Business News Today
China’a Economy Population and Production – on a Decline
China’s population fell by 3.39 million to 1.405 billion in 2025, marking the 4th straight year of decline, following a 1.39 million drop in 2024. It also marked the lowest population since 2017, with the total number of births declining to 7.92 million in 2025, its lowest in decades, from 9.54 million in 2024. China’s 10-year government bond yield also saw a drop to around 1.83% today, hitting a fresh three-week low, as investors assessed China’s latest economic figures. The country’s economic growth expanded by 4.5% year-on-year in the fourth quarter, the weakest pace in nearly three years.
Adding to the economic pressure, China’s retail sales rose by only 0.9% year-on-year in December 2025, slowing from a 1.3% increase and missing market expectations of a 1.2% gain. It marked the weakest growth since December 2022, as a soft jobs market, shrinking population size, and falling home prices continue to weigh on consumer spending. China’s fixed-asset investment fell by 3.8% in 2025, worse than market forecasts of a 3% drop. This marked the first annual decline since 1989, dragged mainly by a sharp fall in property investment (-17.2%). Infrastructure investment also dropped by 2.2%.
Anthropic Drawing Major Funding from Sequoia
Sequoia Capital is reportedly joining a blockbuster funding round for Anthropic, the AI startup behind Claude, according to the Financial Times. Venture capital firms have historically avoided backing competing companies in the same sector, preferring to place their bets on a single winner. However Sequoia is breaking the old and backing several major AI companies. The group has already invested in both OpenAI and Elon Musk’s xAI, and is now buying a significant stake in Anthropic. The investment taboo was referred to by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman who last year testified under oath last about restrictions in OpenAI’s 2024 funding round regarding Elon Musk’s xAI challenge to OpenAI becoming a listed company.
According to the FT, Sequoia is joining a funding round led by Singapore’s GIC and U.S. investor Coatue, which are each contributing $1.5 billion. Anthropic is aiming to raise $25 billion or more at a $350 billion valuation — more than double its $170 billion valuation from just four months ago.According to the FT, Sequoia is joining a funding round led by Singapore’s GIC and U.S. investor Coatue, which are each contributing $1.5 billion. Anthropic is aiming to raise $25 billion or more at a $350 billion valuation — more than double its $170 billion valuation from just four months ago.
Gold Surges to New High Over Greenland Tiff
Gold prices rose more than 1% to above $4,660 per ounce on Monday, reaching a record high as investors moved to safe-haven assets following President Trump’s announcement of new tariffs on European countries. On Saturday, Trump said he would impose a 10% tariff on goods from eight European nations starting February 1 due their opposition to America’s proposed control over Greenland. The rate could rise to 25% by June 1 if no agreement is reached on the “complete and total purchase of Greenland.”
The announcement sparked concerns across Europe, with European leaders expected to hold an emergency meeting in the coming days to discuss possible retaliatory measures, including levies on €93 billion worth of US goods. For Africa as a major gold producing region, this is however presents an ongoing bull run for one of its major export commodities. Gold bullion has already been on a strong upward trajectory this year following a robust performance in 2025, supported by political instability in Venezuela, renewed concerns over the Federal Reserve’s independence, and expectations of more US interest rate cuts.
Breaking News Shorts:
- China’s industrial production grew by 5.2% y-o-y in December 2025, accelerating from a 4.8% rise in November 2025, above market expectations of 5.0%. This marked the fastest increase since September, driven by stronger growth in manufacturing activity (5.7% vs 4.6% in November), amid the government’s effort to boost domestic demand.
- Japan’s core machinery orders fell 11% month-on-month to ¥883.9 billion in November 2025, reversing a 7% gain in October and marking the steepest drop since April 2020. The decline was far worse than market expectations for a 5.1% fall. Manufacturing orders slid 10.8% to ¥398.2 billion, while non-manufacturing orders dropped 10.7% to ¥492.9 billion.
- Platinum futures surged to around $2,356 per ounce this morning, heading towards back near-record highs today, after US President Donald Trump temporarily delayed new tariffs on critical mineral imports. Concerns over potential tariffs on platinum, along with palladium and silver eased, however prices surged as the administration signalled its intent to gain control of Greenland.
- Botswana’s annual inflation rate edged up to 3.9% in December 2025 from 3.8% in November. Prices increased at a faster pace for transport (6.2% vs 5.6%), clothing and footwear (4.2% vs 4%), furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance (4.5% vs 4.2%)
- British American Tobacco (BAT) have announced that they plan to stop producing cigarettes in South Africa due to rampant illicit cigarette sales. This will put more than 35,000 jobs at risk, devastating tobacco growers who have relied on BAT for more than 100 years.”
Markets by Numbers
Currency markets indicate the US dollar weakening today, with the Euro trading against the US dollar at 1.16336 while the Pound is trading at 1.33956 to the US dollar. The Yen is currently trading at 157.79 to the dollar. The rand (ZAR) is currently trading at around R16.40 to the dollar.
Commodities:
- Gold futures have hit several new highs today , and are currently up by more than 1.6% this morning, and currently trading at around $4669.19 per ounce.
- Copper prices are trending 1.3% higher today, with prices currently around $59.063 per pound
- Silver futures have surged by over 3.5% today hitting fresh highs, and currently trading around $93.134 per ounce.
- Platinum futures are up by over 1.4% this morning, and currently trading at $2356.00, While Palladium prices have climbed by over 1.2% this morning, and currently trading around $1843.50 per ounce.
- Brent crude oil prices are trending upwards today, and currently at $64.19 with WTI trading higher at $59.60
- Cocoa futures are trending marginally higher today, and currently trading around $5089.08.00 per ton.
- Coffee futures are currently lower today, and trading at around $3.5514 per pound
Crypto Currencies:
- Bitcoin prices are trending over 1% lower this morning, and trading at around $92586 per coin currently
- Ether prices are down by over -2.5%, and are currently trading around $3200.90
- $Trumpcoin are trending lower today, and currently trading around $5.352
(All prices quoted at approximately 07H20 Central African Time)
Africa News Briefs:
- Egypt and Sudan have welcomed a US offer to restart talks with Ethiopia over the Nile River water dispute. over the weekend, President Trump announced he was ready to resume mediation to resolve the question of Nile Water sharing “once and for all.” Earlier talks were abandoned in 2020. Ethiopia inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in September last year. The $5 billion project is the largest hydro-electric system in Africa and will double the country’s electricity generation. But Cairo says the dam will drastically reduce the Nile’s flow, and could have severe effects on Egypt’s agriculture and other sectors.
- The International Monetary Fund has approved a new disbursement of 261 million US dollars for Ethiopia, after completing the fourth review of the country’s 48‑month Extended Credit Facility. The money will assist Ethiopia to cover its balance of payments and budget needs, bringing total IMF disbursements under the programme to just over 2.18 billion dollars. According to the Fund, Ethiopia’s economy is performing better than expected, with strong growth, higher exports, improved revenue collection and rising foreign reserves, while inflation continues to ease.
- The South African National Disaster Management Centre, has declared a National Disaster in terms of Section 23 of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002), following severe weather conditions and widespread flooding across parts of the country.The severe weather, including heavy rainfall, strong winds, lightning and flooding, affected Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and North West, resulting in loss of life, significant damage to infrastructure and property, environmental degradation, displacement of communities.
