China gives most forceful signal since 2022 to slow yuan gains

Economic

Summary:

China set a much weaker yuan fixing to slow the currency’s rapid appreciation, signaling a desire for gradual gains that support sentiment while avoiding pressure on exporters and maintaining stability.

China set its daily reference rate for the yuan at a level that was significantly weaker than estimated by traders and analysts, suggesting the central bank is aiming to cool gains in the managed currency.

The People’s Bank of China set the so-called fixing at 7.0733 per dollar, 164 pips from the average estimate in a Bloomberg survey. The gap between the fixing, which limits the onshore yuan’s moves by 2% on either side, and the forecast was the widest to the weak side since February 2022.

The yuan fell 0.1% in both onshore and overseas trading Thursday morning, after rising to the strongest level versus the dollar in more than a year this week. Versus a basket of currencies, it has been trading near the highest since April.

China’s central bank is trying to engineer a calibrated ascent in the yuan that reflects stronger sentiment toward local assets and a weaker dollar, but also keeps its export engine humming. While the currency’s rally may be a vote of confidence from returning capital and thawing US relations, it may pose a risk for the nation’s exporters as it reduces the competitive advantage of their products.

“Obviously, the PBOC is leaning against the appreciating momentum of the yuan,” said Fiona Lim, a senior foreign-exchange analyst at Malayan Banking Berhad in Singapore. “There are reasons for yuan to appreciate but the PBOC has started to ensure that the appreciation pace continues to remain gradual.”

China gives most forceful signal since 2022 to slow yuan gains_1

China Moves to Slow Yuan Gains With Daily Fixing

Thursday’s fixing came in weaker than all 10 estimates submitted by those surveyed by Bloomberg. Still, it was slightly stronger than the previous session’s level, reflecting the greenback’s drop overnight.

There’s also evidence that China is using more direct tools to limit gains than the fixing. In recent weeks, state-owned banks have been buying dollars from time to time to slow the yuan’s rally, according to traders who asked not to be named as they are not authorized to speak publicly.

Before Thursday, the yuan had been inching toward the key psychological level of 7 amid a rally in local stocks and a slump in the dollar due to concerns over US’s fiscal conditions. Momentum has grown following an unexpected call between US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, and a potential Trump visit to the Asian nation next year.

“We do not expect the 7 level to be tested for the rest of this year, but it likely will be breached at some point next year,” said Lynn Song, chief economist for ING. “Currency stability has been useful to provide a stable environment for foreign trade and investment, and it has also been key to help avoid another area of market uncertainty when we are already in a period where uncertainty runs rampant.”

Hedge funds on Wednesday sold dollars against the offshore yuan in the cash market and made trades in the option market that benefit from declines in the dollar-yuan currency pair, according to traders.

The yuan’s strengthening shows how much things have changed since Trump’s earlier trade war in 2018-19. Back then, the Chinese economy was heavily reliant on US consumers — but the country has since diversified its exports toward the so-called Global South and extended its dominance in critical supply chains, such as rare earths.

Still, on a trade-weighted basis, the yuan doesn’t look that strong yet. Despite recent gains, China’s real effective exchange rate, which strips out the impacts of inflation, is close to the lowest since 2011, according to data from the Bank for International Settlements.

The fixing “suggests the authorities are seeking to manage the pace of yuan appreciation, but importantly they are not trying to halt it,” said Khoon Goh, head of Asia research at Australia & New Zealand Banking Group in Singapore. “Most likely the authorities want a smoother path of appreciation for the currency, especially with expected foreign-exchange volatility ahead.”

Source: Bloomberg

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Justin

Stocks

Economic

Summary:

· U.S. data center power demand could reach 106 GW in 2035, BloombergNEF said Monday in one of the more aggressive load growth estimates to date. The U.S. had about 25 GW of operating data centers in 2024, Bloom Energy said earlier this year.

· BloombergNEF's latest forecast is 36% higher than its previous prediction, released in April. The jump is due in part to the higher average size of the 150 significant U.S. data center projects announced in the past year, over a quarter of which are larger than 500 MW, BNEF said.

· The Energy Information Administration, which tracks demand for the federal government, generally only publishes detailed projections out two or three years, and few other analyses have attempted firm forecasts as far out as 2035.

BNEF's report comes as some energy industry analysts and executives warn that an artificial intelligence bubble or speculative data center proposals could be fueling excessive load growth projections.

A report from Grid Strategies released last month said utility forecasts of 90 GW additional data center load by 2030 were likely overstated; market analysis indicates load growth in that time frame is likely closer to 65 GW, it said.

A July report from the Department of Energy estimated an additional 100 GW of new peak capacity is needed by 2030, of which 50 GW is attributable to data centers. Those facilities could account for as much as 12% of peak demand by 2028, according to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

BNEF's data center project tracker shows the industry diversifying beyond traditional data center hubs like Northern Virginia, metro Atlanta and central Ohio into exurban and rural regions served by existing fiber-optic trunk lines for data traffic.

A map of under-construction, committed and early-stage projects shows gigawatts of planned data center capacity spreading south through Virginia and the Carolinas, up through eastern Pennsylvania and outward from Chicago along the Lake Michigan shore. More data centers are also planned for Texas and the Gulf Coast states.

Much of the capacity is poised to materialize on grids overseen by the PJM Interconnection, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. BNEF predicts PJM alone could add 31 GW of data center load over the next five years, about 3 GW more than expected capacity additions from new generation.

With the expected surge, the North American Electric Reliability Corp. warned late last year of "elevated risk" of summer electricity shortfalls this year, in 2026 and onward in all three regions.

Some experts disputed NERC's methodology, however. MISO's independent market monitor said in June that the group's analysis was flawed and that MISO was in a better position than grid regions not expected to see exponential data center growth, like ISO New England and the New York Independent System Operator.

Other technology and energy system analysts expect a significant amount of proposed data center capacity to dissipate in the coming years due to chip shortages, duplicative permit requests and other factors.

In July, London Economics International said in a report prepared for the Southern Environmental Law Center that meeting projections for U.S. data center load in 2030 would require 90% of global chip supply — a scenario it called "unrealistic."

Patricia Taylor, director of policy and research at the American Public Power Association, told Utility Dive earlier this year that it's common for data center developers to "shop around" the same project across neighboring jurisdictions.

Still, U.S. grid operators face an "inflection moment" as they balance the desire to accommodate large-scale data centers with the obligation to ensure reliable service for all customers, BNEF said.

Source: Zero Hedge

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Adam

Economic

Kevin Hassett may not have the ability to deliver the rapid pace of interest rate cuts US President Donald Trump would like, even if he is approved as the next Federal Reserve Chair, said Gregory Peters, co-chief investment officer at PGIM Fixed Income.

Peters made the remarks amid rising talk that Hassett, the White House National Economic Council Director, may ease monetary policy aggressively to please Trump if he is picked to run the Fed. But the PGIM fund manager suggested that — since Fed rate decisions are ultimately decided by committee — Hassett won’t have the power to deliver on his own.

“Does he have the credibility within the committee to drive consensus?” said Peters, who is also a member of the Treasury Borrowing Advisory Committee, in an interview with Bloomberg TV. “We don’t know that answer. I don’t think he has that credibility. I think that’s what the bond market is telling you.”

Peters’ remarks were in response to a Financial Times report that bond investors, including those on the borrowing advisory committee, have voiced concerns to the US Treasury about Hassett’s potential appointment as the Fed chief.

His comments come as bond traders and big macro fund managers game out the impact of Trump’s shake-up of the Fed, where even hints of policy changes can send ripples throughout global markets. The rising chance that Trump will appoint a dovish Fed chair follows his months of unprecedented attacks on the institution, including insults aimed at Powell and an attempt to oust board member Lisa Cook.

Hassett is widely considered a supporter of Trump’s preference for lower rates. Trump said this week the race for the central bank chief job is “down to one” while referring to Hassett as a “potential Fed chair.”

Hassett, while remaining coy about his chances of getting the job, rebuffed criticisms this week, citing a strong Treasury auction as a sign the market hasn’t been scared by the rumors he will take the job. But some traders have piled into bets that the pace of rate cuts is set to pick up, with such positions building after Hassett emerged as the frontrunner.

The rising chance of Hassett getting the job has fueled questions about the independence of the Fed, which Peters said remains a major concern for investors.

“The markets are focused on what happens next,” said Peters. “And what happens next is the new Fed chair, the new composition and quite candidly the meddling of the administration in Fed affairs.“

Still, yields on Treasuries were little changed during Asian trading on Thursday. Those on benchmark 10-year Treasuries held at 4.08% in Asia morning trading Thursday, while yields on policy-sensitive two-year notes edged up one basis point to 3.50%.

Investors are “worried about Fed independence slash credibility and so risk premium, term premium is being built into the curve not only in the US but across all sovereign bond markets,” said Peters. “It depends where you are - the bond market in the back end is still quite fragile.”

Market Doubts Hassett Can Deliver at Fed, Says PGIM’s Peters_1

Source: Bloomberg

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Olivia Brooks

Cryptocurrency

Last week, Bitcoin (BTC) rose nearly fifteen percent to over $93,000. However, this recovery didn't last. BTC experienced heavy selling on Monday, falling to $84,000, marking a rough start to both the week and December, the last month of the year.

However, this selling wave was short-lived. Bitcoin and altcoins quickly recovered after two days of declines.

As BTC surged back above $93,000, these sudden price swings have divided the market. Some analysts say the decline could continue, while others argue that Bitcoin is holding onto a strong support area and a bottom is near.

Has Bitcoin Really Bottomed?

At this point, Bitfinex analysts also took the side that argued that the bottom was near.

Bitfinex argued in its weekly Alpha report that the Bitcoin price is showing signs of bottoming out.

The exchange pointed to several indicators, including excessive deleveraging, capitulation by short-term holders, and seller exhaustion, where selling pressure is rapidly diminishing, suggesting that Bitcoin is very close to the cycle bottom.

"The recent recovery aligns with our previous view that the market is approaching a local bottom in terms of time, although we don't yet know if we've seen a bottom in terms of price."

According to Bitfinex analysts, these factors suggest that the Bitcoin price has entered a stabilization phase, creating the necessary conditions for a sustained recovery in the short term.

While Bitfinex analysts stated that there are many indicators pointing to a bottom in Bitcoin, one analyst said that it is too early to say that Bitcoin has reached the bottom.

It's Too Early to Talk About a Bottom in Bitcoin!

Cryptocurrency analyst Ted Pillows argued in his latest analysis that it is too early to confirm a bottom has formed for Bitcoin because the asset has not yet established clear support.

Pillows noted that his bottom predictions were weakened as BTC failed to hold key support levels like $100,000, $95,000, and $90,000 and easily fell below them.

Stating that BTC is currently stuck at the $93,000-$94,000 level and cannot create a stable support, the analyst said that an upward break of this level again would open the door to $100,000.

On the other hand, a rejection from this level could push Bitcoin back below the $90,000 level.

Source: CryptoSlate

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Adam

Commodity

Although gold has yet to reach October’s all-time highs above $4,360 an ounce, the price is trading close to its fair value, according to one market strategist.

In a recent interview with Kitco News, Nitesh Shah, Head of Commodities & Macroeconomic Research at WisdomTree, said that with so much uncertainty surging through the global economy, it's not surprising that the gold market, despite its volatility, continues to establish higher support levels at each new breakout.

He added that investors waiting for bigger pullbacks will continue to be disappointed, as the precious metal is expected to find solid support from growing economic weakness, which will force the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates next week and through 2026, pushing nominal and real bond yields lower and weakening the U.S. dollar.

Although gold was unable to hold its ground above $4,360 an ounce in October and faced significant profit-taking, the selling pressure has been limited, with support holding above $4,000 an ounce.

After a brief consolidation period, gold continues to hold its ground, building support around $4,200.

“After October’s rally, we have seen a healthy pullback, and I think where we are today is probably where we should be,” he said. “Gold is doing exactly what one would expect it to do in a world with rising government debt and falling interest rates.”

Although many investors have been focused on gold’s upside potential, Shah has spent more time modeling his bear-case scenario.

He noted that there is a risk gold could drop back to $3,800 an ounce, but his modeling suggests that the market remains well supported at that level.

“We can get below $4,000, but it will take a significant effort to get there. One could see it as almost an impossibility,” he said.

In his bearish scenario, Shah said that interest rates would have to rise back to 5%. However, he added that if this were to happen, the U.S. economy would likely fall into a recession, making gold an attractive safe-haven asset.

“You would have to see a scenario where economic activity is so high that interest rates have to go higher and investors don’t see the need for holding gold anymore,” he said. “That just seems impossible right now. Every time gold finds a new support level, we are hit with new uncertainty that sparks another rally.”

In recent days, gold has found new momentum after market expectations shifted dramatically once again. Last month, markets aggressively started pricing out a rate cut in December, but disappointing economic data has now caused the pendulum to swing the other way, with markets now pricing in nearly a 90% chance of a cut.

Shah said that although next week’s monetary policy meeting will be important in setting the tone ahead of the new year, the bigger support for gold remains the uncertainty over who will lead the central bank when Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s term ends in May.

He added that any political pressure affecting the central bank’s independence would be extremely supportive for gold.

Shah also said that any questions surrounding the Federal Reserve’s independence could prompt other central banks to further diversify into gold and away from the U.S. dollar.

Source: kitco

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Justin

Commodity

Saudi Arabia cut the price of its main crude grade to Asia to the lowest level in five years, amid persistent signs of a surplus in global oil markets.

State producer Saudi Aramco will reduce the price of its flagship Arab Light crude grade to a 60 cents premium to the regional benchmark for January, according to a price list seen by Bloomberg. That's the lowest since January 2021. The cut was fractionally bigger than an expected 30 cents a barrel reduction, according to a survey of refiners and traders.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies affirmed over the weekend a previous decision to pause production increases in the first quarter of next year. They will then consider resuming a program to roll back output quotas as the group seeks to reclaim market share. OPEC+ is eyeing weaker seasonal demand during winter months across much of Asia, Europe and North America.

Crude prices are down about 16% this year as booming supply from the Americas in tandem with hikes from the OPEC+ grouping itself exceeded subdued demand growth. The International Energy Agency has predicted a record glut in 2026, while Wall Street banks including Goldman Sachs Group Inc. see futures heading lower. Oil markets have also had to navigate the impacts of global trade disputes, wars and sanctions through this year.

Source: Bloomberg Europe

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Justin

Political

Economic

President Donald Trump pardoned longtime sports and entertainment executive Tim Leiweke after he was criminally charged in July with bid-rigging related to the development of an arena at the University of Texas.

The Justice Department posted a notice of the pardon on its website on Wednesday afternoon. The notice was dated Dec. 2. The move stands out because the pardon comes just months after Leiweke was charged by the Justice Department under Trump's administration.

Leiweke expressed "profound gratitude" to Trump. "The president has given us a new lease on life with which we will be grateful and good stewards," he said in a statement.

The pardon also comes just before Leiweke is scheduled to be deposed by lawyers for the Justice Department and Live Nation Entertainment Inc. on Thursday in the DOJ's separate civil antitrust case against the company and its subsidiary Ticketmaster, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be named discussing a confidential matter.

Leiweke earlier unsuccessfully tried to avoid the deposition, citing liability from then pending criminal charges, according to court records.

A trial in the DOJ's antitrust case against Live Nation is set to start in early March in New York.

Spokespeople for the White House, DOJ and Live Nation didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for Leiweke had no immediate comment on the deposition.

Leiweke's former company, Oak View Group LLC, entered into a non-prosecution agreement with the Justice Department that was announced in July and agreed to pay a fine of $15 million. Leiweke stepped down from his post as Oak View chief executive officer shortly after the charges were filed.

"We are happy for Tim that he can now put this matter behind him," Oak View Group said in a statement. "OVG has remained steadfastly focused on delivering exceptional outcomes for our clients under the leadership of our CEO Chris Granger."

The criminal case against Leiweke related to allegations that Oak View illegally coordinated with its rival Legends on the bidding to develop and operate the Moody Center, a $338 million arena at the University of Texas in Austin. Oak View ultimately won the contract in 2018 and the venue opened in 2022. Legends also signed a non-prosecution agreement with the Justice Department, resolving its case.