Wall St ends lower for the day and week as chip selloff broadens

Wall Street indexes closed lower on July 17, driven by a selloff in AI-linked semiconductor stocks and disappointing guidance from Netflix. The Nasdaq Composite fell 1.40%, the S&P 500 dropped 1.01%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.77%, according to Reuters. AI Chip Fatigue Triggers Semiconductor Bear Market The Philadelphia SE Semiconductor Index (.SOX) … Read more

Brazil Braces for Trade Tensions as Trump Imposes New Tariffs

Brazil’s Strategic Response to U.S. Tariffs Includes Patent Suspensions and WTO Revival Brazil is preparing to retaliate against U.S. tariffs by targeting intellectual property rights and audiovisual sector interests, according to three sources familiar with the discussions. The measures, which could include suspending pharmaceutical and agricultural seed patents, aim to pressure Washington while avoiding consumer … Read more

Indonesian Free Meal Operators Protest Kitchen Moratorium

Thousands of Indonesian free meals kitchen operators are reporting significant financial losses following the government’s decision to scale back President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship nutrition program. The National Nutrition Agency (NNA) has implemented a moratorium on the addition of 13,000 new kitchens as part of a broader efficiency drive, leaving many operators who had already invested … Read more

Russia to Import North Asian Jet Fuel Amid Domestic Shortage

Russia is poised to import a jet fuel cargo originating from Japan to alleviate domestic supply shortages caused by Ukrainian attacks on its energy infrastructure. According to three sources briefed on the matter, the cargo will travel through a complex logistics chain involving ship-to-ship transfers off the coast of South Korea to reach Russia. How … Read more

Wall Street Gains as Softer Jobs Data Eases Rate Hike Fears

Wall Street indexes climbed on July 2 as a softer-than-expected U.S. employment report for June tempered market expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate hikes. The U.S. economy added 57,000 jobs last month, falling short of the 110,000 jobs economists had estimated, according to data reported by Reuters. This cooling labor market data prompted a shift … Read more

US to Exit USMCA: The 10-Year Countdown Begins

The U.S. administration is expected to formally declare on Wednesday that it will not extend the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a move that triggers a 10-year countdown toward the potential expiration of the North American free trade zone. According to reports, this decision initiates a six-year review process established under the agreement’s “sunset clause,” leaving the … Read more

China Strips Top Officials and Generals of Lawmaker Status

China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee stripped six military officials and senior regulators of their legislative status on Friday, according to a report from the state-run Xinhua news agency. The dismissals, which lacked official explanation, involve high-ranking figures from the Equipment Development Department and various regional military commands, marking a significant intensification of President … Read more

Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs on Digital Services Tax Nations

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened on Friday to impose a 100% tariff on goods from any country that implements a digital services tax targeting American companies. The warning comes just one day after European Union nations met a July 4 deadline to reduce tariffs on U.S. goods, a move intended to meet commitments under a … Read more

Indonesia Weighs $2B Cut to Prabowo’s Free Meal Program

Indonesia is preparing to scale back President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship free meals programme, with officials weighing a budget cut of more than $2 billion and reductions in both kitchens and beneficiaries. According to two sources and an internal presentation, the National Nutrition Agency (NNA) is targeting a reduction of at least 15% to address mounting … Read more

Russia Weighs Diesel Export Ban as Strikes Impact Fuel Supply

Russia is weighing a potential ban on diesel exports and considering fuel imports to address domestic shortages caused by recent strikes on its oil infrastructure. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak confirmed that the government is reviewing tax legislation and supply strategies to stabilize the market after Ukrainian drone attacks forced unplanned refinery maintenance and reduced … Read more