Displaying items by tag: trade

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Tuesday he is optimistic that the U.S. and China are closing in on a trade agreement. In an interview with CNBC, he noted that upcoming talks ahead of November’s scheduled reciprocal tariffs have become increasingly productive. 

Bessent suggested Beijing now recognizes that a deal is within reach, even after months of back-and-forth since tariffs were first announced in April. 

While China initially faced duties as high as 145%, those measures have been suspended through Nov. 10 to allow negotiations to continue. He also highlighted that U.S. allies are frustrated by the surge of Chinese goods into their markets, a dynamic adding urgency to the talks. 

Finum: With the U.S. trade deficit with China already narrowing sharply in 2025, there could be a strong incentive to reach a trade deal as soon as possible. 

Global equity funds attracted $8.71 billion in net inflows, reversing the previous week’s $4.4 billion outflow, as risk appetite returned. Investor optimism was fueled by solid U.S. economic data, progress on trade deals with Japan and the EU, and upbeat early earnings reports, including record profits from TSMC and a forecast bump from PepsiCo. 

European equity funds led the charge with $8.79 billion in inflows, their best showing in 11 weeks, while U.S. equity outflows slowed significantly. Sector-wise, tech rebounded with $1.61 billion in inflows, while financials and industrials each brought in over $1 billion. 

Global bond funds continued their 14-week inflow streak, adding $17.94 billion, led by short-term, euro-denominated, and high-yield bond categories. Commodity funds saw a resurgence too, with gold and precious metals funds notching $1.9 billion in net inflows, their strongest showing in over a month.

Finsum: If optimism over trade deals and AI-driven earnings continues to build, we could be on the verge of a sustained equity rally that pulls even hesitant U.S. investors off the sidelines.

U.S. farmers are facing a sharp drop in soybean and pork exports to China just as planting season ramps up, signaling serious trouble ahead. With China previously accounting for a major share of demand, especially for these two products, the sudden decline in sales — some dropping more than 70% — is hitting a fragile agricultural sector hard. 

The current trade dispute, now broader and more severe than the 2018 tariff standoff, comes with no clear support for producers and is compounded by related conflicts with other trade partners like Canada. This creates a supply chain crunch, not just at the point of export but also in key input materials like fertilizer, making the hit to farmers multifaceted. 

Domestic consumption isn’t likely to absorb the surplus either, especially as U.S. demand for pork remains soft and efforts like increasing biodiesel requirements are not enough to offset lost international sales. 

For many growers, the loss of access to a market of over a billion consumers could be a lasting blow with no easy substitute.

Gold prices surged to an all-time high as investors sought safe-haven assets amid escalating U.S. tariff concerns. Spot gold climbed 1.3% to $2,794.42 per ounce, briefly touching $2,798.24, while U.S. gold futures settled 1.8% higher at $2,845.20. 

Market uncertainty grew following White House plans to impose steep tariffs on Mexico and Canada, with potential levies on China also under consideration. A weaker U.S. dollar and declining Treasury yields further bolstered gold’s appeal to investors. 

Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve maintained interest rates, signaling no urgency for further cuts despite slowing economic growth. Traders now await the upcoming inflation report for insights into future monetary policy.

Finsum: We will see some wild moves in commodities prices in the coming weeks given the retaliation already spiking in the trade wars. 

Donald Trump's proposed tariffs are already unsettling global markets, with steep duties on imports from China, Canada, Mexico, and elsewhere threatening to disrupt trade flows and spark retaliatory measures. 

China, facing tariffs as high as 60%, is grappling with a weakened yuan and struggling stock markets, with analysts forecasting further currency declines to cushion exporters. In Europe, the euro faces pressure from trade uncertainty and weakening Chinese demand, with the potential for parity with the dollar amid economic concerns and tariff impacts.

The European auto sector is particularly vulnerable, with shares swinging sharply on tariff news and broader economic weaknesses prolonging market underperformance. Canada’s currency has also dropped significantly amid threats of tariffs and a turbulent political climate, while Mexico’s peso remains volatile, reflecting ongoing risks tied to U.S. trade policies. 

Finsum: These developments underscore the widespread economic uncertainty and market fragility as Trump’s trade agenda looms.