light of incoming U.S. tariffs on Canadian imports [33][41]. 2. **Economic Implications**: The potential tariffs from President-elect Donald J. Trump could significantly impact the Canadian economy, which relies heavily on trade with the U.S. [41][42]. 3. **Political Context**: Trudeau's resignation reflects a broader anti-incumbency sentiment and dissatisfaction with immigration policies, which have contributed to his declining popularity [4][41]. 4. **Transition of Power**: Trudeau will remain in office until a new leader is elected through a nationwide party election, which could take weeks, leaving Canada in a state of political flux [33][40]. 5. **International Relations**: The situation is critical as Canada is a key player in multilateral discussions, and the U.S. tariffs could lead to a recession in Canada, affecting bilateral relations [41][42]. Other Important but Possibly Overlooked Content 1. **Historical Context**: Trudeau's leadership was initially seen as progressive, but the current political climate indicates a shift away from such leadership styles, mirroring trends in other Western democracies [4][41]. 2. **Media Coverage**: The media's approach to covering Trudeau's resignation involved preparing for the announcement in advance, indicating the high level of anticipation and the significance of the event [36][40]. 3. **Public Sentiment**: There is a growing concern among Canadians regarding the economic future and the political direction of the country, especially with the looming threat of U.S. tariffs [41][42]. This summary encapsulates the critical aspects of the conference call, highlighting the political and economic ramifications of Trudeau's resignation and the broader implications for Canada-U.S. relations.

Prices may vary in areas outside metropol ABCD itan Washington. ErE V1 V2 V3 V4 Democracy Dies in Darkness tuesday, january 7, 2025 . Partly sunny, windy 36/23 • Tomorrow: Cold 32/19 B6 $4 Strong storm packs a wallop Power outages, traffic snarls follow as snow treks east This article is by Ben Noll, Kasha Patel, Matthew Cappucci, Lori Aratani and Jonathan Edwards A wide-reaching winter storm dropped more than a foot of snow and closed major highways in parts of the Midwest before con- tinuing its Monday tr ...

Key Points Industry or Company - The document focuses on the China-Russia relationship and its implications on global power dynamics. Core Views and Arguments - The China-Russia relationship is complex, dynamic, and contingent, involving cooperation and competition across various regions. - The relationship is driven by shared opposition to US "hegemony" and a desire to establish a multipolar world order. - China and Russia have different visions for the future world order, with China aiming for a bipolar order and Russia envisioning a tri-polar order. - The relationship is influenced by the power asymmetry between China and Russia, with China being more powerful economically and militarily. - The Ukraine war has exposed the limits of the "no limits" partnership between China and Russia, revealing differences in their strategies for reshaping global order. Other Important Points - China and Russia have differing views on sovereignty and territorial integrity, with China emphasizing non-interference and Russia supporting separatist movements in some regions. - China and Russia use different approaches to achieve their goals in different regions, with China focusing on economic development and Russia relying more on military power. - The relationship between China and Russia is influenced by the actions of other actors, such as the US, EU, and regional states. - The US should focus on preventing a Chinese-Russian alliance against the US, recognizing that Russia presents a bigger military threat to US interests in Europe. Key Points by Region Africa - China and Russia are competing for influence in Africa, with China having a larger economic presence and Russia focusing on arms sales and security. - The relationship between China and Russia in Africa is compartmentalized, with little cooperation or competition. - China and Russia share the goal of undermining Western influence in Africa, but they have different approaches to achieving this goal. Central Asia - China and Russia have competing interests in Central Asia, with China focusing on economic development and Russia prioritizing security. - The relationship between China and Russia in Central Asia is complex, involving cooperation and competition. - The power transition in Central Asia, with China's power rising and Russia's power declining, will likely lead to increased competition between the two countries. Eastern Europe - The Ukraine war has exposed the limits of the "no limits" partnership between China and Russia, revealing differences in their strategies for reshaping global order. - China has provided rhetorical support to Russia but has not provided direct military support. - The relationship between China and Russia in Eastern Europe is compartmentalized, with China focusing on its own interests and Russia looking after its own interests. East Asia - China and Russia have competing interests in East Asia, with China focusing on territorial claims and establishing a regional sphere of influence. - The relationship between China and Russia in East Asia is complex, involving cooperation and competition. - The US presence in East Asia drives China and Russia together, as both countries seek to counter US influence in the region.

Key Points Industry Overview - **Self Storage Sector**: The report focuses on the self-storage sector, specifically analyzing the outlook for 2025. - **Cautious Optimism**: The overall outlook for the sector into 2025 is cautiously positive, with expectations for a recovery in the second half of the year. - **Housing Market Recovery**: The recovery in the housing market is seen as a key driver for the self-storage sector, as increased demand for housing will lead to increased demand for storage. Company Analysis - **CubeSmart (CUBE)**: Downgraded to Hold due to weaker-than-expected move-in rates and softening ECRIs. The company's predominantly urban portfolio may not benefit as much from the housing recovery as its peers. - **Extra Space Storage (EXR)**: Maintained at Buy, with a positive outlook due to its strong position in the market and potential for earnings growth. - **National Storage Affiliates (NSA)**: Maintained at Buy, with a positive outlook due to its exposure to secondary and tertiary markets, which are well-positioned to benefit from the housing market recovery. - **Public Storage (PSA)**: Maintained at Buy, with a positive outlook due to its strong balance sheet and revenue management platform. Key Metrics - **Move-in Rates**: Expected to return to positive growth in 2025, with a base case scenario of ~3% growth for EXR and PSA, and slightly lower growth for CUBE. - **ECRIs**: Expected to remain stable in 2025, with a base case scenario of ~22.5% for PSA, 17.5% for EXR, and 17.6% for CUBE. - **Occupancy**: Expected to improve in 2025, with a base case scenario of ~1% growth for PSA, EXR, and CUBE. Risks - **Economic Downturn**: A worsening economic environment could negatively impact the housing market and, consequently, the self-storage sector. - **Oversupply**: Excessive supply of self-storage facilities could lead to lower occupancy rates and rental rates. - **Rising Interest Rates**: Higher interest rates could increase the cost of capital for self-storage companies and potentially lead to lower demand for housing. Conclusion The self-storage sector is expected to recover in 2025, driven by a recovering housing market. However, there are risks that could impact the sector, including an economic downturn, oversupply, and rising interest rates.

Industry and Company Overview * **Industry**: Energy sector, focusing on natural gas, oil, and related infrastructure and services. * **Key Companies**: Antero Resources (AR), ARC Resources Ltd (ARX CN), Baker Hughes (BKR), ConocoPhillips (COP), Cenovus Energy (CVE CN), Chevron (CVX), Expand Energy (EXE), TechnipFMC (FTI), Pembina Pipeline Corp (PPL CN), Shell (SHEL), Scorpio Tankers (STNG), Tenaris S.A. (TEN), ExxonMobil (XOM), YPF S.A. (YPF) Key Themes and Insights 1. **US Natural Gas Demand Growth**: * **Demand Pull**: Improved permitting and infrastructure development expected to drive additional gas-fired generation and pipeline construction. * **LNG Exports**: Expectation for lifting of the "LNG Pause" benefiting infrastructure and natural gas producers. * **Storage Situation**: Tightening storage situation into the winter of 2025-26 due to rising production and demand. * **Appalachia**: Significant growth potential in natural gas power demand, driven by pipeline expansions and data center demand. 2. **Global Oil Macro**: * **Non-OPEC Supply Growth**: Expected to match global oil demand growth in 2025. * **Iran Sanctions**: Potential impact on global oil supply and prices. * **China Demand**: Significant contribution to global oil demand growth. 3. **US Oil Future Role**: * **Shale Maturity**: Oil sentiment negative, but oversupply thesis unlikely to dissipate. * **US Supply**: Wide dispersion in US oil supply, driving uncertainty. 4. **LNG Outlook**: * **Oversupply Thesis**: Pushed to the right due to project delays and higher-than-expected demand. * **North American LNG**: Expected to grow significantly, driven by operating, under-construction, and proposed projects. 5. **Global Refining S&D**: * **Capacity Closures**: Indicate marginally tighter supply and demand in the second half of 2025. * **Refining Margins**: Expected to remain under pressure due to excess cash balances and concerns over demand growth. 6. **Energy M&A**: * **E&P Consolidation**: Significant room for further M&A in the E&P sector. * **Midstream Services**: Likely to follow L48 E&P consolidation. 7. **Midstream**: * **Strong Demand Fundamentals**: Underpin volume growth across key North American basins. * **Valuations**: Expected to re-rate higher due to central bank policy easing and solid growth outlook. 8. **Shipping**: * **Iran Sanctions**: Potential for stricter enforcement under the Trump administration. * **Tanker Utilization**: Expected to increase, driving up spot rates for VLCCs and tankers. 9. **International Capex**: * **Onshore Capex**: Expected to remain flat in 2025. * **Offshore Capex**: Expected to increase in 2025, but decelerating trend is clear. Stock Picks * **Buy**: AR, ARX CN, BKR, COP, CVE CN, CVX, EXE, FTI, PPL CN, SHEL, STNG, TEN, XOM, YPF * **Hold**: APA, BRY, CNQ CN, CHRD, CIVI, DVN, ENB CN, EOG, HES, KEY CN, MUR, NOG, PPL, RRC, SUBC NO, TRP CN, TEN, YPF Conclusion The energy sector is expected to see significant growth in natural gas demand, driven by US LNG exports and global demand. Oil demand is expected to remain strong, but supply concerns and geopolitical factors could impact prices. Midstream and services companies are expected to benefit from strong demand fundamentals and improving valuations.

Industry Overview * **Incrementally Positive Outlook**: The lodging industry is expected to see incremental growth in 2025, driven by a stable macro environment, balanced fundamentals, and sustainable growth. * **Improving Interest Rate Outlook**: Three rate cuts in 2024 and two expected in 2025 are expected to ease construction financing and support growth for lodging companies. * **Consumer Strength**: The US consumer is expected to remain strong in 2025, supporting demand for lodging services. Company Analysis * **C-corps**: * **Revenue Growth**: Expected RevPAR growth of 1.5%-2.5% in 2025, with mid-priced segments leading the growth. * **Unit and Pipeline Growth**: C-corps are expected to continue growing organically through new brands, affiliation partnerships, and additional brand acquisitions. * **Non-RevPAR Fees**: Non-RevPAR fee growth, particularly credit card fees, is expected to be a significant driver of revenue growth. * **Valuations**: C-corp stocks are trading at higher valuations compared to REITs, reflecting their growth potential. * **REITs**: * **Renovations and Comparisons**: Easier comparisons due to recent renovations and the impact of labor activities and natural disasters. * **Capital Investments**: REITs are expected to benefit from capital investments in their portfolios, including renovations and new projects. * **Valuations**: REITs are trading at lower valuations compared to C-corps, reflecting their lower growth expectations. Key Picks * **C-corps**: Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (WH) is highlighted as a top pick due to its strong execution and solid long-term growth trajectory. * **REITs**: RHP (Host Hotels & Resorts) and XHR (Xenia Hotels & Resorts) are highlighted as top picks due to their earnings durability, group demand tailwinds, and capital investments in their portfolios. Additional Notes * The report includes detailed financial analysis and valuation models for each company. * The report also includes charts and graphs to visualize key trends and data points.

Industry and Company Overview * **Industry**: US Economy, North America * **Company**: Not specified, focus on broader economic analysis Key Points and Arguments 1. **Employment Report Preview**: The forecast for December payrolls is 150k, following November's 227k rise. The unemployment rate is expected to increase to 4.3% and average hourly earnings (AHE) to rise 0.3% [2]. 2. **Labor Market Trends**: The labor market is on solid footing but experiencing slower employment growth and cooling overall conditions in 2024. However, it is not softening as rapidly as it appeared last summer [7]. 3. **Retail Payrolls**: A rebound in retail payrolls is crucial for the December forecast. After a decline in November, retail employment is expected to rise by 10k, similar to the pattern seen in 2023 [9]. 4. **Labor Supply Uncertainty**: Slower immigration, particularly since July and August, is likely impacting payrolls and the unemployment rate. The exact timing and impact are difficult to estimate [8]. 5. **Industry Breakdown**: The forecasted payroll changes by industry show a mix of growth and decline across various sectors. Goods-producing industries are expected to see a decline, while service-producing industries are expected to see growth [22]. 6. **Average Hourly Earnings**: Forecasted to increase by 0.3% month-over-month and remain stable at 4.0% on a 12-month basis, indicating continued growth in aggregate labor market income outpacing inflation [23]. 7. **Unemployment Rate**: Expected to increase slightly to 4.3% in December, continuing its gradual uptrend. The labor force participation rate is expected to remain stable [24]. Other Important Content * **Exhibits**: The document includes several exhibits providing detailed data and analysis on various aspects of the labor market, including payroll changes, retail payrolls, immigration, and unemployment rate trends [3, 10, 15, 16, 22, 28, 29]. * **Disclosures**: The document includes a disclosure section outlining important information about the research, including conflicts of interest, valuation methodology, and risks associated with the recommendations [33-42].

Key Takeaways **Industry or Company Involved:** - Xiaomi Corp (1810.HK, 1810 HK) **Core Points and Arguments:** - **2024 EV Shipments**: Xiaomi's EV delivery volume exceeded 135k units in 2024, surpassing its annual delivery target [2]. - **2025 Shipments Target**: The company has raised its 2025 EV shipments target to 300k units, an increase from the previous target of ~250k units [2]. - **Product Mix Change**: In 2025, Xiaomi will introduce the SU7 Ultra and YU7 models, which are expected to have higher ASPs than the SU7 Basic, Pro, and Max models in 2024. This is expected to drive higher ASPs and better EV margins [3]. - **Execution in EV Business**: Xiaomi's strong delivery volume in 2024 and the higher shipment target for 2025 indicate excellent execution in the new EV business [3]. **Other Important Points:** - **Analyst's View**: The analyst maintains a positive view on Xiaomi's EV business and believes an upward revision of the shipment target is likely in 2025 [3]. - **Valuation Methodology**: The base case valuation uses a residual income (RI) model derived from the sum-of-the-parts methodology. The CoE for the smartphone business, IoT, and Internet Services is 11%, 11%, and 11.4%, respectively, with terminal growth rates of 3%, 3%, and 6% [8]. - **Risks**: Risks to upside include better-than-expected customer feedback for the first EV, good ramp-up for offline expansion in China, higher market share gain in overseas markets, and continued fierce EV competition in 2025. Risks to downside include smartphone gross margin pressure from inventory destocking and weak demand, and more concerns about smart EV investment [11]. **Additional Information:** - The document includes disclosures regarding the relationship between Morgan Stanley and the companies covered in its research, as well as important regulatory disclosures on subject companies [13, 16-19]. - The document also provides information on Morgan Stanley's stock ratings system and global stock ratings distribution [24-26]. - The document includes important disclosures for Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC customers and other important disclosures [35-37]. - The document provides information on Morgan Stanley's research policy, terms of use, and privacy policy [38-40]. - The document includes important regulatory disclosures on subject companies and other important disclosures [41-45]. - The document provides information on Morgan Stanley's industry coverage and stock ratings for various companies in the Greater China Technology Hardware sector [56-57].