Real-time News

The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development recently released a draft of the national standard "Design Standard for Data Centers" for public comment.

January 15th, Futures News: Economies.com analysts' latest view: WTI crude oil futures prices fell sharply during the previous trading day, after hitting the $62.00 resistance level, which was a key target in our previous analysis. The arrival of this key resistance level triggered significant profit-taking after the previous strong rally.

January 15th, Futures News: Economies.com analysts' latest view: Brent crude oil futures prices retreated sharply during intraday trading, having previously reached our target resistance level of $66.00. The price pullback is primarily to digest previous gains and attempt to correct the clearly overbought condition on the Relative Strength Index (RSI), especially given the negative signal from this indicator. The current pullback helps accumulate new bullish momentum, which may provide support for a subsequent rebound and further gains. Meanwhile, prices remain above the 50-day EMA, continuing to be driven by positive momentum, and the main upward trend remains dominant in the short term.

Sources say IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva has arrived in Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian officials and business executives.

On January 15, 2026, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister, met with Canadian Foreign Minister Anand in Beijing. Wang Yi stated that Prime Minister Carney's visit to China marks the first visit by a Canadian prime minister in eight years, and is of pivotal and symbolic significance for bilateral relations. The two leaders will hold meetings and talks, which he believes will open new prospects for bilateral relations. China is willing to strengthen communication with Canada, enhance trust, eliminate interference, deepen cooperation, and promote the steady, solid, and sound development of bilateral relations under the new circumstances. Wang Yi stated that both sides should view each other rationally, amicably, and inclusively, handle issues with mutual respect, focus on the cooperation agenda, release positive messages, provide positive expectations for the development of bilateral relations, inject more confidence, and jointly build a new type of strategic partnership between China and Canada. Anand stated that the new Canadian government attaches great importance to its relations with China. Prime Minister Carney looks forward to in-depth communication and exchanges with Chinese leaders during this visit, clarifying the direction of bilateral relations, restarting dialogue in various fields, promoting more mutually beneficial outcomes, strengthening coordination and cooperation on multilateral affairs, and further developing the strategic partnership between the two countries.

A Reuters poll showed that 52% of economists said the risk of the Bank of Japan falling behind the inflation curve was neither high nor low.

A Reuters poll showed the median forecast for the Bank of Japan's interest rate peak at 1.50%, up from 1.00% in a February 2025 survey.

A Reuters poll showed that 60% of economists expect the Bank of Japan to raise interest rates once in 2026, while 31% expect two rate hikes.

A Reuters poll showed that 97% of economists (65 out of 67) expect the Bank of Japan to keep interest rates unchanged until March.

January 15 - According to foreign media reports on the 15th, the Indian Embassy in Iran posted on social media on the evening of the 14th, advising Indian citizens currently in Iran to leave Iran by feasible means of transportation.

On January 15th, the Hang Seng Index opened slightly lower but briefly rebounded, rising over 200 points to a high of 27206.84 before declining again. The Hang Seng Tech Index saw a significant correction this morning, falling nearly 2% before midday. At midday close, the Hang Seng Index closed down 0.55% at 26850.78 points, and the Tech Index closed down 1.83% at 5799.85 points. Total turnover for the Hang Seng Index reached HK$163.897 billion. On the sector front, mainland property stocks and lithium battery stocks led the gains, while AI application stocks showed mixed performance, with AI healthcare stocks leading the decline. Gold stocks rose and then fell back, and gaming stocks were among the biggest losers. In terms of individual stocks, Zhipu (02513.HK) closed up 4.72%; Ganfeng Lithium (01772.HK) closed up 5.32%; Trip.com (09961.HK) closed down 19.65%; Alibaba Health (00241.HK) closed down 8.48%; and Zijin Mining (02899.HK) closed down 2.25%.

On January 15th, futures market news reported that PTA prices have been relatively stable recently, fluctuating within a range of less than 100 yuan/ton, reflecting a tug-of-war between cost support and declining demand. Escalating tensions in a Middle Eastern country and the possibility of US action have kept risk premiums high, leading to increases in European and American crude oil futures. Additionally, Zhejiang Petrochemical's PX plant will reduce its operating rate, providing cost support for PTA. However, downstream polyester plants announced more maintenance plans this week, releasing the impact of the off-season demand, which is bearish for PTA prices and the basis. In the short term, attention should be paid to the impact of Middle Eastern geopolitical issues on crude oil and whether polyester plants will conduct maintenance ahead of schedule. PTA prices are expected to remain stable in the short term.

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda: Adjusting the level of monetary support will help us achieve our price target smoothly and bring about sustainable growth.

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda: The mechanism of moderate, synchronized wage and price increases is expected to continue; if the economic and price trends meet expectations, the Bank of Japan anticipates continuing its pace of interest rate hikes.

The South Korean won fell 0.6% against the US dollar to 1,472.60.

On January 15th, the Ministry of Finance issued a notice revising the "Management Measures for Key Ecological Protection, Restoration and Governance Funds," clarifying the financial support policies for integrated protection and restoration projects of mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes, grasslands, and deserts, as well as ecological restoration projects of historically abandoned mines during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. The revision aims to standardize the use and management of funds and promote ecosystem protection and restoration. Eligible key ecological protection, restoration and governance projects will have a three-year implementation period. Regarding central government subsidies, support for integrated protection and restoration projects of mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes, grasslands, and deserts (also known as the "Mountain and Water Project") has been increased, raising the central government subsidy ratio. Projects within a province will receive a maximum subsidy of 75%, not exceeding 2 billion yuan. For the first time, cross-provincial joint applications for projects are explicitly supported, with cross-provincial projects receiving a maximum subsidy of 80%, not exceeding 2.5 billion yuan.

On January 15th, Capital Economics analyst Marcel Tiliant pointed out that the upcoming Japanese general election is unlikely to lead to a significant easing of fiscal policy. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's cabinet has the highest approval rating since the early days of Shinzo Abe's administration, and the ruling coalition is expected to almost certainly extend its majority. However, he questions whether this will necessarily lead to a more accommodative fiscal policy. He stated that the massive supplementary budget passed last year to reduce gasoline surcharges and electricity prices has weakened the case for further fiscal expansion. Furthermore, Japan already plans to increase spending in its regular budget for fiscal year 2026. Any additional fiscal easing would require another supplementary budget, which Japan typically only uses in response to severe natural disasters or major economic turmoil.

On January 15th, according to Qichacha APP, Qiji Automotive Technology (Suqian) Co., Ltd. was recently established, with Xiao Ning as its legal representative. Its business scope includes: automotive parts R&D; new material technology R&D; artificial intelligence public data platform; artificial intelligence hardware sales; and intelligent robot R&D. Qichacha's equity penetration analysis shows that the company is wholly owned by Qiji Automotive Technology (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd., which is jointly owned by Juexing Gongjin (Guangzhou) Automotive Technology Partnership (Limited Partnership), GAC Group, and others.

South Korea's Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy stated that the country will continue to monitor developments in US chip tariffs in order to minimize the impact on the domestic market.

According to foreign media reports on January 15th, data released by the Petroleum Institute of Japan (PAJ) shows that as of the week ending January 10th, Japan's commercial crude oil inventories were 9.9858 million kiloliters, a decrease of 367,647 kiloliters from the previous week's 10.3534 million kiloliters. Japan's commercial gasoline inventories were 1.6824 million kiloliters, a decrease of 13,325 kiloliters from the previous week's 1.6958 million kiloliters. Japan's commercial kerosene inventories were 2.0711 million kiloliters, a decrease of 156,230 kiloliters from the previous week's 2.2274 million kiloliters. Japan's commercial diesel inventories were 1.6332 million kiloliters, a decrease of 11,847 kiloliters from the previous week's 1.645 million kiloliters.