Squawk Box Europe Express

The Dow falls as tech stocks fall after President Trump slams U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell for failing to cut interest rates. The dollar falls to a three-year low on tariff concerns. Chinese battery maker CATL unveils new cells, claiming faster charging times and longer range than rival BYD. Also in autos news, Tesla shares plunge 6 per cent ahead of earnings due out later today with one analyst calling the decline a ‘Code Red’ moment for the firm.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. markets tumble after Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell says the central Bank is waiting on ‘greater clarity’ of the impact of President Trump’s tariffs. Powell warns that the U.S. economy could face rising inflation and a decreased jobs market as a result of the levies. Nvidia shares slump by 6.87 per cent after revealing a $5bn hit from U.S. export controls. Other semi-conductor companies follow suit into the red. In Europe, Siemens Energy hikes its outlook after a stellar Q2 result. The German firm posts its highest profit margin since being spun off from Siemens almost 5 years ago. And in luxury news, Milan-based fashion house Moncler defies the general slump in the sector to post a Q1 beat.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

China’s economy expands by 5.4 per cent in the first quarter but President Trump’s levies on the country fuel concerns about further stimulus measures from Beijing. ASML net bookings are down with the Dutch chip maker warning the Trump tariffs have heightened demand uncertainty. The U.S. president has called for a tariff probe into critical minerals, pushing mining stocks down and potentially opening a new front in his tariff offensive. Nvidia shares tumble after the semi-conductor giant warned of a $5.5bn charge for Q1 related to GPU chip exports to China.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The U.S. announces it is launching investigations into the chip and pharmaceutical imports. President Trump says that goods with strategic and security importance must be produced Stateside. The move could provoke further tariffs. Global auto makers see shares rise as President Trump hints at potential tariff relief for the sector. In luxury goods news, LVMH misses Q1 sales targets, falling 3 per cent on disappointing performance in Asia. Chinese President Xi Jinping visits Vietnam as part of a diplomatic tour of the ASEAN region in a bid to bolster regional ties as economic tensions with the U.S. increase.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Trump outlines tariff exemptions including smartphones, chips and other tech components but U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick says the move is only temporary. The tech sector rallies in Asia with the Hang Seng leading gains. Chinese exports surge more than 12 per cent in March. President Xi Jinping slams the trade was with the U.S., saying that protectionism has ‘no way out’. The founder of Bridgewater Associates Ray Dalio tells NBC News tariffs and a falling dollar could signal a potentially serious economic downturn.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The market sell-off continues. Following a brief rally, yields are up, the dollar weakens and the Dow loses a further 1,000 points as the trade war fuels concerns about a potential recession in the U.S. Inflation data Stateside comes in better than expected for March. It’s the first consecutive monthly decline since 2020. European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen warns of digital advertising levies in the event U.S. trade talks should fail with counter-measures potentially extending to service imports.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wall Street enjoys a historic rally after President Trump announces a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs, not including China. Asian equities are also in the green with the Nikkei and Taiwan’s Taiex leading gains. European futures are also up as are Chinese equities, despite Trump increasing levies on the country to 125 per cent. In Germany, the CDU/CSU and the SPD unveil a coalition deal with Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz addressing President Trump directly to give assurances on defence and economic competitiveness. And in autos news, Volkswagen shares plummet as the car maker misses forecasts by a wide margin amid tariff uncertainty.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Trump’s tariffs kick in for the so-called ‘worst offenders’ with the minimum rate on certain Chinese goods hitting 104 per cent. Trump says the U.S. remains resolute. Asian equities are firmly in the red. European markets and Wall Street are both braced for more heavy sell-offs. U.S. Treasury yields also spike. The tariffs feud between Elon Musk and President Trump’s top trade advisor Peter Navarro intensifies following disagreement over Tesla’s auto assembly practices. Musk calls Navarro ‘dumber than a sack of bricks’. In Germany, the CDU/CSU and SPD are reportedly close to a coalition deal following 13 hours of negotiations.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Asian equities rebound after hitting an 18-month low while Wall Street futures are in the green following a volatile session on Monday. The Nikkei is up following the news that Tokyo is granted priority in U.S. trade talks with a negotiating team due to arrive in Washington D.C. later today. Beijing vows to ‘fight to the end’ against American ‘blackmail’ after President Trump threatens to double tariffs on China this week. Brussels prepares retaliatory measures against the U.S. but also believes that a ‘zero-to-zero’ tariff deal is possible. We hear from Banca Monte di Paschi di Siena CEO Luigi Lovaglio who says Europe is able to ride out the tariff turmoil.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Asian equities fall with the Nikkei hitting an 18-month low as China retaliates against President Trump’s sweeping tariffs policies. U.S. equity futures also indicate a heavy sell-off after $5tn in market cap was wiped off the S&P 500 in just two days. Europe is also set lower today as European Union trade ministers gather in Luxembourg to discuss an appropriate tariff response. And in media news, the Trump administration is forced to extend the TikTok deadline as Beijing abandons the deal at the last moment over the last week’s tariff controversy.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wall Street suffers its worst session since 2020 with $2.5tn vanishing from market value following the announcement of President Trump’s sweeping global tariffs. Along with a heightened risk of a U.S. recession, top Wall Street names have voiced concerns over worsening global economic consequences should the tariffs be implemented without any exemptions. President Trump says he remains open to negotiations. We are live on the shores of Lake Como, Italy at The European House Ambrosetti Spring Forum where CEO Valerio De Molli tells CNBC that any retaliation to the U.S. tariffs would be counter-productive. And in oil news, Opec+ quickens the pace of scheduled hikes, surprising the market with a boost in production to push prices lower.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Trump hails his tariff blitz on Liberation Day. U.S. markets fall in extended trade as investors rush to safe havens, fearing the swathe of levies imposed by Washington could spark a global trade war. In Asia, the Nikkei slumps to an 8-month low and the tariff effects are felt across South-East Asian markets. China slams the move as ‘unilateral bullying’ and Canada pledges retaliation. The EU’s response is measured for now. EC President Ursula Von Der Leyen says the bloc is still committed to negotiation. We hear from TotalEnergie CEO Patrick Pouyanné and Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani who remain upbeat that the trade conflict could be beneficial to Europe.    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Trump’s much-awaited Liberation Day arrives with nations braced for a wave of sweeping reciprocal trade tariffs to be announced with immediate effect at a Rose Garden event later today. The UK is still hopeful of achieving an 11th-hour tariff deal while Brussels pledges a ‘strong plan’ in retaliation. Tesla sales continue to fall following strong competition from rival Chinese manufacturers and political activism against CEO Elon Musk on the Continent. And in media news, venture capitalist Andreessen Horowitz are reportedly looking to invest in TikTok ahead of a deadline for Chinese owner ByteDance to sell up or face a ban in the U.S.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wall Street suffers its worst quarter in almost 3 years as concerns over President Trump’s tariffs could fuel a U.S. recession. The country-based reciprocal tariffs will be unveiled tomorrow in a Rose Garden event. In France, Marine Le Pen has vowed to appeal a court ruling that she embezzled EU funds, banning her from public office for 5 years. And in tech news, OpenA.I. announces it has secured $40bn in what is the largest private tech funding round in history.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Asian markets ae in the red with the Nikkei 225 plunging to a more than six-month low as jitters are felt ahead of President Trump’s tariffs due on 2nd April. Trump hits out at Russian President Vladimir Putin for delaying a ceasefire deal with Ukraine and hints at secondary tariffs on buyers of Russian oil. In France, Marine Le Pen is in court on charges of embezzling money from the European Parliament, potentially banning her from office. And in Myanmar, rescue efforts continue following Friday’s earthquake which has claimed more than 1,700 lives.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq are on track to post their worst trading week since September 2023 ahead of next week’s Trump tariff blitz on ‘Liberation Day’, April 2nd. Chinese President Xi Jinping hosts CEOs in Beijing in a bid to boost business ties and calls for trade dialogue with the U.S. We hear from Santander chair Ana Botin who calls U.S. tariffs as a tax on consumers and says that the levies will hit America harder than Europe. And in entertainment news, French gaming company Ubisoft secures a more-than-€1bn investment from Chinese tech giant Tencent to help back its largest franchises.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Trump slaps a 25 per cent levy on all car imports to the U.S., sending autos shares sharply lower. European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen says the bloc will seek to negotiate with President Trump but vows to protects its own economic interests. Germany’s car industry association says the tariffs are a ‘fatal signal’ for global free trade. UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves restores her fiscal headroom in her spring statement through a series of cuts but the OBR strikes a sombre note, halving its growth outlook for 2025. And in Paris, President Emmanuel Macron convenes the ‘coalition of the willing’ while Ukraine and Russia continue to accuse each other of breaking ceasefire agreements.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We are live outside the House of Commons in London where Chancellor Rachel Reeves is due to deliver her Spring Statement later today. Spending cuts are to top the agenda as Reeves struggles to revive a moribund economy. This, as the country’s budget watchdog, the Office of Budgetary Responsibility, is set to halve the country’s growth forecast for the year. UK economists also predict a small easing of the inflation rate ahead of the release of a final key data point. The Trump administration doubles down, shrugging off the fallout of the Signal chat security leak. President Trump defends U.S. retaliatory strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. And in the Black Sea, Ukrainian drones have reportedly been shot down just hours following a naval truce between Moscow and Kyiv.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Trump says he is prepared to offer exemptions to some countries from reciprocal tariffs which begin on April 2nd. However, he pledges to add further levies on other key sectors such as autos, pharma, chips and lumber. Tesla sees European sales fall by more than 40 per cent during the first two months of the year. EV registrations on the Continent, however, surge by almost 30 per cent. Despite this, Tesla shares soar Stateside in their best session since November. And Washington DC is in uproar after a U.S. military operation against the Houthis in the Red Sea is mistakenly leaked to The Atlantic’s editor in a Signal group chat.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The annual China Development Forum kicks off in Beijing with Chinese Premier Li Qiang insisting the country is open to investment. President Trump signals he may be flexible on certain reciprocal tariffs. Canadian PM Mark Carney calls a snap election for April in a move to capitalise on growing anti-Trump sentiment throughout the country. In the UK, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves announces plans to slash 10,000 civil service jobs in a bid to revive a flagging economy and plug a fiscal shortfall.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

London’s Heathrow is shut with all flights cancelled or diverted following a massive sub-station fire knocks out power to the airport and to nearby neighbourhoods. The Dow and S&P 500 are slightly in the green to eke gains for the week but U.S. equities remain under pressure. DoubleLine Capital’s Jeffrey Gundlach believes a recession is a possibility. Brussels delays retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. by two weeks, pushing for further dialogue with the Trump administration. And in shipping news, Hapag-Lloyd suffers a 19 per cent fall in FY profits. CEO Rolf Habben-Jansen tells CNBC tariffs concerns are weighing on the sector.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Federal Reserve keeps rates on hold as anticipated. Chairman Jerome Powell signalled he was easing off on the growth forecast and slightly raising inflation projections. However, markets shrugged off any concerns and now expect two more potential rate cuts this year. The PBOC also maintains rates for the fifth straight month with the BoE and the Riksbank set to follow suit. The SNB is likely to cut once again later today. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang talks to our colleagues Stateside, spelling out the firm’s A.I. infrastructure building plan. U.S. President Donald Trump hails his phone call with Ukrainian counterpart Volodomyr Zelenskyy, saying peace talks remained on track. Moscow and Kyiv still accuse each other of undermining any partial ceasefire with attacks energy installations.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Germany pass historic debt reform in the Bundestag, launching a fiscal bazooka of infrastructure and defence spending. Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz says the move will help create a new European security alliance. Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a near-two hour phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump and agrees to cease attacks on Ukrainian energy installations but hopes of an immediate truce fall short. Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy says his country’s involvement in peace talks is paramount. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang unveils the firm’s next generation of super-chips. And the BoJ decides to stay put on rates, signalling Tokyo’s growing concerns over Trump tariffs. The Federal Reserve is due to make its rate decision later today. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Israel shatters the ceasefire with Hamas - launching air strikes on dozens of targets in Gaza and killing hundreds. U.S. retail sales rise less than expected, adding to concerns about the state of the U.S. consumer - as the OECD warns of slowing global growth. Elsewhere Germany's Bundestag is expected to shake off the country's fiscal shackles today and overhaul its debt brake laws - lifting the cap on defence spending and greenlighting €500 billion in infrastructure investment. And BYD unveils a potential game-changer - rolling out new tech it claims can charge EVs in just five minutes.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Asian equities are in the green as Chinese demand surges in the face of U.S. tariffs. Authorities in Beijing have pledged further moves to revive consumption. In the U.S., futures slip again. The Dow suffers its worst week since 2023. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent tells NBC News that he remains unfazed by market turmoil. President Trump says he will hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, raising hopes of a ceasefire in Ukraine. German Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz clinches a deal with the Green Party to launch a defence and infrastructure package later this week. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Trump threatens to slap the EU with a 200 per cent tariff on imported alcohol and says he will not bend on Canadian autos and metals tariffs. The jitters felt on Wall Street this week sees the S&P 500 in correction territory. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent tells CNBC he is unfazed by short-term market volatility. Russian President Vladimir Putin says he agrees to the Ukraine ceasefire in principle but says the deal is ‘nuanced’ which has led to accusations he is stalling the process.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Trump pledges to introduce ore tariffs as the U.S.’s trading partners hit back against levies focused on steel and aluminium imports. A soft inflation report prompts investors to buy up the recent tech dip which eases market jitters about the health of the American economy. The U.S. deficit reached $1.15tn in the first 5 months of the American fiscal year despite DOGE’s efforts to cut government spending. We are live at the Converge Live conference in Singapore where Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna says he is braced for the impacts of tariffs but says the company’s customers are not yet feeling the pinch.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The European Union responds to President Trump’s tariffs hitting back with its own set of counter-measures worth €26bn. We are live in Singapore at CNBC’s inaugural Converge Live conference where billionaire investor Ray Dalio tells us the tariffs will cause confrontations between nations. Also at Converge Live, Alibaba chairman Joe Tsai says the importance and impact of President Xi’s recent meeting with tech bosses should not underestimated, as it galvanised the private sector to invest. Ukraine has agreed a proposal for a 30-day ceasefire with Russia following talks with Washington in Jeddah, leaving Moscow with ‘the ball in their court’. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. tech stocks suffer a $1tn wipeout as Trump tariffs and recession concerns trigger a massive repricing move. Tesla shares fall 15 per cent during its worst session since September 2020. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for Ukraine peace talks and says Kyiv will have to accept Russian control of some of its territory. Sales slow and investors await guidance from Volkswagen with earnings due later this morning. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Donald Trump says the U.S. economy requires time to transition and says that a recession is still a possibility. Former Bank of England governor Mark Carney wins the race to become Canadian Prime Minister and immediately slams Trump’s tariff policies against his country. The CDU and SPD will enter coalition talks following agreement on several policies including energy and tax reforms in a bid to lift the country’s stuttering economy. U.S. and Ukrainian peace negotiators head to Saudi Arabia and are looking to reset relations following last month’s Oval Office argument between President Trump and President Volodomyr Zelenskyy.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Trump signs an executive order to delay certain tariff measures on both Canada and Mexico, claiming the volte-face is unrelated to market reaction. Tech stocks lead tariff-related losses on Wall Street with U.S. equities suffering their worst trading week of the year so far. We are live in Brussels where EU leaders agree on defence spending but Hungarian opposition blocks unanimous support for Ukraine. EC President Ursula Von Der Leyen says the bloc is determined to step up to Russian aggression. Chinese export growth slows more than expected as U.S, tariffs come into effect. Imports are also down at the sharpest rate since mid-2023. And in crypto news, Bitcoin is down 6 per cent as President Trump’s crypto EO receives mixed reactions ahead of a summit on the sector at the White House.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Automakers are handed a one-month postponement of tariffs on Canada and Mexico by U.S. President Trump with his administration dangling the prospect of further sector-specific exemptions. Investor sentiment lifts slightly on Wall Street as a result and Asia equities follow suit. French President Emmanuel Macron says he could extend his country’s nuclear deterrent to cover Europe in the face of Russian aggression. He warns the continent must ready itself for self-defence, potentially without the U.S. providing security. Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba launches its DeepSeek A.I. rival, helping its stock rise and pushing the Hang Seng to a new three-year high.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Trump makes the longest joint address to Congress in U.S. history, touting his administration’s achievements so far on immigration, government expenditure and upcoming trade measures. Tariff fears are reflected in the U.S. markets with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq seeing their post-election gains cancelled out. In Beijing, the NPC warns of changes ‘unseen in a century’ as it targets GDP of 5 per cent amid fears of another trade war with the U.S. Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz is considering loosening fiscal rules in order to boost defence spending and to ease Germany’s debt brake. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Trump’s tariffs come into effect hitting imports from Canada and Mexico with 25 per cent levies. China receives an additional 10 per cent. Both China and Canada immediately respond with counter-tariffs, digging in for what could be a bitter trade war. Tech stocks retreat with Nvidia seeing almost $300bn wiped from its market cap. Meanwhile, Taiwanese chip giant TSMC pledges to build to build 5 semi-conductor factories in the U.S., worth almost $100bn. The move could be the largest FDI in U.S. history. Opec + nations announce their first output hike since 2022, increasing to 138,000bpd starting next month. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer calls for a ‘coalition of the willing’ following Friday’s dramatic collapse in US-Ukrainian peace talks. Crypto prices soar following US President Donald Trump’s details of his strategic reserve plan which features Bitcoin as well as smaller tokens in a bid to boost the sector. Asian indices are in the green today as investors anticipate tariff announcements on Canada, Mexico and China later this week. We are live at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona where Deutsche Telekom CEO Tim Höttges tells CNBC Europe’s telco regulatory environment is increasingly being left behind. Chinese EV makers continue to make inroads in the sector with Tesla rival BYD enjoying a 160 per cent surge in annual market share in February.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wall Street and Asian indices both fall into the red as global trade concerns weigh following President Trump’s pledge to slap additional tariffs on Chinese imports. Beijing has vowed to impose counter-measures. Nvidia drags global chip stocks down with its market cap dipping below $3tn. President Trump hosts UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and says the two countries are progressing towards a trade deal. In Germany, exploratory coalition talks between the CDU and SPD are set to begin today after no party achieved an outright majority in Sunday’s election.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nvidia posts an earnings beat but guidance disappoints Wall Street pushing shares down slightly. The chip giant’s CEO Jensen Huang tells CNBC he remains unfazed by lower-cost challengers. President Trump holds his first cabinet meeting, threatening the EU with a new 25 per cent tariff on imports, saying the bloc’s formation was aimed at ‘screwing’ the U.S. Bitcoin attempts to claw back some losses as a global rout sees up to $800bn wiped off global crypto markets. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is in Washington for his first meeting with President Trump with Ukraine-focused talks set to dominate the agenda.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The world’s largest brewer, AB InBev posts record FY revenue but overall volumes fall. Washington and Kyiv are reportedly set to sign an agreement over critical mineral resources in Ukraine in exchange for yet unspecified U.S. support measures. President Donald Trump has seemingly confirmed that Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy will travel to Washington to sign the deal later this week. Tesla’s market cap slumps below $1tn as nearly all post-U.S. election stock gains have been cancelled out by a 25 per cent drop in share value. In Germany, Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz has said he will not tweak the country’s strict debt brake rules. We hear from Bundesbank president Joachim Nagel who says it is important to remain flexible. And the IIF warns that global debt levels have reached $318tn in 2024.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Trump has promised to launch sweeping tariffs on neighbours Canada and Mexico starting next week. JPMorgan boss Jaimie Dimon tells CNBC that most U.S. businesses will largely be unaffected. The U.S. 2- and 10-year Treasuries fall to their lowest point this year so far ahead of Friday’s PCE print. Markets remain jittery about stubborn inflation. In Germany, Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz considers tweaking the country’s debt rules as he seeks to form a coalition government. We speak to top union negotiator for IG Metall and Volkswagen, Thorsten Groger, who says a centrist coalition is vital to safeguard jobs. Tesla sees new car registrations slump by more than 50 per cent in Europe, this despite January showing an uptick for the EV sector.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Three years on from Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the conflict continues, both at home and abroad now with splintering support and a new US administration threatening to upend progress...So is this finally Europe's "wake-up" call?Can it still count on the United States for support?And is the continent actually ready to step up and provide its own collective defence?We pose those questions and more to Dmytro Kuleba - he spent four years working in President Zelenskyy’s administration as Minister for Foreign Affairs, and played a key role in international negotiations, until his resignation in September 2024See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Friedrich Merz is to become Germany’s next chancellor with the CDU taking 28.6% of the vote. The outgoing SPD crashed to its worst defeat in more than a century. The AfD doubles its votes to come in second and maintains it could still work in a coalition despite the German ‘firewall’ strategy. The hopes of German political stability boosts the euro. And on the three-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, President Volodomyr Zelenskyy says he would be willing to step down if the country received NATO membership.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Standard Chartered announces it is launching a $1.5bn share buyback after missing Q4 bottom line expectations. The U.S. administration has reportedly refused to call Russia an ‘aggressor’ in a key communiqué following a week of difficult exchanges between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy. We speak exclusively to former Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba who says Trump is only focused on the United States. Alibaba shares surge after the Chinese e-commerce giant announces ‘aggressive’ investment in A.I. and reports its fastest revenue growth in a year. In Germany, campaigning is coming to a close ahead of this Sunday’s elections. The CDU’s frontrunner candidate Friedrich Merz says that Europe’s future is on the line.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Asian equities are in the red following a unsettled session on Wall Street as the Federal Reserve waits on more information about President Trump’s policies and the inflation forecast before moving to cut rates once more. President Trump slams Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy, accusing him of duping the previous U.S. administration and of misusing military funds sent to the country. In aviation news, Airbus scores a quarterly net profit beat and ups its FY delivery target despite lingering supply chain concerns. Germany’s two main candidates square off in the last debate before Sunday’s election. Polls put CDU leader Friedrich Merz in a strong position to become Chancellor.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Trump is eyeing increased tariffs of 25 per cent on imports of cars, drugs and semi-conductors and he announced he would provide further details in April. Ukraine peace talks between the U.S. and Russia end in Riyadh with both sides pledging increased cooperation. President Trump slams Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy’s call to be included in negotiations. In banking news, Europe’s largest lender HSBC announces cost cuts of $1.8bn over the next two years as well as a new $2bn buyback. The RBNZ slashes rates by 50bps for the third consecutive time in an attempt to resuscitate growth.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

European allies are divided over a potential peace-keeping mission to Ukraine as U.S. and Russian officials meet in Saudi Arabia to discuss ending the conflict. We hear from French finance minister Eric Lombard who challenges Brussels to “get its act together” in the face of the new Trump administration. In Hong Kong, Chinese tech stocks continue their bullish run nudging the Hang Seng Tech Index to a three-year high. And in Germany, the top candidates for Chancellor are grilled in a town hall ahead of this weekends election. Investor Ann-Kristin Achleitner tells CNBC that the country’s business sector lacks ambition.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The U.S. is set for Ukraine peace talks with Russia while President Macron calls for an emergency summit of European powers in Paris. We hear from the German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock at the Munich Security Conference who says the West must step up to the plate and demonstrate unity on the war in Ukraine. Her comments follow U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s speech on the ‘retreat’ of European values at the MSC on Friday. In Germany, all four main candidates vying to become the next Chancellor clash in a heated televised debate. Friedrich Merz’s CDU leads the polls at around 30 per cent with the AfD in second on 20 per cent. And in tech news, Tencent shares surge on the news it is looking to integrate the Chinese AI firm DeepSeek model into one if its main apps.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Donald Trump has announced he is launching reciprocal tariffs against all U.S. trading partners which would be calculated on a country-by-country basis and would take both tariff and non-tariff barriers into account. U.S. markets have so far shrugged off the latest tariff threats while wholesale inflation shows signs of slowing. Europe’s largest lender, HSBC, is due to announce a new round of global job cuts which could amount to $1.5bn. Meanwhile, Santander denies reports of a potential sale of its UK retail arm to Natwest. And Italian luxury brand Moncler posts a robust top and bottom line quarterly beat, driven by strong demand in China.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Elon Musk has urged the U.S. government to scrap entire agencies to save up to $1tn as part of his DOGE bureaucracy revision. Markets are spooked after a hotter-than-expected U.S. inflation print with the 10-year Treasury yield nudging past 4.6 per cent. We hear from billionaire investor Ray Dalio who says he is concerned over inflated asset prices coupled with the threat of rising rates. President Trump has announced he held a lengthy phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin about beginning negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. Commerzbank posts record Q4 profits which have surged by 6 per cent to €11bn. Siemens beats revenue growth expectations in the first quarter despite a slump in orders at the company’s mobility unit.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. President Donald Trump orders government agencies to work with Elon Musk’s Department Of Government Efficiency to make cut-backs. Musk slams critics of the project and says the American electorate has voted for the reforms. We are live in Paris at the AI Action Summit where the U.S. and UK have refused to sign up to an official communiqué as differences over regulation and governance continue. U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance says Europe’s approach to the sector is “excessive”. On Capitol Hill, U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell touts the strength of the U.S. economy but refuses to comment on President Trump’s trade policies. The UK’s OBR has warned Chancellor Rachel Reeves may have to break her own fiscal rules following a disappointing first draft forecast. And Deutsche Boerse posts a 25 per cent Q4 profit rise but warns of headwinds later this year due to lower interest rates.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

UniCredit posts a record-breaking year and its 16th straight quarter of growth, as net profit comes in just shy of 10 billion euros despite more than 1 billion in extraordinary charges. CNBC spoke exclusively to CEO Andrea Orcel on the company’s earnings and Italian banking consolidation. U.S. President Donald Trump signs off a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports – and warns of further trade levies in the coming weeks. Gold hits a fresh all-time high, settling its record for the fifth time this year as tariff tensions push investors to the safe haven asset. Meanwhile Sam Altman brushes off an unsolicited $100 billion bid from Elon Musk to buy OpenAi as the billionaires’ bitter rivalry takes a new turn. In Paris, President Emmanuel Macron pledges to roll back European red tape at the AI Action Summit, as the bloc battles to keep up with the U.S. and China.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.