US President Joe Biden visits Emmaus Run Inn in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, on January 12, 2024. Biden is visiting several small businesses to tout his Bidenomics economic plan.
Mandel Ngan | AFP | Getty Images
This report is from today’s CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Like what you see? You can subscribe here.
What you need to know today
Tesla shares plunge 12%
Shares of electric vehicle maker Tesla plunged 12%, their biggest drop in over a year. The move came a day after the company’s earnings missed expectations and it warned of a slowdown in 2024. Tesla’s stock also came under pressure from various brokers, who reduced their price targets for the company.
China’s financial institutions urged to do more
A senior Chinese financial regulatory official said the country’s financial institutions should offer support to the struggling real estate sector and not “blindly withdraw” financing for projects that are in trouble. His remarks follow the Chinese central bank’s largest cut in mandatory cash reserves for banks since 2021.
Commodity markets in ‘super squeeze’ spot
Supply disruptions and lack of investment are putting global commodity markets in a “super squeeze,” according to HSBC. The issue is likely to get worse as geopolitical and climate risks aggravate the situation, the bank added.
[PRO] Buy or avoid China?
Is it time to get into China markets? Some investors have been wary since Beijing has been struggling with a property debt crisis that has triggered financial risks across the broader economy. The Pro analysts give their take.
The bottom line
What recession?
The U.S. economy grew at an accelerated pace in the final three months of 2023, capping the year on a solid note.
And the recession that so many forecasters had predicted didn’t happen.
The latest GDP data showed the economy grew at a rate of 3.3% in the fourth quarter, much higher than Wall Street’s estimates.
The numbers further showed the U.S. economy’s incredible resilience following intense efforts from the Fed to aggressively hike interest rates to fight inflation.
The Biden administration wasted no time in trying to claim credit. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said it was government policies that helped boost the economy.
“Though some forecasters thought a recession last year was inevitable, President Biden and I did not,” Yellen said in a speech.” Instead of contracting, the economy has continued to grow, driven by American workers and President Biden’s economic strategy.”
“Put simply, it’s been the fairest recovery on record,” Yellen added.
Thursday’s report also included good news on the inflation front. The core personal consumption expenditures price index posted a quarterly gain of 2%, excluding food and energy — a key gauge the Fed uses when assessing inflation. Headline inflation increased just 1.7%.
With all the data pointing in the right direction, it looks like the economy could be inching close to the much talked about soft landing, if it hasn’t already.
— CNBC’s Jeff Cox contributed to this report.