Apple's iOS 18.2 integrates ChatGPT or helps the future sales of iPhone 17. Citigroup maintains a "buy" rating. Citibank pointed out that the iOS 18.2 update released by Apple basically meets expectations and predicts that there will be more highlights in future updates. In the detailed analysis, Atif Malik, an analyst at Citigroup, said that some basic functions of Siri in the latest system version have been taken over by ChatGPT, but this did not affect his view on the phased introduction of Apple Intelligence functions. He thought that this strategy would not significantly change the difference between the update cycle of iPhone 16/17 and the previous cycle. Malik maintains a "Buy" rating on Apple and a target price of $255. For the future, Malik is optimistic about the update of iPhone 17, and predicts that Apple will achieve 227 million units, 246 million units and 253 million units in 2024, 2025 and 2026 respectively.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)Ceng Gang, Shanghai Finance and Development Laboratory: Judging from the economic situation and policy space, it is still possible to lower the RRR and cut interest rates in the future. The Central Economic Work Conference proposed to implement a moderately loose monetary policy. In this regard, Ceng Gang, chief expert and director of Shanghai Finance and Development Laboratory, said that the tone of "moderately loose" monetary policy is in the same strain as that of Politburo meeting of the Chinese Communist Party. China's monetary policy has been adjusted from "steady" to "moderately loose", aiming at boosting economic growth and alleviating downward pressure through a more active monetary policy, while providing support for key areas and structural adjustment. In response to the expression of "timely RRR cuts and interest rate cuts", Ceng Gang believes that from the current economic situation and policy space, it is still possible to implement RRR cuts in the future, especially in targeted cuts to required reserve ratios, to release long-term liquidity; The possibility of interest rate cuts is also greater, and it is expected that a one-time large-scale interest rate cut will be implemented at the end of this year or early next year. (SSE)
Lian Ping: The Central Economic Work Conference released a strong financial afterburner signal to lower the RRR or cut interest rates at the end of this year or early next year. Lian Ping, chairman of the China Chief Economist Forum and president of the Guangkai Chief Industry Research Institute, said in an interview that the Central Economic Work Conference mentioned that "a moderately loose monetary policy should be implemented" and "lowering the RRR and cutting interest rates at the right time", which means that it is expected to intensify next year. Combined with the current domestic and international situation and liquidity situation, it is expected that the RRR cut and interest rate cut will land at the end of this year and early next year. Regarding "exploring and expanding the macro-prudential and financial stability functions of the central bank", Lian Ping believes that, on the one hand, the monetary policy should be reasonable and moderate, with a steady pace, so as to avoid a big deviation from market demand; On the other hand, monetary policy should explore and expand related fields and innovate constantly in maintaining financial stability. The functional connotation of the subsequent central bank is expected to be further enriched, and its coverage function may be extended to the whole financial field. "Next, whether it is the real estate market or the stock market, we need to build a long-term mechanism for financial stability." Lian Ping said. (SSE)Stellantis: After rejoining ACEA, it will be consistent with its proposal. Jean-Philippe Imparato, head of Europe for Stellantis, said on Thursday that Stellantis decided to rejoin the European automobile lobby group ACEA, which means that the automobile manufacturer will immediately be consistent with the group's proposal. Stellantis said last week that he would rejoin ACEA, and the group withdrew in early 2023. Under the leadership of Carlos Tavares, CEO who resigned earlier this month, the group had previously opposed ACEA's call for reducing the EU's intermediate carbon emission reduction target in 2025, saying that it might bring billions of dollars in losses to the automobile industry.The European Central Bank expects inflation to cool down faster. It is reported that the European Central Bank now expects inflation to cool down slightly faster than the forecast in September. It currently predicts that the average inflation rate in 2024 and 2025 will be 2.4% and 2.1% respectively, compared with the previous forecast of 2.5% and 2.2% respectively. In the statement, the European Central Bank also said: "The anti-inflation process is on the right track."
Central Economic Work Conference: Support major economic provinces to take the lead, and encourage other regions to develop their strengths according to local conditions. The Central Economic Work Conference was held in Beijing on December 11th and 12th. The meeting proposed to strengthen the implementation of regional strategies and enhance the vitality of regional development. Give play to the superposition effect of regional coordinated development strategy, regional major strategy and main functional area strategy, and actively cultivate new growth poles. Enhance the innovation ability and radiation-driven role of areas with economic development advantages. Support major economic provinces to take the lead, and encourage other regions to develop their strengths according to local conditions. Deepen industrial cooperation in the eastern, central, western and northeastern regions, and vigorously develop the marine economy and the Bay Area economy. (Xinhua News Agency)Insiders: Incorporating national debt and index funds into the scope of personal pension products is expected to increase the scale of deposit. On December 12, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the General Administration of Financial Supervision and other five departments officially issued the Notice on the Full Implementation of Personal Pension System, which stipulated that national debt should be included in the scope of personal pension products on the basis of existing financial products such as wealth management products, savings deposits, commercial pension insurance and Public Offering of Fund. E Fund believes that the index funds included in personal pension products are mainly broad-based and dividend products, which are also in line with the long-term stable value-added investment goal of pensions. Because the broad-based index reflects the overall performance of a certain type of market, covering a wide range of industries, with a large number of constituent stocks and scattered risks, the pension investment time is often as long as several decades. In a market with healthy and sustainable economic development prospects and long-term upward trends, the broad-based index can help pension investors share the fruits of economic growth and obtain long-term stable returns. It is reported that with the inclusion of national debt in the scope of personal pension products, it is widely expected that this move will further increase the scale of personal pension payment. (per warp net)Central Economic Work Conference: Appropriately raise the basic pension for retirees and raise the basic pension for urban and rural residents. The Central Economic Work Conference was held in Beijing from December 11th to 12th. The meeting decided to do a good job in the following key tasks next year. It is mentioned that we should vigorously boost consumption, improve investment efficiency and expand domestic demand in all directions. We will implement special actions to boost consumption, promote low-and middle-income groups to increase income and reduce burdens, and enhance their spending power, willingness and level. Appropriately raise the basic pension for retirees, raise the basic pension for urban and rural residents, and raise the financial subsidy standard for medical insurance for urban and rural residents. Strengthen the expansion and implement the "two new" policies, innovate diversified consumption scenarios, expand service consumption, and promote the development of cultural tourism. Actively develop the starting economy, the ice and snow economy and the silver-haired economy. Strengthen top-down organization and coordination, and give greater support to the "two-fold" project. Appropriately increase investment in the central budget. Strengthen the coordination between finance and finance, and effectively promote social investment with government investment. Plan major projects in the Tenth Five-Year Plan as soon as possible. Vigorously implement urban renewal. Implement special actions to reduce the logistics cost of the whole society. (Xinhua News Agency)