Welcome to today’s top stories, fresh from my neural networks to yours!

1. China’s stimulus puzzle.

2. TikTok fights US ban in Supreme Court; CEO meets Trump.

3. Big Tech's obsession with AI agents.

4. Waymo expands to Japan with autonomous driving tests.

5. Mental health crisis costs global economy $1tn.

Market Pulse

🗓️ Economic Calendar

🔥 Top Stories

1. China’s stimulus puzzle: small steps, big gaps 🇨🇳

⏳️ The deets in 30 seconds:

• China signaled stronger economic stimulus but ruled out a big-bang package to boost domestic consumption.

• Boosting consumption was named a top priority for only the second time in a decade, but retail spending is still slowing.

• Low consumer confidence and savings amid a weak job market continue to stifle spending.

• China’s conservative stimulus reflects its effort to shift away from property reliance, though new sectors like EVs and chips aren’t growing fast enough.

• Officials plan modest fiscal stimulus, estimated at 2% of GDP, and 40-60 basis points in rate cuts—far smaller than global examples.

💡 How it impacts you:

• Consumer spending remains weak, signaling slower recovery in global demand for goods and services.

• If you export to China, manufacturing sectors may still thrive, but consumer-oriented industries could lag.

• For investors, China's cautious stimulus could mean slower gains in equity markets compared to other regions.

🔮 Industry prediction:

Manufacturing dominance leads to export surge because domestic demand remains weak.

• Key Players:

  🎯 Moving Markets: Chinese policymakers, central bank

  ⚡ Making Moves: Tech and manufacturing giants (EVs, chips)

  👥 Worth Watching: Consumers and property developers

• Timeline:

  Q1 2025: Modest stimulus programs trickle out

  March 2025: Economic roadmap reveals China’s annual targets

  2026: Larger reforms or consumption-focused policies likely

⚡ The bottom line:

China’s economic push is like a marathon with a light backpack—modest steps, long game, and consumers still waiting for their finish-line moment.

2. TikTok fights US ban in Supreme Court while CEO meets Trump 🚫

⏳️ The deets in 30 seconds:

• TikTok and ByteDance asked the US Supreme Court to block a Jan. 19 ban, arguing it violates First Amendment.

  • Says ban threatens free speech and business-building.

  • Creators petitioned the court to pause the law before Jan. 6.

• Chief executive Shou Zi Chew met Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Monday.

• Law bars US companies from supporting TikTok unless ByteDance sells it.

• Trump’s recent praise for TikTok as a "warm spot" for young voters may influence enforcement.

• The D.C. Court of Appeals upheld the ban 3-0, citing national security and privacy concerns.

💡 How it impacts you:

• The ban wouldn't force you to delete TikTok, but it could make the app unusable in the US, disrupting consumption for its 170M users and businesses.

• If you’re a creator or small business, losing TikTok could slash your reach and income overnight.

• For those relying on TikTok for news—now 17% of US adults—this could be a major shift in how you stay informed.

🔮 Industry prediction:

TikTok having its Travis Kelce before and after Taylor Swift moment – suddenly everyone's paying attention, even those who never cared before.

• Who's Moving:

  🏃‍♀️ Leading: US lawmakers pushing for tougher tech regulation.

  🤚 Following: Creators and platforms monitoring TikTok's legal fight.

  ⌛ Waiting: Other Chinese apps in limbo, anticipating outcomes.

• What's Next:

  Now: Supreme Court considers intervention; creators brace for impact.

  6 Months: Potential divestment or tighter US oversight.

  1 Year: Broader rules for foreign-owned digital platforms.

⚡ The bottom line:

TikTok’s US future hinges on free speech vs. security debates, with the app’s 170M users caught in a geopolitical tug-of-war.

3. Big Tech's new AI obsession: agents that do your work for you 🤖

⏳️ The deets in 30 seconds:

• Salesforce deploys AI agents at 200+ companies including Accenture, FedEx, IBM.

• McKinsey cuts client onboarding time by 70% using AI agents.

• Nsure's AI agent handles 60% of customer requests across multiple channels.

• AI agents can function as specialists, personal assistants, coworkers, and supervisors.

• OpenAI plans agent launch in January, following releases by Microsoft and Anthropic.

💡 How it impacts you:

• Repetitive tasks at work, from scheduling to expense approvals, could soon vanish.

• AI agents can collaborate with you, producing drafts, brainstorming ideas, or even finishing projects while you focus elsewhere.

• Companies may reshore jobs previously outsourced, prioritizing smaller, highly skilled teams supported by agents.

• Expect improved 24/7 customer service without humans working nights or holidays, as agents handle inquiries around the clock.

🔮 Industry prediction:

By 2025, AI agents will dominate daily workflows, turning corporate digital labor into a competitive necessity rather than an option.

• Who's Moving:

  🏃‍♀️ Leading: Salesforce, OpenAI, McKinsey

  🏃‍♂️ Following: Accenture, Nsure, Anthropic

  ⌛ Waiting: Traditional enterprises

• What's Next:

  Now: Early deployments, primarily in tech and consulting firms.

  6 Months: Widespread integration in customer service, marketing, and operations.

  1 Year: Agents reshape team structures and global workforce strategies.

⚡ The bottom line:

AI agents aren't just chatbots with a promotion – they're digital employees ready to reshape the meaning of office work.

4. 🌏 Waymo targets Tokyo for first global expansion, testing to begin with 7 key districts in 2025

⏳️ The deets in 30 seconds:

• Waymo pairs with Japan's largest taxi operator Nihon Kotsu for testing.

• Initial phase covers seven major districts including Shibuya and Shinjuku.

• Human drivers will map streets before autonomous testing begins.

• Move marks Waymo's first entry into left-hand traffic market.

• Announcement comes as competitor GM shutters Cruise operations.

💡 How it impacts you:

• If you're traveling to Tokyo in 2025, you might spot Waymo's Jaguar I-PACE vehicles mapping the streets.

• For locals, this signals the start of a major shift in urban transportation.

• Expect to see more autonomous vehicles in busy districts like Shibuya.

• This expansion could set the template for how self-driving cars adapt to different cultural and infrastructural challenges worldwide, potentially accelerating their arrival in your city.

🔮 Industry prediction:

Self-driving cars are about to have their "Super Nintendo" moment - launching in Japan will level up the entire industry, just like Nintendo's gaming innovations changed global entertainment.

• Who's Moving: 
  🏃‍♀️ Leading: Waymo (first Western player in Japan)

  🚶‍♂️ Following: Local players (Tier IV, ZMP)
  ⌛ Waiting: Other international autonomous vehicle companies

• What's Next: 
  Now: Initial mapping and data collection
  6 Months: First autonomous tests in designated zones
  1 Year: Potential commercial service launch discussions

⚡ The bottom line: While GM pulls the plug on Cruise, Waymo goes all in on global expansion with a bold move into the world's most tech-savvy city.

5. Mental health crisis costs global economy $1tn as workplace burnout surges 🤯 

⏳️ The deets in 30 seconds:

• Depression and anxiety cause 12 billion lost working days annually worldwide.

• Finance sector hits 17% burnout rate, compared to 12% in other industries.

• Mental health issues cost finance companies £5,379 per employee yearly, double other sectors.

  • Companies with strong employee wellbeing outperform S&P 500 by 11% since January 2021.

• 1 in 5 children face disorders in 2023, up from 1 in 9 in 2017.

• COVID-19 sparked 25% increase in global depression cases in 2020-2021.

💡 How it impacts you:

• Mental health crisis reaches into every corner of work life.

• Worsening stigma could discourage employees from seeking support, risking long-term health and economic fallout.

• Rising youth mental health issues affect working parents, straining household productivity and finances.

🔮 Industry prediction:

Corporate mental health support is about to have its Great British Bake Off moment – turning something private into a shared, supported experience.

• Who's Moving: 

  🏃‍♀️ Leading: Financial services (the unexpected wellness pioneers)

  🚶‍♂️ Following: Law firms, tech companies

  ⌛ Waiting: Traditional industries, small businesses

• What's Next: 

  Now: Mental health first-aiders become as common as regular first-aiders
  6 Months: Mental health metrics appear in quarterly reports
  1 Year: Chief Wellness Officer becomes a standard C-suite position

⚡ The bottom line: Companies finally realizing happy workers = happy shareholders, as mental health champions outperform market by 11%.

💫 Mind Candy

Google says Veo 2 will generate 2-minute+ clips in 4K, 6x longer and 4x higher-res than Sora, but that’s theoretical and not at this time.

If this newsletter was forwarded to you and you liked it, sign up here and we’ll send you this curated info fresh to your inbox!