Talking points

A new group of lawmakers takes the oath of office in the United States, hours after the narrow passage of a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff. The November election had the Senate stay in Democratic hands while the Republicans kept a majority in the House. Among the new lawmakers to watch will be Hawaii's Mazie Hirono, the first Asian-American woman in the Senate, and Cuban-American senator-elect Ted Cruz from Texas.

Economists from the University of Hong Kong release their first economic forecast for the city this year, covering the first quarter. The Hong Kong Macroeconomic Forecast is based on research conducted by the APEC Studies Programme of the Hong Kong Institute of Economics and Business Strategy. It aims to provide the community with timely information useful for tracking the short-term fluctuations of the economy.