Trump's Plan to Impose 50% Tariff on Copper Imports Shakes Global Supply ChainsTrump's Plan to Impose 50% Tariff on Copper Imports Shakes Global Supply Chains
Trump Signs "Big and Beautiful" Act, Hitting New - energy IndustryTrump Signs "Big and Beautiful" Act, Hitting New - energy Industry
Amazon Hits 1 Million Robots, Launches DeepFleet AI to Revolutionize Logistics with "Second-Level Response"Amazon Hits 1 Million Robots, Launches DeepFleet AI to Revolutionize Logistics with "Second-Level Response"
EU - US Trade Talks Stalled, European Economic Data Under PressureEU - US Trade Talks Stalled, European Economic Data Under Pressure
European Stocks Rally on July 9, STOXX 600 Hits Four-Week HighEuropean Stocks Rally on July 9, STOXX 600 Hits Four-Week HighEuropean equities closed higher on July 9, with the pan-European STOXX 600 rising 0.8% to a four-week peak, led by banks and defense sectors. Italy’s FTMIB surged 1.6% to 2007 levels, fueled by a 4.6% jump in UniCredit (CRDI.MI) to 2011 highs, despite shareholder resistance to its Commerzbank (CBKG.DE) acquisition bid.
Title: Trump Imposes 50% Punitive Tariffs on Brazil, Launches Unfair - Trade ProbeTitle: Trump Imposes 50% Punitive Tariffs on Brazil, Launches Unfair - Trade ProbeLocal - time on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump turned his trade anger towards Brazil, the largest economy in Latin America. He announced a 50% punitive tariff on Brazilian goods exported to the US and ordered an investigation into "unfair trade practices", which may lead to higher tariffs. The new tariff will take effect on August 1, much higher than the 10% tariff imposed on Brazil on April 2 this year.
Fed Minutes Boost Rate Cut Hopes; Nvidia Briefly Tops $4 Trillion Market CapFed Minutes Boost Rate Cut Hopes; Nvidia Briefly Tops $4 Trillion Market CapU.S. stocks rallied broadly on Wednesday, July 10, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq hitting a record high. The surge followed the Federal Reserve’s meeting minutes reinforcing expectations of rate cuts this year and Nvidia’s brief ascent to a $4 trillion market valuation.
FTSE 100 Edges Up 0.2% on July 9 as Markets Digest U.S. Tariff ExpansionFTSE 100 Edges Up 0.2% on July 9 as Markets Digest U.S. Tariff ExpansionLondon’s FTSE 100 inched up 0.2% on July 9, with investors continuing to absorb the impact of U.S. tariff expansions. Advertising giant WPP (WPP.L) plunged 19%—its worst daily drop in over three decades—after slashing profit forecasts due to key client losses and shrinking new business, weighing heavily on the index.
BOJ Warns of Food Price-Driven Inflation; U.S. Tariffs Could Severely Hurt Japan's GDPBOJ Warns of Food Price-Driven Inflation; U.S. Tariffs Could Severely Hurt Japan's GDPBank of Japan board member Junko Kotani warned on July 9 that surging prices of rice and other foodstuffs are intensifying inflationary pressures, urging vigilance against "second-round effects" that might lift household inflation expectations. Japan’s consumer inflation remains around 3%, but the BOJ’s weighted median inflation gauge—closely watched by policymakers—still lags below the 2% target. Kotani noted economic uncertainty makes it premature to pinpoint the next rate hike, with food prices a critical variable.
New Zealand's S&P/NZX 50 Falls 0.7% as RBNZ Pauses Rate CutsNew Zealand's S&P/NZX 50 Falls 0.7% as RBNZ Pauses Rate CutsNew Zealand’s benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index dropped 0.7% to 12,769 on Wednesday, pulling back from a seven-week high hit the previous day, after the Reserve Bank paused its rate-cutting cycle. The central bank kept the cash rate at 3.25% as expected, citing concerns that current inflation and global trade tensions could fuel price pressures. It had cut rates six times since August 2023, totaling 225 basis points, but signaled further cuts may come if inflation eases as projected in May.
RBA Pauses Rate Cuts; Mortgage Stress Shows Regional DivergenceRBA Pauses Rate Cuts; Mortgage Stress Shows Regional DivergenceAustralia’s central bank held its cash rate at 3.85% on July 9, with the Monetary Policy Committee voting 6-3 to wait. While May inflation dipped to 2.1% (core 2.4%, a 3.5-year low), June’s CPI was "slightly stronger than expected," and rising global trade policy uncertainties—like U.S. tariff hikes—prompted the RBA to seek more data confirming inflation’s steady move toward the 2.5% target.
Trump Tariffs Jolt Australian Stocks; Gold Mining Sector Leads DeclinesTrump Tariffs Jolt Australian Stocks; Gold Mining Sector Leads DeclinesAustralia’s stock market fell across the board on July 9, with the S&P/ASX 200 dropping 0.61% to 8,538.6 points. Markets reeled after Trump announced plans to impose 50% tariffs on imported copper (effective as early as late July) and 200% on pharmaceuticals, triggering a 13.1% daily surge in copper prices—their biggest jump since 1989.
Canada's S&P/TSX Rises 0.35% as Real Estate Leads, Tariff Impact MutedCanada's S&P/TSX Rises 0.35% as Real Estate Leads, Tariff Impact MutedCanada’s S&P/TSX Composite Index ended a two-day slide, edging up 0.35% to 26,998.66 on July 9, with real estate stocks leading gains. Markets reacted divergently to Trump’s 50% copper tariff plan (effective as early as late July) and extended trade talks to August 1: the real estate index (.GSPTTRE) rose 0.5% on H&R REIT’s (HR_u.TO) 4.7% surge amid Blackstone acquisition talks.
Japan's Corporate Bankruptcies Hit 11-Year Half-Year High, Pressures MountJapan's Corporate Bankruptcies Hit 11-Year Half-Year High, Pressures MountJapan saw 4,990 corporate bankruptcies in H1 2025, up 1.19% year-on-year and the highest H1 tally since 2014. Small businesses bore the brunt: 172 firms collapsed directly due to labor shortages—a record—with 89.8% of failed companies employing fewer than 10 people. They faced a vicious cycle: forced to raise wages but unable to absorb costs, widening the "pay gap" with large corporations.
Auckland CBD Retail Vacancy Hits 13%, Triple Wellington’s Rate Amid Mixed PressuresAuckland CBD Retail Vacancy Hits 13%, Triple Wellington’s Rate Amid Mixed PressuresAuckland’s downtown retail vacancy rate stands at 13%, nearly three times Wellington’s 5.3%, driven by overlapping factors. Oversupply plagues areas like Newmarket post-Westfield mall opening, requiring time to absorb excess space, while hybrid work models reduce foot traffic in the city center.
Australian Business Conditions Surge to 1-Year High, Offset by U.S. Tariff RisksAustralian Business Conditions Surge to 1-Year High, Offset by U.S. Tariff RisksAustralia’s business environment improved sharply in June, with NAB’s Business Conditions Index jumping 9 points to a 13-month peak on July 9, while confidence rose for the third straight month (+3 points). All key metrics strengthened: sales surged 10 points, profitability gained 9 points, and employment edged up 2 points. Capacity utilization hit 83.3%, with future orders climbing 2 points, signaling a shift from early-year weakness and stronger second-half momentum, noted NAB’s Australian Economics Head Gareth Spence.
Canada's June Ivey PMI Rises to 4-Month High; Rental Market Cools UnevenlyCanada's June Ivey PMI Rises to 4-Month High; Rental Market Cools UnevenlyCanada’s Ivey PMI climbed to 53.3 in June, a four-month high, signaling accelerating economic activity. However, underlying concerns emerged: the employment sub-index dipped below 50 (49.5), while the price index surged to 70.2, highlighting mounting inflation pressures.
Canada's S&P/TSX Dips 0.2% as Mining Slides; Energy Gains Offer Partial OffsetCanada's S&P/TSX Dips 0.2% as Mining Slides; Energy Gains Offer Partial OffsetCanada’s S&P/TSX Composite Index fell 0.2% to 26,959.65 on Tuesday, dragged by a 2.4% plunge in mining. Gold producers led declines: SSR Mining (SSRM.TO) dropped 6.1% and Orla Mining (OLA.TO) 6.5%, reflecting global gold price pullbacks.
Trump Escalates Trade War: 25% Tariffs on Japan, South Korea and Others From AugustTrump Escalates Trade War: 25% Tariffs on Japan, South Korea and Others From AugustU.S. President Donald Trump announced Monday that the U.S. will impose sharply higher tariffs on multiple trading partners, including Japan and South Korea, starting August 1, marking a new phase in the global trade war he launched earlier this year.
Euro Zone Shows Recovery Signs as Sentix Hits 3-Year High, German Industry ReboundsEuro Zone Shows Recovery Signs as Sentix Hits 3-Year High, German Industry ReboundsThe euro zone’s economic outlook brightened in July: the Sentix Investor Confidence Index surged to 4.5 (up from 0.2), a three-year peak and third straight rise. The current conditions sub-index improved to -7.3 (still contracting), while the expectations gauge jumped to 17.0, signaling optimism. Germany’s index rose to -0.4 (highest since February 2022), with its current conditions improving for five months. Analysts warn sustained recovery could limit the ECB’s rate-cut room.
