The US dollar index rose on the 12th. The US dollar index, which measures the US dollar against six major currencies, rose by 0.23% that day and closed at 106.957 in the foreign exchange market. As of the end of the new york foreign exchange market, 1 euro was exchanged for 1.0473 US dollars, lower than 1.0492 US dollars in the previous trading day; One pound was exchanged for $1.2670, down from $1.2745 in the previous trading day. One dollar was exchanged for 152.54 yen, down from 152.65 yen in the previous trading day; One dollar was exchanged for 0.8914 Swiss francs, higher than 0.8848 Swiss francs in the previous trading day; 1 dollar to 1.4208 Canadian dollars, higher than 1.4162 Canadian dollars in the previous trading day; One dollar was exchanged for SEK 11.0106, higher than SEK 10.9791 in the previous trading day.The Canadian dollar fell to 1.4210, the lowest since April 2020.China and the United States renewed the agreement on scientific and technological cooperation between the two governments. On December 13, 2024, representatives of the Chinese and American governments exchanged notes and signed the Protocol on Amending and Extending the Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the Two Governments, which extended the Agreement for five years from August 27, 2024. (Ministry of Science and Technology)
Canada is considering imposing tariffs on key resources exported by the United States, calling this a "last resort". It is reported that Canada is currently studying the imposition of export taxes on its main commodities exported to the United States, including uranium, oil and potash fertilizer. According to officials familiar with the internal discussions in the Canadian government, export tariffs will be Canada's last resort (if US President-elect Trump fulfills his promise to impose extensive tariffs). Retaliatory tariffs on American-made goods and export controls on some Canadian products will be more likely to be introduced first. But these officials said that if Trump decides to launch a full-scale trade war, Canada's export tax on goods is a practical choice. The Trudeau government may also propose to expand the power of export control.Guterres: Syria's credible, orderly and inclusive transitional arrangements must be supported. On December 12, local time, UN Secretary-General Guterres issued a statement through a spokesman, expressing deep concern about the recent extensive violations of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The statement specifically mentioned hundreds of air strikes by Israel against Syria, and said that there is an urgent need to alleviate violence in all aspects of Syria. Guterres said that the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement is still valid, and he condemned all actions inconsistent with the Agreement and called on the parties to the Agreement to fulfill their obligations, including ending all unauthorized presence in the separation zone. The statement stressed that while maintaining public order, it is necessary to support Syria's credible, orderly and inclusive transitional arrangements.The US dollar index rose on the 12th. The US dollar index, which measures the US dollar against six major currencies, rose by 0.23% that day and closed at 106.957 in the foreign exchange market. As of the end of the new york foreign exchange market, 1 euro was exchanged for 1.0473 US dollars, lower than 1.0492 US dollars in the previous trading day; One pound was exchanged for $1.2670, down from $1.2745 in the previous trading day. One dollar was exchanged for 152.54 yen, down from 152.65 yen in the previous trading day; One dollar was exchanged for 0.8914 Swiss francs, higher than 0.8848 Swiss francs in the previous trading day; 1 dollar to 1.4208 Canadian dollars, higher than 1.4162 Canadian dollars in the previous trading day; One dollar was exchanged for SEK 11.0106, higher than SEK 10.9791 in the previous trading day.
Countering the price limit of Western countries, Putin extended the oil supply ban. On the 13th, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a presidential decree, announcing the extension of the counter-measures to set price ceilings for Russian oil and oil products until June 30, 2025. Putin signed a presidential decree on December 27, 2022, demanding that the supply of Russian petroleum and petroleum products to foreign legal persons and individuals who directly or indirectly use the price ceiling mechanism in their contracts be prohibited. This presidential decree came into effect on February 1, 2023, and its validity period was extended several times. In early December, 2022, EU member states reached an agreement on setting a price ceiling of $60 per barrel for Russian seaborne oil exports. The Group of Seven and Australia announced that they would implement the same price limit policy as the EU. (Xinhua News Agency)It is reported that the European Central Bank is considering cutting interest rates by 25 basis points in the next two meetings. According to informed sources, as the inflation rate stabilizes at the target of 2% and economic growth is sluggish, ECB officials plan to cut interest rates by another 25 basis points in January, and there may be another one in March. People familiar with the matter said that as long as the economic development meets current expectations, gradually reducing the borrowing cost is the most appropriate path. They believe that cutting interest rates by 50 basis points at a time in an emergency is still an option, but this move may convey an unexpected sense of urgency. According to people familiar with the matter, officials have not yet made any decision, and every meeting will be evaluated based on all available information, even after March. They stressed that once the situation becomes clearer after Trump takes office in January, the policy inclination of the central bank may change.International oil prices fell on the 12th. As of the close of the day, the light crude oil futures price for January delivery in the New York Mercantile Exchange fell by 27 cents to close at 70.02 US dollars per barrel, a decrease of 0.38%. London Brent crude oil futures for February delivery in 2025 fell 11 cents to close at $73.41 a barrel, a decrease of 0.15%.