NEWS BRIEFS
China growth seen slowing to 4.6%
REUTERS
China's economic growth is likely to slow to 4.6% in 2024, and cool further to 4.5% in 2025, a Reuters poll showed, raising the heat on policymakers to roll out more stimulus measures amid deflationary pressures and a severe property slump.
Gross domestic product (GDP) likely grew 5.2% in 2023 - meeting the government's annual growth target, partly helped by the previous year's low-base effect which was marked by COVID-19 lockdowns, according to the median forecasts of 58 economists polled by Reuters.
But the world's second-largest economy has struggled to mount a strong and sustainable post-COVID pandemic bounce, burdened by the protracted property crisis, weak consumer and business confidence, mounting local government debts, and weak global growth.
Recent data suggested the economy was starting 2024 on shaky footing, with persistent deflationary pressures and a slight pick-up in exports unlikely to kindle a quick turnaround in weak domestic activity. December bank lending was also weak.
Goldman Sachs raises 2024 GDP growth forecast to 2.3%
REUTERS
Goldman Sachs raised its 2024 U.S. GDP growth forecast to 2.3% from 2.1% expected earlier.
"We expect much stronger GDP growth in 2024 than consensus and see a much lower risk of recession, " Goldman Sachs said in a note on Sunday.
Microsoft launches Office Copilot to all users
BLOOMBERG
Microsoft Corp. is opening up its artificial intelligence assistant to consumers and making the corporate version available to smaller companies as it tries to increase the number of paying customers for the new services.
Microsoft is selling a consumer version of Copilot for $20 (R376) per month, with access to OpenAI’s latest ChatGPT technology and image-creation features, the Redmond, Washington-based software giant said in a statement.
Consumers with a cloud subscription to Office will be able to use Copilot to help answer questions, summarise data and create content in Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint.
REUTERS
China's economic growth is likely to slow to 4.6% in 2024, and cool further to 4.5% in 2025, a Reuters poll showed, raising the heat on policymakers to roll out more stimulus measures amid deflationary pressures and a severe property slump.
Gross domestic product (GDP) likely grew 5.2% in 2023 - meeting the government's annual growth target, partly helped by the previous year's low-base effect which was marked by COVID-19 lockdowns, according to the median forecasts of 58 economists polled by Reuters.
But the world's second-largest economy has struggled to mount a strong and sustainable post-COVID pandemic bounce, burdened by the protracted property crisis, weak consumer and business confidence, mounting local government debts, and weak global growth.
Recent data suggested the economy was starting 2024 on shaky footing, with persistent deflationary pressures and a slight pick-up in exports unlikely to kindle a quick turnaround in weak domestic activity. December bank lending was also weak.
Goldman Sachs raises 2024 GDP growth forecast to 2.3%
REUTERS
Goldman Sachs raised its 2024 U.S. GDP growth forecast to 2.3% from 2.1% expected earlier.
"We expect much stronger GDP growth in 2024 than consensus and see a much lower risk of recession, " Goldman Sachs said in a note on Sunday.
Microsoft launches Office Copilot to all users
BLOOMBERG
Microsoft Corp. is opening up its artificial intelligence assistant to consumers and making the corporate version available to smaller companies as it tries to increase the number of paying customers for the new services.
Microsoft is selling a consumer version of Copilot for $20 (R376) per month, with access to OpenAI’s latest ChatGPT technology and image-creation features, the Redmond, Washington-based software giant said in a statement.
Consumers with a cloud subscription to Office will be able to use Copilot to help answer questions, summarise data and create content in Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint.
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