President Putin orders his forces into the rebel-held eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, sending Asian equities and U.S. futures into a nosedive. U.S. President Biden signs an executive order to slap sanctions on the breakaway regions, with further action promised – as well as from the UK and the EU. HSBC hikes guidance as FY profits more than double. And U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson lifts all Covid-era restrictions in England but warns that a virus resurgence remains a possibility. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Presidents Biden and Putin agree to in-person talks proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron. The White House, however, says the meeting is contingent on Russia not crossing into Ukrainian territory. Speaking to CNBC at the Munich Security Conference, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says he believes the West should refrain from revealing its sanctions plan for now – even as Ukraine’s President calls for immediate action. Swiss lender Credit Suisse is forced to defend its working practices following a data leak which reportedly shows it held accounts for a variety of criminals and sanctioned dictators. And in England, all Covid-era restrictions are set to be lifted as Prime Minister Johnson lays out his plan for living with the virus.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Dow suffers its biggest drop of the year, falling more than 600 points on renewed Russian-Ukrainian tensions. The White House claims Moscow is close to engineering a false-flag incident before invading, after border skirmishes. German insurance giant Allianz reports a Q4 loss on the back of a €3.7bn U.S. fund implosion charge. And Tesla CEO Elon Musk causes a storm on Twitter by likening Justin Trudeau to Adolf Hitler, before slamming the SEC, accusing it of attempting to curb his free speech in its oversight of his communications with stakeholders.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We have a slew of European earnings today. British Asia-focused lender Standard Chartered misses on the bottom line despite full-year pre-tax profits more than doubling. French plane maker Airbus smashes FY profit records and resumes dividend payouts. We will also have earnings from Schneider Electric, Commerzbank and Kering. U.S. markets have a mixed session and close flat following the release of Fed minutes which suggest little support for robust tightening. Meanwhile, the U.S. and Ukraine cast doubt on Russian claims of troop withdrawals - and President Volodomyr Zelenskyy says Moscow is doing the opposite, concentrating even more forces along Ukraine’s north-eastern border. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. equities snap a three-day losing streak as tensions between Russia and Ukraine show some signs of easing. Crude prices remain stable as Russia claims to withdraw some forces from the border, but President Biden warns that the West will remain alert to further moves by Moscow in the region. In China, factory prices surge more than 9 per cent for the year despite inflation figures coming in lower than expected. We also hear from ECB board member, François Villeroy De Galhau who says that the central bank may begin winding down its asset purchase programme but that talk of rate hikes remains “premature”.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The U.S. is to temporarily move its embassy from Kyiv to the western Ukrainian city of Lviv after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warns of a dramatic increase in Russian troops along the border. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is due in Moscow later today for talks with President Putin. The tensions are felt throughout U.S. markets which closed lower and saw the 10-year Treasury yield briefly surpass 2 per cent. CNBC hears from St Louis Fed President James Bullard who says the Federal Reserve must act sensitively when hiking rates. Ongoing uncertainty about a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine has also hit crude prices which had been at a seven-year high. However, BP CEO Bernard Looney tells CNBC his company is committed to its business in Russia. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s been a weekend of high-end diplomacy throughout Eastern Europe. President Biden has spoken to both President Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodomyr Zelenskyy after U.S. intelligence suggested that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could happen “any day now”. Germany is among more than a dozen nations warning its citizens to leave Ukraine as Chancellor Olaf Scholz prepares to visit Kiev in a show of solidarity. Tensions are felt across Asian equities after Wall Street saw a late sell-off on Friday while crude prices surge over the $95 mark. In France, Les Républicains presidential candidate Valérie Pécresse holds a major rally in Paris. Her spokesperson Alexandra Dublanche tells CNBC she represents a serious threat to Emmanuel Macron.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

US consumer prices surge to a 40-year high in January, sending the 10-year Treasury yield past the 2 percent mark. But, President Biden tells NBC he still believes price pressures will ease despite persistent inflation prints. Markets respond as yields spike and the Dow drops more than 500 points, with hawkish comments from St. Louis Fed President James Bullard compounding the tech stock losses. Meanwhile, talks in Berlin fail to de-escalate the Russia-Ukraine crisis. The UK Foreign Secretary's mission to Moscow also comes up short, after sharp exchanges between Liz Truss and Sergei Lavrov. And France goes all in on nuclear. President Macron announced the country’s “nuclear renaissance,” after giving the green light for at least half a dozen new reactors, which he says will help push the country towards carbon neutrality.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Credit Suisse posts a more-than CHf2 billion net loss in the fourth quarter, as the embattled lender claims this will be a "transitional year" following a series of scandals. Net income at Société Générale almost quadruples in the fourth quarter, boosted by strong equity trading revenues as the French lender says it is entering 2022 with confidence. Strong demand in China and the U.S. sees L'Oréal full-year revenue jump 16% - as CEO Nicolas Hieronimus hails an "historic year" for the beauty group. And, Disney shares jump in extended trade as streaming subscriptions beat estimates and theme park business roars back to life. CEO Bob Chapek tells CNBC the decision to raise prices at peak times is just part of the "circle of life".See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Peloton shares surge after the exercise bike maker announces major overhauls, slashing targets, cutting thousands of jobs and installing a new CEO. It’s a busy day for global earnings, with cost pressures affecting most manufacturers. Toyota quarterly profit tanks 20 percent as the world's largest automaker cuts its production targets amid the global semiconductor shortage. Italian lender Banco BPM swings to a fourth quarter profit - beating expectations on higher revenues and shrinking loan loss provisions. And European leaders agree on the need to show a unified front and pull all the stops to avoid war in Europe, as Russia and NATO continue to mobilise forces.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Softbank's 66 billion dollar sale of ARM to Nvidia collapses under intense regulatory pressure, with the Japanese investment giant opting to pursue a 2023 IPO for the chip business instead. Still in the chip space, CNBC learns Tesla is tweaking steering components in some made-in-China cars, in a bid to meet sales targets amid the global chip shortage. Meanwhile the SEC subpoenas Tesla over fraud allegations in Elon Musk's tweets. Another big posts a beat. BNP Paribas has an upbeat fourth quarter and sets out a new growth strategy to 2025. CFO Lars Machenil tells CNBC the bank is prepared for any ECB rate hikes. And, US President Joe Biden draws a line in the sand, threatening to put an end to Nord Stream 2 if Russian soldiers set foot in Ukraine - after meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in DC.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chinese stocks kick off the Year of the Tiger on a high following a strong week on Wall Street, which saw the best performance from the S&P 500 so far this year. U.S. 10-year yields surged to their highest level in more than two years following a far better-than-expected January jobs report. Russia-Ukraine tensions continue to brew with Washington saying that Moscow has lined up to 70 per cent of the troops and hardware required for a full-scale invasion of its southern neighbour. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has defended Germany’s NATO contribution on his way to meet with President Biden. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron has told newspaper Journal de Dimanche that he believes he can de-escalate the crisis during his visit to meet with President Putin in Moscow today. And in M&A news, shares of fitness equipment maker Peloton soar by more than 20 per cent on reported interest from Amazon and Nike.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S equities close sharply lower as Meta breaks a one-day record for market cap loss with more than $230bn wiped from its value. However, U.S. futures are buoyed by strong earnings from Amazon and Snap. Tensions are still high in Ukraine and the White House claims Russia is planning a ‘false flag’ incident to force a pretext to invade the country. We hear from Julianne Smith, U.S. ambassador to NATO who says the alliance is keeping the door for diplomacy wide open. BoE governor Andrew Bailey tells CNBC that the higher rate path is still uncertain due to an unpredictable growth outlook. Four MPC members pushed for a larger 0.5 per cent interest rate hike to check ballooning inflation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Meta suffers a share wipe-out in extended trade with $210bn disappearing from its market cap. It’s the largest quarterly miss for the company formerly known as Facebook and has caused Nasdaq futures to slide by more than 300 points. The Nikkei also turns red. Streaming platform Spotify plunges despite a beat on the top and bottom line on weak predicted subscription numbers. We are also live at the ECB as well as the Bank of England where a second consecutive rate hike of 25 basis points is expected.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Google parent company Alphabet posts a big Q4 profit beat and launches a 20-for-1 stock split. We have a slew of European corporate earnings today, too. Spanish lender Santander records more than €2bn in quarterly profits on strong customer growth and Julius Baer reports a record-breaking full year. Swiss pharma giant Novartis is courted by a number of private equity suitors keen on its generic drugs arm Sandoz. We are also live in Kiev, as Russian President Vladimir Putin accuses NATO of having ‘played’ his country over security concerns on the east Ukrainian border. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

UBS overcomes higher litigation costs, reporting a 14 per cent rise in full-year net profit. The Swiss lender launched a new set of ambitious targets to capitalise on recent performance and plans to buy back $5bn of shares in 2022. The S&P 500 wraps up a torrid January in the red – its worse month in two years. In the UK, the fallout from the Sue Gray ‘partygate’ report continues. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has refused to step down but has apologised over multiple breaches of Covid regulations at No.10 Downing Street. And in M&A news, Sony swoops in for video game maker Bungie in a deal worth $3.6bn.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wall Street looks set to close the month sharply lower, with the Nasdaq set for its worst month since 2008 as investors prepare for tighter Fed policy. The U.K. targets Russian oligarchs amid red-hot tensions between Kyiv and Moscow, with Foreign Secretary Liz Truss saying new sanctions will send a clear message. In Italy, Sergio Mattarella signs on for a second term as President, after lawmakers fail to agree on a compromise candidate. And, Vodafone comes under activist attack – as Cevian Capital reportedly builds a stake and calls for structural change.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apple reports its best quarterly earnings ever, beating expectations for Mac and iPhone sales over Christmas. On a conference call, CEO Tim Cook says that supply chain issues are showing signs of fading. Not so for Tesla, however, with shares dragging down Wall Street during another volatile session on Thursday after CEO Elon Musk sounded a warning over chip shortages. Luxury giant LVMH enjoys record FY profits and sales buoyed by demand for high-end accessories in the U.S. and China. And President Biden has warned Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy that an invasion by Russian forces may be imminent after Pentagon reports of further troop build-ups at the border overnight.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell all but confirms a March rate hike at the next FOMC meeting. He hints there will be more to come, again causing waves on Wall Street. Asian markets and U.S. futures slumped into the red, while short-term Treasury yields neared two-year highs following Powell’s speech. Earnings season is under way with Tesla posting record Q4 results and issuing positive guidance, but CEO Elon Musk admitted continuing chip shortages would constrain new vehicle production. In politics, the U.S. ambassador to Russia hand-delivers Washington’s response to Moscow’s security demands on Ukraine and NATO expansion.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Dow swings from an 800-point loss back into the green before sinking into the red once more. Hayman Capital Management’s Kyle Bass tells CNBC that the Fed is a tinder box for markets, ahead of today’s crucial decision where it’s expected to signal the first rate hike in more than three years. U.S. President Joe Biden reiterates warnings to Russia against invading Ukraine, saying that any such move would “change the world”. Microsoft delivers a Q4 beat on the top and bottom lines, with a strong outlook, but shares have suffered in the recent tech sell-off – on course for its worst month in more than a decade. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. markets ride a rollercoaster session on Monday – making their biggest intraday comeback since the GFC - with the Dow recovering more than 1,000 points. Asian equities fail to follow suit, with the Nikkei slumping to a two-year low. Credit Suisse warns fourth-quarter profit will be negatively impacted by litigation costs of around CHF500m with the lender saying it now only expects to roughly break-even. Moscow says the U.S. and NATO are ramping up tensions over Ukraine as President Biden places 8,500 troops on high alert and NATO sends warships and jets to the region. And in Italy an impasse over the presidential vote looms after more than half of lawmakers’ ballots come back blank in the first round.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq both post their worst week since the start of the pandemic, with markets skittish ahead of this week’s Federal Reserve meeting. We hear from IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva who says central bank clarity is vital for global economic recovery. Georgieva spoke to us during a Davos Agenda panel on the global economic outlook, which also featured the ECB's Christine Lagarde, the BOJ's Haruhiko Kuroda, as well as Brazil's Economy Minister and Indonesia's Finance Minister. In Italy, former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi drops out of the presidential race. Current prime minister Mario Draghi remains favourite to take over from Sergio Mattarella. Meanwhile, the U.S. recalls all non-essential embassy personnel from Kiev, as the UK government considers strident financial sanctions on Moscow in the event of an invasion of Ukraine. And in corporate news, Nelson Peltz’s activist hedge fund Trian snaps up a stake in Unilever on the back of shareholder frustration with CEO Alan Jope’s failed recent bid for GSK’s healthcare unit.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Streaming giant Netflix sees shares plummet in extended trade, putting it on track for its worst day since 2012 as increased competition hits subscriber growth. The Nasdaq descends deep into correction territory as rate hike fears spook investors, but U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen tells CNBC inflation should fall back down towards 2 per cent later this year. Cryptocurrencies also take a hit, sinking to multi-month lows, with Bitcoin breaking below $40k. And U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Geneva, while Russia’s Ambassador to the EU tells CNBC in an exclusive interview that he hopes Washington will follow through on its security guarantees.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Higher treasury yields continue to pile pressure onto U.S. equities with tech stocks suffering in particular. The Nasdaq enters correction territory but BofA CEO Bran Moynihan tells CNBC the prospect of rate hikes signals that the worst of the pandemic effects on the economy are largely behind us. In a bid to prop up a slowing Chinese economy, the PBOC slashes a key lending rate for the first time in two years, sending Asian markets higher. Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has once again faced calls for his resignation over Covid rule-breaking allegations as well as a defection from his own party to Labour. In geo-political news, President Biden warns Russia of disastrous consequences should Moscow decide to invade Ukraine. This as, the EU foreign service head tells CNBC exclusively that the bloc should brace for conflict.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ten-year Treasury yields hit a two-year high sparking a Wall Street sell-off as investors brace themselves for a possible rate hike at next week’s Fed meeting. However, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink tells CNBC he remains sanguine about any tightening at this point. We have more bank earnings from Wall St. with Goldman Sachs plunges almost 7 per cent in yesterday’s session as its Q4 costs come in higher than expected. Microsoft seals the biggest tech deal of all time, snapping up gaming company Activision Blizzard in a deal worth $67bn. And, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in Kiev in a bid to quell tensions with Moscow. CNBC hears from Ukraine’s ambassador to the EU who says the bloc’s dependency on Russian gas is central to resolving the stand-off.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Asian equities slump and U.S. futures fall, while yields climb, ahead of a big week for the Fed. In Japan, the BoJ lifts inflation forecasts and says risks are generally balanced. Newly appointed German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock arrives in Moscow following talks with her Ukrainian counterpart in Kyiv, as tensions with Russia show no signs of abating. And in Brussels, euro zone finance ministers meet in an attempt to agree a new debt reduction plan for the bloc. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From politics to sports to banking giants, Covid rule breaches threaten the positions of the powerful. Credit Suisse chairman António Horta-Osório is forced to resign after breaching restrictions in Switzerland on several occasions. Former UBS Group COO Axel Lehmann has been named his successor. In M&A news, Unilever’s £50bn offer for GSK’s consumer unit is slapped down. However, GSK has assured investors it remains committed to spinning off the business. Meanwhile, Chinese GDP grew by 8 per cent in 2021 but expansion has decelerated to an 18-month low. The PBOC has cut a key loan rate in an attempt to aid economic activity. And UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces more pressure ahead of the ‘Partygate’ investigation report. Opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer says the lockdown rule-breaking at No. 10 and other ministries means Johnson has “lost the moral authority to lead” and needs to resign.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tech stocks weigh on U.S. and Asian markets with the Nasdaq breaking a three-day winning streak and the Nikkei slumping. Producer price inflation Stateside hits its highest level in 12 years, while several Fed members take a more hawkish line on rate hikes. Chinese imports come in far lower than expected but exports are propped up by global demand. In tech news, German software giant SAP issues strong guidance for 2022 and predicts a better-than-expected Q4.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. consumer inflation hits a four-decade high but President Biden says prices have peaked. U.S. futures are down ahead of an earnings season where S&P 500 companies are expected to deliver Q4 growth upwards of 20 per cent. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces a chorus of calls to resign after admitting he did attend a Downing Street drinks party in May 2020 while the country was subject to strict lockdown measures. And NATO and Russia remain locked in a standoff over Ukraine, as both sides refuse to give ground on key demands despite hours of talks in Brussels.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. Fed chair Jerome Powell testifies in front of the Senate Banking Committee and warns law makers that inflation remains a severe threat. However, Powell insisted that the U.S. economy is now robust enough not to require additional pandemic-level monetary stimulus. Powell’s main task would be to keep inflation in check, as U.S. markets look ahead to a CPI print today which could hit a high not seen for 40 years. Tech stocks rally in Wall Street and Hong Kong. Chinese factory and consumer price growth has softened after Beijing moves to curb rising raw material costs. In the UK, Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s tenure looks increasingly fragile following fresh Covid rule-breaking allegations by his government. And we take you to St. Moritz, Switzerland with the latest from the Crypto Finance Conference.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Nasdaq dips in to correction territory but wins back losses of more than 2 per cent. We hear exclusively from Goldman Sachs’s David Kostin who says the tech disconnect is the largest issue for clients. U.S. Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell is set to testify in the Senate where he will address the effect inflation is having on the American economy while JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon predicts the U.S. is headed for its best growth phase in decades, even in the face of rate hikes. Investment fund Cerberus sells off more than $500m of Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank stocks. And in Covid news, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla announces that the pharma giant will have a new Omicron vaccine this winter.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says high-stakes talks between Washington and Moscow are unlikely to progress over Ukraine, as Russian troops gather on the border. In China, 14 million people are being tested for Covid over 2 days in the north-eastern port city of Tianjin – less than an hour from the capital. December payrolls in the U.S. come in weaker than expected but unemployment falls. And in banking news, Italy’s BPER reportedly improves its offer for Carige in a bid to fend off rival interest from French lender Credit Agricole.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. treasury yields continue to surge with investors bracing for an accelerated winding down of monetary support, while billionaire investor Ray Dalio tells CNBC the Fed is in a ‘delicate’ position. The WHO warns of an Omicron tsunami as global health systems struggle, but it says vaccine equity could end the pandemic this year. Oil prices pop as the violence continues in Kazakhstan’s largest city, Almaty, with scores killed and up to 3,000 detained. Russian troops have been called in to restore order. And in the U.S., President Biden marks the one-year anniversary of the deadly storming of Capitol Hill.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. tech majors slide and the 10-year yield touches 1.7% after the Fed minutes hint at efforts to shrink the balance sheet together with rate hikes. At least seven EU countries report record daily Covid cases – while the UK eases testing rules. And French supermarket giant Auchan eyes a second bid for rival Carrefour after initial takeover talks were suspended in October.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Dow hits a new record high as investor confidence picks up, but tech stocks slump on a rotation out of the sector. Opec nations hold their nerve against the Omicron outbreak and agree to boost output for the seventh consecutive month. China Mobile lists in Shanghai in the country’s biggest domestic IPO in a decade. Meanwhile in Europe, Covid cases continue to surge with new daily highs recorded in France and the UK.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Dow and the S&P 500 begin 2022 with fresh records, as Apple becomes the first U.S. company to achieve a $3 tn market cap. Troubled Chinese property giant Evergrande’s shares resume trading after authorities order it to demolish 39 developments on the tropical island of Hainan. Chinese manufacturing beats expectations in December as input prices fall to their lowest level since May 2020. And Daimler unveils an EV concept car with a 1000km range, but CTO Markus Schäfer tells CNBC exclusively that the chip crunch is likely to continue into the new year. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. futures begin 2022 pointing high but Asian equities are softer with the Hang Seng under pressure, as Evergrande is halted, pending the release of inside information. Turkish inflation rockets, with CPI up 13% on the month. France becomes the sixth country in the world to record 10mn covid cases, as it eases restrictions. Tesla beats its own delivery and production records in Q4, delivering almost 1mn units in 2021. And U.S. President Joe Biden reassures his Ukrainian counterpart that America would respond decisively should Moscow invade.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chinese manufacturing activity beats expectations for December, in spite of continuing Covid restrictions. U.S. markets are set to end 2021 strongly with Wall Street eyeing its best three-year run since the late 1990s. The WHO warns of a ‘tsunami’ of global Covid cases as the Omicron variant peaks in at least 20 countries. And Presidents Biden and Putin hold talks about de-escalating tensions over Ukraine but find no resolution as they trade warnings and threats.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The S&P 500 hits a 70th record high this year, with U.S. markets set to finish a volatile year on a high. NIAID director Anthony Fauci tells CNBC that the Omicron variant surge is likely to peak in the U.S. by the end of January. In China, troubled property giant Evergrande reportedly misses another bond payment, causing shares to slide. In IPO news, Chinese AI firm Sensetime sees a stellar Hong Kong debut. And President Biden accepts President Putin’s request for talks later this afternoon, as tensions over the Ukrainian border continue to simmer.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s a mixed scene in U.S. markets as the S&P 500 dips from a new intra-day record while the Dow posts its fifth straight positive session. New studies suggest that Omicron will displace the Delta variant of Covid as global cases top one million for a second day. In Hong Kong, police raid the offices of Stand News – one of the territory’s few remaining pro-democracy newspapers – for alleged “seditious publication”. Washington and Moscow are scheduled to hold talks early in the new year as Russian troops continue to mass on the Ukrainian border.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The S&P closes at a record high as the rebound continues from the Omicron-induced sell-off, ahead of what’s expected to be thin trade in a reduced festive session here in Europe. A major U.K. study indicates Omicron is up to 70% less likely to send patients to hospital – but the Health Secretary says it’s too soon to know the next steps, as COVID cases hit record levels. Russia and the U.S. will hold talks over Ukraine within weeks, amid what Moscow claims are existential threats from NATO. And, Peter Parker saves the day for Hollywood, as Spiderman: No Way Home crosses $800 million at the global box office – while Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson tells CNBC the pandemic has changed things.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. equities rally for a second day, propelling Asian stocks higher as investors continue to look past COVID risks and count down to Christmas. In the U.K., COVID cases top 100,000 for the first time – as Wales and Northern Ireland set out new rules to tackle the Omicron-infused surge. The World Health Organisation warns “no country can boost its way out of the pandemic,” with Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus calling for greater vaccine equity. And Tesla shares rally as Elon Musk says he has almost completed his pledge to sell 10% of his stake in the EV-maker.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wall Street rebounds, breaking a three-day losing streak as investors set aside Omicron concerns – with airlines and energy companies leading the charge. It’s another volatile 24 hours for Turkey’s lira, but the currency holds on to gains as the President outlines plans to safeguard against price swings. In the U.S., President Joe Biden unveils his strategy for tackling the Omicron variant, and calls on Americans to get vaccinated this Christmas. And, Sweden, Portugal and Germany bring back some restrictions amid the Omicron surge, as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warns it cannot be ignored.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Its covid across the board today as the UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, holds off from tightening covid restrictions despite mounting pressure. There were more than 90,000 confirmed cases of covid in the UK on Monday with cases doubling every week. German federal and state leaders will meet today to discuss tougher covid restrictions as hospitals bear the strain of rising cases and emergency staff illness. Meanwhile, President Biden is set to unveil steps to combat an increase in covid cases in the U.S today as new data shows omicron now accounts for around 73% of new cases across the country.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Netherlands becomes the first country in Europe to impose strict lockdown measures as the omicron variant spreads across the world. In London, the city mayor, Sadiq Khan, declares a major incident due to rising cases in the capital while the health secretary calls for more caution over Christmas. This comes as the UK sees around 22,000 new cases over the weekend. Meanwhile, the resignation of Lord Frost delivers another blow to the UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. Germany follows France and bans travelers from the UK while anti-lock down protests break out across the country.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sterling rallies as the Bank of England hikes rates for the first time in 3 years, raising its benchmark rate to 0.25% in anticipation of inflation hitting 6% by April. Meanwhile, the ECB is set to exit its Pandemic Emergency Purchase Programme in March in order to stave off surging levels of inflation. The ECB also plans to raise its Asset Purchasing Programme from $20 billion to $40 billion in the second quarter, and to $30 billion in the third. As Hong Kong votes for its next legislative council this weekend, we speak to CNBC’s Emily Tan about the first Legco poll since China’s overhauling of the electoral process in the city earlier this year.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Federal Reserve slows the pace of its monthly bond purchases and signals three rate hikes next year. The FED says it will taper its bond purchasing programme by 30 billion dollars per month, putting it on pace to end its pandemic status by March. It intends to raise rates as many as 8 times by 2024 while keeping its fund rate at record lows. Meanwhile, the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee will meet today to decide whether to increase interest rates and tighten conditions. This comes amid a recent inflation surge and deepening fears over the Omicron variant. We also look toward the ECB’s delivery of its latest policy decision amid challenges of soaring inflation and rising covid rates.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Producer prices in the U.S see the sharpest rise on record and has unsettled Wall Street before today’s FED decision. The U.S hikes the government debt ceiling to $31.4 trillion thus avoiding an historic default. Meanwhile, American investors will be banned from investing in another eight Chinese companies, including the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial drones, DJI.Chinese industrial output data beats expectations but Covid fears and restrictions mean sales still missed overall forecasts, slowing growth in October despite multiple headwinds from the PBOC. And, the IMF calls on the Bank of England to take action to curb inflation in its policy meeting tomorrow. This comes as the IMF anticipates inflation in Britain returning to its 2% target by 2024See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.