U.S.' 4-year economic plan, with a Trump twist?

China has recently wrapped up its "Fourth Plenum," a significant meeting where leaders outlined the nation's development goals for the next five years. The focus is set on enhancing domestic consumption, boosting self-sufficiency in technology, and strengthening the agricultural and manufacturing sectors. Meanwhile, in the U.S., signs of increased government involvement in the economy are becoming apparent. Intel announced that its third-quarter revenue exceeded analysts' expectations, leading to a 7.7% rise in its stock during after-hours trading. The tech giant indicated a rebound in processor demand, but the government's 10% ownership stake, acquired in August, complicates matters. Since the acquisition, Intel’s stock has surged, with President Trump claiming the government has profited $30 billion to $40 billion from this investment. However, Intel has cautioned that this arrangement could complicate its financial reporting. In another notable development, President Trump granted a pardon to Changpeng Zhao, the founder of Binance, who was convicted in April 2024 for facilitating money laundering through his platform. This decision, made public on Thursday, was justified by Trump, who stated that many believed Zhao was innocent and that he acted on the advice of reputable individuals. The Trump family's ventures into cryptocurrency have drawn attention, particularly due to reported ties with a trading platform linked to Binance. This raises questions about whether we are witnessing the emergence of a unique four-year economic strategy in the U.S. under Trump's leadership. On the market front, Intel's impressive performance reported third-quarter sales of $13.65 billion, surpassing the LSEG consensus estimate of $13.14 billion, highlighting a strong demand for its chips that exceeds current supply levels. In contrast, the S&P 500 index rebounded with a 0.58% gain on Thursday, recovering from previous losses, while European shares also saw positive movement, boosted by strong earnings from major companies like Kering. In a surprising shift, Trump expressed dissatisfaction with Russia just days after a supposedly productive conversation with President Putin, leading to the cancellation of a planned meeting. This abrupt change in tone has gone largely unreported by Russian state media, which has remained silent on Trump's criticisms and the canceled discussions.