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☆ China says U.S. should stop abusing the concept of national security
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -0.99 time to read: 1 min

FILE PHOTO: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying attends a news conference in Beijing, China October 9, 2020. REUTERS/Thomas SuenBEIJING (Reuters) - China said on Friday it firmly opposes the United States’ wanton oppression of its companies and asked America to stop abusing the concept of national security, after the Trump administration added China’s SMIC and CNOOC to a defense blacklist. It will severely harm the U.S. interest and image, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular briefing. The United States on Thursday added China’s top chipmaker, SMIC, and oil giant CNOOC to a blacklist of alleged Chinese military companies, a move likely to escalate tensions with Beijing before President-elect Joe Biden takes office.

Persons: Hua Chunying, Thomas Suen BEIJING, Trump, China’s, Joe Biden Organizations: Foreign Ministry, REUTERS, United Locations: Beijing, China, United States, America

REUTERS/Massimo PincaSPACs are shell companies that use the proceeds from going public to buy another company, not yet identified at the time of listing. They said listings destined for Europe tended to be focused on the healthcare, technology and consumer sectors, with Euronext’s exchanges in France, the Netherlands and Southern Europe set to see the most activity. Saadi Soudavar, co-head of equity capital markets (ECM) at Deutsche Bank in EMEA said a “decent” pipeline of European SPAC deals was building for next year, without giving further details. FEE BOOSTFor European ECM bankers, a surge in SPAC deals would mean a fee boost. SPACs led by European investors and targeting European companies, such as the one recently launched by private equity fund Investindustrial, have ditched European exchanges to list in New York, where investors are more familiar with the product.

Persons: Massimo Pinca, Nikola, Bill Ackman, Michael Klein, Martin Franklin’s, Xavier Niel, Matthieu Pigasse, Saadi Soudavar, Suisse’s Joachim von der Goltz, SPACs, ”, Darrell Uden Organizations: REUTERS, VectoIQ, Harvester Holdings, Reuters, Deutsche Bank, European, Northern, RBC Capital Markets Locations: FRANKFURT, U.S, Europe, Turin, Italy, United States, London, Amsterdam, France, Netherlands, Southern Europe, EMEA, European, Germany, Northern Europe, New York

☆ Taiwan says trade deal would show U.S. support in face of China pressure
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com + 0.99 time to read: +2 min

TAIPEI (Reuters) - A bilateral trade deal between Taiwan and the United States would reinforce U.S. support for the democratic island in the face of “unrelenting intimidation” from China, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said on Friday. FILE PHOTO: Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen delivers a speech during National Day celebrations in front of the Presidential Building in Taipei, Taiwan, Oct. 10, 2020. Tsai said she was thankful for bipartisan support from U.S. politicians for such a deal. “Such an agreement would further enhance our close economic and trade partnership, and also reinforce America’s support for Taiwan in the face of unrelenting intimidation from across the Strait,” she added. Tsai alluded to the incoming administration, saying: “As we move towards 2021, the Taiwan-U.S. partnership holds enormous opportunities for growth”.

Persons: Tsai Ing, Ann Wang Taiwan, Tsai, ”, “, Donald Trump, Joe Biden’s Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, American Legislative Exchange Council, Leadership, Taiwan - Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan, United States, China, Taipei, U.S, Taiwan Strait, Taiwan - U.S

☆ Analysis: As stocks soar, government shutdown looms amid pandemic
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Saqib Iqbal Ahmed | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +3 min

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Investors worried about whether a looming government shutdown could slow U.S. stocks’ recent surge can take comfort in history: markets have tended to shrug off shutdowns despite their potentially nasty economic impact. FILE PHOTO: A Wall St. sign is seen near the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in the financial district in New York, U.S., November 24, 2020. REUTERS/Brendan McDermidSince 1984, the S&P 500 has averaged a 1.3% gain during government shutdowns, having edged lower in only two out of the last 10 instances. It did not do much to deter stocks, however, with the S&P 500 rising more than 9% during that period. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq composite indexes touched all-time highs on Thursday as investors looked past bleak economic data, while remaining focused on a COVID-19 vaccine.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, shutdowns, ”, Jamie Cox, Paresh Upadhyaya Organizations: YORK, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Congressional, Office, Nasdaq, Harris Financial, Democratic, Republican, Asset Management, COVID Locations: New York, U.S, Boston

☆ China's exports, imports seen expanding at faster pace in November: Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -0.97 time to read: +2 min

BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s exports and imports are expected to rise at a faster pace in November, helped by strong demand and coronavirus-related disruptions at factories in other countries, a Reuters poll showed on Friday. Imports likely rose 6.1% on-year, also accelerating from the previous month’s 4.7% pace, buoyed by improving domestic demand and higher commodity prices. “The substitution effect of China’s exports will continue to increase as supply capacity of emerging economies has not recovered yet.”China’s official and private manufacturing surveys also showed new export orders expanded at a faster pace. Some firms reported that a strong yuan squeezed profits and reduced export orders in November, the statistics bureau said this week. [CNY/]UBS forecast China’s GDP growth would rebound to 8.2% in 2021, led by exports and domestic consumption.

Persons: ” Organizations: REUTERS, Stringer, U.S, China Minsheng Bank, UBS Locations: BEIJING, Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, China

☆ U.S. expected to report slowest job growth in six months
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +6 min

REUTERS/Bryan WoolstonThe Labor Department’s closely watched employment report on Friday will only cover the first two weeks of November, when the current wave of coronavirus infections started. “The November employment report may be the last ‘strong’ employment report for a while until a vaccine is widely available,” said Sam Bullard, a senior economist at Wells Fargo Securities in Charlotte, North Carolina. That would be the smallest gain since the jobs recovery started in May and a fifth straight monthly deceleration in job gains, leaving employment 9.621 million jobs below its February peak. The number of people out of work for more than six months surged by 1.2 million in October. Slower job and wage growth would lead to weakness in a proxy for take-home pay.

Persons: Bryan Woolston, ”, Sam Bullard, ” Nonfarm, hospitalizations, Sung Won Sohn, Payrolls, “, Dean Baker, Kathy Bostjancic Organizations: WASHINGTON, Kentucky, Center, REUTERS, Labor, Wells, Wells Fargo Securities, Republicans, Congress, Loyola Marymount University, Retailers, Institute for Supply Management, Industries, Center for Economic, Research, Oxford Economics Locations: Frankfort , Kentucky, U.S, Wells Fargo, Charlotte , North Carolina, United States, Los Angeles, Washington, New York

☆ Analysis: Is a post-COVID currency war coming?
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Marc Jones | Elizabeth Howcroft | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +5 min

In Sweden, whose crown is this year’s best-performing currency, the central bank unexpectedly increased its money-printing programme last week. (Graphic for Emerging market currency rebound: )ROOM TO BOOMIt is not only the expectation that COVID-19 vaccines will normalise trade, travel and commodity prices driving the trend. (Graphic for MSCI EM FX index 2012 and 2020: )IIF chief economist Robin Brooks doubts even that kind of move would trigger a full-blown currency war. Nevertheless, he thinks the euro and the yen will be shoved higher, requiring the European Central Bank and Bank of Japan to respond. “Our concern is the speed of the adjustment,” Thailand’s central bank governor, Sethaput Suthiwart-Narueput, said last week.

Persons: Bernadett Szabo, “, ”, Manik Narain, splurged, Joe Biden’s, Pramol Dhawan, Narain, Brazil’s Guido Mantega, Morgan Stanley, Robin Brooks, ” Brooks, Sethaput Organizations: ., Swiss, REUTERS, Institute of International Finance, UBS, FX, Citi, Federal Reserve, European Central Bank and Bank of Japan Locations: Budapest, Western, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Sweden, Brazilian, Turkish Lira, South, Russian, China, U.S, India

☆ Some Sino-U.S. relations damage 'beyond repair', China state media warn
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Brenda Goh | Se Young Lee | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +3 min

(Reuters) - Some damage to Sino-U.S. ties is “beyond repair” amid a new wave of Trump administration measures to counter China, Chinese state media warned, amid growing rancour underlined by an ugly Twitter spat between a U.S. senator and Chinese journalists. FILE PHOTO: Chinese and U.S. flags flutter near The Bund, before U.S. trade delegation meet their Chinese counterparts for talks in Shanghai, China July 30, 2019. Relations between the two countries are being shifted to “a dangerous path”, the editorial said. The Democrat told the New York Times this week that he would not remove existing tariffs set by the Trump administration against China for now. Senator Marsha Blackburn and China Daily journalist Chen Weihua underscored persistent animosity.

Persons: Aly, China Daily, Joe Biden, Cui Tiankai, ”, Meng Wanzhou, Biden, Trump, Marsha Blackburn, Chen Weihua, Blackburn, China “, Chen, ” Blackburn, Xi Jinping’s, ” Hu Xijin Organizations: Reuters, Bund, REUTERS, Chinese Communist Party, Twitter, Reuters U.S, Huawei, Democrat, New York Times, U.S, China Daily, Republican, China’s Global Times Locations: U.S, China, Shanghai, United States, Canada, Xinjiang, Hong Kong

☆ U.S. Justice Department probed Kushner lawyer over alleged graft scheme: NYT
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -1.00 time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department investigated whether a lawyer for Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of President Donald Trump, had been involved in a bribery scheme to win clemency for a man convicted of tax crimes, the New York Times said on Thursday. White House senior advisor Jared Kushner looks on at a U.S. President Donald Trump's campaign rally at Fayetteville Regional Airport in Fayetteville, North Carolina, U.S., November 2, 2020. As part of the plan, a San Francisco real estate developer, Sanford Diller, would make an unspecified political contribution, it added. U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell released an order that described what she called a “bribery-for-pardon” investigation. In October, Broidy pleaded guilty in a separate case to legally lobbying Trump to drop an investigation into a Malaysian embezzlement scandal.

Persons: Jared Kushner, Donald Trump, Donald Trump's, Carlos Barria, Abbe Lowell, Elliott Broidy, Trump, William Burck, ”, Hugh Baras, Sanford Diller, Diller, Burck, Baras, Beryl Howell, Broidy Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S . Justice Department, New York Times, White House, Fayetteville Regional Airport, REUTERS, ” Reuters, Lowell, Justice Department, San, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Twitter, U.S, District, Trump Locations: Fayetteville , North Carolina, U.S, Berkeley , California, San Francisco, Washington, Malaysian

☆ Gregory Meeks to become first Black American to chair House Foreign Affairs Committee
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Haley Talbot | Haley Talbot Is An Associate Producer In The Nbc News Washington Bureau. | Abigail Williams | ) www.nbcnews.com + 1.00 time to read: +1 min

Rep. Gregory Meeks won the approval of his Democratic colleagues Thursday to become the first Black American to chair the House Foreign Affairs Committee, one of the most powerful panels on Capitol Hill. “We've got to make sure that we get the State Department up and running,” Meeks, D-N.Y., told NBC News. He said the first thing the committee would do is work with expected incoming secretary of state, Tony Blinken. “How can you assure our diplomats that this won't happen again if we don't look into what did happen?” Meeks said, adding that included looking into the actions of the Trump administration and specifically Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Departing chair Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., also extended his congratulations.

Persons: Gregory Meeks, “ We've, ” Meeks, Tony Blinken, Meeks, Trump, Mike Pompeo, “, Joaquin Castro, Castro, Eliot Engel Organizations: Democratic, Foreign Affairs Committee, State Department, NBC News, Democratic Party, Texas Rep, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, U.S . State Department Locations: American, United States of America

☆ Biden says bipartisan coronavirus aid bill should be passed but will still need more
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -0.95 time to read: 1 min

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President-elect Joe Biden delivers a pre-Thanksgiving speech at his transition headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., November 25, 2020. REUTERS/Joshua RobertsWASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Joe Biden said on Thursday a bipartisan coronavirus aid bill should be passed but that he will have to ask for more once in office. During an interview with CNN alongside Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, Biden said the $908 billion bill proposed by moderates in the U.S. Senate should be seen as a “start” to providing relief during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Persons: Joe Biden, Joshua Roberts WASHINGTON, Kamala Harris, Biden Organizations: REUTERS, CNN, Senate Locations: Wilmington , Delaware, U.S

☆ Dollar weakening expected to last into 2021 as risky bets remain
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Hari Kishan | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +4 min

FILE PHOTO: A trader shows U.S. dollar notes at a currency exchange booth in Peshawar, Pakistan December 3, 2018. Despite around 14 million people infected in the U.S. by the coronavirus, hopes for fresh fiscal stimulus and a vaccine will keep global stocks well bid and the dollar weak over the medium term. Over two-thirds of analysts - 51 of 72 - who answered a separate question expected the downward dollar trend to last at least until mid-2021. Most currencies that strengthened significantly against the dollar in 2020 were not expected to repeat their performances next year. “We knew all the issues of dollar weakness, we just didn’t see any currencies that looked attractive.

Persons: Fayaz Aziz, ”, Kit Juckes, “, we’re, we’ve, Jane Foley, I’m, Steve Englander Organizations: REUTERS, Federal, Societe Generale, Rabobank, “, Standard Chartered Locations: BENGALURU, Peshawar, Pakistan, U.S, China

☆ U.S. sets single day records for cases; California readies new clamp down
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Sharon Bernstein | Maria Caspani | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +5 min

More than 211,762 new cases and 2,858 deaths were confirmed as of Thursday evening by a Reuters tally. The stay-at-home restrictions will begin with 48 hours’ notice and remain in place for at least three weeks once they are ordered. The public health crisis has taken on more dire dimensions following a week of Thanksgiving holiday celebrations in which millions of Americans disregarded warnings against traveling and large gatherings. Health experts predict that an even greater surge could kill about 3,000 people a day over the next two months. And if there’s repercussions along down the line I am going to say that it’s worth taking that risk.”

Persons: California’s, Hospitalizations, Gavin Newsom, ” Newsom, Shannon Stapleton, ”, Cruz Resendiz, Robert Redfield, ” Redfield, Mike DeWine, Gretchen Whitmer, Barack Obama, George W, Bush, Bill Clinton, Joe Biden, Anthony Fauci, Biden, “, Nina Lyons Organizations: United, Reuters, San, Roseland Community Hospital, REUTERS, West Hollywood, “, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, Midwest, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, Former U.S Locations: SACRAMENTO, Calif, United States, Southern California, San Francisco Bay, California, U.S, Sacramento, Roseland, Chicago , Illinois, West, State, Michigan, Former, Pittsburgh

☆ Oil prices jump after OPEC+ inks supply compromise
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -0.98 time to read: +1 min

FILE PHOTO: A TORC Oil & Gas pump jack is seen near Granum, Alberta, Canada May 6, 2020. OPEC and Russia on Thursday agreed to ease deep oil output cuts from January by 500,000 barrels per day, but failed to come to a compromise on a broader policy for the rest of next year. “OPEC+ clearing the hurdle of exiting its current cuts in a coordinated way ... reinforces our conviction in a steady and sustainable rally in oil prices through 2021,” Goldman Sachs said in a report after the decision. OPEC+ was expected to continue existing cuts until at least March, after backing down from plans to raise output by 2 million bpd. Also supporting prices, a bipartisan $908 billion coronavirus aid plan gained momentum in the U.S. Congress.

Persons: Todd Korol TOKYO, Brent, ” Goldman Sachs Organizations: Gas, REUTERS, . West Texas Intermediate, of, Petroleum, U.S . Congress Locations: Granum , Alberta, Canada, Russia, OPEC

☆ Uber asks U.S. CDC to consider ride-hail drivers essential for COVID-19 vaccine distribution
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Tina Bellon | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -1.00 time to read: +1 min

FILE PHOTO: An Uber logo is seen during the global outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Redondo Beach, Los Angeles, California, U.S., November 2, 2020. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson(Reuters) - Uber Technologies Inc on Thursday asked the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to designate its ride-hail and delivery drivers as non-health essential workers entitled to early COVID-19 vaccine distribution. The company, in a letter to the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, said its drivers provided critical transportation for essential workers and allowed others to stay home and order food. The letter comes as several industry groups, including in the food production, agricultural, consumer goods and trucking industry, are asking officials to prioritize their workers for early vaccine distribution. bit.ly/39Ke1xhA U.S. government agency in August included ride-hail, taxi, delivery and car rental services in a list of essential critical infrastructure workers that also included more than 300 other job categories.

Persons: Lucy Nicholson, ”, Uber’s, Danielle Burr Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Technologies, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, CDC Locations: Redondo Beach, Los Angeles , California, U.S, CDC’s

☆ U.S. Democrats elect Meeks as first Black House foreign affairs chairman
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Patricia Zengerle | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -0.98 time to read: +2 min

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Representative Gregory Meeks (D-NY) speaks to the media on Capitol Hill in Washington, September 5, 2013. REUTERS/Larry Downing/File PhotoWASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Democrats elected Greg Meeks on Thursday as the next chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, a position in which he is expected to work closely with President-elect Joe Biden’s administration on the Iran nuclear deal and other issues. Engel voted for the 2003 Iraq War and opposed President Barack Obama’s 2015 nuclear deal with Iran. The caucus vote was 148-78 for Meeks over Representative Joaquin Castro, who had campaigned for the post as a more progressive alternative to Meeks. Castro, currently vice chairman of the foreign affairs panel, said he looked forward to working with Meeks on common goals such as promoting diversity at the State Department and rejoining the Iran nuclear deal.

Persons: Gregory Meeks, Larry Downing, Greg Meeks, Joe Biden’s, Meeks, “, ” Meeks, New York Representative Eliot Engel, Engel, Barack Obama’s, Joaquin Castro, Castro, Donald Trump, Biden Organizations: Capitol, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, . House, House Foreign Affairs Committee, World Health Organization, Congress, New York Representative, Democratic, Israel, Democratic Party’s, State Department, Republican Locations: Washington, Iran, Iraq, United States, Tehran

☆ One country, one picture, one year
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Dave Lucas | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -1.00 time to read: 1 min

UNITED STATES: Dana Clark and her 18-month-old son Mason wait in line at City Hall as early voting begins for the upcoming presidential election in New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S., October 16, 2020. Clark said she donned this protective cover because...moreUNITED STATES: Dana Clark and her 18-month-old son Mason wait in line at City Hall as early voting begins for the upcoming presidential election in New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S., October 16, 2020. Clark said she donned this protective cover because she didn't know how many people would be wearing masks in line, and her child doesn't have a mask. She said she works as a teacher, and wanted to take precautions for her students' sakes. REUTERS/Kathleen FlynnClose

Persons: Dana Clark, Mason, Clark, doesn't, Kathleen Flynn Organizations: UNITED STATES, City Hall, REUTERS Locations: New Orleans , Louisiana, U.S

☆ Trump unveils $207 million fundraising haul since election as he tries to overturn results
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Simon Lewis | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -0.97 time to read: +1 min

FILE PHOTO: Signs by supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump hang outside the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, U.S. November 10, 2020. The post-election fundraising haul brought the combined fundraising of Trump committees between Oct. 15 and Nov. 23 to $495 million, the Trump campaign said. Biden has not released figures for the period, but was consistently raising more than Trump in the final months of the campaign. Trump has refused to concede defeat and alleged without evidence that Biden’s victory came thanks to widespread voter fraud. Soon after the election, Trump’s campaign began sending solicitations to supporters by email and text making pleas for donations to an “Official Election Defense Fund” to “protect the results and keep fighting even after Election Day.”The fine print made clear most of the money would go to other priorities, including retiring the debts of Trump’s campaign.

Persons: Donald Trump, Hannah McKay, Donald Trump’s, Trump, Joe Biden’s, Biden, Bill Stepien, ” Trump, Trump’s, solicitations Organizations: U.S, Supreme, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Republican National Committee, Trump, Election Locations: Washington , U.S

☆ Trump unveils $207 million fundraising haul after election in effort to overturn result
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Simon Lewis | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -0.99 time to read: +1 min

FILE PHOTO: Signs by supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump hang outside the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, U.S. November 10, 2020. The post-election fundraising haul brought the combined fundraising of Trump committees between Oct. 15 and Nov. 23 to $495 million, the Trump campaign said. Biden’s campaign raised $112 million during the same period, according to a filing with the Federal Elections Commission on Thursday. Trump has refused to concede defeat and alleged without evidence that Biden’s victory came thanks to widespread voter fraud. Soon after the election, Trump’s campaign began sending solicitations to supporters by email and text making pleas for donations to an “Official Election Defense Fund” to “protect the results and keep fighting even after Election Day.”The fine print made clear most of the money would go to other priorities, including retiring the debts of Trump’s campaign.

Persons: Donald Trump, Hannah McKay, Donald Trump’s, Joe Biden’s, Trump, Bill Stepien, ” Trump, Trump’s, solicitations Organizations: U.S, Supreme, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Republican National Committee, Trump, Federal, Commission, Election Locations: Washington , U.S

☆ S&P confirms Mexico credit rating, keeps negative outlook
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -1.00 time to read: +1 min

FILE PHOTO: The S&P Global logo is displayed on its offices in the financial district in New York City, U.S., December 13, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermidMEXICO CITY (Reuters) - S&P Global Ratings confirmed Mexico’s investment grade credit rating on Wednesday, saying that despite a record hit to the economy from the coronavirus pandemic, the government’s cautious policy response had kept public finances under control. In a statement, S&P affirmed Mexico’s ‘BBB’ long-term foreign currency and ‘BBB+’ long-term local currency sovereign credit ratings, news that is likely to be welcomed by the government of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. “(However), the general government deficit should be around 3% of GDP in 2020, much lower than peers given the government’s measured policy response,” S&P wrote. Next year, the economy is expected to grow just over 3.3%, a central bank poll of economic analysts showed this week.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Mexico’s, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Petroleos, Lopez, ” Organizations: REUTERS, Brendan McDermid MEXICO CITY, BBB Locations: New York City, U.S, Brendan McDermid MEXICO

☆ U.S. energy storage firm Stem nears $1.35 billion deal to go public: sources
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Joshua Franklin | ) www.reuters.com + 0.76 time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - U.S. artificial intelligence-driven energy storage company Stem Inc is nearing a deal to go public through a merger with blank-check acquisition company Star Peak Energy Transition Corp at a valuation of around $1.35 billion, according to people familiar with the matter. The agreement could be announced as early as Friday, the sources said, requesting anonymity ahead of an official announcement. Stem was founded in 2009 and provides an energy storage system which allows users to automatically switch energy usage between battery and grid power, based on an artificial intelligence platform dubbed “Athena.” Its backers include Activate Capital, BNP Paribas and GE Ventures. Batteries are used to solve the issue of the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. Star Peak is a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC).

Persons: ”, Mike Morgan Organizations: Reuters, Inc, Star, Energy, Corp, BNP, GE Ventures, New York Stock Exchange, Kinder Morgan Inc

☆ Georgia investigating man's possible steps to vote illegally in Senate runoff
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com sentiment -1.00 time to read: +1 min

MARIETTA, Ga. — Election officials are investigating the actions of a Florida lawyer who they say tried to register to vote in a high-stakes runoff in Georgia that will decide control of the U.S. Senate. The lawyer went online and attempted to register to vote using the address of his brother in Hiram, Georgia, said Deidre Holden, the elections supervisor in Paulding County, Georgia. “This is not about Republican or Democrat — this is about doing what’s right,” Holden told The Associated Press on Thursday. The Florida lawyer told WSB-TV that he was joking when he was captured on video speaking about the plan during a Nov. 7 political rally in the Sunshine State. But Holden said she’s interested in learning whether any other out-of-state residents tried to register in Georgia after being encouraged to do so at the Florida rally.

Persons: Brad Raffensperger, Deidre Holden, ” Holden, “ Everybody’s, didn’t, Raffensperger, Holden, she’s Organizations: U.S . Senate, Republican, Associated Press, WSB, Sunshine State Locations: MARIETTA, Ga, Florida, Georgia, Hiram , Georgia, Paulding County , Georgia

☆ China spacecraft is returning to Earth with moon samples in a first for the country
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com + 0.90 time to read: +2 min

GUANGZHOU, China — A Chinese spacecraft carrying lunar samples has blasted off from the moon and is preparing to come back to Earth. It's the first time China has launched a spacecraft from an extraterrestrial body and the first time it has collected moon samples. If the moon samples make it back to Earth, China will be only the third country in the world to retrieve lunar samples after the efforts by the U.S. in the 1960s and the Soviet Union in the 1970s. At 23:10 p.m. Beijing time on Thursday, the Chang'e-5 spacecraft took off from the moon, according to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. In June, China launched the final satellite to complete Beidou, its rival to the U.S. government-owned Global Positioning System (GPS), which is widely used across the world.

Persons: Xi Jinping Organizations: China Aerospace Science, Technology Corporation, . Locations: Hainan, GUANGZHOU, China, U.S, Soviet Union, Beijing, China's, Mongolia

☆ U.S. reportedly in talks with Huawei CFO on deal to send her back to China if she admits to wrongdoing
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com sentiment -0.99 time to read: +1 min

Huawei Technologies Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou leaves her home to attend a court hearing in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada November 16, 2020. Huawei declined to comment on the WSJ report. Meng was arrested in Vancouver, Canada in December 2018. She would also be able to return to China from Canada, where she is currently on bail in her house. So far, Meng has resisted the proposed deal because she believes she has done nothing wrong, the report added.

Persons: Meng Wanzhou, Jennifer Gaulthier, Meng, Trump Organizations: Huawei Technologies, Reuters, Wall Street Journal, U.S . Department of Justice, The, Justice, CNBC, Huawei, HSBC Locations: Vancouver , British Columbia, Canada, Reuters GUANGZHOU, China, The U.S, Vancouver, U.S, Iran

☆ Gold on track for weekly gain as U.S. stimulus hopes dent dollar
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com sentiment -0.99 time to read: +2 min

Gold prices firmed on Friday, set for their first weekly gain in four, as growing optimism over a U.S. fiscal stimulus deal pressured the dollar and boosted the metal's appeal as an inflation hedge. Spot gold rose 0.2 % to $1,843.99 per ounce by 0310 GMT. The U.S. dollar eased on Friday and was set for its worst week since early November, making gold cheaper for other currency holders. Also supporting gold was news that drugmaker Pfizer slashed its target for the rollout of its Covid-19 vaccine on supply disruptions. Silver rose 0.1% to $24.09 per ounce and was set to climb 6% in the week.

Persons: Margaret Yang, Yang Organizations: U.S . Federal Reserve, U.S, Congress, Pfizer, Fitch Solutions Locations: SA, Lugano, Switzerland

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