UK Stocks Trade Sideways; Energy Sector Under PressureUK Stocks Trade Sideways; Energy Sector Under Pressure
Japan's Real Wages See Steepest Drop in 20 Months, Straining Consumption RecoveryJapan's Real Wages See Steepest Drop in 20 Months, Straining Consumption Recovery
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
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.
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).
Australia’s May Household Spending Rebounds, Strengthening Rate Cut ExpectationsAustralia’s May Household Spending Rebounds, Strengthening Rate Cut ExpectationsData from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released on July 4 showed that household spending rose 0.9% month-on-month in May, far exceeding the expected 0.5% increase. This ended a three-month period of weakness, with the annual growth rate climbing to 4.2%.
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.
German Expert Panel Splits on Debt Brake Reform, Three Proposals to Be SubmittedGerman Expert Panel Splits on Debt Brake Reform, Three Proposals to Be SubmittedMultiple media outlets report that the expert commission set up by Germany’s federal government to reform the constitutional debt brake has failed to reach a unified agreement. The panel plans to submit three distinct reform blueprints to Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner next week. The coalition government formed by the Christian Democratic Union and the Social Democratic Party had hoped the experts would deliver a unified solution to the divisive issue, yet the outcome fell short of expectations. Most panel members agree that curbing structural deficits is reasonable in principle
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.
