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Asian stocks stagger as traders prepare for expected US rate cut
Asian stocks stagger as traders prepare for expected US rate cut
by  AFP

Asian equities drifted Monday as investors gear up for an expected US interest rate cut this week, with debate centring on the likelihood the Federal Reserve will continue easing monetary policy further into the new year. The data did little to move the needle on rate expectations but showed that it remains stubbornly above officials' target.

Macron threatens China with tariffs over trade surplus
Macron threatens China with tariffs over trade surplus
by  AFP

French President Emmanuel Macron said he has threatened China with tariffs if Beijing fails to take steps to reduce its massive trade surplus with the EU, in remarks published Sunday. During his visit to China, Macron said the EU needed to accept more Chinese direct investment as part of efforts to reduce the trade deficit.

Number's up: Calculators hold out against AI
Number's up: Calculators hold out against AI
by  AFP

The humble pocket calculator may not be able to keep up with the mathematical capabilities of new technology, but it will never hallucinate. Those attempts have accelerated with AI. - Scoring gold - In July, AI models made by Google, OpenAI and DeepSeek reached gold-level scores at the annual International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO).

Divided US Fed set for contentious interest rate meeting
Divided US Fed set for contentious interest rate meeting
by  AFP

While the US Federal Reserve's final interest rate meeting this year could see an unusual amount of division, financial markets view a third straight interest rate cut as nearly certain. But if appointed, Hassett could also face pressure from financial markets to buck the White House on interest rates if inflation worsens.

Will EU give ground on 2035 combustion-engine ban?
Will EU give ground on 2035 combustion-engine ban?
by  AFP

Europe's embattled auto industry and its backers are ramping up pressure on the EU to relax its planned 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel car sales -- hoping for a decision by year end. "If we abandon the 2035 target, forget about European battery plants," President Emmanuel Macron warned after an EU summit in October.