Latest news with #TradeTensions
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
German Minister Eyes New Digital Tax as US Prepares Pushback
A junior member of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's cabinet proposed a new tax on internet platforms like Alphabet Inc. 's Google and Meta Platforms Inc. 's Facebook, a move that could stoke further trade tensions with the US. Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer said in an interview with Stern magazine that digital services are on his 'agenda' and he sees a tax of 10% as 'moderate and legitimate,' adding that his ministry is drafting legislation.
Reuters
3 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Bullish bets surge on Asian currencies as US-China thaw, trade deals rattle dollar
May 29 (Reuters) - Investors piled up bullish bets on Asian currencies, including the yuan, as easing U.S.-China tariff tensions, new trade deals and a growing unease with U.S. policies prompted them to pull out of dollar assets, a Reuters poll showed on Thursday. Investors sought long positions across the board, with those in the Taiwanese dollar and Philippine peso climbing to their highest since the end of 2020, according to the fortnightly poll of 10 respondents. All responses were collected before a U.S. trade court on Wednesday blocked President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs, ruling he overstepped his authority by imposing duties on countries with trade surpluses against the United States. Long bets on the Chinese yuan were the highest since October last year - a month before Donald Trump was re-elected as the President of the United States - buoyed by signs of renewed dialogue on trade between Washington and Beijing after months of posturing and threats. The yuan rose 1% this month. Trump's tariff flip-flops and the mounting worries over a ballooning U.S. deficit have dented confidence in American assets, piling pressure on the dollar and driving investors toward Asian currencies. "Asian currencies are likely to stay firm against the U.S. dollar (USD) due to diversification outflows from USD assets into Asia, with investors being concerned over U.S. trade policy and its fiscal trajectory given proposed tax cuts", said Wei Liang Chang, market strategist at DBS Bank. Southeast Asian leaders have also reached an understanding that any bilateral agreements they might strike with the United States on trade tariffs would not harm the economies of fellow members. Parisha Saimbi, an FX strategist at BNP Paribas, said Asian currencies would remain somewhat supported, helped by the U.S.-China de-escalation and bilateral trade deals being reached. Meanwhile, the Taiwanese dollar has gained more than 6% in May to record its best ever monthly gain. Taiwan's president dismissed "false" claims of currency talks with Washington earlier in May, after the Taiwan dollar spiked on speculation the U.S. had pushed for its appreciation, fuelling market jitters over potential FX policy shifts. The South Korean won has also jumped more than 4% this month amid a broad dollar selloff, with Seoul officials confirming currency policy was on the table during recent talks with U.S. counterparts in Milan, fuelling speculation of joint FX moves. Bullish bets returned to the Indonesian rupiah for the first time since October 2024, as some investors looked past ongoing fiscal concerns and bet on policy direction stabilising. Elsewhere, bullish bets on the Malaysian ringgit and Thai baht rose to their strongest levels since October 2024. The Asian currency positioning poll is focused on what analysts and fund managers believe are the current market positions in nine Asian emerging market currencies: the Chinese yuan, South Korean won, Singapore dollar, Indonesian rupiah, Taiwan dollar, Indian rupee, Philippine peso, Malaysian ringgit and the Thai baht. The poll uses estimates of net long or short positions on a scale of minus 3 to plus 3. A score of plus 3 indicates the market is significantly long U.S. dollars. The figures include positions held through non-deliverable forwards (NDFs). The survey findings are provided below (positions in U.S. dollar versus each currency):
Bloomberg
4 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
US Stocks Rally as Trump Delays 50% Tariff on European Union
US equities rallied on Tuesday morning as trade tensions between the US and the European Union showed signs of cooling and as yields fell globally on hints Japan may be prepared to adjust debt issuance after a bond rout there. The S&P 500 Index rose 1.2% at 9:49 a.m. in New York, putting the benchmark on track to bounce back from last week's four-session losing streak. Meanwhile, the technology-heavy Nasdaq 100 Index climbed 1.4%. At least some of the risk-on mood emerged after President Donald Trump extended a deadline on tariffs on the EU until July 9.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
European Undervalued Small Caps With Insider Buying To Consider
The European market has recently faced challenges, with the pan-European STOXX Europe 600 Index declining by 0.75% amid new tariff threats from the U.S., disrupting a five-week streak of gains. Despite these headwinds, small-cap stocks in Europe may present opportunities for investors who focus on companies with solid fundamentals and potential for growth, particularly in sectors resilient to trade tensions and economic fluctuations. Name PE PS Discount to Fair Value Value Rating Morgan Advanced Materials 11.7x 0.5x 35.53% ★★★★★☆ FRP Advisory Group 11.6x 2.1x 20.69% ★★★★★☆ Savills 24.1x 0.5x 41.95% ★★★★☆☆ Tristel 29.9x 4.2x 4.17% ★★★★☆☆ AKVA group 15.5x 0.7x 46.73% ★★★★☆☆ Cloetta 16.0x 1.2x 44.11% ★★★☆☆☆ Absolent Air Care Group 23.1x 1.8x 47.79% ★★★☆☆☆ Italmobiliare 11.8x 1.6x -215.06% ★★★☆☆☆ Close Brothers Group NA 0.5x 1.24% ★★★☆☆☆ Seeing Machines NA 2.2x 47.75% ★★★☆☆☆ Click here to see the full list of 76 stocks from our Undervalued European Small Caps With Insider Buying screener. Let's dive into some prime choices out of from the screener. Simply Wall St Value Rating: ★★★☆☆☆ Overview: B.P. Marsh & Partners is a specialist private equity investor focused on providing consultancy services and trading investments in the financial services sector, with a market cap of £150.77 million. Operations: The company generates revenue primarily from consultancy services and trading investments in financial services, with recent figures reaching £64.99 million. The gross profit margin has shown an upward trend, peaking at 85.00% in recent periods. Operating expenses are consistently reported as zero, while non-operating expenses have varied over time. Net income margins have also experienced growth, with a recent high of 83.12%. PE: 4.6x B.P. Marsh & Partners, a small-cap entity in Europe, recently completed a £12.2 million follow-on equity offering with Panmure Liberum Limited as the new lead underwriter, highlighting strategic shifts. The company has also initiated a share repurchase program up to £2 million to reduce share capital, reflecting insider confidence in its valuation. Despite relying on external borrowing for funding, which carries higher risk than customer deposits, these activities suggest potential for growth and value realization in the future. Dive into the specifics of B.P. Marsh & Partners here with our thorough valuation report. Evaluate B.P. Marsh & Partners' historical performance by accessing our past performance report. Simply Wall St Value Rating: ★★★★★☆ Overview: FRP Advisory Group provides specialist business advisory services and has a market capitalization of approximately £0.32 billion. Operations: The company generates revenue primarily from its specialist business advisory services, with recent figures showing a gross profit margin of 45.96%. Over time, operating expenses have been a significant part of the cost structure, impacting net income margins, which recently stood at 17.88%. PE: 11.6x FRP Advisory Group, a European small-cap firm, is drawing attention with its projected Fiscal Year 2025 revenue of £152 million, marking a 19% increase from the previous year. Despite relying solely on external borrowing for funding, which carries higher risk than customer deposits, the company shows promising growth prospects with earnings expected to rise annually by 4.8%. Notably, insider confidence is evident from recent share purchases in April and May 2025. Click here to discover the nuances of FRP Advisory Group with our detailed analytical valuation report. Gain insights into FRP Advisory Group's past trends and performance with our Past report. Simply Wall St Value Rating: ★★★☆☆☆ Overview: Hollywood Bowl Group operates a network of bowling centers across the UK, focusing on providing family-friendly entertainment, with a market capitalization of approximately £0.56 billion. Operations: The company generates revenue primarily from recreational activities, with a recent figure of £230.40 million. The gross profit margin has seen fluctuations, most notably decreasing to 63.15% as of September 2024, after peaking at 87.66% in March 2017. Operating expenses and cost of goods sold are significant components impacting profitability, with notable increases over time contributing to margin changes. PE: 16.9x Hollywood Bowl Group, a key player in the leisure industry, recently reported a 8.4% increase in first-half revenue to £129.2 million for the period ending March 2025, with notable growth in Canada. The company faces higher risk due to reliance on external borrowing but shows promise with projected earnings growth of 11.58% annually. Insider confidence is evident as Peter Boddy purchased 100,000 shares worth approximately £320,000 in early 2025, indicating potential value recognition within this smaller market segment. Click to explore a detailed breakdown of our findings in Hollywood Bowl Group's valuation report. Learn about Hollywood Bowl Group's historical performance. Delve into our full catalog of 76 Undervalued European Small Caps With Insider Buying here. Already own these companies? Link your portfolio to Simply Wall St and get alerts on any new warning signs to your stocks. Unlock the power of informed investing with Simply Wall St, your free guide to navigating stock markets worldwide. Explore high-performing small cap companies that haven't yet garnered significant analyst attention. Fuel your portfolio with companies showing strong growth potential, backed by optimistic outlooks both from analysts and management. Find companies with promising cash flow potential yet trading below their fair value. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include AIM:BPM AIM:FRP and LSE:BOWL. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
European Undervalued Small Caps With Insider Action In May 2025
In May 2025, European markets have shown resilience, with the pan-European STOXX Europe 600 Index rising by 2.10% amid improved sentiment following a de-escalation in U.S.-China trade tensions. As major indices across Germany, France, Italy, and the UK also gained ground, investors are increasingly focused on identifying small-cap stocks that may be poised to benefit from these broader market movements. In this context of renewed optimism and economic growth indicators, a good stock is often characterized by strong fundamentals and potential for growth within its sector. Name PE PS Discount to Fair Value Value Rating Savills 24.6x 0.5x 41.24% ★★★★☆☆ FRP Advisory Group 11.7x 2.1x 19.48% ★★★★☆☆ Tristel 30.3x 4.3x 4.53% ★★★★☆☆ Cloetta 15.5x 1.1x 45.81% ★★★★☆☆ SmartCraft 41.3x 7.4x 34.63% ★★★★☆☆ AKVA group 15.5x 0.7x 46.69% ★★★★☆☆ Italmobiliare 11.7x 1.5x -212.09% ★★★☆☆☆ Close Brothers Group NA 0.6x 0.48% ★★★☆☆☆ Eastnine 18.3x 8.8x 39.80% ★★★☆☆☆ Seeing Machines NA 2.5x 43.26% ★★★☆☆☆ Click here to see the full list of 72 stocks from our Undervalued European Small Caps With Insider Buying screener. Let's take a closer look at a couple of our picks from the screened companies. Simply Wall St Value Rating: ★★★☆☆☆ Overview: Property Franchise Group operates in the real estate sector, focusing on licensing, financial services, and property franchising, with a market cap of approximately £0.1 billion. Operations: The company generates revenue primarily from property franchising (£40.90 million), financial services (£19.20 million), and licensing (£7.21 million). The gross profit margin has shown a decreasing trend, dropping from 91.72% in June 2014 to 66.81% by December 2024, indicating changes in cost structures over time. PE: 30.0x Property Franchise Group, a smaller company in Europe, shows potential for those eyeing growth. Their earnings are set to grow annually by 26.35%, although profit margins have dipped from 27.1% to 15.1%. Recent financials reveal sales of £67.31 million and net income of £10.19 million for 2024, up from the previous year, but earnings per share decreased slightly. Notably, insider confidence is evident with recent share purchases by executives in April 2025, signaling belief in future prospects despite reliance on external borrowing for funding. Click here and access our complete valuation analysis report to understand the dynamics of Property Franchise Group. Explore historical data to track Property Franchise Group's performance over time in our Past section. Simply Wall St Value Rating: ★★★☆☆☆ Overview: Victorian Plumbing Group is a UK-based online retailer specializing in bathroom products and accessories, with a market capitalization of approximately £0.5 billion. Operations: Victorian Plumbing Group generates revenue primarily from sales, with notable costs including COGS and operating expenses. The gross profit margin shows an upward trend, reaching 50.07% by March 2025. Significant expenses include sales and marketing, which consistently account for a substantial portion of operating costs. PE: 40.3x Victorian Plumbing Group, a smaller player in Europe's market, recently projected 2025 revenue between £308 million and £313 million. Their half-year sales reached £152.7 million, up from last year's £144.6 million, though net income slightly dipped to £4.1 million. Despite volatile share prices and lower profit margins at 2.2%, earnings per share improved from the previous year. Insider confidence is evident with recent purchases, hinting at potential growth as earnings are forecasted to rise nearly 30% annually. Unlock comprehensive insights into our analysis of Victorian Plumbing Group stock in this valuation report. Gain insights into Victorian Plumbing Group's historical performance by reviewing our past performance report. Simply Wall St Value Rating: ★★★★☆☆ Overview: Harworth Group is a UK-based company specializing in the regeneration of brownfield land and property development, with a market cap of approximately £0.54 billion. Operations: Harworth Group's revenue is primarily driven by the sale of development properties, which generated £140.25 million, followed by income generation and other property activities. The company's gross profit margin has shown variability, reaching 54.39% in recent periods but dropping to lower levels such as 17.11%. Operating expenses have been consistently increasing over time, contributing to fluctuations in net income margins across different periods. PE: 10.0x Harworth Group, a smaller player in the European market, has shown impressive growth with sales jumping to £181.59 million from last year's £72.43 million and net income rising to £57.24 million. Despite a dip in profit margins from 52.4% to 31.5%, insider confidence is evident through recent share purchases, hinting at potential value recognition by those within the company. The company also announced an eighth consecutive annual dividend increase of 10%, reflecting consistent shareholder returns amidst its external borrowing reliance for funding. Take a closer look at Harworth Group's potential here in our valuation report. Evaluate Harworth Group's historical performance by accessing our past performance report. Access the full spectrum of 72 Undervalued European Small Caps With Insider Buying by clicking on this link. Already own these companies? Link your portfolio to Simply Wall St and get alerts on any new warning signs to your stocks. Invest smarter with the free Simply Wall St app providing detailed insights into every stock market around the globe. Explore high-performing small cap companies that haven't yet garnered significant analyst attention. Fuel your portfolio with companies showing strong growth potential, backed by optimistic outlooks both from analysts and management. Find companies with promising cash flow potential yet trading below their fair value. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include AIM:TPFG AIM:VIC and LSE:HWG. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@
