Articles in this Cluster
15-05-2025
Asia-Pacific markets mostly fell Thursday despite Wall Street gains as investors weighed a temporary U.S.-China tariff truce. Japan’s Nikkei and Topix, South Korea’s Kospi and Kosdaq, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng, China’s CSI 300, and India’s Nifty 50 declined; Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose modestly. Citi warned of potential volatility from U.S. fiscal uncertainty and weakening data. Barclays’ Ajay Rajadhyaksha flagged rising long-term U.S. yields—not tariffs—as the biggest risk to equities, citing deficit-expanding tax plans. China cut banks’ reserve requirement by 50 bps, injecting about 1 trillion yuan ($138.5 billion) and unveiling broader easing to support growth. Australia’s April jobs surged by 89,000 with unemployment steady at 4.1%. Reliance Industries secured a $2.98 billion-equivalent offshore loan, the largest for India since 2023. Citi expects oil to average $62–$63 in Q2–Q3 on a possible U.S.-Iran deal. In the U.S., the S&P 500 and Nasdaq rose for a third session while the Dow slipped. Portfolio managers cautioned Chinese equities may remain volatile despite the tariff reprieve.
Entities: U.S.-China tariff truce, Asia-Pacific markets, Nikkei, Hang Seng, CSI 300 • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
15-05-2025
European stocks were set for a flat-to-lower open as momentum cooled after a four-day rally, with DAX, CAC 40 and FTSE MIB futures modestly down and the FTSE 100 slightly higher. Traders eyed earnings from Deutsche Telekom, Siemens, Allianz and Alibaba, plus U.K. Q1 GDP data. Overnight, Asia-Pacific markets mostly fell (Nikkei -0.90%, Topix -0.75%, Kospi -0.29%, Kosdaq -0.37%) following earlier gains tied to easing U.S.-China trade tensions. U.S. futures dipped (S&P 500 -0.2%, Nasdaq-100 -0.1%, Dow -173 points) ahead of PPI, retail sales and industrial production reports.
Entities: DAX, CAC 40, FTSE 100, FTSE MIB, Deutsche Telekom • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
15-05-2025
U.S. stocks rose for a fourth straight session as the S&P 500 gained 0.41% and the Dow added 0.65%, while the Nasdaq slipped 0.18%. Sentiment improved after the U.S. and China agreed to temporarily cut tariffs, and a soft April PPI report (-0.5% m/m vs. +0.3% expected) pushed Treasury yields lower (10-year to 4.44%, 2-year to 3.96%). Retail sales rose 0.1% in line with estimates; industrial production missed slightly. Big tech has led weekly gains, with Nvidia and Tesla up ~15% and Meta up ~9%. Foot Locker surged ~86% on a $2.4 billion buyout by Dick’s Sporting Goods, which fell sharply; UnitedHealth slid nearly 11% amid a reported DOJ probe it says it hasn’t been notified of. Meta fell 4% on a report of delayed AI model rollout. Analysts cautioned that uncertainties remain despite improving sentiment.
Entities: S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, Nasdaq, U.S.-China tariff cut, Producer Price Index (PPI) • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
15-05-2025
U.S. stock futures edged lower after a three-day S&P 500 rally tied to a temporary U.S.-China tariff truce. S&P 500, Nasdaq-100 and Dow futures fell 0.27%, 0.22% and 0.44%, respectively. Tech led gains this week, with Nvidia and Tesla up over 16%, Meta up 11%, and Amazon and Alphabet up more than 8%, pushing the Nasdaq up 6.8% week-to-date.
After-hours movers: Foot Locker surged about 67% on reports Dick’s Sporting Goods is nearing a $2.3 billion acquisition; Dick’s fell ~6%. UnitedHealth dropped 8% after a report of a DOJ probe into its Medicare Advantage practices, which the company said it has not been notified about. Cisco rose ~2% on earnings beats; CoreWeave fell ~6% despite strong revenue growth.
Investor sentiment improved after April CPI rose less than expected (core +0.2% m/m). Focus turns to Thursday’s data: PPI, retail sales, industrial production, weekly jobless claims, and Walmart’s earnings.
Entities: S&P 500, Nasdaq-100, Dow Jones, U.S.-China tariff truce, Nvidia • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
15-05-2025
Denmark’s pharma-fueled growth is set to cool, but potential U.S. tariffs on drug imports are unlikely to hit it hard, the IMF says. After 3.7% GDP growth in 2024 driven largely by Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy, the IMF projects 2.9% in 2025 and 1.8% in 2026, with medium-term growth near 1.5% as the pharma boom matures and the workforce shrinks. Denmark is insulated from U.S. tariffs because most Danish pharma value comes from IP while production and shipments occur abroad; only about 3% of exports physically pass customs from Denmark. Meanwhile, Trump’s push to cut U.S. drug prices and threaten pharma tariffs raises broader risks for Europe’s industry, which warns investment may shift to the U.S. without rapid EU policy changes.
Entities: Denmark, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Donald Trump, Novo Nordisk, Ozempic • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
15-05-2025
Walmart reports fiscal Q1 earnings Thursday, with Wall Street expecting EPS of $0.58 on $165.9 billion revenue. Investors are watching U.S. consumer strength and shifting U.S.-China tariffs, which were temporarily reduced to 30% for Chinese imports and 10% for U.S. goods into China. Walmart, benefiting from its grocery dominance, value positioning, and growing higher-margin businesses (advertising, delivery, Walmart+), reaffirmed 3%–4% sales growth but withheld operating income guidance due to tariff uncertainty. Management noted increased week-to-week sales volatility, with April likely the strongest month. Analysts see Walmart leveraging its scale and the 90-day tariff pause to stock up for back-to-school and holidays. Shares are up ~7% year-to-date, outperforming a flat S&P 500.
Entities: Walmart, Q1 2026 earnings, U.S.-China tariffs, Wall Street, Walmart+ • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
15-05-2025
KPMG’s April survey of 2,500 U.S. adults finds Americans are quickly tightening spending in response to President Trump’s new, shifting tariffs and broader economic uncertainty. Sixty-eight percent don’t want more credit, 43% plan to delay car purchases due to tariffs, and 70% are using or plan to use free ad-supported TV to save money, with consumers actively switching providers to cut costs. The report also notes growing everyday influence of generative AI (about 45% say it significantly affects their personal and work lives) and shifting views on education, with half saying a college degree is no longer essential for a well-paying career.
Entities: Donald Trump, KPMG, U.S. consumers, tariffs, generative AI • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
15-05-2025
Walmart said it will raise prices on some items starting late May due to still-elevated US tariffs, despite recent reductions. CEO Doug McMillon and CFO John David Rainey warned that higher levies—especially the 30% tariff on most Chinese goods and tariffs on some Latin American foods—are boosting costs on electronics, toys, and select groceries, and Walmart can’t fully absorb them given thin margins. The retailer called current tariff levels “too high,” noting the consumer will feel price increases more in June. While tariffs pose planning challenges across retail, Walmart says its scale, supplier relationships, and domestic-heavy grocery mix (about 60% of sales; roughly 15% of products from China) position it better than rivals and may help it gain market share. The company’s US business remains strong, with 4.5% same-store sales growth and rising higher-income shopper traffic, though price hikes could carry political risk amid the administration’s pushback against companies citing tariffs.
Entities: Walmart, Doug McMillon, John David Rainey, US tariffs, China • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
15-05-2025
China is stepping up support for self-employed traders hit by the US-China trade war, despite a recent agreement to roll back tariffs. On May 15, officials from the State Administration of Market Regulation (SAMR) and the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) held separate meetings with private sector leaders, signaling ongoing concerns about economic stability and employment. SAMR urged major platforms—Alipay, Douyin, Xiaohongshu, and Pinduoduo—to create practical measures to help small vendors who sell overseas via online channels. The push highlights Beijing’s focus on stabilizing jobs, businesses, and expectations as uncertainties persist.
Entities: State Administration of Market Regulation (SAMR), National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), Alipay, Douyin, Xiaohongshu • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
15-05-2025
Analysts say the 90-day US-China truce to roll back reciprocal tariffs—hailed by the White House as a historic win—validates Beijing’s firm stance against economic pressure and offers lessons for navigating Trump’s second term. However, they warn the pause is temporary and deeper structural tensions remain, urging China to prepare for further clashes given Trump’s volatility and the unresolved sticking points in bilateral trade and broader relations.
Entities: United States, China, Donald Trump, White House, 90-day truce • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: analyze
15-05-2025
Japan is alarmed that the new US-UK trade deal, which keeps a 10% baseline US tariff on UK imports while cutting duties on British car exports, could set a precedent for its own talks with Washington. With Japan’s election approaching and pressure to protect autos and agriculture, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba insists Tokyo will seek zero tariffs. The US under President Trump says 10% will be the baseline for future agreements unless partners offer better terms. Japan currently faces a 25% tariff on auto exports to the US and a possible 24% “reciprocal” tariff on other goods, making autos a central sticking point in negotiations. Analysts warn the US-UK model could weaken Japan’s leverage at a critical time.
Entities: Japan, United States, United Kingdom, Shigeru Ishiba, US-UK trade deal • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
15-05-2025
China can establish an effective market stabilisation fund due to its economic strength and large FX reserves, according to Study Times, a Communist Party journal. The article argues such a fund would curb excessive volatility, protect small and mid-sized investors, and mitigate systemic risks, citing successful precedents like Hong Kong’s 1997 interventions. It notes China’s enhanced regulatory capacity and acknowledges Central Huijin Investment’s current “quasi stabilisation” role. The call comes amid heightened global uncertainty from renewed US trade actions under President Trump, though recent talks led to a 90-day pause on most tariff hikes.
Entities: China, Study Times, market stabilisation fund, Central Huijin Investment, Hong Kong 1997 interventions • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: analyze
