Daily News Round Up
Monday, 14 Jul 2025
- Escalating Trade Tensions are Heightening Market Uncertainty: President Trump’s newly announced tariffs on the EU, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, and copper imports are injecting significant volatility into global markets. These actions are sparking concerns about potential inflationary pressures, supply chain disruptions, and a slowdown in global growth, leading to modest declines in U.S. stock futures and a flight to safe-haven assets like gold.
- Inflationary Pressures are Building, with CPI Data in Focus: Multiple sources indicate rising inflationary concerns driven by tariffs, oil prices, and potentially easing monetary policy. The upcoming June CPI report is expected to show a 0.3% increase, with analysts anticipating the first visible impact of tariffs on consumer prices. There is widespread expectation that US CPI will be 3.2% year-over-year and core inflation at 3.4% year-over-year. (Barrons) & (Seeking Alpha).
- S&P 500 Outlook Remains Optimistic Despite Volatility: Despite recent trade-related anxieties, RBC Capital Markets has significantly increased its year-end target for the S&P 500 to 6,250, citing expectations of economic growth between 1.1% and 2%. This optimism is tempered by caution from BCA Research, which recommends a slight underweight position in stocks, but the overall sentiment remains constructively bullish. (FMP)
- Sectoral Divergence is Emerging, with AI and Healthcare Showing Strength: Analyst upgrades and positive outlooks in specific sectors stand out. UBS is increasing its conviction on European Equities and Morgan Stanley upgraded Netflix and Spotify citing AI’s impact on growth and profitability. Medical devices are also highlighted as a defensive, long-term growth opportunity. Conversely, Albemarle received a downgrade due to a projected lithium glut, representing potential headwinds for the materials sector.
- Corporate Earnings Season Will Be a Key Test of Market Resilience: Q2 earnings season begins this week with major banks reporting, and expectations are subdued. Investors will be closely scrutinizing how companies are navigating the challenges of higher tariffs and a slowing global economy. This will provide a crucial assessment of whether current market valuations are justified.
What happened over the weekend?
Macro
Economic Growth: RBC Capital Markets raised its year-end target for the S&P 500 index to 6,250, up from 5,730, marking its second upgrade in 2025. The S&P 500 is currently up 6.4% year-to-date, despite recent volatility related to 50% tariffs on Brazil and trade tensions with the EU. RBC’s models now reflect equities’ behavior ahead of GDP expansions between 1.1% and 2% growth. The firm’s 2025 EPS forecast for the S&P 500 remains at $258. Q2 earnings reports are just beginning. (FMP)
Economic Growth: Forecasters nudge up growth and trim inflation estimates as tariffs prove lower and less costly than expected in April. (WSJ)
Economic Growth: As the second-quarter earnings season kicks off, US equity markets are hovering near record highs, buoyed by optimism that many now hope will be validated by incoming corporate results. Yet expectations for earnings are subdued. (Invezz)
Economic Growth: With concerns about a recession still elevated, states are promoting themselves to business as economically strong and stable. The strength of each state’s economy is the most important factor in CNBC’s 2025 state competitiveness rankings. (CNBC)
Economic Growth: In trying to attract businesses, states are playing to corporate leaders’ economic anxieties, marketing themselves as safe havens. Because of that, CNBC’s annual America’s Top States for Business rankings give extra weight to state economies in 2025. (CNBC)
Economic Growth: Wall Street on Friday ended the week slightly lower, as sentiment was dented by trade war escalation. Still, U.S. stocks are at record levels, and the benchmark S&P 500 index (SP500) this week posted a new intraday high of 6,290.22 points. (Seeking Alpha)
Economic Growth: Beijing’s stimulus boosts the Hang Seng Index, while U.S. tariffs and China inflation cap gains. Key Chinese economic data now in focus. (FXEmpire)
Economic Growth: BCA Research Chief Global Strategist Peter Berezin has doubts about the outlook. The firm says investors should be slightly underweight on stocks. (Barrons)
Economic Growth: U.K. GDP contracted -0.1% MoM in May, marking a second consecutive monthly decline and underperforming expectations, signaling a fragile economic expansion. The services sector remains the only growth driver, while production and construction sectors are weighed down by tariffs and weak demand, especially in manufacturing. (Seeking Alpha)
European Equities: UBS has raised its conviction on European equities despite muted growth projections. Full-year 2025 earnings forecasts for European corporates have been revised down to 2%. Earnings for Q2 are expected to be “quite muted.” UBS anticipates earnings recovery resuming in 2026. Analysts have flagged 21 companies with potential for positive earnings divergence and 10 companies where investor caution is warranted. UBS identifies cyclical sectors (industrials, construction, discretionary retail) and EU fiscal stimulus packages as potential drivers. The brokerage notes unusually high valuation dispersion in Europe, suggesting modest earnings beats could lead to outsized market reactions. The analysis is based on sector-level forecast deviations and crowding scores, with Europe’s corporate fundamentals likely to reset in 2026. (FMP)
Inflation: The Bank of Japan (BOJ) is considering an upward revision to its inflation forecast ahead of its July 31 monetary policy meeting, driven by rising food and energy prices. The BOJ currently projects core Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation to reach 2.2% for the current fiscal year but may adjust this figure. Oil prices are reportedly up sharply and Japan, as a major importer of fossil fuels, is vulnerable. BOJ officials are expected to maintain the current rate of 0.5% despite upward price pressures, as inflation remains within the bank’s long-term 2% target, domestic wage growth is muted, and global economic uncertainty persists. U.S. trade policy, including 25% duties on Japanese exports, poses additional risks, though not yet incorporated into BOJ projections. Investors will monitor updated CPI and wage data due mid-July, yen volatility versus the dollar and euro, global food and oil prices, and potential policy normalization in 2026. The potential revision signals a measured shift rather than a hawkish pivot, potentially laying groundwork for policy tightening in 2026 if inflation remains persistent. (FMP)
Inflation: Consumer inflation had dipped to 2.82% in May. CPI data allows India room to ease rates at a time when Trump tariffs threaten growth. (CNBC)
Inflation: Where’s all the inflation from the Trump trade wars? So far, the evidence really hasn’t shown up — but many economists say it’s coming soon, perhaps as soon as next week. (Market Watch)
Inflation: Tuesday’s consumer-price index report for June comes into sharp focus for the stock market this week. (Market Watch)
Inflation: A breakout in long-term Treasury yields is likely, driven by a historically tight 30-year/3-month spread and bullish technical patterns. Rising copper prices, fueled by tariffs, are pushing CPI swaps higher, signaling a renewed inflation risk that could steepen the yield curve. (Seeking Alpha)
Inflation: June CPI is expected to rise 0.23%-0.25%, with inflationary pressures persisting, especially in electricity and select goods due to tariffs. Electricity providers like Vistra and Constellation Energy remain attractive amid rising power costs, while AES lags due to poor fundamentals and high short interest. (Seeking Alpha)
Inflation: June CPI is expected to show the first signs of tariff-driven inflation, with consensus expectations for core CPI at 0.3% MoM and an increase in annual core CPI to 3%. The macro environment is stagflationary, with tariffs, higher commodity price rises, and a weaker dollar all pushing inflation higher into 2025 and 2026. (Seeking Alpha)
Inflation: The consumer price index, slated for release on Tuesday, is expected by economists to show a 0.3% increase for last month. (Barrons)
Inflation: Investors will focus on U.S. inflation data for June as they look to judge whether the Federal Reserve is likely to cut interest rates any time soon. (WSJ)
Inflation: Inflation may have fallen, but the cost of living is still a major concern for people across the country, and the companies that look to employ them. CNBC considers Cost of Living among ten categories of competitiveness in the annual America’s Top States for Business rankings. (CNBC)
Inflation: Inflation has come down considerably from its post-Covid high, but the cost of living across the U.S. is still elevated, in some states more than others. Companies seeking to attract workers are looking to set up shop in locations that those workers will be able to afford. (CNBC)
Interest Rates: Fed Chair Jerome Powell is facing a unique challenge amid Trump’s tariffs and a cooler labor market. The Fed is holding rates steady for the time being as it waits for further economic data. (Business Insider)
International relations: Gold prices rose Monday, extending last week’s momentum due to trade tensions and geopolitical instability. Spot gold increased to $3,361.42/oz, while gold futures rose to $3,374.80/oz. Silver futures surged 1.4% to $39.49/oz, a 14-year high. U.S. President Donald Trump announced new tariffs, including a 30% duty on Mexico and the European Union, as well as 25% tariffs on Japan and South Korea, and 50% tariffs on Brazil and copper imports, set to take effect August 1. Trump plans to send offensive weapons to Ukraine, escalating tensions with Russia. China’s June export data showed better-than-expected growth, including a sharp increase in copper shipments. The U.S. dollar was up 0.1% on Monday. U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for June will be released Tuesday, with analysts assessing if the tariffs are causing consumer prices to rise. (FMP)
International relations: Asian currency markets were largely flat on Monday, with the U.S. Dollar Index up 0.1% and Dollar Index Futures also up 0.1%. President Trump announced 30% tariffs on most goods from the European Union and Mexico, effective August 1, following earlier tariff hikes on Japan, South Korea, Canada, and Brazil, including a 50% tariff on copper imports. Future 10% tariffs are being considered on BRICS-aligned economies. The EU has paused retaliatory tariffs until August. China’s June export surge pushed its trade surplus higher than forecast, potentially influencing Q2 GDP, which markets expect to surpass Beijing’s 5% growth target. Singapore’s Q2 GDP outperformed forecasts, but policymakers flagged significant downside risks in H2 2025. Currency movements include: USD/JPY (flat), USD/KRW (flat), AUD/USD (-0.2%), USD/INR (+0.2%), USD/IDR (+0.3%), USD/SGD (flat), and USD/CNY/CNH (flat). U.S. CPI data is due Tuesday, and Q2 earnings season is beginning. (FMP)
International relations: China’s upbeat trade data and stimulus lift Hang Seng Index despite new US tariffs on the EU and Mexico, with tech and EV stocks leading gains. (FXEmpire)
International relations: The world’s sovereign wealth funds are turning to active fund management and investments in China, while central banks are diversifying reserves to weather a volatile global environment, an Invesco survey of sovereign funds and central banks managing $27 trillion in assets showed. (Reuters)
International relations: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that Trump’s threat of 30% tariffs on goods from the European Union would hit the German export industry “to the core,” and vowed to work toward a solution. (Barrons)
International relations: Most nations are still negotiating in hopes of avoiding punitive import taxes. At the same time, they’re looking for trading partners as a way around the United States. (NYTimes)
International relations: Earnings season kicks off on Tuesday with America’s banking behemoths, as attention switches from the White House back to Wall Street. Elsewhere, the G20 meetings in South Africa next week come at an interesting time for the country. (CNBC)
International relations: Global stocks fell on Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump intensified his tariff war against Canada, leaving Europe squarely in the firing line, sparking a modest investor push into safe havens such as gold. (Fast Company)
International relations: I recommend holding assets tracking major Brazilian indices despite new US tariffs, given heightened uncertainty and market volatility. Trump’s 50% tariff on all Brazilian products will significantly impact Brazil’s export-dependent economy, especially in commodities like oil and iron ore. (Seeking Alpha)
Policy: The recently signed tax-cut and spending legislation includes a $186 billion reduction to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) between 2025 and 2034, with $130 billion stemming from tighter eligibility standards, including extended work requirements. The Wharton Budget Model projects a 2.1% to 3.5% income increase for the top quintile earners by 2027, and a 0.5% to 2.7% rise by 2033. Conversely, the bottom 20% of earners could see a 1% income drop as early as 2027 and a potential 7.5% negative impact by 2033. Major retailers may experience a 5-15 basis point annual sales headwind, with grocery and discount retailers potentially facing reduced transaction volumes and lower spending per basket. Corporate confidence and investment may rise, while consumer stability for low-income populations is at risk. (FMP)
Policy: EU, Mexico press for trade deal, inflation data coming this week, major banks kick off earnings season, and more news to start your day. (Barrons)
Policy: U.S. President Donald Trump says the Federal Reserve should set its benchmark interest rate at 1% to lower government borrowing costs, allowing the administration to finance the high and rising deficits expected from his spending and tax-cut bill. (Reuters)
Policy: National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said the White House is looking into whether it has the authority to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. President Donald Trump has said that he does not want to fire Powell, but Hassett’s comments suggest that top administration officials are still considering the possibility. (CNBC)
Policy: A generous grace period would give drugmakers time to sidestep most of the pain of looming duties. (WSJ)
Policy: A new “Frequently Asked Questions” page on the Federal Reserve’s website defends the central bank’s recent renovation project — and responds to many Trump administration criticisms of it. Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought slammed the renovation project and said he would pursue an investigation. (CNBC)
Policy: US stocks dipped as Trump’s Canada tariffs spooked markets. S&P500 and Dow face pressure while Fed hesitates on rate cuts amid rising inflation risks. (FXEmpire)
Policy: The Fed’s debt and runaway spending is spelling a lot of trouble for the Chairman (Fox Business)
Policy: Trump administration official Bill Pulte released a statement suggesting that Fed Chair Jerome Powell is considering resigning amid mounting pressure on his leadership. (Fox Business)
Policy: A dispute over the Federal Reserve’s renovation of its headquarters could provide the pretext to attempt the removal of Fed chief Jerome Powell over interest-rate disagreements. (WSJ)
Policy: New tariffs unveiled by President Trump have further muddied the inflation outlook, Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee said, making it more difficult for him to support the rate cuts that the president has pressed for. (WSJ)
Policy: The Trump administration is investigating Fed Chair Powell’s testimony about the central bank’s renovation project amid Trump’s calls for Powell and the Fed to lower interest rates. (Fox Business)
Policy: The president’s attacks on the independence of the Federal Reserve could further harm the dollar’s status as the preeminent international reserve currency, making credit dearer rather than cheaper. (Barrons)
Policy: President Donald Trump seems willing to spend “financial markets capital” whenever stocks are up, say strategists at GlobalData, TS Lombard. (Market Watch)
Tariffs: A prominent billionaire investor and CEO recently warned that the markets are being way too complacent about the risks from higher tariffs. We share our view on the risk from potential increases in tariffs. (Seeking Alpha)
Trade: Asian equity markets showed mixed performance on Monday, August 1, influenced by U.S. trade tariffs. U.S. President Trump announced 30% tariffs on imports from Mexico and the European Union, following previous tariff actions. S&P 500 Futures declined nearly 0.5% in Asian trading.
China’s Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 index rose 0.2%, and the Shanghai Composite gained 0.4%, driven by better-than-expected June exports. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index added 0.5%. China’s imports grew slower than expected. China’s Q2 GDP is expected to exceed the government’s 5% annual target, with industrial production and retail sales reports due.
Elsewhere: Singapore’s Straits Times Index climbed 0.4%; South Korea’s KOSPI rose 0.1%; Australia’s ASX 200 was flat (South32 Ltd dropped over 4%, while BHP Group Ltd gained 1.4%); Japan’s Nikkei 225 lost 0.3% and TOPIX slid 0.2% amid a 25% tariff on Japanese exports; and Gift Nifty 50 Futures fell 0.2%. (FMP)
Trade: U.S. stock index futures declined Sunday evening amid escalating trade war fears and inflation concerns. President Trump imposed 30% tariffs on imports from Mexico and the European Union, effective August 1, alongside existing tariffs of 25% on Japan, South Korea, and Canada, and a 50% tariff on Brazil and a 50% blanket duty on copper imports. S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, and Dow Jones futures each dropped 0.4%, closing at 6,274.0, 22,859.0, and 44,417.0 respectively. The S&P 500 closed Friday down 0.3% at 6,259.75, the Dow fell 0.6%, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.2%. U.S. customs duty collections reached a record $113.3 billion in the first nine months of fiscal 2025, projected to exceed $300 billion by year-end. Analysts anticipate June CPI data released Tuesday to show headline inflation at 3.2% year-over-year and core inflation at 3.4% year-over-year. Q2 earnings season begins Tuesday, with JPMorgan Chase (JPM), Wells Fargo (WFC), and Citigroup (C) leading. They anticipate slowing loan demand and higher borrowing costs to impact financial institutions, though trading revenue may offer a positive surprise. (FMP)
Trade: The president has earned a reputation for bluffing on tariffs. But he has steadily and dramatically raised U.S. tariffs, transforming global trade. (NYTimes)
Trade: China’s manufacturers are pushing across the border to dodge higher tariffs, potentially undermining Trump’s goal of reducing U.S. dependence on Beijing. (WSJ)
Trade: U.S. stock futures fell Sunday, a day after President Donald Trump threatened to impose new 30% tariffs against imports from Mexico and the European Union. (Market Watch)
Trade: After a strong performance on Thursday, the stock market gave up some of its gains on Friday for a mixed weekly close. New tariff threats on Canada and Mexico did raise the market’s concern of more tariff chaos in the weeks ahead. (Forbes)
Trade: Second-quarter results will offer the “first real test into the ramifications of tariffs,” one strategist says. JPMorgan and Netflix lead them off. (Market Watch)
Trade: Wall Street will have plenty to look forward to this week. The focus will shift somewhat from U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff moves to second-quarter earnings season, which will kick off with reports from major banks and other household names. Still, trade developments will continue to garner a chunk of the spotlight, especially after Trump targeted the European Union and Mexico with tariffs over the weekend. (Seeking Alpha)
Trade: Investors are seeking details on how companies are coping with the trade turmoil. (WSJ)
Trade: President Trump imposes new 30% tariffs on Mexican and EU imports effective August 1, warning that any retaliatory measures will be matched and added to the base rate (Fox Business)
Trade: President Donald Trump revealed the new rates in letters to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Mexico’s president Claudia Sheinbaum. (CNBC)
Trade: The president’s supporters portray him as a top dealmaker. But, at least for now, far more trading partners have gotten stiff tariffs than trade deals. (NYTimes)
Trade: Speculative markets are inherently short-term focused, with notably short attention spans. Stocks have moved on from tariff worries, while the President is determined to push his tariff policies to precarious new extremes. (Seeking Alpha)
Trade: Markets are complacent, expecting Trump to back down on tariffs again, but this time the situation is fundamentally different. After the passing of the “big beautiful bill,” Trump can allow some market turbulence to accomplish his agenda of US re-industrialization. (Seeking Alpha)
Trade: Trade deals have begun to filter through, but the majority of countries are still locked in negotiations with the US as the tariff implementation date of August 1 beckons. The market reacted more calmly to the new tariff announcements compared to the sharp drops seen after April’s “Liberation Day,” when major indexes had their worst weekly losses in nearly six years. (Seeking Alpha)
Trade: How tariff uncertainty is affecting market sentiment. Are US markets overvalued? (Seeking Alpha)
Trade: U.S. stocks and government bonds were being swept up in a selloff on Friday as President Trump’s threats of new tariffs against a host of U.S. trade partners unnerved investors. (Market Watch)
Trade: Tariffs were the main focus of the first full week of July. (Schaeffers Research)
Trade: Actual impact on trade “might be fairly limited,” analysts said. (Market Watch)
Industry
Energy: Platinum has rallied **43% since mid-May**, reaching an **11-year high** and trading at **$1,395.92/oz** on Monday, briefly exceeding **$1,400/oz** in June. ANZ cautions that this rally may be overdone, citing demand-side headwinds including potentially weaker Chinese imports and a possible weakening of auto sector demand due to new U.S. tariffs. ANZ suggests platinum could retreat to **$1,250/oz** if it fails to hold above $1,400/oz. Mine disruptions in South Africa are expected to reduce global output by **3%** in 2025, while platinum recycling remains low, maintaining a structural supply deficit. (FMP)
Medical Devices: The medical devices sector has steady, mid-single-digit growth and a $159 billion addressable market, projected to be supported by a nearly 20% rise in the over-65 population by 2030. High-growth sub-segments include diabetes technologies (expanding over 15% annually) and cardiovascular devices. Procedure volumes remain above pre-COVID levels. Key areas of focus are diabetes technologies, orthopedic implants, cardiovascular devices, and consumer health products like hearing aids and dental implants. The Sector PE Ratio API and Industry Classification API from Financial Modeling Prep are recommended for valuation and watchlist refinement. Companies should possess robust R&D pipelines, a global footprint, and strong balance sheets. Risks include pricing pressure in markets like China, sensitivity to U.S. coverage, and potential overlap with obesity drugs. (FMP)
Pharmaceuticals: The charts show that the group is ready to rally. (Barrons)
Corporate
Albemarle (NYSE:ALB): Albemarle (NYSE:ALB) shares fell more than 4% on Friday following a UBS downgrade from Neutral to Sell, with the price target reduced to $57 from $64. UBS anticipates lithium prices will remain below $10/kg for the next two years, significantly lower than the $17–$18/kg mid-cycle levels. The firm forecasts a lithium surplus for the foreseeable future, delaying price recovery until later in the decade. UBS projects a 2026 EBITDA roughly 14% below consensus and warns of overly optimistic market assumptions, predicting a “lower-for-longer” pricing scenario. (FMP)
AMC Entertainment: Wedbush upgraded AMC Entertainment (NYSE:AMC) to Outperform from Neutral, increasing the price target from $3 to $4. The stock surged over 11% following the upgrade. Wedbush cites a steadier flow of movie releases and AMC’s premium screen dominance in North America as contributing factors. AMC has eliminated debt due in 2026 and is unlikely to issue major shares. The company’s best-performing theaters are trending 3% above 2019 revenue per screen levels and are receiving reinvestment. Capital spending is expected to remain flat in 2025, and Wedbush projects AMC can trade at an 8x EV-to-EBITDA multiple. (FMP)
Autodesk / Datadog / Microsoft: Analyst ratings shifted for three tech companies this week: Autodesk, Datadog, and Microsoft. DA Davidson upgraded Autodesk (NASDAQ: ADSK) to a **Buy** rating on Monday with a **$375** price target, citing operational efficiency and momentum in its Construction Cloud and Fusion platforms. Guggenheim downgraded Datadog (NASDAQ: DDOG) to **Sell** on Tuesday, setting a **$105** price target, due to concerns about OpenAI shifting to in-house observability tools, potentially creating a **$150M revenue gap by 2026**. Datadog is expected to see Q2 growth of **25%**, slowing to **17%** by Q4. Oppenheimer upgraded Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) to **Outperform** on Wednesday with a **$600** price target, citing strong AI adoption and Azure growth, projecting Azure will reaccelerate by FY26. Datadog maintains **25%+ FCF margins** potentially by 2027. (FMP)
BP: BP projected higher oil output and strong trading performance for Q2, with shares rising 2.2%. Upstream production increased quarter-on-quarter, driven by bpx energy in the U.S. and slightly higher output in the gas and low-carbon energy segment. However, gas and low-carbon energy realizations declined by $0.1B-$0.3B, and oil production and operations saw a drop of $0.6B-$0.8B due to unfavorable pricing in the U.S. and UAE. Refining margins improved, contributing $0.3B-$0.5B, and the refining marker margin rose to $21.10/bbl from $15.20/bbl in Q1. Brent crude prices fell to $67.88/bbl from $75.73, while Henry Hub natural gas declined to $3.44/mmBtu from $3.71/mmBtu. Net debt is expected to be slightly lower QoQ, with post-tax adjusting items forecasted at $0.5B-$1.5B. Capital expenditure guidance remains at ~$14.5B. Divestment proceeds of $3B-$4B are on track for H2, and Gulf of Mexico spill payments are expected at $1.2B pre-tax, with $1.1B in Q2. The effective tax rate is around 40%. (FMP)
HubSpot Inc: Stifel analysts revised their price target for HubSpot Inc. (NYSE:HUBS) to $700 from $750, maintaining a Buy rating ahead of the second-quarter earnings report. Enterprise adoption of HubSpot’s AI agent suite is reportedly stronger than expected, although only one AI customer agent is currently live, with mixed customer feedback. Customer count growth has decelerated, but a large total addressable market (TAM) and expanding use cases beyond the Marketing Hub remain tailwinds. Stifel anticipates stable net revenue retention and potential improvement in average subscription revenue per customer. Key metrics to watch include Q2 seat growth tied to AI services, AI-driven customer behavior trends, and platform engagement outside of marketing tools. (FMP)
Levi Strauss & Co.: Levi Strauss & Co. (NYSE:LEVI) shares increased by over 11% on Friday following second-quarter results that exceeded expectations. The company reported earnings per share of $0.22, compared to a $0.13 estimate, and revenue of $1.4 billion, surpassing the $1.37 billion forecast. Levi raised its full-year 2025 earnings guidance to a range of $1.25 to $1.30 per share, above the consensus of $1.23. (FMP)
Metaplanet Inc / MicroStrategy / Tesla: Tokyo-listed Metaplanet Inc (TYO:3350) acquired an additional 797 BTC at an average price of $117,451, bringing its total Bitcoin holdings to 16,352 BTC. Bitcoin traded at $121,010.4 as of 04:19 GMT, peaking at $121,156.4. Metaplanet’s strategy reflects a broader institutional rush into Bitcoin, fueled by record-breaking ETF inflows and anticipation of favorable U.S. crypto regulations. Other public firms holding Bitcoin include MicroStrategy (226,331 BTC), Tesla (10,725 BTC), and Metaplanet (16,352 BTC). U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs are driving demand and enhancing liquidity. Key legislative proposals, the Genius Act and Clarity Act, aim to provide regulatory clarity around crypto custody, stablecoins, and taxation. High inflation and weak fiat yields are driving firms to explore non-traditional hedges, with Bitcoin offering a non-correlated, deflationary alternative. (FMP)
Microsoft Corp / Amazon / Tesla Inc / Micron Technology: Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) was upgraded to *Outperform* by Oppenheimer with a new price target of $600, citing AI monetization and Azure cloud strength, potentially reaccelerating in fiscal 2026. Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN)’s price target was raised to $300 from $250 by Morgan Stanley, anticipating $10 billion in revenue from its Anthropic stake in 2026 and $19 billion in 2027, and potential cloud share gains. Wedbush flagged Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) as reaching a “tipping point” due to CEO Elon Musk’s political ambitions, recommending a new CEO compensation structure, time-commitment frameworks, and a special oversight committee. Deutsche Bank initiated coverage on Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU) with a *Buy* rating and a $150 price target, driven by High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) and AI infrastructure demand. (FMP)
Netflix / Spotify / Alphabet Inc / Meta Platforms: Morgan Stanley analysts predict generative AI will fundamentally disrupt the entertainment industry, potentially lowering production expenses by up to 30%. Video game actors signed a contract in the current week requiring AI consent and disclosure, following similar protections secured by film actors in 2023. Morgan Stanley raised its price target for Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) to $1,450 and Spotify (NYSE:SPOT) to $850, citing AI’s impact on growth and profitability. Netflix could enhance its recommendation engine to increase user engagement beyond 2 hours per day and supercharge its ad business, while Spotify is expected to leverage AI for curation, artist discovery, and expansion into new formats and regions. Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) via YouTube and Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) are also identified as potential AI beneficiaries, with user-generated content potentially gaining traction through AI-enhanced tools. (FMP)
Nvidia Inc: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang will hold a media briefing in Beijing on July 16, 2025, marking his second trip to China in 2025. China contributes $17 billion in revenue, representing 13% of Nvidia’s total sales in FY25. A bipartisan group of U.S. senators recently urged Huang to avoid meetings with specific Chinese firms and entities on the U.S. restricted export list. Nvidia’s H20 AI chip is currently banned from sale in China. Despite restrictions, Chinese tech firms remain reliant on Nvidia’s CUDA platform. Nvidia’s market capitalization recently exceeded $4 trillion. (FMP)
PriceSmart: PriceSmart (NASDAQ:PSMT) shares increased by 5% on Friday after reporting third-quarter revenue of $1.32 billion, exceeding the $1.3 billion analyst consensus. Year-over-year revenue increased by 7.1%. Earnings per share were $1.14, slightly below the anticipated $1.15, while net income rose 8.2% to $35.2 million. Net merchandise sales grew by 9.5% on a constant currency basis, and comparable store sales for clubs open more than 13½ months increased by 7% (8.5% adjusted for currency fluctuations). Foreign exchange negatively impacted merchandise sales by 1.5%. (FMP)
Synopsys / Ansys: China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has conditionally approved Synopsys’ acquisition of Ansys, relating to a $35-billion deal. The approval includes stipulations that Synopsys cannot terminate existing contracts with Chinese customers and must honor renewal requests. China is a major market for both companies, and SAMR’s approval was one of the final international hurdles. The deal is expected to close within 2025, and investors are monitoring customer retention in China following the merger. (FMP)
Tesla Inc: Tesla shareholders will decide on an investment in Elon Musk’s AI venture, xAI, following a formal proposal outlining capital allocation. SpaceX has already committed $2 billion of its $5 billion fundraising round to xAI. Approval could enable Grok AI features in Tesla vehicles, Optimus robots, and Starlink services. The vote occurs amidst Tesla sales headwinds and public scrutiny of Musk’s ventures. Investors can track proposal details via Financial Modeling Prep’s SEC Filings API and assess potential credit profile impacts using the Company Rating API. (FMP)
Tesla Inc / Nvidia: Tesla remains volatile as Musk’s distractions and political headlines compete with long-term growth prospects in robotaxi, AI, and EV fundamentals. Nvidia and the broader AI trade continue to drive market gains, but upcoming earnings will test whether valuations are justified or have overshot. (Seeking Alpha)
Thermo Fisher Scientific: Scotiabank upgraded Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE:TMO) to Sector Outperform from Sector Perform and set a new price target of $590. The upgrade reflects renewed optimism as policy-related pressures ease, despite the company being the largest player in the life science tools space. Scotiabank believes Thermo Fisher’s stock has been undervalued this year and anticipates regaining momentum, with region-specific capabilities expected to expand by next year. The firm expects improved operational focus and value unlocking in the second half of the year. (FMP)
