Topic: #macro
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EU unblocks €6.6B Ukraine aid, proposes 21st sanctions package on Russian crypto
The EU confirmed €6.6 billion in military funding for Ukraine after Hungary lifted its veto, while simultaneously proposing its 21st sanctions package to target Russian banks and crypto platforms facilitating sanctions evasion.
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Dangote Refinery IPO halted by Nigeria SEC, rescheduled to September
Nigeria's Securities and Exchange Commission issued a halt order on Dangote Petroleum Refinery's IPO in June 2026, citing lack of formal application. The $39–50 billion offering, targeting September, would be Africa's largest ever and fund a five-year industrial expansion.
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China's Manufacturing PMI Expands to 50.3 as AI Exports Surge
China's manufacturing PMI hit 50.3 in June, beating forecasts, as exports of AI-related hardware surged 66.1% year-on-year. Yet the employment sub-index contracted, raising questions about job creation amid the export-driven boom.
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Maersk raises 2025 profit guidance on European demand surge
A.P. Moller-Maersk lifted its full-year EBITDA forecast to $8-9.5 billion, citing strong container demand outside North America, but cautioned that a wave of new vessel deliveries will depress earnings significantly in 2026.
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Kevin Warsh Navigates Fed Chair Tenure Amid Inflation Surge
Kevin Warsh, who took office as Federal Reserve Chair on June 17, 2026, faces mounting pressures including three-year-high inflation and a Supreme Court case questioning presidential authority over Fed governors. He'll address these challenges at the ECB Forum in Portugal this week.
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Trump Threatens 100% Tariff on EU Digital Tax Countries
President Trump threatened a 100% import tariff on any country taxing US digital companies, targeting nations like France, Italy, Spain, and the UK that have enacted digital services taxes on tech giants.
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Volkswagen considers 100,000 job cuts amid EV transition pressure
Volkswagen is weighing cuts of up to 100,000 jobs globally and the closure of four German plants as it struggles with rising EV competition and declining profitability. The restructuring, if executed, would rank among the largest in automotive history.
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China's industrial profits fall 13.1% in November, largest drop in 14 months
China's industrial profits fell 13.1% year-on-year in November, the largest monthly decline in 14 months. Weak demand and factory deflation are driving the slump, pushing Beijing toward fiscal stimulus in 2026.
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Taiwan margin debt hits NT$600B record, echoing dot-com bubble risks
Taiwan's retail margin debt surged to NT$600 billion as of June 2026, surpassing the dot-com bubble peak and signaling potential market instability as leverage levels reach historic highs amid AI-driven gains.
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Gold steadies near $4,000 as US inflation eases rate-hike bets
Gold stabilized near $4,000 per ounce on June 25 after US inflation data met expectations, reducing September rate-hike odds from 68% to 63%. The metal has lost roughly 25-28% since January's peak of $5,589, pressured by a stronger dollar and capital rotation toward equities.
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Dangote Refinery seeks $40B valuation in Nigeria's largest IPO
Aliko Dangote is pursuing a public listing for his Lagos-based petroleum refinery at a $39 billion valuation, the largest in Nigerian history. The SEC halted IPO marketing in June due to a missing formal application, potentially delaying the September 2026 target date.
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Valar Atomics Ward 250 reactor achieves criticality, beats DOE by 3 months
Valar Atomics' Ward 250 microreactor reached criticality on March 31, 2026, becoming the first full-scale reactor to hit that benchmark under the US Department of Energy's accelerated pilot program, three months ahead of the DOE's July 4 deadline.
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US pressures ASML over China's access to advanced chip-making tools
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick raised concerns with ASML that China may be acquiring advanced chip-making equipment, prompting the Dutch manufacturer to reaffirm it has never shipped EUV systems to the country amid escalating US-China tech tensions.
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Brent crude drops 9.5% as US lifts Iran blockade, tankers resume
Brent crude fell 9.5% over the week to $79.03/bbl Friday as the US lifted its blockade on Iran, allowing tanker traffic to resume through the Strait of Hormuz and easing geopolitical tensions that had supported higher oil prices.
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Standard Nuclear files for US IPO as AI power demand surges
Standard Nuclear, a TRISO fuel specialist spun from Ultra Safe Nuclear's bankruptcy, is pursuing a US IPO after closing a $140 million Series A in January 2026. The company faces a patent dispute with competitor X-energy that could impact its manufacturing capabilities.
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Bank of Japan raises rates to 1%, yen hits 23-month low
The Bank of Japan raised its benchmark rate to 1% on June 16, but the yen weakened to a 23-month low of 160.80 against the dollar, signaling trader skepticism about Japan's structural economic challenges and carry-trade risks.
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Ukraine's drone campaign cuts Crimea cargo traffic by 66%
Ukraine's drone-led logistics campaign has cut Russian cargo traffic into Crimea by more than two-thirds, triggering gasoline shortages across the peninsula and raising the likelihood of a prolonged conflict.
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G7 Caps Rare Earth Imports at 60% Per Country by 2030
G7 leaders meeting in France committed to diversifying rare earth supply chains away from China, capping any single country's share of imports below 60% by 2030 with an aspirational 50% target, and launching a new critical minerals alliance with the International Energy Agency.
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Goldman: Strait of Hormuz oil flow may recover to only 70% of pre-war levels
Goldman Sachs projects that oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz will rebound to just 70% of pre-war capacity, signaling a potential structural shift in global oil logistics rather than a temporary disruption.
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NSE targets $55 billion valuation in India's biggest-ever IPO
India's National Stock Exchange received regulatory approval to proceed with a landmark IPO targeting a valuation exceeding $55 billion, with listing planned before December 2026. The IPO is expected to raise approximately $2.5 billion and would be the country's largest ever.
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Fed May Hike Rates by September if Inflation Persists, Kaplan Warns
Rob Kaplan, Goldman Sachs vice chairman and former Dallas Fed president, said the Federal Reserve may need to raise interest rates as soon as September 2026 if inflation remains elevated, shifting market expectations from rate cuts to potential hikes.
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DP World seeks return to US ports after 20-year absence
DP World, the Dubai-based port operator, is negotiating an exclusive lease at Port of Corpus Christi in Texas—its first major US terminal push since Congress forced a 2006 divestment over national security concerns. The deal remains in early stages.
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G7 Critical Minerals Plan targets 60% import limit by 2030
The G7 unveiled a Critical Minerals Action Plan in June 2025 to ensure no single country supplies more than 60% of member nations' critical mineral imports, directly countering China's current market control and reshaping global supply chains.
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ECB wage tracker shows 2.6% growth in H2 2026, complicating rate cuts
The ECB's wage tracker projects negotiated pay growth of 2.6% year-on-year in the second half of 2026, an acceleration driven by fading one-off payments. The faster wage growth could prolong eurozone disinflation and pressure the central bank to delay rate cuts.