<p>U.S. President Donald Trump announced earlier that starting February 1, tariffs will be imposed on eight European countries as punishment for their opposition to the U.S. acquiring Greenland. The European Union is also considering imposing tariffs on U.S. goods worth €93 billion as a counterattack. This news has spurred a surge in safe-haven demand, with gold and silver prices both reaching historical highs on Monday. Spot gold prices peaked at $4,690 but have since retreated to $4,661 this morning; spot silver prices also reached $94.75 this morning, with the latest price at $93.47.</p><h2>U.S. Stock Market Closed on Monday, Futures Show Significant Decline</h2><p>In the U.S. stock market, trading was closed on Monday due to Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but U.S. stock futures showed a significant decline, with the three major index futures down between 0.8% and about 1%. Additionally, major European indices also fell collectively, with the Euro Stoxx 50 index down 1.77%, the UK FTSE 100 index down 0.44%, the French CAC 40 index down 1.78%, and the German DAX 30 index down 1.22%.</p><p>In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened down 19 points at 26,544 points. Tech stocks were under pressure, with Alibaba (9988) down 0.4%; Tencent (700) down 1.5%; Meituan (3690) down 0.2%; Xiaomi (1810) and JD.com (9618) down 1.3% and 0.1%, respectively; Baidu (9888) fell over 2%.</p><h2>POP MART Repurchases Shares for the First Time in Two Years</h2><p>POP MART (9992) spent HKD 251 million yesterday (19th) to repurchase 1.4 million shares, with a repurchase price of HKD 177.7 to HKD 181.2 per share, marking the company's first repurchase in nearly two years; the stock opened at HKD 190.2, rising over 5%.</p><h2>HSBC Expected to Reach a Market Value of £300 Billion</h2><p>HSBC (005) CEO of Global Banking and Markets, Michael Roberts, stated in an interview with Bloomberg at the World Economic Forum in Davos that HSBC is aiming for a market value exceeding £300 billion (approximately HKD 3.14 trillion); the stock opened at HKD 129.1, up 1.7%.</p><p>Related Article: HSBC Expected to Rise Over 50% in Stock Price, &#34;£300 Billion Market Value is Just Around the Corner,&#34; Warning that Greenland Turmoil Brings Challenges</p><h2>China Duty Free Group Acquires DFS's Hong Kong and Macau Business</h2><p>China Duty Free Group (1880) will acquire DFS's travel retail business in Hong Kong and Macau, as well as its intangible assets in the Greater China region. Meanwhile, LVMH Group and the Miller family will participate in China Duty Free Group's capital increase by subscribing to its newly issued H shares in Hong Kong. China Duty Free Group opened at HKD 89.85, up 2.8%.</p><p>Regarding the northbound capital flow, there was a net purchase of HKD 2.292 billion in Hong Kong stocks yesterday, with SMIC (981), Hua Hong Semiconductor (1347), and Tencent (700) receiving net purchases of HKD 462 million, HKD 393 million, and HKD 273 million, respectively; while China Mobile (941), UBTECH (9880), and Meituan (3690) faced net sales of HKD 600 million, HKD 517 million, and HKD 287 million, respectively</p>

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BIDU

09992

<p>The Hang Seng Index opened 19 points lower this morning, reporting at 26,544 points, with tech stocks generally declining. Tencent fell 1.5%, and Baidu dropped over 2%. POP MART repurchased shares for the first time in nearly two years, buying back 1.4 million shares, with its stock price rising over 5%. The CEO of HSBC stated that the market value will reach £300 billion, with the stock price increasing by 1.7%. U.S. stocks are closed for the holiday, with significant declines in futures, while major European indices collectively fell, driven by safe-haven demand pushing gold and silver prices to historic highs</p>

- U.S. President Trump announced tariffs on eight European countries starting February 1, in response to their opposition to U.S. claims over Greenland, prompting the EU to consider retaliatory tariffs on $93 billion worth of U.S. goods.  
- The news increased demand for safe-haven assets, leading gold to reach a high of $4,690 per ounce, while silver peaked at $94.75 before dropping.  
- Major European indices fell collectively, with concerns reflected in the U.S. stock futures dropping between 0.8% to 1% as the market remained closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

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TENCENT

Baidu

POP MART

The Hang Seng Index opened down 19 points, Tencent and Baidu declined, and POP MART repurchased shares for the first time in nearly two years, rising over 5% against the market trend ｜ Hong Kong stock market opens