GuShiio.com ① Trump: The United States will not send troops to Ukraine and does not oppose Europe sending peacekeeping troops;② China and Japan both reduced their U.S. debt in December last year;③ The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has laid off 10% of its staff;④ The US judge refused to order a temporary ban on access to the “Department of Government Efficiency”.
Overnight stock market
U.S. stocks closed up slightly on Tuesday (February 18), with the Dow rising 0.02%, the Nasdaq rising 0.07%, and the S & P 500 index rising 0.24%, setting a record high.
Meta fell nearly 3%, ending its 20-game consecutive gains. Intel rose more than 16%, and has risen more than 40% since February, setting a new high since August last year. Popular Chinese stocks were mixed, with the Nasdaq China Golden Dragon Index closing down 1.28%.
Most major European stock indexes rose, with Germany’s DAX index rising 0.2% to 22,844.50 points, continuing to hit a record high.
commodity market
OPEC + representatives said they might postpone the supply increase plan scheduled to start in April. WTI March crude oil futures closed up 1.57% at US$71.85/barrel, and Brent April crude oil futures closed up 0.82% at US$75.84/barrel. NYMEX March natural gas futures closed up 7.57% at US$4.007/million British heat, as cold weather froze oil and gas well production.
COMEX gold futures rose 1.77% to US$2,952.1 per ounce, and COMEX silver futures rose 1.75% to US$33.43 per ounce.
market news
[If you are dancing again, the United States will impose a tariff of around 25% on imported cars]
U.S. President Trump has said he will impose tariffs of around 25% on imported cars, and he will make more statements on the topic on April 2.
[Trump: The United States will not send troops to Ukraine and will not oppose Europe sending peacekeeping troops]
Trump said on February 18 local time that if European countries are willing to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine to provide security guarantees if a peace agreement is reached, he will not object. European leaders have previously discussed sending peacekeeping troops to provide security to Ukraine after a peace deal is reached. Trump said at Mar-a-Lago Estate in Palm Beach,”There is no problem with stationing troops there. I would not object at all.” This was the first time Trump spoke out after the United States held talks with Russia on the Ukraine issue in Riyadh earlier that day. Trump said that the United States will not send any troops to Ukraine. Trump said Ukraine could have reached an agreement years ago, and Ukraine should have participated in the negotiations earlier. Trump said the negotiations on Ukraine are progressing smoothly. He also said,”I don’t think we have to withdraw all troops from Europe.”
[The U.S. Secretary of State speaks with foreign ministers from many European countries, and all parties agree to work together to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict]
The U.S. State Department issued a statement on February 18 local time saying that U.S. Secretary of State Rubio had held talks with the Russian Foreign Minister in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia earlier that day, and then held talks with the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, as well as the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs. Rubio briefed foreign ministers on the meeting, and all parties agreed to continue to maintain close contact and work together to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
[British Prime Minister reiterates that sending troops to Ukraine must have U.S. support]
According to British media reports on February 17, after the Paris emergency meeting that day, British Prime Minister Stammer reiterated the proposal that European countries need to significantly increase defense spending and jointly send troops to Ukraine. But he added that European peacekeeping forces “must have U.S. support.”
[The U.S. Treasury Department has scaled back treasury bond issuance for the second consecutive week to preserve borrowing capacity]
The U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday cut the size of some benchmark Treasury bills for the second consecutive week, seeking to retain borrowing capacity below the legal debt limit. The Ministry of Finance said it plans to issue $85 billion in four-period treasury bonds on Thursday, a decrease of $5 billion from the previous issuance of bonds with the same maturity. The Treasury Department also announced that it would issue $80 billion in eight-cycle treasury bills on Thursday, a reduction of $5 billion. Wednesday’s routine tender for 17-cycle treasury bills was reduced to $60 billion, a decrease of $2 billion. In order to retain its ability to borrow under the statutory debt ceiling, this is the second time the Treasury Department has reduced Treasury issuance, and it may be one of a series of reductions.
[China and Japan both reduced their holdings of U.S. debt in December last year]
Data from the U.S. Treasury Department showed that China’s holdings of U.S. Treasury bonds in December were US$759 billion, a decrease of US$9.6 billion month-on-month. Japan’s holdings of U.S. Treasury bonds in December were US$1.06 trillion, a month-on-month decrease of US$27.3 billion.
[U.S. judge refuses to order a temporary ban on access to the “Department of Government Efficiency”]
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan issued a ruling on February 18 local time, refusing to order a ban on the Department of Government Efficiency from accessing computer systems of federal agencies during litigation or instructing the dismissal of government workers, rejecting a previous request from the Democratic State Attorney General.
[The White House clarifies Musk’s identity and says he is not an employee of the Department of Government Efficiency]
Although the name Musk seems to the outside world to almost represent the newly established Department of Government Efficiency, the White House clarified that Musk does not work for the department. Joshua Fisher, director of the White House Executive Office, said that Musk is a senior adviser to the president and has no higher authority than other senior White House aides. Fisher said late Monday that Musk’s role should be viewed separately from the government efficiency department he supports.
[NASA has laid off 10% of its staff]
As thousands of U.S. federal employees continue to be fired, sources at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have revealed that the agency has laid off 10% of its employees. NASA said in a statement that it is complying with guidance and instructions provided by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
[Federal Reserve Daly calls for adjustment of bank supervision]
Federal Reserve Daly called for changes in bank supervision in a prepared speech, but did not comment on monetary policy and the economy. Said the cumulative impact of regulations and regulations must be considered, and more community banks said regulation would not work on them.
[Citi: Lower its copper price forecast for the next 6-12 months to US$8500 per ton]
Citi research shows that it has lowered its copper price forecast for the next 6-12 months to US$8500 per ton. Previously it was US$9000 per ton. Terminal consumption of copper is expected to grow by 1.7% in 2025, reflecting growth resistance from tariffs and restrictive developed market monetary policies.
