China

Yicai Global | English | News | Jan. 23, 2026 | UndeterminedEconomic Growth

The ASEAN+3 region, comprising the 10 ASEAN members along with China, Japan, and South Korea, is projected to experience stronger economic growth in 2026 than previously forecasted. The ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) updated its outlook, predicting a 4 percent expansion in 2026 following 4.3 percent growth in 2025, marking a 0.2 percentage point upward revision for both years. China’s growth forecast was similarly raised to 4.6 percent in 2026 from the earlier estimate, supported by macroeconomic policies, resilient exports, and investment in high-tech manufacturing.

The region’s economic resilience is attributed to strong technology demand and robust foreign direct investment inflows into sectors such as advanced electronics, electric vehicles, and digital services. Semiconductor exports in the region grew by 21.7 percent in the second half of 2025, driven by demand related to artificial intelligence and cloud infrastructure. The global purchasing managers’ index for electronics new orders showed improvement in December 2025, indicating continued export growth. Regional equity markets have also gained since October 2025, boosted by momentum in artificial intelligence despite concerns about US tariff policies.

Despite more balanced risks overall, AMRO identified ongoing uncertainties and downside risks, particularly linked to unpredictable US trade policies and potential expansions of protectionist measures. A significant slowdown in technology demand, possibly caused by market corrections or delays in AI adoption, could adversely affect regional exports, given the sector's cross-border ties. AMRO emphasized the importance of policy readiness to manage shocks in the short term, while encouraging diversification of growth drivers and deeper regional economic integration to enhance long-term resilience.

操盘必读：影响股市利好或利空消息_2026年1月22日_财经新闻

Sina Finance | Local Language | News | Jan. 23, 2026 | UndeterminedInvestor Sentiment

U.S. Trade Representative Grier indicated potential new trade talks with China, supported by China’s call to implement important bilateral agreements to stabilize economic cooperation. The People’s Bank of China emphasized accelerating RMB cross-border payment systems and reinforced regulatory supervision to ensure healthy industry development. Tax policies were extended to exempt personal income tax on gains from innovative enterprise China Depositary Receipts (CDRs) through 2027. Former U.S. President Trump ruled out forcibly acquiring Greenland and canceled upcoming tariffs on Europe, prompting increased optimism in U.S. stock markets. Meanwhile, the European Parliament indefinitely froze the review of the EU-U.S. trade agreement, with Denmark opposing U.S. demands regarding Greenland.

Industry updates included the expansion of inbound duty-free shops at ports, new real estate policies focusing on controlling added supply and optimizing financing, and long-term supply agreements in the semiconductor memory industry valid through 2030. Guangdong proposed advancing AI-driven smart transportation and autonomous driving tests. Intel and AMD’s server CPU supply is sold out for 2026, leading to planned price hikes. Guangdong raised the minimum commercial housing mortgage down payment ratio to 30%. Suzhou outlined plans to promote AI-driven scientific development and housing market revitalization.

Among companies, several reported expected net losses for 2025, including Moore Threads (950 million to 1.06 billion yuan), Xinda Real Estate (7.6 to 8.2 billion yuan), Jinko Energy (5.9 to 6.9 billion yuan), and Hongqiang Co., which anticipated a swing from profit to loss. Notable profit forecasts included Tianfu Communications (1.881 to 2.15 billion yuan, up 40–60%), Demingli (650 to 800 million yuan, up 85–128%), Jin’an Guoji (280 to 360 million yuan, up 656–871%), Daikin Heavy Industry (1.05 to 1.2 billion yuan, up 122–153%), and Juhua Co., Ltd. (3.54 to 3.94 billion yuan, up 80–101%). Other announcements included large contracts by Tengjing Technology and Nankuang Group and strategic investments by Hualan Co., Ltd. and Binhai Energy in AI drug R&D and advanced materials.

Global markets reacted positively to Trump’s announcement, lifting major U.S. indexes by over 1%, with memory stocks like SanDisk rallying strongly. The Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index also gained 2.21%. Spot silver dropped intraday but recovered slightly, while spot gold hit a record high near $4,888 per ounce. Natural gas prices surged due to weather threats to U.S. exports and ongoing cold across Europe and Asia, with U.S. natural gas futures up 29% for the day. Crude oil prices edged up amid geopolitical uncertainties focused on Greenland rather than Iran.

Investment opportunities highlighted include the spin-off of Zhiyuan Robotics’ dexterous hand business into an independent company, reflecting a maturing robotics sector poised for rapid growth through 2030. Neuralink’s brain-machine interface chip now supports wireless over-the-air upgrades, signaling progress toward commercial-scale deployment in the brain-machine interface industry, expected to reach $7.63 billion globally by 2029.

Additional updates feature no new trading suspensions and the resumption of trading for ST Zhongzhuang. Operating data revealed mixed corporate earnings forecasts, with strong profit growth expected in some sectors and significant losses in others. Key contract wins, share buyback plans, and shareholder reductions were also noted, alongside industry-focused investments in battery materials and carbon technologies. Executive resignations and production capacity adjustments were reported at select mining and chemical companies.

突发！美国大举增兵！

STCN | Local Language | News | Jan. 23, 2026 | Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes

Tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated significantly, prompting a substantial U.S. military buildup in the Middle East. Over a dozen F-15E “Strike Eagle” fighters and a C-17 transport aircraft departed from the United Kingdom to the region on January 18. The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group has also transited the Strait of Malacca and is en route to the Middle East. Additional deployment includes F-16 and A-10 attack aircraft, along with plans to increase missile defense systems to protect U.S. bases and Israel.

Iran has issued strong warnings in response to the U.S. military movements. Iranian Armed Forces spokesman Shekarchi warned that any attack targeting Supreme Leader Khamenei would provoke “devastating retaliation.” Foreign Minister Araqchi reiterated that Iran is prepared for a resolute response to any attacks but expressed willingness for fair negotiations based on mutual respect. Iranian leadership emphasized that recent protests turning violent were influenced by foreign and domestic terrorists, justifying measures like internet restrictions.

Senior Iranian officials, including advisor Velayati, claimed recent conspiracies by the U.S. and Israel to destabilize Iran were thwarted and announced continued strong resistance. Velayati also stressed regional implications if unrest spreads, urging accountability for the U.S. President Trump has repeatedly threatened military action and called for regime change, while officials acknowledge that military options remain under consideration amid rising uncertainty. Iranian leaders characterized U.S. threats as psychological warfare but maintained readiness to respond forcefully to any aggression.