Financial

Global liquor makers’ inventories pile up as COVID-era output surge backfires Shifting consumer trends erode alcohol’s role as a traditional defensive stock Demand pivots to non-alcoholic drinks, accelerating industry reshuffle Global liquor

Lower capital requirements failed to increase UK lending Banks chose shareholder payouts over new loans Capital policy without conditions does not drive growth In December 2025, the Financial Policy Com

AI investment looks inflated, but much of its value is already embedded in real productivity gains Profits and adoption show substance, even as debt and feedback loops create fragility The real policy challenge is managing systemic risk without mistaking transformation for a bubble

Productivity gaps widen depending on AI adoptionJob restructuring and downsizing spread across industries

EU pushes “Made in Europe” legislation, doubling down on protectionist trade stance Moves to shield industrial competitiveness amid fiscal strain and slowing growth Energy supply risks and trade tensions with China add pressure across the bloc

Pullback in promotion of overseas investment productsCriticism grows over rising costs for financial firms and investors

Fed Independence as a Global Collective Defense Line Markets Focus on Next Fed Chair Appointment Pro-Trump Dove Kevin Warsh Emerges as Front-Runner As controversy surrounding the criminal investigation of U.S.

Controversy Over Erosion of Fed Independence as Powell Faces Investigative Pressure; Fitch Issues Downgrade Warning Political Interference Spurs Inflation Risks and Treasury Sell-Off, Raising Fears of Foreign Capital Flight Fiscal Dominance Undermines the Foundations of Dollar Hegemony, Amplifying Systemic Financial Risk

Bessent “Excessive Exchange-Rate Volatility a Concern” U.S. Equity Investment Frenzy Persists, FDI Negative for Three Consecutive Quarters Corporate Relocation Accelerates, Undermining Economic Foundations U.S.

China’s December 2025 exports and imports rebound sharply, beating expectations Annual trade surplus jumps 20%, driven by partner diversification and an undervalued yuan Subsidy-led export growth fuels global push for higher tariff barriers on China

Dimon, BNY CEO issue joint warnings: “Federal Reserve independence is the bedrock of markets” Trump renews public attacks, branding Powell “incompetent and corrupt,” signals intent to press ahead with successor nomination Financial sector alarm grows as erosion of Fed independence threatens the dollar’s global standing

“Ease the cost-of-living burden,” Trump demands steep cuts to credit card interest rates U.S. financial industry warns of side effects, including reduced credit access for low-income borrowers and fewer card benefits J.P. Morgan, the largest U.S.

A clear transaction gap emerges ahead of supply expansionDemand concentrates on prime offices defined by location and quality

Extending beyond property investment into development and operations No detailed rules for converting PFVs into project REITs Deemed acquisition tax imposed upon title transfer during conversion Although the government is promoting “p

U.S.

Summons of Fed Chair Jerome Powell by U.S. prosecutors Clash with Trump escalates into a legal confrontation Renewed controversy over policy independence amid rate pressure U.S.

High likelihood of reaffirming the existing policy stance“Raise rates and hurt domestic demand, cut rates and fuel assets”

Ripple CEO Monica Long’s denial of IPO plans and large-scale whale sell-offs trigger a sharp drop in XRP prices Tron-based stablecoin settlement volume reaches $24.2 billion, surpassing Ripple’s remittance scale by more than tenfold Ripple pivots with RLUSD launch and Rail acquisition, raising concerns over XRP’s shrinking role amid a dual-track strategy

Headcount at Korea’s top 10 builders falls 6.5% in a year, signaling a real hiring collapse Property downturn, tighter PF rules, and soaring construction costs pile up, drying up demand for labor Major builders seek growth through overseas orders as the domestic market darkens

Growth Exceeds 4%, Yet Employment Cools Firms Opt for AI Over Hiring, Pursuing ‘Slimmed-Down’ Strategies AI Boosts Productivity but Weighs on Job Creation The prevailing keyword defining corporate hiring strategies in