G-20 Agenda Eclipsed as Bessent Skips South Africa Meeting Again
Scott Bessent will skip the Group of 20 again this week, continuing a boycott of South Africa by top US officials begun by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who stayed away out of scorn over his hosts' theme for its G20 presidency of 'Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability.'
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Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Europe Welcomes US Trade Fight Pause Despite Critic Warnings
(Bloomberg) -- European capitals defended the trade deal struck with President Donald Trump, which will see the European Union accept a 15% tariff on most of its exports to the US while reducing levies on some American products to zero. The High Costs of Trump's 'Big Beautiful' New Car Loan Deduction Can This Bridge Ease the Troubled US-Canadian Relationship? Budapest's Most Historic Site Gets a Controversial Rebuild Trump Administration Sues NYC Over Sanctuary City Policy European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who met with Trump in his golf club in Turnberry, Scotland, on Sunday, hailed the agreement for the stability and predictability it will offer businesses and consumers. The EU knew that the deal would favor the US, but von der Leyen urged reporters to 'not forget where we came from,' referencing tariff rates Trump threatened that were as high as 50%. Subscribe to the Bloomberg Daybreak Podcast on Apple, Spotify and other Podcast Platforms. The lower rate came as a relief to member states that are dependent on exports, especially Germany, which exported $34.9 billion of new cars and auto parts to the US in 2024. 'The agreement has succeeded in averting a trade conflict that would have hit the export-oriented German economy hard,' German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in a statement late Sunday. 'This has enabled us to safeguard our core interests, even if I would have liked to have seen further easing in transatlantic trade.' Without a deal, Bloomberg Economics estimated that the total US average effective tariff rate would rise to nearly 18% on Aug. 1 from 13.5% under current policies. The new deal brings that number down to 16%. Prior to Trump's latest trade fight, the EU estimated the average tariff rate to be about 1% on both sides. The pact removes a major risk for markets and the global economy, given the transatlantic partners did €1.7 trillion ($2 trillion) worth of cross-border commerce in 2024. European stocks and US equity futures climbed on Monday with the Stoxx 600 index gaining 0.7%. Industry officials in Germany, however, warned that the deal leaves the auto industry exposed and will make companies in Europe less competitive. 'The agreement is an inadequate compromise and sends a disastrous signal to the closely intertwined economies on both sides of the Atlantic,' said Wolfgang Niedermark, a member of the executive board of Germany's BDI industry federation. 'The EU is accepting painful tariffs. Even a 15% tariff will have immense negative consequences for Germany's export-oriented industry.' France, which took a more hawkish approach to the negotiations, highlighted the stability the agreement would bring, but also recommended triggering the EU's anti-coercion instrument, which would initiate a massive retaliation against the US, hitting American technology companies and blocking US firms from public procurement projects in Europe. 'Let's be clear: the current situation is not satisfactory and cannot be sustainable,' French Minister for European Affairs Benjamin Haddad said in a social media post. 'The free trade that has brought shared prosperity to both sides of the Atlantic since the end of the Second World War is now rejected by the United States, which is choosing economic coercion and complete disregard for WTO rules.' Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade Hanneke Boerma said the deal was 'not ideal' and called on the commission to continue negotiations with the US. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has long been a thorn in the sides of the Brussels' institutions, took an even tougher line, in part criticizing von der Leyen while praising the American president. 'What's clear is that this isn't a deal Donald Trump struck with Ursula von der Leyen,' Orban said in an online interview with a pro-government influencer on Monday. 'Donald Trump ate Ursula von der Leyen for breakfast. The American president is a heavyweight negotiator, Madam President is featherweight.' Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who typically joins Orban in criticizing the EU, said that 15% is 'a good negotiation result,' though he warned that the devil is 'hidden in the details.' Slovakia's car industry accounts for about 10% of the country's GDP and is home to plants owned by VW, Stellantis, Kia and Jaguar Land Rover, plus an extensive network of suppliers. Trade accords typically require years of negotiations and can run thousands of pages long. The deal reached between the EU and US was thin on details and so far hasn't produced any written details. 'The focus will now turn to interpretation and implementation risk, posing a mix of political and technical questions,' Carsten Nickel, deputy director of research at Teneo, wrote in a note. 'Given the nature of the deal, major uncertainties are likely to persist.' The EU agreed to purchase $750 billion in American energy products, invest $600 billion in the US on top of existing expenditures, open up countries' markets to trade with the US at zero tariffs and purchase 'vast amounts' of military equipment, Trump said. Key to getting the 15% rate to apply to pharmaceuticals and semiconductors was the bloc's promise to make US investments, according to people familiar with the matter. Clemens Fuest, president of Germany's Ifo Institute for Economic Research, called the deal a 'humiliation' that reflects the imbalance of power between the EU and US. 'The Europeans need to wake up, focus more on economic strength and reduce their military and technological dependence on the US,' Fuest said on social media. 'Then they can renegotiate.' French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou had even stronger words when discussing the new deal. 'It's a dark day when an alliance of free peoples, united to affirm their values and defend their interests, opts for submission,' he wrote on social media. --With assistance from Kamil Kowalcze, Alberto Brambilla, Zoltan Simon, Daniel Hornak, Sarah Jacob, James Regan and William Wilkes. (Updates with industry comment in the ninth paragraph.) Burning Man Is Burning Through Cash It's Not Just Tokyo and Kyoto: Tourists Descend on Rural Japan Elon Musk's Empire Is Creaking Under the Strain of Elon Musk Confessions of a Laptop Farmer: How an American Helped North Korea's Wild Remote Worker Scheme Scottish Wind Farms Show How to Counter Nimby Opposition ©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq futures nudge higher as Trump-EU trade deal kicks off huge week in markets
US stock futures pointed higher on Monday after the US and European Union struck a trade pact to lead off a packed week of Big Tech earnings, a Federal Reserve meeting, inflation data, the July jobs report, and President Trump's Aug. 1 deadline to lock in key trade deals. Contracts on the S&P 500 (ES=F) and the tech-heavy Nasdaq (NQ=F) put on roughly 0.2% and 0.4%, respectively, after closing out Friday at fresh record highs. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures (YM=F) floated just above the flatline as stocks pared earlier premarket gains. The US and EU have agreed the outlines of a deal setting tariffs on Europe's goods at a baseline 15%, compared with the 30% threatened. Trump called the pact 'the biggest of them all,' while von der Leyen said that "15% is not to be underestimated, but it is the best we could get." An initial boost to market sentiment faded in early morning trading as investors digested the conflicting details in the US-EU deal framework. But stocks are still just about on track to resume a rally that saw the S&P 500 (^GSPC) notch its fifth all-time high in a row on Friday. Read more: The latest on Trump's tariffs At the same time, hopes are rising for a US-China talks in Stockholm on Monday, which could reportedly extend the existing tariff truce by three months beyond its current Aug, 12 deadline. Meanwhile, Trump has frozen US tech export curbs to help secure a China deal and help efforts to book a meeting with President Xi. Investor eyes are now turning to a jam-packed week on Wall Street. Heavyweight earnings highlight the most intense stretch of the season, with more than 150 S&P 500 companies set to report. Meta Platforms (META) and Microsoft (MSFT) lead off Wednesday, followed by Amazon (AMZN) and Apple (AAPL) on Thursday. Read more: Full earnings coverage in our live blog Beyond earnings, the Fed begins its two-day policy meeting on Tuesday, with an interest-rate decision expected Wednesday afternoon. While the central bank is expected to keep rates at 4.25%-4.50%, the watch is on for signs that policymakers are warming to a rate cut in September. It all comes alongside legal battles to open up the Fed's meetings to investor eyes, as well as Trump's general pressure on the central bank and Chair Jerome Powell. On the data front, inflation and labor will be in the spotlight. The July reading of the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) index, the Fed's preferred inflation gauge, is forecast to show a modest monthly and annual uptick on its release on Thursday. Also on deck: a flurry of jobs data. Tuesday's JOLTS update and Wednesday's ADP private payrolls print will set the stage for the crucial July jobs report on Friday. Dollar strengthens, euro slips on trade deal The US dollar index ( rose 0.6% on Monday following news that the United States and European Union struck a trade deal. The euro (EURUSD=X) slipped 0.7% against the dollar at $1.16. While the framework's added clarity brought some relief to the trading partners, the deal was seen as more mixed in Europe, which was angling for free trade. Under the deal, European goods bound for the US will face a 15% tariff, and the EU will spend $600 billion on US investments, though some details remain unclear. Together, the US and EU account for about a third of all global trade. How ethereum rose to become a mainstream cryptocurrency The Ether Machine is preparing to go public after raising the equivalent of $1.5 billion, with its promise of offering the public a new way to access cryptocurrency yields. It's the latest sign of ethereum's move out of bitcoin's shadow and into mainstream adoption. Yahoo Finance's Nina Moothedath reports: Here's what to know about ethereum and what sets it apart from other blockchains. ASML's stock is in focus after US/EU trade deal Semiconductor play ASML (ASML, getting a lot of mentions on the Street this morning as a winner from the US/EU trade deal. Shares were up nearly 5% at one point in premarket trading. (I would note ASML just a week ago issued weak guidance that hammered the stock, so be mindful of that.) Here's what JP Morgan had to say this morning: Good morning. Here's what's happening today. Economic data: Dallas Fed manufacturing activity (July) Earnings: Tilray (TLRY), Waste Management (WM), Whirlpool (WHR) Here are some of the biggest stories you may have missed overnight and early this morning: Fed meeting, July jobs report and Big Tech earnings: Week ahead Health insurers have a problem that's squeezing their earnings Musk hails $16.5B Samsung deal to make Tesla's AI chips Trump looms large over defiant Fed's meeting this week Eyes on US-China talks after EU strikes 15% tariff deal Oppenheimer lifts S&P 500 target to call third year of 20% gains US LNG producers soar as EU agrees $250B in annual purchases Japan: Only 2% of $550 billion US fund will be investment Fed meeting, jobs report, Big Tech earnings — and Trump's deadline: What to watch this week The impact of President Trump's policies on the economy is about to get a lot clearer. Yahoo Finance's Josh Schafer takes a look at what to expect this week and why it matters: Read more here. Trending tickers: Nike, Samsung Electronics and US liquefied natural gas stocks Here are some top stocks trending on Yahoo Finance in premarket trading: Nike (NKE) shares were up over 3% before the bell on Monday after receiving an upgrade from JPMorgan (JPM), moving its rating from neutral to overweight and setting a new price target of $93, up from the previous $64. Samsung Electronics ( stock rose 6% after announcing that it had secured a 16.5 billion deal to make Tesla's next-generation AI chip. Shares in US liquefied natural gas developers surged in premarket trading on Monday, after the European Union pledged to purchase $750 billion worth of the super-cooled fuel over the next three years as part of a sweeping trade pact. NextDecade (NEXT), Venture Global (VG), and Cheniere Energy (LNG)jumped between 7% and 8.8%. Samsung to make AI chips for Tesla under $16.5 billion deal Samsung Electronics ( SSNLF) has landed a $16.5 billion deal to make Tesla's (TSLA) next-generation AI chip. The agreement, which runs through the end of 2033, will see the South Korean company produce the AI6 semiconductor at an upcoming plant in Texas. Shares of Tesla stepped up 1.5% in premarket trading, after its CEO Elon Musk confirmed on X that the EV maker had struck the multibillion-dollar deal. Meanwhile, Samsung's Seoul-traded stock rose almost 7% to its highest level since September. 'The strategic importance of this is hard to overstate,' Musk wrote. "The $16.5B number is just the bare minimum. Actual output is likely to be several times higher." Bloomberg reports: Read more here. Oil rises with EU-US trade deal locked in Oil prices eked out gains as the US and the EU finalized details of a trade deal ahead of Trump's Aug. 1 deadline. Bloomberg reports: Read more here. European stock futures rise on US-EU trade deal announcement Futures in European stock indexes saw positive bumps early morning Monday as the markets reacted to the announcement of a tariff deal between the US and the EU Interest in individual stocks in carmakers, luxury goods makers, and alcohol conglomerates is rising ahead of the market open Monday with those industries the most impacted by the deal. Bloomberg reports: Read more here. Dollar strengthens, euro slips on trade deal The US dollar index ( rose 0.6% on Monday following news that the United States and European Union struck a trade deal. The euro (EURUSD=X) slipped 0.7% against the dollar at $1.16. While the framework's added clarity brought some relief to the trading partners, the deal was seen as more mixed in Europe, which was angling for free trade. Under the deal, European goods bound for the US will face a 15% tariff, and the EU will spend $600 billion on US investments, though some details remain unclear. Together, the US and EU account for about a third of all global trade. The US dollar index ( rose 0.6% on Monday following news that the United States and European Union struck a trade deal. The euro (EURUSD=X) slipped 0.7% against the dollar at $1.16. While the framework's added clarity brought some relief to the trading partners, the deal was seen as more mixed in Europe, which was angling for free trade. Under the deal, European goods bound for the US will face a 15% tariff, and the EU will spend $600 billion on US investments, though some details remain unclear. Together, the US and EU account for about a third of all global trade. How ethereum rose to become a mainstream cryptocurrency The Ether Machine is preparing to go public after raising the equivalent of $1.5 billion, with its promise of offering the public a new way to access cryptocurrency yields. It's the latest sign of ethereum's move out of bitcoin's shadow and into mainstream adoption. Yahoo Finance's Nina Moothedath reports: Here's what to know about ethereum and what sets it apart from other blockchains. The Ether Machine is preparing to go public after raising the equivalent of $1.5 billion, with its promise of offering the public a new way to access cryptocurrency yields. It's the latest sign of ethereum's move out of bitcoin's shadow and into mainstream adoption. Yahoo Finance's Nina Moothedath reports: Here's what to know about ethereum and what sets it apart from other blockchains. ASML's stock is in focus after US/EU trade deal Semiconductor play ASML (ASML, getting a lot of mentions on the Street this morning as a winner from the US/EU trade deal. Shares were up nearly 5% at one point in premarket trading. (I would note ASML just a week ago issued weak guidance that hammered the stock, so be mindful of that.) Here's what JP Morgan had to say this morning: Semiconductor play ASML (ASML, getting a lot of mentions on the Street this morning as a winner from the US/EU trade deal. Shares were up nearly 5% at one point in premarket trading. (I would note ASML just a week ago issued weak guidance that hammered the stock, so be mindful of that.) Here's what JP Morgan had to say this morning: Good morning. Here's what's happening today. Economic data: Dallas Fed manufacturing activity (July) Earnings: Tilray (TLRY), Waste Management (WM), Whirlpool (WHR) Here are some of the biggest stories you may have missed overnight and early this morning: Fed meeting, July jobs report and Big Tech earnings: Week ahead Health insurers have a problem that's squeezing their earnings Musk hails $16.5B Samsung deal to make Tesla's AI chips Trump looms large over defiant Fed's meeting this week Eyes on US-China talks after EU strikes 15% tariff deal Oppenheimer lifts S&P 500 target to call third year of 20% gains US LNG producers soar as EU agrees $250B in annual purchases Japan: Only 2% of $550 billion US fund will be investment Economic data: Dallas Fed manufacturing activity (July) Earnings: Tilray (TLRY), Waste Management (WM), Whirlpool (WHR) Here are some of the biggest stories you may have missed overnight and early this morning: Fed meeting, July jobs report and Big Tech earnings: Week ahead Health insurers have a problem that's squeezing their earnings Musk hails $16.5B Samsung deal to make Tesla's AI chips Trump looms large over defiant Fed's meeting this week Eyes on US-China talks after EU strikes 15% tariff deal Oppenheimer lifts S&P 500 target to call third year of 20% gains US LNG producers soar as EU agrees $250B in annual purchases Japan: Only 2% of $550 billion US fund will be investment Fed meeting, jobs report, Big Tech earnings — and Trump's deadline: What to watch this week The impact of President Trump's policies on the economy is about to get a lot clearer. Yahoo Finance's Josh Schafer takes a look at what to expect this week and why it matters: Read more here. The impact of President Trump's policies on the economy is about to get a lot clearer. Yahoo Finance's Josh Schafer takes a look at what to expect this week and why it matters: Read more here. Trending tickers: Nike, Samsung Electronics and US liquefied natural gas stocks Here are some top stocks trending on Yahoo Finance in premarket trading: Nike (NKE) shares were up over 3% before the bell on Monday after receiving an upgrade from JPMorgan (JPM), moving its rating from neutral to overweight and setting a new price target of $93, up from the previous $64. Samsung Electronics ( stock rose 6% after announcing that it had secured a 16.5 billion deal to make Tesla's next-generation AI chip. Shares in US liquefied natural gas developers surged in premarket trading on Monday, after the European Union pledged to purchase $750 billion worth of the super-cooled fuel over the next three years as part of a sweeping trade pact. NextDecade (NEXT), Venture Global (VG), and Cheniere Energy (LNG)jumped between 7% and 8.8%. Here are some top stocks trending on Yahoo Finance in premarket trading: Nike (NKE) shares were up over 3% before the bell on Monday after receiving an upgrade from JPMorgan (JPM), moving its rating from neutral to overweight and setting a new price target of $93, up from the previous $64. Samsung Electronics ( stock rose 6% after announcing that it had secured a 16.5 billion deal to make Tesla's next-generation AI chip. Shares in US liquefied natural gas developers surged in premarket trading on Monday, after the European Union pledged to purchase $750 billion worth of the super-cooled fuel over the next three years as part of a sweeping trade pact. NextDecade (NEXT), Venture Global (VG), and Cheniere Energy (LNG)jumped between 7% and 8.8%. Samsung to make AI chips for Tesla under $16.5 billion deal Samsung Electronics ( SSNLF) has landed a $16.5 billion deal to make Tesla's (TSLA) next-generation AI chip. The agreement, which runs through the end of 2033, will see the South Korean company produce the AI6 semiconductor at an upcoming plant in Texas. Shares of Tesla stepped up 1.5% in premarket trading, after its CEO Elon Musk confirmed on X that the EV maker had struck the multibillion-dollar deal. Meanwhile, Samsung's Seoul-traded stock rose almost 7% to its highest level since September. 'The strategic importance of this is hard to overstate,' Musk wrote. "The $16.5B number is just the bare minimum. Actual output is likely to be several times higher." Bloomberg reports: Read more here. Samsung Electronics ( SSNLF) has landed a $16.5 billion deal to make Tesla's (TSLA) next-generation AI chip. The agreement, which runs through the end of 2033, will see the South Korean company produce the AI6 semiconductor at an upcoming plant in Texas. Shares of Tesla stepped up 1.5% in premarket trading, after its CEO Elon Musk confirmed on X that the EV maker had struck the multibillion-dollar deal. Meanwhile, Samsung's Seoul-traded stock rose almost 7% to its highest level since September. 'The strategic importance of this is hard to overstate,' Musk wrote. "The $16.5B number is just the bare minimum. Actual output is likely to be several times higher." Bloomberg reports: Read more here. Oil rises with EU-US trade deal locked in Oil prices eked out gains as the US and the EU finalized details of a trade deal ahead of Trump's Aug. 1 deadline. Bloomberg reports: Read more here. Oil prices eked out gains as the US and the EU finalized details of a trade deal ahead of Trump's Aug. 1 deadline. Bloomberg reports: Read more here. European stock futures rise on US-EU trade deal announcement Futures in European stock indexes saw positive bumps early morning Monday as the markets reacted to the announcement of a tariff deal between the US and the EU Interest in individual stocks in carmakers, luxury goods makers, and alcohol conglomerates is rising ahead of the market open Monday with those industries the most impacted by the deal. Bloomberg reports: Read more here. Futures in European stock indexes saw positive bumps early morning Monday as the markets reacted to the announcement of a tariff deal between the US and the EU Interest in individual stocks in carmakers, luxury goods makers, and alcohol conglomerates is rising ahead of the market open Monday with those industries the most impacted by the deal. Bloomberg reports: Read more here. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Hunger must never be 'weapon of war': UN chief
UN chief Antonio Guterres on Monday said food must not be used as a weapon of war as world leaders gathered for a food summit in Africa, where 280 million people face hunger and starvation. The African Union, for its part, urged donors to provide greater support for the world's poorest continent struggling with poverty, unrest and the effects of climate change. "Hunger fuels instability and undermines peace. We must never accept hunger as a weapon of war," Antonio Guterres told the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa via video link. "Climate change is disrupting harvests, supply chains and humanitarian aid," he said. "Conflict continues to spread hunger from Gaza to Sudan and beyond," he warned amid a severely deteriorating crisis in Gaza, whose population of more than two million is facing famine and malnutrition. The World Health Organization has warned malnutrition in the occupied Palestinian territory has reached "alarming levels" since Israel imposed a total blockade on Gaza on March 2. In late May, it began allowing a small trickle of aid to resume but more than 100 NGOs have warned that "mass starvation" was spreading in the besieged territory. - Millions going hungry - The summit takes place against the backdrop of aid cuts by the United States and other Western nations that are badly affecting much of the developing world. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, head of the African Union's executive commission, said food insecurity was on the rise across Africa, blaming "climate shocks, conflicts and economic disruptions". "At this crucial moment, how many children and mothers on the continent are sleeping hungry?" he asked. "Millions, certainly. The urgency of the situation is beyond doubt." Youssouf said that more than 280 Africans were malnourished, with "nearly 3.4 million... on the brink of famine". Roughly 10 million people had been displaced due to drought, floods and cyclones, he added. Youssouf urged AU member states to devote 10 percent of their gross domestic product to agriculture to help foster "nutritional resilience". "But we cannot do this alone. We call on our partners to honour their commitments to finance and support African solutions," he said. Sudan is "the largest humanitarian catastrophe facing our world and also the least remembered", Othman Belbeisi, the regional director of the UN's migration agency, IOM, told reporters last week. Since April 2023, Sudan has been torn apart by a power struggle between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, commander of the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The fighting has killed tens of thousands and displaced more than seven million people. dyg-rbu/er/ach
