In recent news, key developments are shaping the political landscape and economic outlook. Here’s a summary of significant events:
Trump is nearing a decision on appointing a new Supreme Court justice: The Hill
U.S. negotiations with North Korea face new hurdles: CNN
Brexit crisis enters a new phase in the UK after the resignation of key government ministers: Bloomberg
A UK woman has died following poisoning from a Soviet-era nerve agent: Reuters
Energy and technology sectors are predicted to drive earnings growth in Q2: CNBC
Potential ramifications of the trade war may deepen: Bloomberg
Five critical figures from the optimistic June jobs report: CNBC
The U.S. trade deficit has fallen to its lowest level in 19 months as of May: MarketWatch
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The U.S. added 202,000 jobs to its payrolls in June, according to a report from the Labor Department today. This robust increase signifies the second consecutive month where job growth exceeded 200,000.
On Thursday (July 5), the yield spread between 10-year and 2-year Treasuries fell to 29 basis points, marking its lowest level since August 2007. This brings into question whether the Federal Reserve will risk economic stability with another rate hike, potentially inverting the yield curve—a signal historically associated with impending recessions.
Tensions escalate in the US-China trade war: Reuters
Trump is set to meet with Russia’s Putin later this month: NY Times
Job cuts in the U.S. rose by 18% in June compared to May: CG&C
U.S. Services PMI shows continued strong growth in June: IHS Markit
U.S. Non-Manufacturing Index indicates accelerated growth in June: WSJ
FOMC minutes reveal Fed is vigilant about recession risks yet optimistic about the economy: Reuters
Germany’s industrial output rebounded notably in May: FT
ADP reports U.S. private payrolls grew moderately by 177,000 in June: MW
Consumer discretionary stocks have taken the lead in U.S. equity sectors based on year-to-date performance as of July 3. Technology, once the leader, has fallen to second place, trailing behind consumer discretionary stocks in recent weeks.
The U.S. pledges to maintain open waterways in the Persian Gulf following threats from Iran: AP
China accuses the U.S. of ‘opening fire’ on the world with tariff threats: Reuters
Trump issues a new demand to oil producers globally to help stabilize the market: CNN
Police in the UK are investigating new cases of nerve agent poisoning: CNN
Despite rising employment, wage stagnation remains a pressing issue: OECD
German factory orders surged in May, breaking a streak of declines: Bloomberg
Eurozone economic activity experienced a boost in June: IHS Markit
U.S. factory orders bounced back in May after a sharp drop in April: Zacks
U.S. auto sales saw an increase in June among major car manufacturers: Reuters
The first half of 2018 witnessed a record $2.5 trillion in merger announcements: NY Times
The anticipated risk premium for the Global Market Index (GMI) slightly decreased in June to an annualized rate of 4.8%. This represents a small decline from the previous month’s expectation. This projected return over the ‘risk-free’ rate is viewed as a long-term estimate for the index, which encompasses an unmanaged market-value-weighted portfolio of all the primary asset classes.
Germany’s Chancellor Merkel retains power through a migration compromise: CNN
Trump and Mexico’s new president pledge to collaborate: USA Today
Trump threatens action against the World Trade Organization if the U.S. is treated unfairly: Reuters
Trump urges NATO members to increase their defense spending: NY Times
U.S. construction spending rose by 0.4% in May: MarketWatch
The ISM Manufacturing Index shows that U.S. factory output exceeded expectations in June: Bloomberg
US PMI indicates that manufacturing growth slowed but remained strong in June: IHS Markit
Eurozone manufacturing growth dipped to an 18-month low last month: IHS Markit
Ten technology stocks accounted for all gains in the S&P 500 for the first half of 2018: Bloomberg
In summary, the past few weeks have witnessed significant political and economic developments that demand attention. With fluctuating stock performances and crucial international relations, the current landscape remains dynamic. Stakeholders from various sectors should stay vigilant and informed to navigate the complexities ahead.
