"Central Bankers' Reality Check: Stocks Slide, Dollar Leaps as Investors Get Defensive"

U.S. stocks started the week lower as Federal Reserve official Christopher Waller suggested a slower pace of interest rate cuts, contrary to market expectations. China's economy grew at 5.2% in 2023, slightly exceeding its 5% target, but youth jobless rates surged to 14.9% in December. Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley reported earnings, with Morgan Stanley warning of economic and geopolitical risks. Meanwhile, at the World Economic Forum, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella advocated for a global regulatory approach to artificial intelligence.