Title: Trump Imposes 50% Punitive Tariffs on Brazil, Launches Unfair - Trade Probe

Local - time on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump turned his trade anger towards Brazil, the largest economy in Latin America. He announced a 50% punitive tariff on Brazilian goods exported to the US and ordered an investigation into "unfair trade practices", which may lead to higher tariffs. The new tariff will take effect on August 1, much higher than the 10% tariff imposed on Brazil on April 2 this year.

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Fed Minutes Boost Rate Cut Hopes; Nvidia Briefly Tops $4 Trillion Market Cap

U.S. stocks rallied broadly on Wednesday, July 10, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq hitting a record high. The surge followed the Federal Reserve’s meeting minutes reinforcing expectations of rate cuts this year and Nvidia’s brief ascent to a $4 trillion market valuation.

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New Zealand Central Bank Pauses Rate Cuts as Recession Risks Loom

On July 9, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) kept the Official Cash Rate (OCR) steady at 3.25%, in line with market expectations. This pause brings an end to six consecutive rate cuts since August 2023, during which the rate was slashed by a cumulative 225 basis points.

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RBA Pauses Rate Cuts; Mortgage Stress Shows Regional Divergence

Australia’s central bank held its cash rate at 3.85% on July 9, with the Monetary Policy Committee voting 6-3 to wait. While May inflation dipped to 2.1% (core 2.4%, a 3.5-year low), June’s CPI was "slightly stronger than expected," and rising global trade policy uncertainties—like U.S. tariff hikes—prompted the RBA to seek more data confirming inflation’s steady move toward the 2.5% target.

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Saudi Aramco's 2023 H1 Profit Soars to $88B Amid Oil Price Volatility

Saudi Aramco, the world's largest oil company, reported a net profit of $88 billion in the first half of 2023, significantly influenced by oil price fluctuations. The company's substantial earnings are a boon for Saudi Arabia's economy, as it continues to be a major player in the global energy market.

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Trump Escalates Trade War: 25% Tariffs on Japan, South Korea and Others From August

U.S. President Donald Trump announced Monday that the U.S. will impose sharply higher tariffs on multiple trading partners, including Japan and South Korea, starting August 1, marking a new phase in the global trade war he launched earlier this year.

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Tesla’s Growth Trajectory: Triumphs, Challenges, and Bold Bets on the Future

Tesla, anchored by its electric vehicle (EV) and energy storage businesses, achieved a significant milestone in 2023 by delivering over 1.8 million vehicles globally. This growth underscores the company’s continued dominance in the EV market. However, the road ahead is paved with obstacles as Tesla navigates intense competition and ambitious technological pursuits under Elon Musk’s leadership.

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Canada's Job Market Strains; Employment Security Confidence Hits Over 1-Year Low

Canadians’ confidence in job security has dropped to a more than one-year low, with Nanos Research’s latest poll showing only 59.9% of respondents viewing their employment as "secure or relatively secure"—while over 30% expressed uncertainty, the highest level since 2023.

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New Zealand's Housing Loan Risks Accumulate Despite Interest Rate Cuts

Despite the Reserve Bank of New Zealand initiating an interest - rate - cutting cycle in August 2024 and the continuous decline in mortgage rates, risks in the housing loan sector are steadily mounting. As of March 2025, the total amount of non - performing housing loans reached NZ$2.412 billion, an increase of NZ$249 million (11.5%) from the beginning of the year.

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Canadian Manufacturing in Gloom as Trade War Fuels Recession Fears

Canada's manufacturing sector is mired in a deep slump, with the April Manufacturing PMI dropping to 45.3, a new low since May 2020, shrinking for 11 consecutive months. The output index plunged to 42.7 and the new orders index to 41.2, hitting capital goods producers particularly hard. Uncertainties in US tariff policies have led companies to postpone decisions, and 75% of Canadian exports to the US (steel, aluminum, autos) are facing a 25% tariff shock. Retaliatory measures have exacerbated supply - chain disruptions.

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UK Economy Shows Mixed Signals: Ebbing Housing Policy and Pressured Manufacturing

The UK economy is displaying divergent signals, with the housing market and manufacturing sector showing contrasting trends. In March, mortgage lending in the UK increased by £12.963 billion, reaching a new high since June 2021. This was driven by homebuyers rushing to take advantage of the first - time buyer tax - break before it ended on April 1st. However, the housing market cooled rapidly after the policy ended.

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One in Four French Households Live in Severely Under-Occupied Homes: Insee Study

A study released by France’s National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (l'Insee) on Tuesday, July 8, reveals that a quarter of French households reside in severely under-occupied homes—defined as having at least three more rooms than actually needed. This phenomenon affects 7.6 million primary residences, 93% of which are single-family houses, with three-quarters of these under-occupied homes exceeding 100 square meters in size.

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Tokyo's Nikkei Index Extends Winning Streak to Seven Days on Yen Weakness

Tokyo's stock market continued its winning streak on May 2nd, with the Nikkei 225 index closing 378.39 points higher at 36,830.69, a 1.04% increase. This marks the seventh consecutive trading day of gains. The depreciation of the yen against the US dollar buoyed the market, with the export - oriented sectors leading the bulls. The index briefly approached the 37,000 - point mark during the session.

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London Housing Crisis Worsens: Double Blow of Homelessness and Construction Dilemma

London is facing a worsening housing crisis. In the first quarter of 2025, the number of rough sleepers reached 4,427, an 8% year - on - year increase, hitting a new record high. The government spends £4 million daily to accommodate 183,000 homeless people, including 90,000 children.

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New Zealand: Housing Market Shifts to Buyer's Favor, Unemployment Rate May Reach Eight - year High

As winter approaches, New Zealand's real estate market is tilting further towards buyers. In April, the national average asking price for residential properties dropped for the second consecutive month to NZ$851,746, a 3.8% decrease from the peak in February. Major cities like Auckland and Wellington have seen significant declines. The surge in housing supply is the main pressure point, with the number of houses for sale doubling to 35,924 in four years. Although inventory has decreased slightly recently, sales activity has not picked up correspondingly.

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