Squawk Box Europe Express

The conflict between Israel and Iran enters its fourth day. NBC News confirms that U.S. President Trump rejected Israel’s proposal to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. G7 leaders arrive in Calgary, Canada with the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East at the forefront of the agenda but tariff talks will weigh on discussions between President Trump and other heads of state. Renault CEO Luca De Meo is to step down as CEO of the French autos giant and pursue a role outside the sector. Reports in French media suggest he may next take the helm at Gucci owner Kering.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Israel has launched unilateral overnight airstrikes in Iran, targeting key nuclear infrastructure and military sites as well as killing the head of the army and the leader of the IRGC. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has vowed ‘extreme punishment’ against Israel. Tehran has launched up to 100 drones towards Israel in retaliation. Oil spikes to its highest level in almost 5 months as investors rush to safe-haven stocks amid the volatility. World leaders have reacted with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer urging calm while Riyadh slams the move as a violation of sovereignty and international law.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 the U.S.-China trade agreement is complete following this week’s framework deal in London. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick says the two sides could begin to benefit from the tariff truce almost immediately. Market reaction, however, has been tepid with European equities set to open lower while oil is up on renewed fears of escalation between Israel and Iran. We hear from French President Emmanuel Macron at Vivatech in Paris who says the deal between France’s Mistral AI and chip giant Nvidia marks a ‘game-changing’ moment for European technology.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. and Chinese trade delegates complete a late-night framework agreement in London to continue the trade truce between the world’s largest two economies. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick hailed the positive and constructive nature of the talks. UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, is to set out $2tn in public spending as the government aims to stem haemorrhaging public opinion. The EU is reportedly ready to greenlight Italian lender Unicredit’s bid to buy up rival BPM. The move could place Brussels at loggerheads with Rome which has invoked its ‘golden powers’ rule that allows the government to impose conditions or exercise a veto over companies holding nationally strategic assets. French tech company Mistral AI unveils its first reasoning model which uses multiple languages.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

High-level U.S.-China trade talks enter a second day in London with reports stating that Washington may relax chip export controls if Beijing agrees to speed up rare earth exports. President Trump says ‘opening up’ China would bring global benefits. U.S. Marines are deployed in Los Angeles where protests against ICE deportations of illegal immigrants continue. California Democrats say the move violates federal law. OpenAI posts annual recurring revenue of $10bn thanks to growth in its consumer and business ChatGPT products.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. and Chinese officials meet in London in an attempt to cool trade tensions and potentially re-negotiate tariffs. The EU and China agree on fast-tracking rare earth exports with Beijing expecting reciprocal measures to promote trade in high-tech products with the bloc. President Trump deploys the National Guard in Los Angeles following three days of violence over federal deportation and illegal immigration laws.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A spectacular falling-out between President Trump and Elon Musk causes Tesla shares to plummet but the pair are reportedly set to mend fences in a phone call later today. President Trump hails his relationship with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping following a trade-focused call. Trump said he had accepted an offer to visit Xi “at a certain point”. Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz showed a cordial relationship during talks at the Oval Office but the American leader remained cautious about the prospect of a near-term end to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The CBO says that President Trump’s BBB could add almost $2.5tn to the U.S. deficit. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who oversaw Doge cuts to government waste, has urged lawmakers to ‘kill the bill’. We hear from London Mayor Sadiq Khan who says he welcomes Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s efforts to strike a trade deal with President Trump but that trade ties with the EU should be deepened. And we are live at Berlin’s private markets Super Return conference where increasing opportunities around Europe are the focus of discussions.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Elon Musk slams President Trump’s budget bill describing it as ‘an abomination’ that will balloon the deficit. Doubled U.S. levies come into effect today but the UK escapes 50 per cent tariffs on steel. And we are live in Berlin at the Super Return forum where top names in private markets with around $50tn in assets are gathering.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Washington is reportedly demanding countries put forward their best trade talk offers by tomorrow as the reciprocal tariffs deadline of 8 July draws nearer. The EU has responded saying it will push for tariff cuts with the U.S. in meetings scheduled this week. The bloc has repeated its threats of counter-measures should an agreement fail to be reached. We hear from German Steel Association head Gunnar Groebler who says American companies are also being affected by the levies. And in the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has promised the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The EU says it is mulling counter-measures after President Trump’s steel tariffs doubles tariffs on steel imports. The U.S and China accuse each other of not respecting the trade agreement made in Geneva last month. In Poland Karol Nawrocki wins the presidential election to dent Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s centrist agenda. And in M&A news, French pharma giant Sanofi has moved to snap up U.S. firm Blueprint Medicines in an $9bbn all-cash deal.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A U.S, federal appeals court has temporarily reinstated President Trump’s tariffs just a day after the U.S. Court of International Trade ruled he had overstepped his authority in imposing the levies. President Trump summons Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to the White House over his interest rate policy stance. Powell has insisted his rate decisions will remain data-based. And we are live in Dubrovnik where global economic policymakers are gathering for the Croatian National Bank/IMF meeting.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A U.S. court has ruled that a majority of President Trump’s tariffs, including reciprocal levies, which were tied to the Emergency Economic Powers Act were an overstep of presidential authority. The White House has filed a notice of appeal with the court. Chip giant Nvidia sees shares soar following the company posting a better-than-expected Q1 revenue beat of 69 per cent. CEO Jensen Huang has criticised the U.S. government’s chip export restrictions to China. Tesla CEO departs the U.S. government in his advisory role a day after calling a GOP budget bill to fund President Trump’s agenda ‘disappointing’.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

All focus is on A.I. chip giant Nvidia which is due to report quarterly results after the U.S. bell today. Investors will be scrutinising how the company is faring following a $5.5bn China export hit. U.S. consumer confidence for May shows a sharp rebound, lifting equities out of a four-day slump in the red and helping the USD to its best performance in recent weeks. In Europe, Germany’s DAX posts a new record close, boosting yearly gains by more than 20 per cent as automotive and arms manufacturer Rheinmetall almost triples its market cap.  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 tariff postponement helps to boost sentiment in Europe with French and German stocks starting the week solidly in the green. The autos and aerospace sectors lead gains. ECB President Christine Lagarde says that the euro could rival the dollar in times of political volatility if the bloc can succeed in strengthening its security and capital markets. And in autos news, Tesla’s April sales in Europe decline by more than 50 per cent on the year while petrol car sales also slow by a fifth.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Trump postpones EU tariff talks until July following a phone call with EC president Ursula Von Der Leyen to grant the bloc a reprieve from his threat of a 50 per cent levy. In Asia, Apple iPhone suppliers are in the red following Trump’s threat of a 25 per cent tariff on the company’s phones manufactured outside the U.S. Chinese automaker BYD cuts prices by up to 35 per cent as concerns over a global price war intensify.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. yields and the 30-year note rise above 5 per cent as U.S. debt burden worries persist. The U.S. House of Representatives passes President Trump’s tax and spending bill by a single vote that could add $4tn in U.S. debt. The bill is now due to makes its way through the Senate. We are live in Athens where Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis tells us exclusively that he believes the U.S. and EU are close to agreeing a trade deal with the possibility of lowering the 10 per cent Trump tariff baseline figure.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The House of Representatives holds an all-night session as the GOP looks to push President Trump’s budget bill. The proposed tax cuts are expected to add trillions of dollars to the country’s deficit in the next 10 years. As a result, European markets are in the red and are due to track Wednesday’s disappointing session. And in tech news, Open A.I. is to buy the A.I. device start-up belonging to former Apple designer Jony Ive. The all-stock deal is said to be worth $6.4bn.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Trump calls on Republican ‘holdouts’ to agree to his budget plans in a private meeting. Trump said he was confident the bill would soon be passed as law. Our colleagues Stateside sit down with Tesla CEO Elon Musk who says he wants to continue at the helm of the auto maker for the next 5 years and is committed to ramping up the number of autonomous vehicles on U.S. roads by next year.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

EV Battery maker CATL lists on the Hong Kong stock exchange, sending shares soaring. It’s the world’s largest IPO this year. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer re-sets relations with the EU, promising to boost Britain’s global trade standing but the move provokes anger domestically. JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon says markets and central banks are ‘complacent’ about risk amid a ballooning U.S. deficit, tariffs and rising global tensions.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Global markets fall and yields jump as Moody's cuts its U.S. credit rating - the first time in history that the country hasn't held a perfect AAA rating with any of the major agencies. Attention turns to London as the U.K. and EU near a historic reset of trade relations - as Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary calls for closer ties between the two sides.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Trump concludes his multi-stop Middle East tour having signed mega A.I. and aviation investment deals in Abu Dhabi, Doha and Riyadh but has raised concerns among some of his administration regarding advanced A.I. security restrictions. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is in Albania for talks with European counterparts on a potential post-Brexit deal. Youth mobility and fishing rights will be key topics on the agenda. Swiss luxury firm Richemont sees a rise in quarterly sales and manages to narrowly scrape a beat but warns of continuing global economic 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 Middle Eastern tour continues to Doha where he helps Boeing secure a mega-deal with Qatar Airways. He heads to the UAE later today. Shares in trading platform Etoro Group soar off the back of its Nasdaq IPO which could potentially herald a reset in IPO sentiment on Wall Street. Siemens posts a Q2 beat, hiking its FY guidance. CEO Roland Busch tells CNBC a tariff deal with the U.S. will help trigger a ‘normal’ growth rate.  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 hails his return to Saudi Arabia where he has secured hundreds of billions of dollars of investment from the kingdom. He will be heading to Qatar later today. The U.S. Agriculture Secretary, Brooke Rollins, says Trump’s global trade negotiations will be a boon to the whole world. German shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd confirms its FY outlook despite trade concerns on the horizon. Defence firm Renk doubles its quarterly orderbook, seeing intakes of €550m.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Global markets rally on the back of yesterday’s U.S.-China trade truce with mining and tech stocks leading European gains. Stateside, the Magnificent 7 companies add $800bn in market cap. President Trump signs an executive order to force European countries to pay higher prices for pharmaceuticals and vows to punish countries which refuse to match lower drug costs in the U.S. And President Trump embarks on his first major foreign trip since regaining office to Saudi Arabia where he expects to secure big strategic, tech and infrastructure deals.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. and China reach a trade deal with both sides slashing their respective tariffs by 115 per cent. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says both sides have moved towards balanced trade. China-exposed shares soar in Europe with luxury, autos and tech leading the way. However, pharma stocks plummet following President Trump’s announcement that he will sign an executive order to reduce drug prices for Americans by up to 80 per cent.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. and Chinese trade negotiators hail ‘substantial’ momentum following talks in Geneva over the weekend. Further details are promised later today. President Trump vows to sign an executive order which would see American drug prices cut by up to 80 per cent. Italian lender Unicredit posts a top and bottom line beat in Q1 and raises its FY guidance. CEO Andrea Orcel tells CNBC his bank’s plans for consolidation are progressing.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The U.K. And the U.S. seals the first trade agreement of Trump's tariff war — but loose ends remain on the details. Meanwhile, attention turns to this weekend's negotiations between the U.S. and China in Switzerland, as President Trump says he may consider lowering the sky-high tariff level against Beijing. In Europe, Commerzbank bucks expectations to report nearly 12% profit growth in the first quarter, as the German lender looks to fend off advances from Italy's Unicredit.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The UK and U.S. may potentially unveil a major trade deal as soon as this afternoon. President Trump has teased that an announcement is due at 3PM BST. The U.S. Federal Reserve has held rates steady once again, citing increased economic uncertainty ahead. Meanwhile, in the UK, the BoE is set to slash rates for a second time this year with more moves expected over the summer.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Beijing moves to increase stimulus into the economy from rate cuts to liquidity injections in an attempt to counter the effects of President Trump’s tariffs. U.S. and Chinese officials are due to hold trade talks in Switzerland this weekend. India bombs targets in Pakistan in retaliation for last month’s terror attack on Hindu tourists in the divided region of Kashmir. Danish pharma giant Novo Nordisk slashes its FY forecast despite an 18 per cent surge in quarterly sales.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent tells CNBC that the White House is involved in talks with 18 key trading partners and that some deals are imminent. Ford suspends its outlook and reveals a $2.5bn loss as tariff uncertainty weighs. In Germany, the CDU’s Friedrich Merz is to become Chancellor later today following his party’s grand coalition agreement with the SPD.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Trump shrugs off concerns about his handling of the U.S. economy in an interview with NBC’S Meet The Press, stressing that his main goal is to agree a fair trade deal with China. Warren Buffett shocks Berkshire Hathaway shareholders by announcing his retirement. The billionaire investor has led the company for more than 60 years and will now hand over leadership to vice-chairman Greg Abel. Crude prices fall as Opec+ nations agree to speed up production hikes once again. Also in oil news, Shell is reportedly considering a takeover of rival BP.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

China said it is mulling tariff talks with the U.S. after the Trump administration reaches out - saying Beijing's door is always open. On the earnings front, Standard Chartered posted a 10% rise in first quarter net profit, with the Asian-focused lender maintaining its guidance despite heightened uncertainty. Apple and Amazon fell in extended trade despite earnings beats, as tariff uncertainty weighs on the outlook for big tech. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Meta and Microsoft both score quarterly profit beats on the top and bottom line, unfazed by the Trump tariff war. Qualcomm, however, sees its stock fall in after-hours trade and concern about the levies begins to weigh on its guidance. Spain’s competition watchdog endorses BBVA and Banco Sabadell’s €12bn merger deal. It now requires government approval. And in autos news, Tesla denies it ever considered replacing CEO Elon Musk following his extensive role for DOGE in the Trump administration. Trump, for his part, said Musk could stay in his cabinet as long as he wishes.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

UBS scores a Q1 beat with a better-than-expected net profit of $1.7bn on strong wealth management income. We hear from CEO Sergio Ermotti. Wall Street performance slumps to its worst level during the start of a new White House administration since President Gerald Ford’s in 1974, however Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick tells our colleagues Stateside the first trade deal is imminent. And logistics giant DHL confirms its FY guidance despite the turbulence caused by Trump’s tariff policies.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

HSBC launches a $3bn buyback while Deutsche Bank beats on both the top and bottom line. Spain declares a state of emergency following a massive power outage with flights and other transport suspended and mobile and internet connections lost. Portugal was also hit by the blackout. Mark Carney and the Liberal Party are voted into power in Canada setting up a showdown with U.S. President Trump on trade tariffs and independence.  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 has signed more than 200 trade deals to mark his first one hundred days in office amid varied recent polling. U.S Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says progress is being made in trade talks with many Asian nations. European Commission President Ursula von Der Leyen announces she will meet with President Trump for trade talks following a brief meeting on the sidelines of Pope Francis’ funeral. U.S. equities suffer their worst start to the year in more than 30 years.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alphabet shares rose in extended trade after reporting a top and bottom line beat, with its search and advertising units showing strong growth despite increasing AI competition. At the annual IMF meeting, ECB Governing Council Member Robert Holzmann told CNBC that he expects further rate cuts to come, but that the outcome of tariff talks will ultimately decide how much lower the base rate will fall. Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey told CNBC exclusively that he doesn't think that the U.K. economy is on the brink of a downturn - despite the latest warning from the IMF. Over in Asia, Nissan flags a record loss of up to $5.3 billion dollars due to impairment charges as new CEO Ivan Espinosa attempts to turn around Japan's third largest automaker.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 reportedly mulling slashing tariffs on Chinese imports, but Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the country won’t act unilaterally. In Europe, the Kering crisis continues, as Gucci first quarter sales slide by 25%. Meanwhile, Adidas bounces back, posting its strongest start to a year following the company’s turnaround plans. BNP Paribas posted a first quarter beat and confirms its guidance, with CFO Lars Machenil telling CNBC that the French lender is outperforming on all key units. And there’s more bad news for Tesla as its EU car registrations almost halve in the first quarter, while China’s SAIC surge. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Trump eases back on Jerome Powell, insisting he has no intentions to fire the Fed Chair – spiking U.S. futures and calming concerns over the Fed’s independence. U.S. markets rebound after Trump backs up comments made by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, saying that the tariff standoff with China is “unsustainable”. Elon Musk pledges to step back from his government work as Tesla posts its biggest earnings miss in half a decade. The IMF slashes its global growth forecast for 2025, warning that President Trump’s tariff policies risk unleashing “major negative shock”. In Europe, the newly crowned most valuable company SAP posts a first quarter operating profit beat – up by 58%.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.