In mid-December 2023, China's iron and steel enterprises produced 19.2892 million tons of crude steel, 18.1456 million tons of pig iron, and 19.6134 million tons of steel. Several joint-stock banks reduced deposit interest rates by 25 basis points in 3-year regular adjustments. The inventory of deformed bar increased by 1.0% from the previous month. China plans to revise the Frontier Health and Quarantine Law to enhance public safety.

China has issued over 800 billion yuan in additional treasury bonds, accelerating infrastructure investment. The Central Economic Work Conference emphasizes expanding high-level opening up and building the 'Invest in China' brand. AI development is entering a critical window period, with MaaS and open-source models set to drive enterprise intelligence. Fund managers predict the end of interest rate hikes in Europe and the US, with potential rate cuts in 2024.

China will implement lower provisional import tax rates for 1010 commodities starting January 1, 2024, while the Federal Reserve signals potential interest rate cuts. The European Central Bank and the Bank of England remain cautious, and the Bank of Korea may cut rates due to weak economic growth. South Korea's fiscal deficit is expected to reach 91.6 trillion KRW by 2024.

China's Central Rural Work Conference stressed the importance of grain and agricultural product production, while the State Council focused on improving the business environment. Internationally, the Bank of Canada hinted at potential further interest rate hikes due to inflation risks, and the UK reported a drop in CPI to 3.9% year-on-year in November.

China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) held a press conference confirming the country's ability to meet economic and social development goals. The UK announced the implementation of carbon tariffs from 2027, covering industries like aluminum, cement, and steel. The Bank of Japan continues its ultra-loose monetary policy, while the EU extends the suspension of rebalancing tariffs on US products until March 31, 2025.

Tensions in the Red Sea have intensified, leading to the suspension of shipping routes by international giants and a rise in shipping prices. Meanwhile, China's National Development and Reform Commission has initiated the preliminary study of the 15th Five-Year Plan, focusing on key issues and innovative measures.

China's economic operation in 2023 is characterized by 'one high, one low, and two flat'. The Central Finance Office expects successful achievement of main economic goals. New regulations for non-bank payment institutions will take effect on May 1, 2024, emphasizing risk management and user protection.

Beijing and Shanghai have introduced new policies to optimize the property market, including lowering down payment ratios and adjusting interest rate policies. Meanwhile, U.S. mortgage rates have fallen below 7% for the first time in four months, potentially boosting the housing market.

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In the first 11 months of 2023, China's RMB loans increased by 21.58 trillion yuan, surpassing last year's total. Data on M2 and social finance also indicate strong financial support for the real economy. The China Center for International Economic Exchanges held the '2023-2024 China Economic Annual Conference,' revealing policy directions for the next stage. China and Vietnam issued a joint statement to deepen their strategic partnership. Internationally, the Fed is aware of the risks of not cutting interest rates fast enough, and the Bank of Japan may exit its negative interest rate policy sooner than expected.

The Central Economic Work Conference emphasized the need to maintain stability while seeking progress, introduce policies to stabilize expectations, growth, and employment, and promote new industrialization and the development of the digital economy. The US CPI hit a new low in November, and Argentina's currency depreciated significantly.

China issued an additional 10 billion yuan of treasury bonds in Hong Kong, while the U.S. saw its inflation expectations for the coming year fall to the lowest since April 2021. The eurozone is expected to enter its first recession since the pandemic, and the Bank of Japan maintains negative interest rates due to lack of evidence of sustainable inflation.

China is accelerating the construction of large-scale wind power and photovoltaic bases in desert and Gobi areas. Banks are issuing special plans to meet real estate financing needs, and policies are being optimized to stabilize the property market. Internationally, the Fed is unlikely to discuss rate cuts soon, and the EU will impose carbon tariffs from 2026.