Lana

I'm Lana.

I'll see you tomorrow.

Hey, I'm Lana with your daily brief for Thursday, January 15th.

Coming up, China booked a record-breaking trade surplus, shipping out far more goods than it brought in.

And news of a possible election sent Japan's stock market and its currency moving in opposite directions.

We'll also check in with Carl to get his answers to your burning questions.

More on the way, but first, a word from Guy at Finimize HQ.

China exported a record $1.2 trillion more than it imported last year, as the rest of the world loaded up on the country's cheap goodies.

China's exports were nearly 7% higher in December than a year earlier, lifting 2025's total to 5.5% above 2024's, higher than analysts had expected.

That's despite shipments to the US falling 20% for the year, knocking America's share of China's exports down to about 11%, the lowest since the mid-1990s.

But Chinese firms made up the shortfall by sending more goods to, and sometimes through, Southeast Asia, Europe, Africa, and Latin America.

At the same time, imports stayed weak, highlighting China's dependence on demand from the rest of the world rather than from its own shoppers.

China exported far more big-ticket items like cars, ships, and chips than last year, letting shipments of lower-end goods like clothing and toys fall by the wayside.

That fits with the government's push to prop up weak local demand by leaning on higher-value exports, with state support helping Chinese firms grow in EVs, batteries, and industrial tech.

Thing is, China's trading partners are now being flooded with more goods than ever, squeezing their own suppliers on price and making it harder for them to sell.

That's already stirring political pushback and talk of extra tariffs, especially in Europe.

Those cheap Chinese goods might be a headache for overseas manufacturers, but they're giving everyday shoppers a welcome break.

Low-priced imports are helping push down costs in the UK and across Europe, especially in crowded markets.

The Bank of England thinks that could shave more than 0.2 percentage points off UK inflation this year, which could help it trim interest rates sooner.

Before we dive into the next story, it's time for our daily check-in with Carl.