🌹【August 18th Morning News Highlights】
The People's Bank of China released the China Monetary Policy Implementation Report for the second quarter of 2025. The report states that a moderately accommodative monetary policy will be implemented in detail over the next phase. The report proposes that promoting a reasonable price rebound should be a key consideration in guiding monetary policy, ensuring prices remain at a reasonable level. In the next phase, financial policies will focus on the supply side, aiming to create effective demand through high-quality supply.
2. According to the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that from August 18 to 20, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Foreign Minister and China's special representative on the China-India boundary issue, will visit India at the invitation of the Indian side and hold the 24th meeting of the special representatives on the China-India boundary issue.
3. Yang Jiaohong, former Director of the Fourth Supervision Division of the Issuance Supervision Department of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, was dismissed. An investigation revealed that Yang Jiaohong exploited his position while in office, and even after leaving, the advantages afforded by his former authority and position, to subscribe to original shares of a proposed listed company. This is a typical example of "escape resignation" corruption. He was disloyal and dishonest to the Party, evading organizational scrutiny through tactics such as "white gloves" and "shadow shareholders." He colluded with multiple witnesses to destroy and conceal evidence, resisting organizational scrutiny. He violated the Central Committee's eight-point regulations by accepting gifts and consumer cards in violation of regulations. He also lost his integrity by subscribing to original shares of a proposed listed company through "surprise equity investment," reaping huge illegal profits.
4. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said he hopes to invest trillions of dollars in the future to build the infrastructure needed to develop and run artificial intelligence services. "You should expect OpenAI to invest trillions of dollars" in data center construction in the not-too-distant future, Altman told reporters last Thursday.
5. According to media reports, the Shenzhou-20 crew recently completed a successful 6.5-hour extravehicular activity. Unlike previous missions, this time, the crew had a new assistant, the "Wukong AI" model, to assist them in their work. The "Wukong AI" model played a supporting role in preparations for the Shenzhou-20 crew's third extravehicular activity, and also provided intelligent and professional support for the astronauts' on-orbit work.
6. The media learned from Sinopec Southwest Petroleum Bureau that Sinopec's "Deep Earth Engineering·Sichuan-Chongqing Natural Gas Base" has made another major breakthrough. The newly proven geological reserves of 124.588 billion cubic meters of Yongchuan shale gas field submitted by the Southwest Petroleum Bureau have been approved by the expert group of the Ministry of Natural Resources, marking the birth of another large-scale deep-seated shale gas field with a capacity of over 100 billion cubic meters in my country.
7. Cailianshe reporters learned from Northern Rare Earth, Shenghe Resources, and other sources that the first batch of total rare earth mining, smelting, and separation control targets for 2025 have been issued to China Rare Earth Group and Northern Rare Earth, but have not been publicly announced. Industry insiders predict that, based on current trends, these total rare earth mining, smelting, and separation control targets may no longer be publicly announced.
8. Shanghai Lingang's first batch of driverless smart connected taxis are now officially open to the public. The service currently covers 58 locations in Lingang's main urban area, including universities, offices, and businesses. Operating hours are 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily. Residents can make reservations through the "Lingang Travel" mini-app and click "Zhixing Zhilian." The starting fare is 16 yuan for trips under 5 kilometers, and 4 yuan per kilometer for trips over 5 kilometers. There are no additional charges.
9. The three major US stock indices closed mixed last Friday, all recording their second consecutive weekly gain. The Nasdaq fell 0.4%, after a 0.81% gain last week; the S&P 500 fell 0.29%, after a 0.94% gain last week; and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.08%, after a 1.74% gain last week. Both the Dow and S&P 500 hit new intraday all-time highs. Large technology stocks were mixed, with Intel rising about 3%. Most popular Chinese concept stocks rose, with the Nasdaq China Golden Dragon Index closing up 0.74%, adding to its 1.84% gain last week.
10. According to media reports, the Trump administration recently announced an expansion of its 50% tariff on steel and aluminum imports, adding hundreds of derivative products to the list. The expanded tariff list will officially take effect on August 18.
