Key financial events: Fed minutes, Buffett's retirement, and Hong Kong stock listings.

Upcoming Highlights for Next Week

As the New Year approaches, several key events are set to take place, including market closures for A-shares, Hong Kong stocks, US stocks, and markets in Japan and South Korea during the New Year's holiday.

Federal Reserve Meeting Minutes and Leadership Transition

The Federal Reserve's meeting minutes from its recent policy meeting will be a focal point for the market in the last week of the year. Investors are keenly awaiting potential signals regarding further interest rate cuts. The Fed has already lowered rates by 75 basis points in its last three meetings, bringing the benchmark rate to a range of 3.50%-3.75%.

The minutes may clarify the discussions among policymakers, especially as there are differing views on future rate movements. Additionally, there is speculation about whether President Trump will nominate a successor to Powell, whose term ends in May. The potential candidates include Kevin Hassett, Kevin Walsh, and Christopher Waller.

Market Closures for New Year's Holiday

The Hong Kong stock market will have a half-day session on December 31, 2025, and will be closed on January 1, 2026. The US stock market will operate normally on December 31 but will also be closed on January 1. Other markets, including those in South Korea, Japan, Singapore, and Malaysia, will also observe closures.

PMI Data Releases

China will release its official manufacturing PMI data on December 31, with expectations for a slight recovery supported by policy measures. The focus will be on the new orders index and performance across different enterprise sizes.

On January 2, the US will release its manufacturing PMI data for December, along with other economic indicators such as the pending home sales index and initial jobless claims.

Warren Buffett's Retirement

Warren Buffett, at 95, will officially retire as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, with Greg Abel set to take over on January 1, 2026. Buffett has created immense wealth for shareholders over the past 60 years, with Berkshire's returns significantly outperforming the S&P 500.

New Stock Listings in Hong Kong

On December 30, six companies will debut on the Hong Kong stock market, including Wall-E Robotics and the AI-driven company, 18C. The "GPU first stock" Wall-E Technology will list on January 2, with an IPO price range set between HKD 17.00 and 19.60.

Conclusion

Investors should keep an eye on these developments as they could present significant opportunities in the market.