Most Asian stocks rose on Wednesday after a report suggested that China will target increased fiscal spending in the coming year, although caution before a Federal Reserve rate decision limited gains.

Regional markets took middling cues from a weak overnight session on Wall Street, as the NASDAQ Composite fell from record highs and as the Dow Jones Industrial Average logged its worst losing streak in over 40 years.

U.S. stock index futures were flat in Asian trade, with focus squarely on the Fed. While the central bank is widely expected to cut rates by 25 basis points later in the day, it is also expected to signal a slower pace of easing in 2025- a trend that could herald pressure on risk-driven markets.

Beyond the Fed, central bank meetings in Japan, Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines are also due this week.

Chinese stocks upbeat as report forecasts 4% GDP deficit in 2025
China’s Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite indexes rose 0.6% and 0.7%, respectively, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index added 0.9%.

Reuters reported that Beijing will raise its budget deficit to 4% from 3% of gross domestic product in 2025- its highest on record, and will also target GDP growth of 5% for a third consecutive year.

The new deficit plan entails higher fiscal spending, and is in line with the more expansionary fiscal policy outlined by officials during the Politburo meeting and the Central Economic Work Conference last week.

The additional 1% GDP point indicates about 1.3 trillion yuan ($179.4 billion) in additional spending, the Reuters report said. China will also fund more stimulus through debt issuances.

（吉隆坡18日讯）我国11月出口额按年上涨4.1％，录得1266亿令吉，表现远超市场预期，更是近3年来出口成长首次超远进口成长；11月进口额增1.6％，报1113亿令吉。

大马统计局今日发布文告指出，11月的贸易持续良好表现，总额按年增长2.9％，从2311亿令吉涨至2378亿令吉，

11月贸易盈余扩大26.3％至153亿令吉，写下2020年5月以来连续第55个月纪录。

美联储降息25基点，鲍威尔讲话显鹰派立场

美国当地时间周三（12月18日），美联储2024年年度利率决议收官，美联储决定将基准利率下调25个基点至4.25%-4.50%区间，为连续第三次降息，符合预期。



“在考虑对目标区间进行额外调整的程度和时机时……委员会将仔细评估后续数据、不断变化的前景和风险平衡，”委员会以新措辞表示，这意味着从 1 月 28 日至 29 日的会议开始，降息可能会暂停。

美联储目前预计，到 2025 年底，他们将仅进行两次25个基点的降息。

这是自 11 月 5 日特朗普当选总统获胜以来的首次季度预测，由于特朗普在竞选中承诺减税、提高关税以及打击非法移民，这给经济前景带来了新的不确定性，而一些分析师认为这些承诺将导致通胀。

美联储降息后，美元指数盘中创下两年新高，上涨1.085%，至108.11点。现货黄金盘中跌破2600美元/盎司整数关口，为11月18日以来首次，美联储决议后累跌37美元，日内跌幅达1.73%。

Since l've been asked a lot:
Buy stock in several companies that make products & services that *you* believe in.
Only sell if you think their products & services are trending worse. Don't panic when the market does.
This will serve you well in the long-term.

NEW YORK: Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said on Wednesday the US central bank has no desire to be involved in any government effort to stockpile large amounts of bitcoin.

"We're not allowed to own bitcoin," Powell said at a press conference following the Fed's latest two-day policy meeting, in which policymakers cut rates as expected while signaling a less certain path for monetary policy in the months ahead.