China's aluminium foil exports extended YoY slide in November 

The European Central Bank decided to maintain the current benchmark interest rate unchanged, marking the fifth consecutive pause in interest rate cuts since last June. Despite this, the bank has yet to provide clear guidance on the future path of monetary policy, further reinforcing market expectations that monetary policy will remain unchanged in the short term. Meanwhile, policymakers continue to monitor the appreciation of the euro, focusing on assessing its potential impact on the competitiveness of the export sector and inflation trends.

The China Photovoltaic Industry Association (CPIA) predicts that China's new PV installations are expected to pull back in 2026, ranging between 180 GW and 240 GW. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the average annual new PV installations are projected to reach 238 GW to 287 GW. Wang Shijiang, Deputy Director of the Electronic Information Department at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), emphasized that the core task this year is to address the cut-throat competition in the PV industry.

US Fed Vice Chairman Jefferson expressed "cautious optimism" regarding the US economic outlook, suggesting that, driven by robust productivity growth, inflation is expected to pull back to the central bank's 2% target level. Additionally, Jefferson noted that the current policy stance is sufficient to effectively address economic developments.