Nudged by China's lackluster export data and the looming specter of US inflation figures, the FTSE 100 is taking a modest dip of 0.4% this morning, This follows a 0.5% rise on Monday. Across the pond, the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite all took a synchronized slide, closing down between 0.5% and 0.6%.

China's authorities, in a move that sounds like it came from a financial thesaurus, announced an 'unconventional counter-cyclical adjustment' and a 'moderately flexible' monetary policy. President Xi Jinping, with a nod to optimism, assured that 2024 growth targets remain within reach despite the export hiccup. He also issued a cautionary note against a trade war with the US, which he says would yield "no winners." This comes as Donald Trump prepares to take office, promising higher tariffs on China. 

Meanwhile, the Australian central bank decided to keep its interest rates steady at 4.35%, as everyone expected. The Reserve Bank of Australia noted that inflationary pressures are easing, a shift from its previous cautious tone. Back in China, it's a good thing some announcements were made yesterday, or else the poor import-export figures for November might have dampened spirits. In the US, attention will turn to quarterly productivity figures, which usually don't cause much of a stir among investors.

In the corporate arena, Ashtead Group is contemplating a primary listing shift to the US, pointing to the American market as its growth engine. This could mean Ashtead saying goodbye to its FTSE 100 status. The company reported a 2.2% rise in half-year revenue to USD 5.70 billion, but a 4.2% drop in pretax profit to USD 1.20 billion. It also unveiled a USD 1.5 billion share buyback program and boosted its interim dividend.

Centrica is on track to meet annual earnings expectations and announced a GBP 300 million extension to its share buyback program. Games Workshop has inked a deal with Amazon for film and TV adaptations of its Warhammer universe, including merchandising rights. Moonpig reported a half-year loss of GBP 33.3 million, hit by an impairment of goodwill.

In France, Vivendi's shareholders approved a split of the media conglomerate into four independent companies to boost value. Canal+ will list in London, Havas in Amsterdam, and Louis Hachette in Paris, while Vivendi will keep its Paris listing. 

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