Global Markets
American Markets
U.S. stocks traded Tuesday mixed as investor sentiment remained cautious amid growing concerns about the country’s fiscal outlook. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell hinted at the possibility of a rate cut as early as July, a signal that followed mounting political pressure from former President Donald Trump, who has been critical of the prolonged period of elevated interest rates. While markets typically welcome dovish signals from the Fed, uncertainty about long-term fiscal policy continues to weigh on investor confidence.
European Markets
In Europe, markets traded broadly lower, as the euro strengthened, reflecting confidence in the region’s economic fundamentals, according to the European Central Bank. The ECB’s Christine Lagrade, commented that the appreciation of the currency is consistent with underlying economic resilience.
Tesla reported higher sales for June in Spain, Portugal, and Norway, however France saw a 10% decline. Stellantis warned it may be forced to shut down some factories due to potential fines from the European Union over carbon emissions. This underscores the rising regulatory pressure on automakers as the EU tightens its climate targets.
In the UK, stocks moved higher, buoyed by strong corporate news. Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca is reportedly considering moving its stock listing to a U.S. exchange, a move that would signals general growing dissatisfaction with the London market’s limited liquidity and valuation discounts compared to U.S. peers. Spanish lender Santander announced a £2.65 billion acquisition of UK-based TSB Bank, fueling concerns over branch closures and potential job losses.
Corporate News
Alphabet Inc:
OpenAI denied using Google’s proprietary AI chips despite reports of collaboration via Google Cloud and plans to warn EU regulators that antitrust rules may hinder innovation.
Apple Inc:
Brazil’s antitrust body recommended penalties against Apple for anti-competitive practices in its iOS ecosystem, prompting the company to raise privacy and user experience concerns.
Boeing Co:
Boeing appointed former Lockheed Martin executive Jay Malave as CFO, signaling a broader leadership shake-up under CEO Kelly Ortberg.
Carvana Co:
Jefferies raised Carvana’s price target to $325, expecting accelerated retail growth amid rising demand.
Circle Internet Group Inc:
Circle is seeking a U.S. national trust bank charter to directly manage USDC reserves and offer tokenized asset custody services to institutions.
Citigroup Inc
Citigroup appointed Akira Kiyota and Taiji Nagasaka to lead investment banking in Japan, highlighting efforts to expand amid growing M&A activity.
Cloudflare Inc:
Cloudflare launched a tool enabling websites to block or monetize AI bot access, offering publishers more control over their content.
Equinor ASA:
Equinor and partners approved a $1.29 billion expansion of the Johan Sverdrup oilfield to increase output by up to 50 million barrels.
First Citizens Bancshares Inc:
JPMorgan raised First Citizens’ target price to $2,250, citing strength in its SVB division and potential long-term deposit growth.
Hershey Co:
Hershey will remove synthetic dyes from its snacks by 2027 to align with evolving U.S. health regulations.
INmune Bio Inc:
Scotiabank downgraded INmune Bio after its lead Alzheimer’s drug failed a Phase 2 trial, slashing the price target to $0.60.
Joby Aviation Inc:
Joby completed a successful electric air taxi test flight in Dubai, advancing the city’s vision for urban aerial mobility.
Morgan Stanley:
Morgan Stanley led a $10 billion capital raise for Elon Musk’s xAI to fund AI infrastructure and development of the Grok platform.
Oracle Corp:
TD Cowen raised Oracle’s target price to $250 on the back of new large cloud service agreements expected to lift revenue.
Wolfspeed Inc:
Wolfspeed filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to restructure nearly $4.6 billion in debt amid slumping chip demand and macro headwinds.
Zions Bancorporation:
JPMorgan increased Zions’ price target to $55, citing its strong position in lending to small and mid-sized businesses.
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It’s interesting to see Powell signaling a possible rate cut while political pressures continue to mount—adds a layer of complexity to interpreting Fed decisions. I wonder how much this perceived politicization might affect long-term investor trust in central bank independence.