Mon Dec 20 EU Environment Council. | Tue Dec 21 Winter solstice in Northern Hemisphere. | Wed Dec 22 EU green investment rules for nuclear & gas. | Thu Dec 23 Putin annual news conference. | Fri Dec 24 U.S. markets are closed. European markets close earlier.
China’s de-facto benchmark funding rate may be inching closer to its first cut since April 2020, after policymakers signaled a focus on “stabilizing” the economy and the PBOC reduced reserve requirements for banks. Though a change may come as soon as Dec. 20, headwinds like the property crisis and weak domestic demand have seen expectations rise for a drop in the loan prime rate.
The EU is expected to announce on Dec. 22 how natural-gas and nuclear-energy projects would be classified under its green investment rules. With energy prices setting records and no sign that Russia will quickly refill depleted gas inventories, a compromise may be seen as the only possible outcome.
Russia’s standoff with the West over Ukraine, NATO and international relations are some of the themes likely to dominate Vladimir Putin’s annual press conference on Dec. 23. The Russian president could also announce whether he will run for six more years when his current terms ends, a decision widely expected after he scrapped term limits that would have forced him to stand down as president in 2024.
All times are Eastern and subject to change.