Real-time News

On December 12th, the overnight SHIBOR was reported at 1.2790%, down 0.40 basis points; the 7-day SHIBOR was reported at 1.4510%, up 1.90 basis points; the 14-day SHIBOR was reported at 1.5090%, up 0.90 basis points; the 1-month SHIBOR was reported at 1.5250%, up 0.10 basis points; and the 3-month SHIBOR was reported at 1.5850%, up 0.10 basis points.

December 12th - According to a report by Nikkei Asia citing sources, TSMC is considering switching its Kumamoto Fab 2 process to the more advanced 4nm technology due to declining demand for 6nm and 7nm chips, originally planned for production, as major clients like Nvidia have begun to switch to more advanced chips. This move could delay mass production and require redesign of the plant, potentially forcing a postponement of the planned mass production by the end of 2027. Nikkei reports that construction at the Kumamoto Fab 2 has suddenly halted, with almost all large construction equipment absent, and suppliers have confirmed receiving notices of the work stoppage. TSMC has neither confirmed nor denied the news of the Kumamoto Fab 2 shutdown, stating only that the Japanese project will continue and that the company will not comment on market rumors or speculation.

CNPC Research Department: With the continued advancement of urbanization, urban gas demand still has huge growth potential in the next decade.

On December 12th, Australian Prime Minister Barnes endorsed a government bailout plan to address rising energy costs, with Australia's largest aluminum smelter expected to continue operating beyond 2028. Barnes announced the financial support at the Tomago smelter site on Friday. This followed months of warnings from Rio Tinto, the plant's owner, that the plant could face closure as existing power supply contracts expire later this year. Barnes stated that the federal and New South Wales governments will work with the company to finalize the details of the agreement. "We are working with the NSW government to ensure a long-term energy solution beyond 2028 is found," Barnes said.

The Japanese government issued an emergency earthquake warning for Aomori, Hokkaido, and Iwate prefectures.

South Korean Finance Minister Koo Yoon-cheol: South Korea and the United States will establish a joint free trade agreement committee to implement the tariff agreement.

HSBC Holdings (00005.HK) rose 2.5%, with its share price hitting a record high of HK$117, and has risen more than 65% year-to-date.

On December 12th, the National Energy Administration issued the "Measures for the Management of Data Security in the Energy Industry (Trial Implementation)." The measures stipulate that energy data processors should fulfill their data security protection responsibilities and obligations in accordance with laws and regulations. Processors of important and core data in the energy industry bear primary responsibility for their own data security and should designate a data security officer and management organization. The legal representative or principal person in charge of the organization is the first person responsible for data security, and the leader in charge of data security is directly responsible. Central energy enterprises are responsible for supervising and managing the data processing activities and security protection of their subsidiaries and holding companies at all levels.

December 12th - CounterPoint Research predicts that global shipments of foldable phone panels are expected to grow by 46% year-on-year in 2026, strongly driven by demand for panels for Apple's first foldable iPhone. Samsung Display, with its deep technological expertise and production capacity advantages, is expected to capture over 50% of the market share, becoming the biggest beneficiary of this growth.

On Friday, December 12, the Hang Seng Index opened 230.9 points higher, or 0.9%, at 25,761.41; the Hang Seng Tech Index opened 56.56 points higher, or 1.02%, at 5,591.15; the H-share Index opened 78.78 points higher, or 0.88%, at 9,013.06; and the Red Chip Index opened 17.19 points higher, or 0.42%, at 4,119.82.

The yield on 20-year Japanese government bonds fell 1.5 basis points to 2.895%.

Market news: Venezuelan President Maduro stated that the oil tanker seized by the United States was carrying 1.9 million barrels of oil.

Futures News, December 12th: Overnight oil prices trended downwards, and news in the fuel oil market was bearish. Market trading was moderate, with downstream buyers purchasing only as needed and mainly for immediate needs. Refinery shipments were sluggish. It is expected that today's negotiations will remain generally stable, with some minor declines in individual cases.

December 12th - It was learned today from the National Medical Products Administration that the "Three-Year Action Plan for Improving the Production Quality Management System of Cosmetic Enterprises (2026-2028)" has just been released. The regulatory authorities will help small and medium-sized cosmetic enterprises overcome difficulties such as insufficient compliance of raw materials and inconsistencies between production processes and registration documents, improve the quality management capabilities of key personnel, encourage provincial drug regulatory departments to formulate quality management review requirements adapted to digital production, promote systems such as "release from external warehouses," and explore the use of artificial intelligence and other means to assist in inspection and risk assessment.

Uber (UBER.N) expects to offer self-driving taxi services in more than a dozen markets by the end of next year, and the company is discussing rules for the self-driving service with regulators.

The White House: The Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will review all rules, regulations, guidelines, announcements, and memoranda related to proxy counsel.