Real-time News

June 18th - At 11:58 AM Beijing time on June 17, 2026, the Kuaizhou-11 Y13 carrier rocket was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, sending the Microspace 05 group of satellites into their predetermined orbit. The flight test mission was a success.

Hong Kong Monetary Authority: The Federal Reserve's decision to keep interest rates unchanged was in line with market expectations.

HSBC Hong Kong: The prime lending rate for Hong Kong dollars remains unchanged at 5%.

On June 18, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) responded to the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision, stating that the Fed's decision to maintain the current interest rate was in line with market expectations. The post-meeting statement indicated that inflation remained at a relatively high level, reflecting the Committee's concern about the inflation outlook. In Hong Kong, the money and financial markets continued to operate smoothly. Under the linked exchange rate system, Hong Kong dollar interbank rates generally converge with US dollar interest rates, while shorter-term interbank rates are also affected by the supply and demand of Hong Kong dollar funds in the local market, such as seasonal factors and capital market activity. Changes in US interest rates will depend on inflation trends, the employment market situation, and other economic data, which will also affect Hong Kong's interest rate environment. Citizens should fully consider and manage interest rate risks when making decisions regarding property purchases, investments, or borrowing. The HKMA will continue to closely monitor market changes and maintain monetary and financial stability.

On June 18th, the "Offshore Wind Power Review and Outlook" report was released in Shanghai yesterday (June 17th). The report shows that by 2025, my country's newly added grid-connected offshore wind power capacity will account for 78% of the global total, maintaining its leading position globally. In 2025, the global newly added grid-connected offshore wind power capacity will reach 9.252 million kilowatts, a year-on-year increase of 16%, of which the Chinese market contributed 7.192 million kilowatts, accounting for a high 78%. By the end of 2025, the global cumulative grid-connected offshore wind power capacity will reach 92.475 million kilowatts, with China accounting for 56% of the global total with a cumulative installed capacity of 52.042 million kilowatts, continuing to lead the world. The 15th Five-Year Plan clearly states the goal: to build offshore wind power bases in the Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and South China Sea, and to promote the standardized and orderly development of deep-sea wind power, with the cumulative grid-connected offshore wind power capacity reaching over 100 million kilowatts.

On June 18th, the Information Office of the Shandong Provincial People's Government held a routine policy briefing, inviting officials from the Provincial Department of Commerce and others to interpret the "Implementation Plan for Local Self-Determined Subsidies for Consumer Goods Trade-in Program in Shandong Province in 2026." To further improve the effectiveness of the consumer goods trade-in policy and meet the diversified consumption needs of the public, five departments, including the Provincial Department of Commerce, issued the "Implementation Plan for Local Self-Determined Subsidies for Consumer Goods Trade-in Program in Shandong Province in 2026," which officially came into effect on June 18th (today) and will end on December 31st, 2026. A total of eight categories are included in the province-wide self-subsidy program, including robotic vacuum cleaners (including floor scrubbers), mobility aids exoskeleton robots, smart toilets, range hoods, household gas stoves (including integrated stoves), water purifiers, dishwashers, and hearing aids.

On June 18th, local time, 36 satellites belonging to Amazon's Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite program were successfully launched from the Kourou Space Centre in French Guiana on the morning of June 17th. Approximately two hours later, all satellites were successfully deployed into their designated orbits. The launch was carried out by a European Ariane 6 launch vehicle. According to the contract, the Ariane 6 will carry out 18 launches to deploy the Amazon LEO satellites; this was the third launch.

On June 18th, OCBC Group Research analysts stated in a report that the Central Bank of Indonesia and the Central Bank of the Philippines are likely to raise interest rates by 25 basis points each later on Thursday. The Federal Reserve's decision to maintain interest rates likely indicates that these Southeast Asian central banks believe short-term capital flow volatility will persist, and in this context, their policy decisions will remain primarily driven by inflation and macroeconomic stability factors. OCBC noted that the expected rate hike by the Central Bank of Indonesia will be consistent with its policy objective of preventing further deterioration of market sentiment.

On June 18th, Federal Reserve officials hinted on Wednesday that they may soon need to raise interest rates rather than cut them, a sharp shift in thinking against the backdrop of rapidly rising inflation. Krishna Guha, an analyst at Evercore ISI, said that the decline in energy prices could provide some relief in the coming months. However, he warned that the interest rate outlook has decoupled from oil prices, suggesting a deeper uncertainty about whether underlying inflation will cool enough that the Fed will not ultimately have to raise rates. Guha stated that in addition to energy, two other pressures remain: the continued transmission effects of tariffs and the cost spillover from the investment boom in artificial intelligence infrastructure. Claudia Sam, chief economist at New Century Advisors and a former Fed economist, said that she has not yet seen the conditions that would typically prompt the Fed to respond to supply-driven inflation—an overheated labor market or a loss of anchor in inflation expectations. But she acknowledged that the case for action is accumulating. “I can understand the view that the Fed should be prepared to intervene and raise rates if things worsen,” she said. The Fed may act faster than it did during the pandemic when inflation surged because “they are already having this debate.”

According to TASS, the local mayor said that drones attacked a Moscow oil refinery.

On June 18th, at the opening of the 2026 Hong Kong Auto Show, Geely Remote New Energy Commercial Vehicle and Cao Cao Mobility (02643.HK) reached a strategic cooperation agreement to jointly promote the large-scale deployment of Robovans. According to the plan, by 2030, the two companies will have deployed a total of 100,000 Geely Remote Robovan Prodigy T6 vehicles. Guided by the "One Geely" strategy, the two companies will accelerate the construction of an intelligent logistics network for the AI era through deep collaboration in the operation of new energy commercial vehicles and logistics scenarios, jointly creating a comprehensive green and intelligent transportation new energy ecosystem solution.

On June 18, Li Chao, Deputy Director of the Policy Research Office and Spokesperson of the National Development and Reform Commission, stated at a press conference that achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality is not only an inevitable requirement for achieving high-quality development and promoting modernization in harmony with nature, but also a solemn commitment my country, as a responsible major power, has made to the international community. We will work with relevant departments and local governments to simultaneously address both existing and new carbon emissions. Regarding existing carbon emissions, we will focus on nine key industries, including steel, electrolytic aluminum, cement, flat glass, oil refining, ethylene, synthetic ammonia, methanol, and coal-fired power, implementing a three-year action plan for energy conservation and carbon reduction transformation, creating more space for new projects in high-energy-consuming and high-polluting sectors to implement carbon emission replacement at the same or reduced level. Regarding new carbon emissions, we will promote the optimization of energy structure in new projects, actively develop new models such as green direct supply, increase the proportion of non-fossil energy use, and reduce carbon emission levels. Next, we will encourage local governments to expand investment in zero-carbon industrial parks and zero-carbon transportation corridors, accelerate the realization of new clean energy power generation covering the entire society's new electricity demand, and continuously cultivate new drivers for green and low-carbon development.

The main Shanghai silver futures contract fell 2.00% during the day, currently trading at 16,478.00 yuan/kg.

On June 18th, a recent report by an international organization claimed that the growth of Chinese companies' global market share in some key sectors was mainly due to government subsidies. On the same day, Li Chao, Deputy Director of the Policy Research Office and spokesperson for the National Development and Reform Commission, responded at a press conference, stating that simply attributing China's industrial competitiveness to so-called "subsidies" is not only overly simplistic but also completely wrong. China's industrial competitiveness stems from the intensive development of its massive market, the efficient collaboration of its complete industrial system, the long-term accumulation of education, science and technology, and talent, and the continuous optimization of its business environment.

On June 18th, Li Chao, Deputy Director of the Policy Research Office and Spokesperson of the National Development and Reform Commission, responded at a press conference that my country has made positive progress in computing-power synergy and computing-network integration in recent years. However, we also see that the synergy between computing networks and new power grids still faces some obstacles in planning, construction, and pricing mechanisms. The integration of computing networks with next-generation communication networks needs further strengthening, and breakthroughs are needed in computing power monitoring and scheduling technologies and mechanisms. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, we will pay more attention to supply and demand matching and strengthen the coordinated planning and construction of computing networks with new power grids and next-generation communication networks. In terms of "hard investment," we will explore more effective computing-power synergy models to achieve a balance between electricity and computing power; strengthen computing-network integration and innovation; appropriately promote the expansion of direct connection lines between national hubs; and further reduce network transmission latency. In terms of "soft infrastructure," we will strengthen the monitoring and market-based scheduling of computing resources and accelerate the construction of a nationwide integrated computing network that is interconnected, accessible, green, and secure.

On June 18, Li Chao, Deputy Director of the Policy Research Office and Spokesperson of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), responded at a press conference that the NDRC will work with relevant departments to issue and implement the "15th Five-Year Plan" for modern logistics. This plan will coordinate various funding channels to support both the upgrading of existing logistics facilities and the construction of new facilities, promote the formation of a comprehensive logistics infrastructure network, enhance the adaptability and support of logistics facilities for industrial development, densify the urban and rural last-mile logistics network, accelerate the development of digital, intelligent, and green logistics facilities and equipment, and promote the improvement of the logistics network by addressing its shortcomings, ensuring smooth connectivity, and enhancing its capabilities. The goal is to achieve a systemic transformation from simply having a logistics network to having a high-quality one, and from merely having access to truly efficient and effective logistics. The objective is to establish by 2030 a logistics network that is closely integrated with industries and consumption, connects channels and networks both internally and externally, features green and intelligent facilities and equipment, and ensures comprehensive interconnection of rules and information, thereby better serving the high-quality development of the real economy.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara: We will continue to closely monitor the financial markets.

June 18th - According to the Washington Post Editorial Committee, the Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged, and newly appointed Chairman Warsh stated that the Fed under his leadership is unanimously and unequivocally committed to controlling inflation. This will be a long road, but he has passed his first major test since taking office. Furthermore, at his first meeting as chairman, Warsh ended the practice of issuing forward guidance, but the Fed still released a dot plot. The latest dot plot shows that nine members expect a rate hike before the end of the year, eight expect no change, and one expects a rate cut. Warsh himself did not submit his own forecast. His reasoning was that the market should price based on how investors interpret real-time economic data, not on what the Fed might do. He joked that all forecasts were submitted in pencil and could be erased and rewritten at any time before the Board meets again in six weeks. Warsh faces a tricky balancing act: demonstrating the central bank's independence while avoiding angering Trump, who just nominated him for a four-year term. Trump has made no secret of his desire for rate cuts, but recently stated that Warsh should "do whatever he wants." Walsh declined to answer whether he had spoken with Trump since taking office. The real test of his independence will come in the coming months.

On June 18, officials from the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security answered reporters' questions regarding the "15th Five-Year Plan for Implementing the Employment-First Strategy," stating that the plan outlines nine key tasks. These include strengthening the employment-first orientation of macro-control, enhancing the synergy of macro-policies on employment, implementing actions to stabilize, expand, and improve employment, and adapting to the development of artificial intelligence to promote employment and entrepreneurship; strengthening industrial and employment coordination, stabilizing employment in labor-intensive industries, expanding the employment capacity of the service sector, and tapping the employment potential of emerging fields; and strengthening the protection of workers' employment rights, improving the labor standards system and labor relations consultation and coordination mechanisms, and guaranteeing equal employment rights.

The yield on Japan's 20-year government bonds rose 1.5 basis points to 3.510%.