Decoding Future Jobs: Blue-Collar and AI Engineers in High Demand, White-Collar Jobs Decline

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The Impact of U.S. Stock Market Volatility Spillover on Hong Kong Stocks

U.S. Stock Market Volatility Spillover Effect on Hong Kong StocksRecently, U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff policies have shown signs of expansion and escalation, significantly impacting global financial markets. Trump announced a 25% tariff on non-energy goods from Mexico and Canada, as well as EU automobiles. Additionally, he imposed an extra 10% tariff on Chinese goods. These actions have heightened concerns about a potential escalation in the global trade war, leading to sharp volatility in the U.S. stock market.In January, the U.S. Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) Price Index increased by 2.5% year-on-year, aligning with expectations and slightly below the previous figure of 2.6%. On a monthly basis, it rose by 0.3%. Meanwhile, the Core PCE Price Index rose by 2.6% year-on-year, in line with expectations but revised down from the previous 2.9%. Month-on-month, the core index rose by 0.3%.However, personal spending decreased by 0.2% month-on-month, and inflation-adjusted real personal consumption expenditure fell by 0.5%, marking the largest monthly decline in nearly four years. This has raised concerns about U.S. consumer spending and economic resilience.The Atlanta Federal Reserve's GDPNow model significantly lowered its forecast for Q1 2025 GDP growth from 2.3% to -1.5% as of February 28. If confirmed, this would mark the first economic contraction in the U.S. since Q1 2022.Investor concerns about the outlook for global economic growth, along with fears of an escalating trade war, have caused market turbulence. (Image/Source: Pexels)The volatility in the U.S. stock market has had a noticeable spillover effect on the Hong Kong stock market. Investor concerns about global economic growth prospects, combined with fears of an escalating trade war, have contributed to turbulence in Hong Kong stocks. Industries and companies related to trade have been particularly affected.Furthermore, capital flows have shifted, with some funds moving away from equities toward safe-haven assets such as gold and bonds.Investment Strategies and Risk ManagementTo navigate these challenges, investors should closely monitor changes in global macroeconomic conditions, especially developments in U.S. trade policies. Adjusting investment portfolios to diversify risk is crucial in response to market volatility.For businesses, effective risk management is essential, particularly for those playing key roles in the global supply chain. Companies should devise strategies to mitigate the impact of ongoing trade disputes to ensure stability and growth.

The hunt for Ukraine's stolen artworks

For over three years since Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukrainians have faced a war that extends beyond the battlefield-it’s a battle to protect their cultural identity. Museums, heritage sites, and priceless artifacts have been directly targeted, damaged, or looted, with experts claiming this is a deliberate attempt to erase Ukrainian identity.UNESCO reports over 476 damaged cultural properties, while the Ukrainian Heritage Monitoring Lab has documented more than 1,200 damaged sites. Historian Leonid Marushchak has worked tirelessly to evacuate nearly 2 million artifacts from museums under threat, including a 1,000-year-old lion sculpture from Bakhmut.Workers remove the statue of Ukrainian philosopher Hryhorii Skovoroda after Russian bombing of the Hryhorii Skovoroda Literary Memorial Museum in May 2022. Ricardo Moraes/ReutersIn Kyiv, the Khanenko Museum has adopted a new strategy-instead of hiding its art collection entirely, it occasionally displays small exhibits while also transferring select works to museums in Europe, such as the Louvre in Paris and the Royal Castle in Warsaw.Meanwhile, in Kherson, the local art museum suffered severe losses after Russian forces looted nearly 10,000 artifacts. Museum director Alina Dotsenko, devastated by the empty storage rooms, continues her efforts to track down the stolen pieces, some of which were found in a Crimean museum.Despite these challenges, cultural preservation remains critical to Ukraine’s national identity. Whether through evacuation, documentation, or showcasing selected works, Ukrainians remain committed to safeguarding their heritage. However, as museum director Yulia Vaganova stated, “There is no right solution to this case at all... and this is, of course, the nightmare of every museum director.”