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☆ Global stock markets are sliding as Japan suffers biggest fall since 1987
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-05 | by ( Huileng Tan | Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewJapan's main stock market index suffered its biggest fall since 1987, closing 12.4% lower on Monday, while markets in Asia and Europe also fell sharply. US stock markets sunk at the end of last week as investors digested a streak of negative economic data and disappointing earnings from Big Tech companies. The Chinese stock markets were already under pressure this year due to the country's economic troubles. Japan kept interest rates ultra-low for decades following the implosion of an asset bubble in the 1990s that contributed to persistent deflation. AdvertisementThe BoJ's rate hike has also fanned further risk-off sentiment in global stock markets.

Persons: —, Tony Sycamore, Taiwan's Taiex, Paris, it's, Sycamore, Vishnu Varathan, Mizuho Bank's Organizations: Service, Nikkei, Business, Big Tech, Nasdaq, IG Australia, Bloomberg TV, Kospi, CSI, Federal Reserve, Bloomberg, Bank of Japan, ING Locations: Asia, Europe, Frankfurt, London, Japan

☆ Global markets are off to a terrible start this week, and Japan is partly to blame
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-05 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewGlobal markets are off to a terrible start to the week. Stock markets are crashing across Asia after Japan's interest-rate hike last week contributed to a selloff that got worse and worse. AdvertisementInvestors are also on edge before the US markets open later in the global day. Global carry trade unwindingThe Bank of Japan raised its interest rate from between 0% and 0.1% to 0.25% on Wednesday — the highest level in 15 years. Japan kept interest rates ultra-low for decades following the implosion of an asset bubble in the 1990s that contributed to persistent deflation.

Persons: —, Kospi, India's Sensex, Tony Sycamore, Sycamore, Vishnu Varathan, Mizuho Bank's Organizations: Service, Stock, Business, IG Australia, Bloomberg, CSI, Dow Jones Industrial, Nasdaq, Federal Reserve, Bank of Japan, ING Locations: Asia, Japan

☆ Gold and some non-dollar currencies start to shine, but it's not all about de-dollarization
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-02 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

AdvertisementThe amount of gold holdings in global reserves has doubled in just over five years, according to Bloomberg Intelligence analysis. "As the yellow metal carries no credit or counter-party risk, some deem it as being better insulated from financial sanctions, particularly those from the emerging world," wrote UBS' Czerwonko. Advertisement"The situation in competing jurisdictions is also dire; in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man can remain king," wrote Czerwonko. AdvertisementSimilarly, Bloomberg Intelligence said said a Wednesday report that a potential second Trump term could hasten a global currency regime change. "Any title toward isolationism in a Trump second term, such as altered US attitudes toward its role in NATO and international affairs would spur de-dollarization," wrote Bloomberg Intelligence analysts.

Persons: —, Alejo Czerwonko, Czerwonko, Trump Organizations: Service, UBS, Business, International Monetary Fund, Bloomberg Intelligence, Trump, NATO Locations: Ukraine, Moscow, Swiss, Americas

☆ The US is sending less natural gas to Europe, complicating Europe's plans to cut off Russian gas
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewEurope has pledged to wean itself from Russian natural gas following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, but it's still buying the fuel. Europe's monthly imports of Russian liquefied natural gas — the supercooled version of natural gas that can be transported on ships — have been holding relatively steady, in the 850,000 to 1.6 million metric ton range, since the invasion of Ukraine, per Bloomberg records. This continued import of Russian fuel shows the complications of cutting off Russian gas completely in the global energy market. AdvertisementBefore the invasion, Europe imported over 40% of its natural gas from Russia — its single largest supplier and a major energy producer — mainly via pipelines. At the end of January, Europe imported 5.2 million tons of LNG from the US and just 1.5 million tons from Russia.

Persons: —, Masanori Odaka Organizations: Service, Bloomberg, Business, Brookings, Reuters Locations: wean, Ukraine, Europe, Russia, Asia, North Asia, Japan

☆ Sanctions-hit Russia is rushing to set up payment systems, including crypto, to make trading easier
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewRussia is stepping up sanctions-evading measures to keep its international trade flowing. Russian central bank governor Elvira Nabiullina said the first transactions are expected by the end of this year, per Reuters. An existing ban on crypto payments in Russia remains, but Moscow's greenlighting crypto for international trade marks a significant shift. Russia could be eying a digital-currency-based settlement systemIt isn't clear how Russia's crypto and digital currency regimes will shape up. Even China, which has one of the world's most advanced digital currencies, relies on a "two-tier" system involving banks as wallet-holding agents.

Persons: —, Elvira Nabiullina, Nabiullina, Vladimir Putin, Moscow hasn't, Christopher Granville, Granville Organizations: Service, Russia's, Duma —, Reuters, Business, Bloomberg, US Treasury, GlobalData, Lombard, Russia Locations: Russian, Russia, Ukraine, cryptocurrencies, Hong Kong, Moscow, China, UAE, Turkey, Austria, India

☆ China's trade with Russia is getting so difficult that payments can take half a year and most bank transfers are returned
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-30 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Trade between Russia and China is getting ever more difficult, with some payments between partners taking up to half a year, the Kommersant business daily reported on Monday. AdvertisementThe troubles started in December when the US authorized secondary sanctions targeting financial institutions that help Russia skirt sanctions. This prompted global banks from China to the UAE, Turkey, and Austria to reduce transactions with Russia to avoid getting in the crosshairs. Related storiesTo force Russia to halt its war, West blocked some Russian banks from the widely used SWIFT messaging system for payments early in the conflict. The continued business activity between the two countries sent trade between Russia and China to a record $240 billion last year.

Persons: —, China's, Moscow's, Andrei Kostin, Russia's Organizations: Kommersant, Service, Business, Bloomberg, US Treasury, Russia, VTB Bank Locations: Russia, China, UAE, Turkey, Austria, Moscow, Ukraine, Beijing, Russian, Hong Kong

☆ Some Russians are spending like no tomorrow with 'considerable' overheating in the economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

On Friday, the Russian central bank warned — yet again — of an overheating economy when it hiked rates from 16% to 18% in an attempt to rein in price gains. This suggests that overheating in the economy has remained considerable," said Elvira Nabiullina, Russia's central bank governor, on Friday during her rate hike announcement. Russians are traveling and spending on culture and hotelsThe rate hike from Russia's central bank comes amid a spending boom in the country where many appear to be spending very freely, even amid the war and Western sanctions, as the Financial Times reported on Friday. Russia's central bank may hike rates again if necessaryNabiullina said on Friday that Russia's GDP will grow 3.5% to 4% this year from a year ago. The central bank next meets on September 13.

Persons: —, Elvira Nabiullina, they're, Sergei Ishkov, Sawicki, Nabiullina, it's Organizations: Service, Business, Financial Times, Labour Locations: Russia, Russian, Russia's, Ukraine, Moscow, stoke

☆ Russia's business elites signal they are tired of propping up the wartime economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Some Russian elites are challenging the central bank's potential interest rate hike to 18%. Russia's key interest rate is at 16% after a series of hikes to tame elevated inflation and a hot wartime economy. AdvertisementSome of Russia's business elites appear to be getting impatient with the country's wartime economy. Several influential individuals have come out to publicly challenge the Russian central bank's signal that it's likely to hike interest rates on Friday. Russia's key interest rate already stands at 16%.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Reuters, Business Locations: Russian, Ukraine

☆ AI turned Big Tech stocks around. But a huge sell-off shows investors are wary of the insane spending.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Big Tech appears to be tipping into troubled territory again. Read previewIn 2022, US tech companies grappled with falling demand after aggressive expansions during the pandemic, prompting a rout in tech stocks. This concentration makes the effect of any major decline in Big Tech stocks even more pronounced. All eyes on the rest of Big TechOther Big Tech companies, including Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and Meta, report quarterly earnings next week. As for Big Tech, it appears to be a case of being safe rather than being sorry — because they can afford to.

Persons: —, Michael Strobaek, Lombard Odier, Strobaek, Katherine Tangalakis, Jim Reid, Reid, Anthropic, Lombard Odier's Strobaek, Sundar Pichai Organizations: Tech, Service, Nasdaq, Business, Lombard, Big, Bloomberg, Google, Big Tech, Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Deutsche Bank, Amazon Locations: Swiss, Big Tech

☆ China released a 22,000-character plan for its economy that doesn't say very much
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

China's Third Plenum meeting ended with a vague economic plan, disappointing analysts. China's economy is struggling amid a property crisis and weak consumer spending. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementLast week, China held a major meeting to draft out long-term strategies for its economy. At the end of the meeting, called the Third Plenum, Beijing released a lengthy document spanning 22,000 Chinese characters.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Plenum, Business Locations: China, Beijing

☆ LVMH is waiting for China's consumers to shop at home
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewChina's once-mighty consumers are holding back on buying as much as they used to at home. But luxury giant LVMH is still spending big on them. LVMH does not break out its sales for China separately. AdvertisementChina's luxury consumers are spending in JapanRich Chinese consumers are not spending as much at home because, post-pandemic, they can travel and spend their money elsewhere, with Japan a top destination. The fluctuations in the yen make it challenging for LVMH to price its products in Japan.

Persons: —, Jean, Jacques Guiony, LVMH, Guiony, It's Organizations: Service, Business, Japan Locations: Japan, China, Asia, Japan Rich, Mainland China, Fukuoka

☆ Trump wants a weaker dollar, but analysts say his policy direction points to just the opposite
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has said he wants a weaker dollar to boost US exports. Economists and analysts say a weak dollar policy would be costly and politically difficult to implement. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementRepublican presidential nominee Donald Trump has made it clear he would like a weaker dollar to make American exports more competitive. But economists and analysts are flagging challenges to making the greenback weaker — especially if Trump wins a second term.

Persons: Donald Trump, —, Michael Strobaek, Lombard Odier Organizations: Service, Trump, Lombard, Business Locations: America, Swiss

☆ Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race spells uncertainty for the 'Trump trade'
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-22 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Joe Biden's withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race is causing market uncertainty. Analysts now expect more market volatility after Biden pulled out of the race. AdvertisementUS President Joe Biden's withdrawal from the presidential election is throwing fresh uncertainty into the markets for a second straight week. Investors were already trying to position themselves for the so-called "Trump trade" following the failed assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on July 13. Markets at large were relatively calm following Biden's withdrawal after the Trump trade gripped sentiment last week.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Trump, Biden, —, Donald Trump, Mark Haefele, Jim Reid, Kyle Rodda, Harris, Chris Weston, Pepperstone, Kamala Harris, Biden's, Haefele Organizations: Service, Trump, Republican, UBS Global Wealth Management's, Nasdaq, Treasury, Deutsche Bank, Democrats, Democratic Party, Democratic, UBS

Read previewMajor airlines, banks, and supermarkets are experiencing widespread disruptions linked to an IT outage after Microsoft reported problems with its online services. American Airlines, Delta Airlines, and United Airlines are among the airlines that have issued ground stops for their aircraft due to communication issues, Reuters reported. A spokesperson for Singapore's Changi Airport told BI: "Due to a global outage affecting IT systems of many organizations, the check-in process for some airlines at Changi Airport is being managed manually." On Thursday night, Frontier Airlines issued a ground stop order, saying in a statement: "flight operations are currently being impacted by a major Microsoft technical outage." AdvertisementThe Austin-headquartered tech giant, which specializes in security for cloud computing platforms, confirmed with CNBC on Friday morning that it was receiving outage reports.

Persons: —, Dan Coatsworth, AJ Bell, CrowdStrike, Omer Grossman, CyberArk, Grossman Organizations: Service, Microsoft, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, Reuters, London Stock, Business, BI, —, Local, Changi, Changi Airport, Melbourne Airport, Sydney Airport, Rajiv Gandhi, Edinburgh Airport, Berlin Airport, Ryanair, Europe's, Frontier Airlines, CNBC, Windows Locations: Singapore, Changi, Australia, Delhi, India, Germany

☆ China's consumers aren't buying stuff, but it's not because they're broke
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-19 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Chinese consumers are saving more, impacting luxury brand sales and economic growth. Household deposits reached around 147 trillion yuan by June, hitting a record high. Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementChina's once free-spending consumers are holding back, hitting luxury brands particularly hard.

Persons: —, China's Organizations: Service, People's Bank of China, Business Locations: Beijing, China

☆ The Chinese yuan has helped fund Russia's trade and war machine — but those days may be numbered
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-18 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The Chinese yuan has become a key currency for Russia's trade settlement. But tightened US sanctions are freezing and delaying yuan payments, Bloomberg reports. AdvertisementWestern sanctions have shut Russia out of the dollar-dominant global financial order, but the country has managed to keep its wartime economy humming thanks to the Chinese yuan. But even this line of trade looks like it's starting to get shut down, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday. Several unnamed major Russian commodity exporters told Bloomberg that trade with China has become increasingly difficult as even direct payments made in the yuan are getting frozen or delayed.

Persons: — Organizations: Bloomberg, Service, Business Locations: Russia, China

☆ The 'Trump trade' is winding down, and the Fed's rate plans are back in focus
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-18 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewBarely a week after the failed assassination of former US President Donald Trump, investors are already moving on from the "Trump trade." The "Trump trade" refers to investor strategies that reflect the market consequences of a second Trump presidency. Schumacher said the "Trump trade" has run its course and is "about done for now." Focus on Fed interest rate decisionTo be sure, a second Trump presidency — including his administration's trade and tariff policies — would have important implications for the macroeconomy and markets, say most analysts. On Wednesday, Fed Governor Christopher Waller indicated that the central bank would cut "in the not-too-distant future."

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Trump, Michael Schumacher, Schumacher, Vishnu Varathan, Mizuho Bank's, Jerome Powell, Christopher Waller Organizations: Service, Trump, Business, Federal Reserve, US Treasury, Bloomberg, Wells, Wells Fargo Securities, Fed, Swiss, UBS Locations: Wells Fargo, Asia, Japan

☆ Trump is furious Taiwan's chip business is doing so well
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-17 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Trump told Bloomberg Businessweek that Taiwan has taken away the US's chip-manufacturing business. Trump wants Taiwan, which China claims as its territory, to pay the US for protection. Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, told Bloomberg Businessweek that Taiwan's dominance in the chip industry made the island rich. "Taiwan took our chip business from us," he said to Businessweek in an interview before the failed assassination attempt on Saturday. They took all of our chip business.

Persons: Trump, —, Donald Trump Organizations: Bloomberg Businessweek, Trump, Service, Republican, Businessweek Locations: Taiwan, China

☆ Queen-size mattresses are selling for as little as $175 in the US, thanks to Chinese overproduction
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-17 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Chinese mattresses are flooding US markets, driving prices below $175 for a queen size. The US imposed tariffs up to 1,731% on Chinese mattresses in 2019 to curb dumping. But there are suspicions that Chinese exporters are countering the tariffs by rerouting their shipments. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementChina's mattresses are flooding US markets and depressing prices so much that customers can now buy a queen-size product for under $175, The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Street, Business Locations: China

☆ Putin wants to strengthen a big challenger to Western dominance
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-16 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The group is known as BRICS for original members Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, which collectively form the bloc's acronym. A parliamentary structure would formalize the group even further. AdvertisementA larger and more structured BRICS bloc could have more bargaining power and create an alternative to the West-led global order. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Russia recently, even though New Delhi is in a strategic partnership with the US. But the BRICS group should not be counted out, wrote as Ian Bremmer, the president of the Eurasia Group, in a report earlier this month.

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin, BRICS, Putin, Rich Lesser, Sergey Lavrov, Narendra Modi, Modi, Ian Bremmer Organizations: Service, United, United Arab Emirates, Business, New Development Bank, Putin, Kremlin, Boston Consulting, UAE —, Russian, Indian, Eurasia Group Locations: West, Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina, United Arab, Shanghai, St Petersburg, Thailand, Malaysia, UAE, New Delhi

☆ The marks of the failed Donald Trump assassination attempt are already all over the markets
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-15 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The failed assassination attempt on Donald Trump is likely to be on investors' minds this week. Bitcoin surged on haven trade following the event, while the dollar also rose as the "Trump trade" returned. AdvertisementThe failed assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump is expected to dominate markets this week as investors focus on the so-called "Trump trade." Even before the weekend events, economists and analysts were already debating what a Trump presidency would mean for the markets. "Judging by historical parallels, this event will galvanize the Trump vote, meaning the markets will gradually price in the so-called 'Trump trade,'" wrote Rodda.

Persons: Donald Trump, Bitcoin, Trump, —, Kyle Rodda, TMTG, Hong, Rong Organizations: Trump, Service, Investors Locations: United States, Tokyo, Paris, Frankfurt

☆ Chinese consumers aren't buying enough stuff, and it's taking a toll on the economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-15 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewChina's belt-tightening consumers are dragging on the country's economy even as external demand supports exports, official data released on Monday shows. The fresh data shows China's economy continues to be bogged down by its real-estate crisis , stock-market volatility, geopolitical headwinds, and demographic challenges. AdvertisementPeople are just not spending enoughEven though disposable income grew in the second quarter of this year, consumers in China are reluctant to spend. Economic outlook for the second half of the yearChina's economic outlook isn't that rosy for the second half of this year either. However, they added that headwinds remain in the second half of the year, including the "tapering of post-COVID pent-up consumer demand."

Persons: —, Nomura, China's, Donald Trump's, Yeap, Rong Organizations: Service, National Bureau, Statistics —, Reuters, Business, Bureau of Statistics, Nomura Locations: China, Beijing

☆ China basically just admitted it's also concerned about solar panel overcapacity
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-12 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

China just issued draft regulations to rein in solar cell production. This shows Beijing knows and is concerned about industrial overcapacity. China and the West have been mired in a trade dispute over overcapacity, which Beijing has pushed back on. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . But Beijing recently released a new set of draft rules that show China knows and is concerned about overcapacity too — specifically in solar cell production.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Business Locations: China, Beijing

☆ The AI chip race is minting thousands of new millionaires in Taiwan, but not everyone is benefiting
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

This number could surge by 47% to about 1.16 million millionaires by 2028, UBS predicts, leading the 56 global markets the bank analyzed in its report. AdvertisementThe US was home to nearly 22 million millionaires last year, per UBS. That number is expected to grow 16% to 25.5 million millionaires over the next five years. UBS attributes Taiwan's wealth growth to its semiconductor chip industry, which is "set to reap the rewards of the boom in artificial intelligence." The rise of the chip behemoth has created an entire tech ecosystem in Taiwan, much of which is centered on hardware.

Persons: —, TSMC, Ma Tieying Organizations: Service, UBS, Business, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, chipmaker, Apple, Nvidia, New York Stock Exchange, DBS Locations: Taiwan, Swiss, China

☆ The West's attempts at isolating Russia just took another big blow
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-10 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewIndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made Russia the destination of his first bilateral visit after securing a historic third term in office. On Monday, the US State Department said it has raised concerns with New Delhi about India's relationship with Russia. AdvertisementModi's advances toward Putin come less than two months after the usually reserved Chinese leader Xi Jinping hugged Putin not once, but twice — dealing another blow to the West's isolation of Russia. India imported about $60 billion of goods a year from Russia in the last fiscal year. "Due to Russia's close ties with China, India can turn to Russia to help defuse crises when bilateral geopolitical tensions flare up between India and China," he added.

Persons: —, Narendra Modi, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Putin, Xi Jinping, Xi, Modi, Rajiv Biswas, who's, Biswas, Vinay Kwatra Organizations: Service, NATO, Washington DC, Business, US State Department Locations: Russia, Ukrainian, Washington, Moscow, New Delhi, India, China

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