Squawk Box Europe Express

TikTok is reinstated Stateside following assurances from President-elect Trump who declares the social media giant’s operation as key to U.S. businesses and jobs. Ahead of his inauguration later today, Trump has pledged to sign close to 100 executive orders in his first few hours in office. In the Middle East, Hamas returns 3 October 7th hostages in return for 90 Palestinian prisoners as the Gaza ceasefire deal comes into effect. We hear from TSMC CFO Wendell Huang who says he expects funding from the Chips Act to continue under Trump’s leadership. He reveals that the Taiwanese chip giant has already received $1.5bn in government support.  

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China posts growth of 5 per cent for 2024, achieving government targets following a strong Q4 which was driven by resilient export numbers and stimulus measures from Beijing. Apple stocks weigh on Wall Street with the iPhone maker suffering its worst session since August on the back of poor sales of its handsets in China. In France, Prime Minister Francois Bayrou survives a no-confidence motion in the Assemblée Nationale and continues discussions to form a 2025 budget. And in tech news, President Biden will now not push to cancel TikTok in the U.S. – a ban which was due to come into force on Sunday. The European Commission’s EVP Henna Virkkunen insists that European social media regulations must be respected.

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Wall Street enjoys its best session since early November following a weaker-than-expected core CPI print. The Magnificent 7 tech stocks together added more than $550bn in collective market cap. U.S. bank earnings also helped boost indices Stateside with JP Morgan posting record revenues and earnings. Taiwanese chip giant TSMC posts record Q4 profits which surged by 57 per cent off the back of strong A.I. semiconductor demand. After 15 months of conflict, a U.S., Qatar and Egypt-brokered Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal has been reached. The triple-phased agreement is due to begin on Sunday.  

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Tech stocks including Nvidia and Meta drag the Nasdaq into the red for its fifth straight session. Investors now turn their attention to the CPI print following better-than-expected producer price data. In Seoul, police arrest impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol at the second attempt. He is South Korea’s first ever serving leader to be arrested. New French prime minister Francois Bayrou has announced in the Assemblée Nationale that he aims to re-open discussion over President Macron’s pension reforms as he seeks to court left-wing lawmakers to agree on a budget. And in the UK, under-pressure Chancellor Rachel Reeves doubles down to defend her October budget in the face of soaring borrowing costs.  

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Global bonds continue to sell off with the U.S. Treasury bill now hitting a 14-month high. Meanwhile the 10-year JGB yield reaches its highest level since 2011. Wall Street is dragged down by tech stocks to its fourth consecutive session in the red following President Biden’s announcement of new curbs on A.I. chips. The dollar index soars to its highest level in more than 2 years, putting global currencies under pressure. In energy news, crude prices fall back slightly but still hover at a near-4-month high after an increase of almost 10 per cent since the start of the year.  

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The dollar index soars to its highest level since late 2022, prompting the PBOC to ramp up efforts in a bid to protect the yuan. Chinese trade data for December beats expectations. Asian equities start the week slowly following Friday’s negative session on Wall Street and the strong December U.S. jobs print. In energy news, Brent rallies to top $81 per barrel on the back of new U.S. sanctions on Russian crude – its highest level for four months. And in Los Angeles, residents are braced for strong Santa Ana winds to return as the death toll from last week’s wildfires rises to 24.   

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Global markets are spooked by elevated yields with the 10-year Treasury yield sitting at a near-eight month high while UK Treasury seeks to reassure investors rising gilts. In China, yields also rise as the yuan hits a 16-month low. The PBOC moves to suspend treasury buying due to a shortage of available bonds. X owner Elon Musk reiterates his support for Germany’s AfD during a livestream conversation with leader Alice Weidel. In aviation news, Airbus delivered 766 jets in 2024, slightly missing expectations. However the French plane maker maintains its lead over rival Boeing for the sixth year running. Wall Street futures point lower following Christmas with investors now eyeing December’s non-farm payroll data due out later today.

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The bond market sell-off continues around the world with the benchmark yield rising in the UK, Germany, Japan and the U.S. The 10-year yield is now at its highest level since April 2024. The Chinese economy is struggling against deflation with CPI data plunging to a 5-month low in December. Manufacturing prices remain in deflationary territory for the 27th-straight month. President Biden is reportedly due to sign off on a final round of A.I. chip export restrictions ahead of the Trump presidency in 11 days’ time in a bid to coerce allies to align themselves with U.S. standards in the sector. And in Los Angeles, wildfires have now spread into the iconic Hollywood Hills. President Biden has declared a major disaster. 

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A strengthening services and jobs scenario Stateside again dampens expectations of further Fed rate cuts this year with tech stocks pushing U.S. indices down, with Nvidia hit by profit-taking. In the UK, long-term borrowing costs soar to a 27-year high potentially wiping out under-fire Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ fiscal headroom. Samsung admits it will miss expectations in Q4 but share are in the green on the back of positive comments from Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang about the company’s ability to deliver A.I.-suitable chips. Facebook owner Meta scraps its fact-checking programme in what CEO Mark Zuckerberg describes as a return “back to our roots” regarding free speech. And in Los Angeles County, wildfires force 30,000 people to flee the Pacific Palisades region. A state of emergency has been declared.

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Nvidia shares are at a record high as CEO Jensen Huang announces at CES his company’s ambitions to expand in robotics, gaming and autonomous vehicles. Samsung Electronics co-CEO Jong-Hee Han tells CNBC the South Korean giant is set to boost its on-device A.I. strategy and says competition in the sector is to be welcomed. Chinese tech conglomerate Tencent leads losses in Hong Kong as the U.S. adds the firm to its list of companies allegedly partnering with the Chinese military. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump denies reports he will water down tariff threats with the 30-year Treasury yield hits its highest point in 14 months. And in Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces his resignation after 9 years in power. Former BoE governor Mark Carney is reportedly in the running to replace the Liberal Party leader.  

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