The Prime Minister of Qatar and the Iranian Foreign Minister discussed the situation in Syria by telephone. On December 12, local time, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar Mohammed and the Iranian Foreign Minister Alagh made a phone call, focusing on the situation in Syria. The two sides stressed that the international community must take action to prevent Israel from continuing to attack Syria's infrastructure and occupy Syrian territory. The two sides also expressed their willingness to help Syria achieve stability and establish an inclusive political system in line with the wishes of the Syrian people. (CCTV News)Central Economic Work Conference: Enhance people's sense of happiness and security, and implement employment support programs for key areas, key industries, urban and rural grassroots and small and medium-sized enterprises. The Central Economic Work Conference was held in Beijing from December 11 to 12. The meeting stressed that efforts should be made to ensure and improve people's livelihood and enhance people's sense of happiness and security. Implement employment support plans for key areas, key industries, urban and rural grassroots and small and medium-sized enterprises to promote the employment of key groups. Strengthen the protection of workers' rights and interests in flexible employment and new employment forms. We will implement policies to help industries and employment, ensure that large-scale return to poverty does not occur, and ensure the basic livelihood of people in need. Promote the high-quality and balanced development of compulsory education and solidly promote the expansion of high-quality undergraduate courses. Implement the medical and health foundation project and formulate policies to promote fertility. Develop community-supported home-based care for the aged and expand inclusive care for the aged. Adhere to and develop the "Fengqiao experience" in the new era and strengthen the public security system. (Xinhua News Agency)Spot gold fell 1% to $2,690.81. COMEX silver futures fell 1.5% in the day to $32.47 per ounce.
Government statement: British Prime Minister Stamer will attend the informal meeting of EU leaders in Brussels on February 3rd.Spot gold hit $2,700 per ounce, down 0.65% in the day. COMEX gold futures fell more than 1.00% in the day and are now quoted at $2,729.00 per ounce.Central Economic Work Conference: Strengthening Expectation Management and Promoting Policy Implementation and Expectation Guidance in Coordination. The Central Economic Work Conference was held in Beijing from December 11th to 12th. The meeting stressed that it is necessary to coordinate development and safety, do a good job in safety production, and effectively prevent and respond to social security incidents in a timely manner. Strengthen synergy, oppose departmentalism, and form a joint force for implementation. Strengthen the expected management, promote policy implementation and expected guidance in coordination, and enhance policy guidance and influence. At the same time, we should accurately grasp the situation of the world, the country, the party and the society, strengthen strategic planning, and formulate suggestions for the 10 th Five-Year Plan of the Central Committee. (Xinhua News Agency)
European Central Bank President Lagarde: Regardless of the market pricing of interest rate hikes, European Central Bank President Lagarde said that the European Central Bank will adjust its policies according to the data and will decide the policies of each meeting one by one. The neutral interest rate cannot be accurately determined without considering the market pricing of interest rate hikes.Royal Bank of Canada: The European Central Bank may move towards negative real interest rate. Royal Bank of Canada BlueBay Asset Management said that the European Central Bank may cut the interest rate below 2% next year, which the agency estimated to be a short-term neutral interest rate. Kaspar Hense, senior portfolio manager of the institution, said in a report that the core inflation rate is expected to be around 2.5% in the first half of 2025, which means that the real interest rate will be negative. He said that under the influence of unfavorable factors such as trade, continuous competitive pressure from other countries and financial problems, this should play a moderate supporting role in the economy.European Central Bank President Lagarde: Potential inflation and inflation continue to return to the target in the same direction.