Donald Trump’s announcement of a new 50% tariff on copper imports sparked historic volatility in metals markets, with copper futures surging as much as 20% before giving up some gains. The new measure, which comes as part of ongoing trade policy brinkmanship, is expected to raise costs for key U.S. industries including electric vehicles and renewable energy, while testing the resilience of global supply chains. Market analysts warn the tariff could backfire by spurring inflationary pressures and complicating already strained trade relationships with major copper-exporting countries like Chile and Peru.
Source: Finance Magnates
Clean Energy and Solar Stocks Slide as U.S. Tightens Tax Credit Enforcement
Clean energy and solar stocks experienced a sharp selloff after President Trump ordered stricter enforcement of eligibility criteria for renewable energy tax credits. Major names like Enphase and Sunrun were particularly hard hit, with sector analysts pointing to the move as a potential headwind for new investments and deployment of residential solar. The policy shift has rattled investors, fueling concerns about the future pace of green energy adoption in the U.S. just as tariffs begin to squeeze manufacturers and installers.
Source: SeekingAlpha
Monzo Bank Fined £21 Million for Failing Financial Crime Controls
The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority has fined Monzo Bank £21.1 million following “serious failures” in its anti-financial crime systems, especially around onboarding high-risk customers. The FCA found Monzo’s controls failed to keep pace with rapid customer and product growth, with over 34,000 high-risk clients signed up between 2018 and 2022 with inadequate checks. Monzo agreed to settle, resulting in a reduced penalty, and says a substantial overhaul of compliance processes is now complete.
Source: Finance Magnates
ATFunded Prop Trading Data Shows Just 6% Reach Funded Status
ATFunded, a proprietary trading arm of ATFX, reported that only about 6% of traders entering its evaluation program successfully advanced to funded trading in June—mirroring industry-wide patterns that highlight the challenge of success in prop trading. The firm announced the rollout of its “ATFunded Pro” single-phase evaluation, aiming to streamline the path for skilled traders while remaining competitive in a field where more than 80 prop firms reportedly closed in the past year.
Source: Finance Magnates
Hong Kong IPOs Accelerate as Five Companies Mark Busiest Listing Day of 2025
Hong Kong’s stock exchange recorded its busiest day of the year for IPOs as five mainland Chinese companies began trading, aligning with forecasts that new listing activity and proceeds will double in the second half of 2025. The influx of new stocks has repositioned Hong Kong as a leading global venue for new equity issuance amid a bullish trading climate, though investor appetite remains sensitive to China’s economic headwinds and shifting deflation risks.
Source: SCMP
Markets on Edge as Trump Stands Firm on August 1 Tariff Deadline
Markets have been whipsawed by President Trump’s pledge not to extend the August 1 deadline for new tariffs on key trading partners, heightening uncertainty across equities, currencies, and commodities. Wall Street has so far displayed resilience, but analysts warn that a lack of diplomatic progress could shift sentiment and disrupt global supply chains. With copper already volatile from tariff headlines and new restrictions pending on other sectors, risk management is once again top of mind for multinational firms and institutional investors.
Source: Financial Post
Axi Launches AxiPrime for Institutional Liquidity, Touts Latency Edge
Axi has launched its new institutional liquidity service, AxiPrime, targeting professional trading firms with unified cross-asset access and high-frequency trading capabilities. The platform, built to process up to 500,000 order events per second, comes after Axi’s partnership with Your Bourse for low-latency execution. As brokerages race to improve speed and resilience, AxiPrime’s tech-centric edge reflects a wider trend towards consolidating liquidity, pricing transparency, and API-based multi-asset trading in response to demands from institutional clients.
Source: Finance Magnates
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