The Week Ahead (Dec. 15–21): Japan Weighs Rate Hike, Putin to Hold Annual Press Conference

Dec. 15: SEC to examine privacy risks in crypto oversight

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is set to convene a roundtable to address growing concerns over privacy and financial monitoring in cryptocurrency markets. The session will include senior officials and industry leaders amid rising regulatory scrutiny of digital assets.

Dec. 15: U.S. widens social-media screening for H-1B applicants

The U.S. State Department will broaden its review of visa applicants’ online activity to include all individuals applying for H-1B visas, along with their dependents. The move could increase compliance burdens for U.S. companies that employ foreign tech workers.

Dec. 15 – 16: China, Singapore hold high-level cooperation meetings

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang and Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong will co-chair a series of bilateral cooperation meetings in Chongqing. The talks will cover joint industrial-park projects and economic-connectivity initiatives.

Dec. 15: China to release November economic data

China’s National Bureau of Statistics will brief the media on November macroeconomic performance. Officials will deliver updates across industrial output, consumption and investment indicators.

Dec. 18–19: Japanese central bank weighs rate hike

The Bank of Japan will convene its policy meeting, with markets widely expecting a rate hike from 0.5% to 0.75% — the first increase since January. Analysts also expect semiannual steps toward higher policy rates.

Dec. 18: Hainan to launch islandwide customs closure

China will activate full customs-closure operations for the Hainan Free Trade Port. The shift will establish islandwide special-supervision rules designed to support freer cross-border flows.

Dec. 19: Putin to hold annual press conference

Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold his annual press conference, taking questions from domestic media and the public.

Dec. 19–20: Moore Threads to launch new GPU architecture

Chinese GPU developer Moore Threads will host its first MUSA developers conference in Beijing, where it will outline a full-stack strategy and launch a new GPU architecture along with product and industry-solution updates.

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