UK Stocks Trade Sideways; Energy Sector Under PressureUK Stocks Trade Sideways; Energy Sector Under Pressure
Plummeting International Student Numbers in Australia Raise Labor Shortage Fears; RBA Rate Cut ImminentPlummeting International Student Numbers in Australia Raise Labor Shortage Fears; RBA Rate Cut Imminent
Australian Shares Edge Lower Ahead of RBA Decision; Tariff Clouds LingerAustralian Shares Edge Lower Ahead of RBA Decision; Tariff Clouds Linger
Canada's Job Market Strains; Employment Security Confidence Hits Over 1-Year LowCanada's Job Market Strains; Employment Security Confidence Hits Over 1-Year Low
German Industrial Orders Drop More Than Expected, Clouding Euro Zone RecoveryGerman Industrial Orders Drop More Than Expected, Clouding Euro Zone RecoveryGermany’s industrial orders fell unexpectedly by 1.4% month-on-month in May, far exceeding the market’s projected 0.1% decline and ending a three-month recovery streak. Weak domestic demand emerged as the primary drag: domestic orders plummeted 7.8%, with the computer and electronics sector crashing 17.7%, while electrical equipment and basic metals industries also contracted.
Bitcoin Hits New All-Time High of $118,804.6, Driven by Policy Shifts and Institutional InflowsBitcoin Hits New All-Time High of $118,804.6, Driven by Policy Shifts and Institutional InflowsBitcoin surged to a historic peak of $118,804.6 per coin on July 11, marking a 6.83% daily gain and breaking its previous record set in May 2025 . This milestone comes amid a confluence of geopolitical, regulatory, and market-driven factors reshaping the cryptocurrency landscape.
UK Construction PMI Rises to 6-Month High in June but Remains in ContractionUK Construction PMI Rises to 6-Month High in June but Remains in ContractionBritain’s construction sector showed mixed signals in June, with the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) edging up to 48.8—its highest level in six months—yet still lingering below the 50 threshold that separates expansion from contraction. A stark divide emerged within the industry:
New Zealand Household Savings Deteriorate Further; Housing Market Shows Uneven RecoveryNew Zealand Household Savings Deteriorate Further; Housing Market Shows Uneven RecoveryNew Zealand’s household savings situation continued to worsen in the first quarter of 2025, with Statistics New Zealand data showing savings falling to -NZ$1.6 billion (a NZ$392 million quarterly decline), marking the third consecutive quarter of negative savings. This was driven by household spending growth (+2.2% to NZ$62.2 billion) outpacing disposable income gains (+1.5% to NZ$60.6 billion).
Australian Shares Edge Higher on Wall Street Record; RBA Rate Cut in FocusAustralian Shares Edge Higher on Wall Street Record; RBA Rate Cut in FocusAustralian stocks rose modestly on Friday (July 5), buoyed by fresh record highs on Wall Street. The S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.17% to 8,610 in midday trade—less than 30 points from its all-time peak—while the All Ordinaries Index added 0.16% to 8,847.3. Despite stronger-than-expected U.S. jobs data dampening hopes for a July Fed rate cut, markets reacted positively to signs of economic resilience.
Bank of Japan Lifts Benchmark Rate to 1%, Highest in Over 30 YearsBank of Japan Lifts Benchmark Rate to 1%, Highest in Over 30 YearsOn June 16, the Bank of Japan (BOJ) announced it would raise its benchmark interest rate to 1 percent, hitting the country’s highest interest level in more than three decades. The rate increase signals a further normalization of Japan’s monetary policy and reflects growing confidence among the government and central bank over sustained inflation and the outlook for economic expansion.
One in Four French Households Live in Severely Under-Occupied Homes: Insee StudyOne in Four French Households Live in Severely Under-Occupied Homes: Insee StudyA study released by France’s National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (l'Insee) on Tuesday, July 8, reveals that a quarter of French households reside in severely under-occupied homes—defined as having at least three more rooms than actually needed. This phenomenon affects 7.6 million primary residences, 93% of which are single-family houses, with three-quarters of these under-occupied homes exceeding 100 square meters in size.
