---
title: "January 6: Five Things You Need to Know to Start Your Day"
description: "Iran fallout continues, China has a new top official in Hong Kong and Australia suffers one of its the worst days yet in its bushfire crisis. Here are some of the things people in markets are talking about today."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Business Maverick"
author: "Bloomberg"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/bloomberg/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-01-06-january-6-five-things-you-need-to-know-to-start-your-day/"
published: "2020-01-06T04:08:07"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 690
---

# January 6: Five Things You Need to Know to Start Your Day

> Iran fallout continues, China has a new top official in Hong Kong and Australia suffers one of its the worst days yet in its bushfire crisis. Here are some of the things people in markets are talking about today.

By Bloomberg · Published 6 January 2020, 06:08 SAST

## Content

## [Iran Fallout](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-04/u-s-and-iran-trade-threats-over-reprisals-for-general-s-killing?srnd=premium-asia)

Tensions following the U.S. killing of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani continue. [Iran said Sunday](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-04/u-s-and-iran-trade-threats-over-reprisals-for-general-s-killing?srnd=premium-asia) it would no longer abide by any limits on its enrichment of uranium and Iraq’s parliament voted to expel U.S. troops from the country. President Donald Trump told U.S. lawmakers he was prepared to strike Iran “in a disproportionate manner” if the Islamic Republic hits any U.S. target, while Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said that any moves taken against Tehran would be “lawful.” Soleimani was as revered at home as he was reviled in some quarters abroad. His death dealt yet another blow to world powers’ crumbling nuclear deal with Iran. Sunday’s action looked like the historic deal’s death-knell.

## [Markets Open](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-05/yen-jumps-asia-futures-dip-on-mideast-tensions-markets-wrap?srnd=premium-asia)

[Financial markets](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-05/yen-jumps-asia-futures-dip-on-mideast-tensions-markets-wrap?srnd=premium-asia) are likely to face a volatile start to the week in Asia after geopolitical tensions flared in the Middle East. Futures in Japan dipped with traders returning after an extended holiday last week. They also slipped in Sydney and Hong Kong. Gold and Treasuries climbed in a flight to safety, and the yen also advanced. All the Middle East’s major equity gauges fell Sunday and the S&P 500 Index posted its biggest loss in a month Friday. Oil surged on Friday, and is set for a [bumpy week](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-05/oil-set-for-bumpy-week-as-u-s-says-iran-may-strike-saudi-again?srnd=premium) as the U.S. warned Iran may attack Saudi Arabia again.

## [‘Strongman’ in Hong Kong](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-04/china-announces-new-top-liaison-official-for-hong-kong?srnd=premium-asia)

China has appointed a new [top official in Hong Kong](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-04/china-announces-new-top-liaison-official-for-hong-kong?srnd=premium-asia), signaling its intention to restore law and order to the city after almost seven months of social unrest. Luo Huining will take over from Wang Zhimin as the Hong Kong liaison office director, according to a two-sentence government statement issued on Saturday. He’s a party stalwart with no experience in Hong Kong, but credited by Chinese media with bringing stability to the mainland province of Shanxi during his stint as party secretary there. With support for the protests undiminished after months of violent unrest, speculation of Wang’s removal from the position had been growing. On Sunday, dozens of people were arrested in the New Territories after an approved march; police fired tear gas in response to a petrol-bomb attack on a police station. As unrest continues, some of the city’s anxious parents are [eyeing Singapore schools](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-05/hong-kong-parents-eye-singapore-schools-as-wild-protests-endure).

## [Australia’s Bushfires](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-05/australia-counts-wildfire-devastation-after-calamitous-weekend?srnd=premium-asia)

Catastrophic wildfires [destroyed hundreds of properties](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-05/australia-counts-wildfire-devastation-after-calamitous-weekend?srnd=premium-asia) across southeastern Australia on Saturday, with conditions expected to worsen during the week. Some blazes grew so large over the weekend that they generated dry thunderstorms and thousands of people, including tourists, have evacuated a 350-kilometer (217-mile) stretch of coastline as well as dangerous inland areas to escape the intensifying fires. Qantas Airways canceled 27 flights Sunday afternoon arriving in and [departing](https://www.canberraairport.com.au/flights/arrivals-and-departures/?tab=departures) from Canberra, where [air](https://aqicn.org/city/australia/canberra/florey/)pollution was at least four times higher than the minimum threshold for “hazardous.” Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced Saturday an unprecedented level of [military support](https://news.defence.gov.au/national/defence-boosts-bushfire-support) to boost firefighting and recovery efforts as the national death toll since September rose to 23.

## [Return of 737 Max](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-05/regulators-mull-simulators-before-boeing-737-max-can-fly-wsj?srnd=premium-asia)

Federal aviation regulators are considering requiring pilots to [complete simulator training](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-05/regulators-mull-simulators-before-boeing-737-max-can-fly-wsj?srnd=premium-asia) before they can operate Boeing’s 737 MAX jets again, the Wall Street Journal [reported](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/terminal/Q3NFZ10799MR), citing government and industry officials familiar with the matter. The Federal Aviation Administration originally rejected the idea, but in recent weeks officials said there has been increased interest among agency and industry safety experts in requiring such training. The FAA’s formal decision isn’t expected until at least February, and the situation remains “fluid,” according to the Journal. The planes have been grounded since March after two crashes within months of each other killed hundreds of people.

## What We’ve Been Reading

*This is what’s caught our eye over the past 24 hours.*

- Draghi and Yellen warn of the [economic risks](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-05/draghi-yellen-warn-of-risks-facing-policy-in-low-rate-world?srnd=premium-asia) facing a low-rates world.
- China’s trade delegation may [travel to Washington](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-05/china-delegation-may-travel-to-washington-on-jan-13-scmp-says) on Jan. 13, the SCMP reports.
- Elizabeth Warren says people wonder if the Iran strike was timed as an [impeachment distraction](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-05/warren-say-people-wonder-if-iran-strike-meant-as-a-distraction?srnd=premium-asia).
- The [Australian dollar’s recent surge](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-05/aussie-s-christmas-revival-punishes-funds-who-just-went-short?srnd=premium-asia) punishes funds who just went short.
- Asia’s [biggest dealmaking force](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-05/japan-set-to-keep-asia-deals-crown-as-china-ambition-shrinks) in 2019 wasn’t China.
- Elon Musk’s moment of truth arrives as [made-in-China Teslas](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-04/musk-s-moment-of-truth-arrives-as-made-in-china-teslas-roll-out?srnd=premium-europe) roll out.
- Samsung is set to [unveil new devices](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-05/samsung-to-unveil-new-devices-next-month-in-san-francisco?srnd=premium-asia) in San Francisco next month.