A clearer view of today.

President Donald Trump's latest round of tariff announcements is sparking volatility across global markets, with new 25% import duties targeting Japan and South Korea and threats of higher tariffs on other BRICS-aligned nations. The EU, meanwhile, is seeking exemptions and has delayed formal responses amid ongoing deal negotiations. Equity markets fell sharply on Monday but saw some recovery as traders awaited further clarity on the administration’s endgame. Uncertainty is pressuring corporate supply chains and altering investment flows worldwide.

Source: NYT DealBook

Tesla shares plunged nearly 7% on Monday, erasing over $68 billion in market value, after CEO Elon Musk announced plans to launch his own political party. The move has reignited tensions with former ally Donald Trump and intensified concerns among investors about distractions from the electric vehicle company’s core business. The share price drop comes amid weak quarterly deliveries and ongoing pressure from rising competition in the global EV market.

Source: MarketWatch

Goldman Sachs strategists have lifted their S&P 500 forecasts, pointing to robust earnings resilience, earlier-than-expected and larger Fed rate cuts, and improving investor risk appetite. The investment bank highlights three key investment actions for the second half: leaning into quality growth stocks, remaining overweight U.S. equities, and watching volatility as economic and geopolitical risks persist. The new target signals optimism despite trade and political headwinds.

Source: MarketWatch

Fintech leader Revolut will now allow global customers to send money instantly to China in yuan through a new partnership with Ant International’s Alipay. This move taps into the massive $48 billion Chinese remittance market and leverages Alipay’s widespread usage. Standard users pay a fee, but top-tier customers enjoy zero transaction charges, as Revolut seeks to further position itself as a major global banking and payments platform.

Source: Finance Magnates

UK digital bank Monzo has been hit with a £21 million fine by British regulators for “inadequate anti-financial crime systems”, with the breaches occurring between October 2018 and August 2020. The Financial Conduct Authority found persistent failures in Monzo’s monitoring and controls, which exposed the bank to money laundering and fraud risks. The penalty underscores intensifying regulatory scrutiny for fintechs as they grow rapidly in scale.

Source: This is Money UK

Foxconn, a key player in global electronics manufacturing, posted record second-quarter revenue, driven largely by heightened demand for AI-related hardware and cloud infrastructure components. The world's largest contract manufacturer saw contract wins and volume growth as technology companies expanded investment into AI-focused data centers and devices, further solidifying Foxconn’s role in critical global supply chains.

Source: SeekingAlpha

Both Shell and ExxonMobil have issued profit warnings for the second quarter, citing lower upstream production volumes, weaker trading, and falling energy prices. The signals from two of the world's largest oil majors highlight the impact of subdued commodity markets, even as oil futures have rebounded on renewed demand optimism. Investors will scrutinize upcoming results for signals on sector margins and capital allocation.

Source: MarketWatch

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