
Global shares are mostly higher as investors focus on U.S. trade talks with China
TOKYO — Global shares were mixed Tuesday at the outset of a second day of trade talks between Chinese and U.S. officials.
France's CAC 40 jumped 1.1% in early trading to 7,887.57, while the German DAX rose 1.0% to 24,191.38. Britain's FTSE 100 added 0.3% to 24,191.38. The future for the S&P 500 was up 0.2%. The future for the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged 0.1% higher.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 0.8% to 40,674.55 on broad selling of major companies including automakers and big banks. Toyota Motor Corp. dipped 2.3% and Honda Motor Co. fell 2.1%. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group finished 1.8% lower, while Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group stock dipped 1.6%.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng dropped 0.2% to 25,524.45, while the Shanghai Composite gained 0.3% to 3,609.71.
Analysts said investors were watching for the latest from U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. trade talks with talks with China in Stockholm. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng were meeting in the Swedish capital.
'Aside from addressing economic imbalances, tariffs are also now well entrenched in the geo-political arena,' Tan Boon Heng of the Asia & Oceania Treasury Department at Mizuho Bank said in a commentary.
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 edged 0.1% higher to 8,704.60.
South Korea's Kospi gained 0.7% to 3,230.57. Samsung Electronics edged 0.3% higher after jumping nearly 7% on Monday on news that it signed a deal with Tesla to provide computer chips for its electric vehicles.
This week will bring a flurry of potentially market-moving data releases, corporate earnings and an interest rate decision by the Federal Reserve.
The widespread expectation on Wall Street is that Fed officials will wait until September to resume cutting interest rates, though a couple of Trump's appointees could dissent in the vote. The Fed has been on hold with interest rates this year since cutting them several times at the end of 2024.
On Monday, the S&P 500 was nearly flat, edging up by less than 0.1% to 6,389.77 and setting an all-time high for a sixth straight day. The Dow dipped 0.1% to 44,837.56, while the Nasdaq composite added 0.3% to its own record, closing at 21,178.58.
Hundreds of U.S. companies are lined up to report how much profit they made during the spring, with nearly a third of the businesses in the S&P 500 index scheduled to deliver updates.
Companies are broadly under pressure to deliver solid growth in profits following big jumps in their stock prices the last few months. Much of the gain was due to hopes that Trump would walk back some of his stiff proposed tariffs, and critics say the U.S. stock market looks expensive unless companies will produce bigger profits.
In energy trading, benchmark U.S. crude jumped 50 cents to $67.21 a barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, gained 47 cents to $69.79 a barrel.
In currency trading, the U.S. dollar fell to 148.53 Japanese yen from 148.56 yen. The euro cost $1.1567, down from $1.1589.
Yuri Kageyama, The Associated Press
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CTV News
23 minutes ago
- CTV News
From Laos to Brazil, Trump's tariffs leave a lot of losers. But even the winners will pay a price
The President Bush, a container vessel operating under the American President Lines (APL) fleet, is moored at the APL Terminal, also known as Global Gateway South, at the port of Los Angeles, Calif., Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) WASHINGTON — WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff onslaught this week left a lot of losers – from small, poor countries like Laos and Algeria to wealthy U.S. trading partners like Canada and Switzerland. They're now facing especially hefty taxes – tariffs – on the products they export to the United States starting Aug. 7. The closest thing to winners may be the countries that caved to Trump's demands — and avoided even more pain. But it's unclear whether anyone will be able to claim victory in the long run — even the United States, the intended beneficiary of Trump's protectionist policies. 'In many respects, everybody's a loser here,'' said Barry Appleton, co-director of the Center for International Law at the New York Law School. Barely six months after he returned to the White House, Trump has demolished the old global economic order. Gone is one built on agreed-upon rules. In its place is a system in which Trump himself sets the rules, using America's enormous economic power to punish countries that won't agree to one-sided trade deals and extracting huge concessions from the ones that do. 'The biggest winner is Trump,' said Alan Wolff, a former U.S. trade official and deputy director-general at the World Trade Organization. 'He bet that he could get other countries to the table on the basis of threats, and he succeeded – dramatically.'' Everything goes back to what Trump calls 'Liberation Day'' – April 2 – when the president announced 'reciprocal'' taxes of up to 50% on imports from countries with which the United States ran trade deficits and 10% 'baseline'' taxes on almost everyone else. He invoked a 1977 law to declare the trade deficit a national emergency that justified his sweeping import taxes. That allowed him to bypass Congress, which traditionally has had authority over taxes, including tariffs — all of which is now being challenged in court. Winners will still pay higher tariffs than before Trump took office Trump retreated temporarily after his Liberation Day announcement triggered a rout in financial markets and suspended the reciprocal tariffs for 90 days to give countries a chance to negotiate. Eventually, some of them did, caving to Trump's demands to pay what four months ago would have seemed unthinkably high tariffs for the privilege of continuing to sell into the vast American market. The United Kingdom agreed to 10% tariffs on its exports to the United States — up from 1.3% before Trump amped up his trade war with the world. The U.S. demanded concessions even though it had run a trade surplus, not a deficit, with the UK for 19 straight years. The European Union and Japan accepted U.S. tariffs of 15%. Those are much higher than the low single-digit rates they paid last year — but lower than the tariffs he was threatening (30% on the EU and 25% on Japan). Also cutting deals with Trump and agreeing to hefty tariffs were Pakistan, South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines. Even countries that saw their tariffs lowered from April without reaching a deal are still paying much higher tariffs than before Trump took office. Angola's tariff, for instance, dropped to 15% from 32% in April, but in 2022 it was less than 1.5%. And while Trump administration cut Taiwan's tariff to 20% from 32% in April, the pain will still be felt. '20% from the beginning has not been our goal, we hope that in further negotiations we will get a more beneficial and more reasonable tax rate,' Taiwan's president Lai Ching-te told reporters in Taipei Friday. Trump also agreed to reduce the tariff on the tiny southern African kingdom of Lesotho to 15% from the 50% he'd announced in April, but the damage may already have been done there. Bashing Brazil, clobbering Canada, shellacking the Swiss Countries that didn't knuckle under — and those that found other ways to incur Trump's wrath — got hit harder. Even some poorer countries were not spared. Laos' annual economic output comes to US$2,100 per person and Algeria's $5,600 — versus America's $75,000. Nonetheless, Laos got rocked with a 40% tariff and Algeria with a 30% levy. Trump slammed Brazil with a 50% import tax largely because he didn't like the way it was treating former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who is facing trial for trying to lose his electoral defeat in 2022. Never mind that the U.S. has exported more to Brazil than it's imported every year since 2007. Trump's decision to plaster a 35% tariff on longstanding U.S. ally Canada was partly designed to threaten Ottawa for saying it would recognize a Palestinian state. Trump is a staunch supporter of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Switzerland was clobbered with a 39% import tax — even higher than the 31% Trump originally announced on April 2. 'The Swiss probably wish that they had camped in Washington'' to make a deal, said Wolff, now senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. 'They're clearly not at all happy.'' Fortunes may change if Trump's tariffs are upended in court. Five American businesses and 12 states are suing the president, arguing that his Liberation Day tariffs exceeded his authority under the 1977 law. In May, the U.S. Court of International Trade, a specialized court in New York, agreed and blocked the tariffs, although the government was allowed to continue collecting them while its appeal wend its way through the legal system, and may likely end up at the U.S. Supreme Court. In a hearing Thursday, the judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit sounded skeptical about Trump's justifications for the tariffs. 'If (the tariffs) get struck down, then maybe Brazil's a winner and not a loser,'' Appleton said. Paying more for knapsacks and video games Trump portrays his tariffs as a tax on foreign countries. But they are actually paid by import companies in the U.S. who try to pass along the cost to their customers via higher prices. True, tariffs can hurt other countries by forcing their exporters to cut prices and sacrifice profits — or risk losing market share in the United States. But economists at Goldman Sachs estimate that overseas exporters have absorbed just one-fifth of the rising costs from tariffs, while Americans and U.S. businesses have picked up the most of the tab. Walmart, Procter & Gamble, Ford, Best Buy, Adidas, Nike, Mattel and Stanley Black & Decker, have all hiked prices due to U.S. tariffs 'This is a consumption tax, so it disproportionately affects those who have lower incomes,'' Appleton said. 'Sneakers, knapsacks ... your appliances are going to go up. Your TV and electronics are going to go up. Your video game devices, consoles are going to up because none of those are made in America.'' Trump's trade war has pushed the average U.S. tariff from 2.5% at the start of 2025 to 18.3% now, the highest since 1934, according to the Budget Lab at Yale University. And that will impose a $2,400 cost on the average household, the lab estimates. 'The U.S. consumer's a big loser,″ Wolff said. AP Economics Writer Christopher Rugaber contributed to this story. Paul Wiseman, The Associated Press


CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Alcohol tax cuts in Ontario are in effect. Here's what you need to know
An LCBO employee moves products in an LCBO store at Union Station in Toronto on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Laura Proctor Ontario's largest alcohol tax cut in decades officially takes effect today, with the provincial government cutting levies and LCBO markups in an effort to shield local producers from global trade tensions. The changes, announced in the 2025 provincial budget include significant tax relief for spirits, cider, and ready-to-drink beverages (RTDs), along with new support for microbreweries. While the Ford government says the move is a response to U.S. trade policies, industry experts say some sectors will remain largely unaffected but others could see some new growth. What's changing and who benefits? In an email to CTV News Toronto, the Ministry of Finance says the cuts include a 50 per cent reduction in the spirits basic tax rate for distilleries with on-site retail sales, a nearly 50 per cent cut to LCBO markups on cider, and reduced markups for wine- and spirit-based ready-to-drink beverages with alcohol content under 7.1 per cent. Beer made by Ontario microbreweries will also benefit, with reductions to both LCBO markups and the beer basic tax, along with enhancements to the province's Small Beer Manufacturers' Tax Credit. 'In the face of President Trump's tariffs and tariff threats taking direct aim at our economy, we are protecting Ontario business with the largest tax cut to the alcohol industry in decades,' a spokesperson for Ontario's Ministry of Finance said. The province is also allocating $100 million in 2025–26 and $155 million in 2026–27 to support these changes. Scott Simmons, president of the industry trade association Ontario Craft Brewers, said the reforms mark a defining moment for the province's beer industry. 'The tax cut that takes effect today is a game changer for Ontario's craft beer sector, one of the biggest things to happen to the industry in a generation, and a great day for locally-owned craft breweries, craft beer lovers, and communities across Ontario,' Simmons said in a statement. 'We represent 80 per cent of all direct brewing jobs in Ontario, and today's tax changes have put it on a path that will see breweries grow, create even more jobs, invest in their communities, and get more local beer on store shelves — I think that's something we can all cheers!' The government also says this is part of a broader effort to modernize Ontario's alcohol marketplace. Not all sectors will see the same relief The Ontario Craft Wineries association says most of today's changes won't directly impact traditional wine producers, who saw earlier reforms of their own. 'With regards to taxation and other supports, OCW received some big wins recently including the elimination of the 6.1 per cent wine basic tax and an extension and uncapping of the VQA Support Program,' Michelle Wasylyshen, president and CEO of Ontario Craft Wineries, said in a statement. But Wasylyshen noted there's still more work to be done to level the playing field. One top priority, she said, is removing the LCBO administration fee charged to wineries for sales to restaurants — a fee that's applied even though 'the LCBO (is) not providing a service in this transaction.' She added that the recent shift toward Canadian-made products still presents a rare window of opportunity for domestic wine producers. 'The 'Buy-Canadian' movement has given us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get our products into the hands of consumers, onto store shelves and into restaurants,' Wasylyshen said. 'Our biggest priority continues to be in sustaining (that) incredible boost in sales.' What comes next? While the results of the new framework remain to be seen, the province says they will continue to 'champion' domestic businesses. 'We will continue to champion Ontario and Canadian businesses as we work to build a more self-reliant and resilient economy.'


Globe and Mail
6 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
Is C3.ai Stock a Buy?
Key Points business has benefited from organizations rushing to adopt AI solutions, such as the U.S. Air Force. The company reached record revenue in its fiscal fourth quarter, and forecasts more sales growth ahead. is not profitable, and a change in CEO is on the horizon. 10 stocks we like better than › Artificial intelligence (AI) stocks have been hot, and many experienced strong growth in 2025 alone. For example, this year, AI luminaries Nvidia and Broadcom saw shares soar more than 30% and 26%, respectively, through July 28. But one lackluster AI stock has been (NYSE: AI). Its shares are down about 25% this year through July 28. Could the price drop signal an opportunity to scoop up shares at a discount? After all, the global AI market is forecast to expand from $244 billion in 2025 to $1 trillion by 2031, providing a tailwind for business. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue » The reality is that evaluating whether to purchase its stock requires digging into the company. Let's delve into to help assess if it's a sound investment for the long run. A look at business is an enterprise AI applications business servicing the needs of corporate and government organizations. Its customers include the U.S. Department of Defense, Dow Inc., and ExxonMobil. The company built a network of partnerships to assist in selling its solutions, which includes Microsoft and energy giant Baker Hughes. These alliances resulted in partners closing 73% of the customer agreements signed in 2025 fiscal year, ended April 30. business model translated into record revenue of $108.7 million, a 26% year-over-year increase, in its fiscal fourth quarter. For the full year, sales grew 25% year over year to $389.1 million. The company's offerings have proven popular with customers. In May, the U.S. Air Force expanded its contract with from $100 million to $450 million to supply predictive analytics that proactively identify aircraft maintenance needs. In June, Univation Technologies, a Dow subsidiary, adopted predictive maintenance capabilities to deliver to its petrochemical industry customers. pros and cons The company's customer wins this year suggest more revenue expansion to come. In fact, forecasts fiscal 2026 sales to reach between $447.5 million and $484.5 million, another solid year of growth over fiscal 2025's $389.1 million. Despite rising sales, business isn't profitable. It ended fiscal 2025 with an operating loss of $324.4 million, deepening from a $318.3 million loss in the prior year. Costs increased from adding employees to support its business growth. On top of that, a health issue struck CEO Tom Siebel this year, and the company is now searching for a successor. This is unfortunate news, and it contributed to the decline in share price. The stock price drop is understandable, since a leadership change risks disrupting the company's future success. However, is striving to cut costs and strengthen its finances. Management expects to be free-cash-flow (FCF) positive by next year. It ended fiscal 2025 with negative FCF of $44.4 million, which is an improvement over the previous year's $90.4 million in negative FCF. Its balance sheet shows is well capitalized with total assets of $1 billion, $742.7 million of which represent cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments. Total liabilities were $187.6 million. Deciding whether to buy stock Although isn't profitable, its strategy to prioritize business expansion over immediate profit follows a typical approach adopted by many companies in the technology sector. As long as year-over-year revenue growth remains strong and it continues to improve its financials, such as reaching positive FCF, operating loss isn't a major concern. The impending departure of its CEO is regrettable, but Siebel intends to continue shepherding the company as executive chairman. This positions for a smooth leadership transition. With plenty of positives in its favor, does this mean now is the time to buy shares? To answer that, here's a look at its stock's price-to-sales (P/S) ratio with a comparison to Microsoft's, given Microsoft sells offerings, and is a prominent AI business in its own right. Data by YCharts. The chart reveals valuation has significantly improved, as evidenced by the substantial drop in its P/S multiple from its late 2024 peak. This multiple is now considerably lower than Microsoft's, further highlighting attractive valuation. This, combined with growing sales, a robust balance sheet, and strengthening free cash flow, makes stock a compelling investment opportunity. Should you invest $1,000 in right now? Before you buy stock in consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $624,823!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,064,820!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,019% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 178% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. *Stock Advisor returns as of July 29, 2025