Global

U.S. and China Reach New Trade Deal to Expedite Rare‑Earths Shipments In a significant development that may reshape global trade dynamics, the United States and China have officially signed a trade agreement focused on expediting the export of rare-earth minerals and critical components from China to the U.S. market. The deal is seen as a milestone in ongoing efforts to ease trade tensions and strengthen strategic industrial supply chains. The agreement, finalized during a bilateral summit held in Geneva earlier this month and confirmed by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, is designed to accelerate the regulatory approvals and customs clearances needed for rare-earth shipments—minerals essential to high-tech industries including renewable energy, aerospace, defense systems, and electric vehicles. "This is a step in the right direction. For the first time in years, we’re seeing practical progress on the trade front with China," Bessent stated. "This deal will give ...

  U.S. Federal Reserve Sees Early Signs That Tariffs Are Impacting Consumer Prices The U.S. Federal Reserve has acknowledged for the first time that recent tariffs imposed on imports are beginning to influence consumer prices, marking a key development in the ongoing debate over trade policy and inflation management. According to the Federal Reserve’s latest economic update, while the full impact of the tariffs is still evolving, early indicators suggest that prices for specific consumer goods — particularly household appliances and electronics — are beginning to reflect upward pressure. This comes after months of uncertainty surrounding the inflationary effects of new trade barriers introduced in response to global geopolitical tensions and efforts to boost domestic manufacturing. The report noted that although broader inflation remains within the Fed's target range of 2%, certain sectors have shown “modest but noticeable price increases,” attributed directly to the increased c...

Global Markets Rattled After Israel–Iran Conflict Escalates, Oil Prices Surge 10% Global financial markets, which had seen modest gains earlier this week on the back of encouraging progress in U.S.–China trade negotiations and signs of cooling inflation , were sharply disrupted following a sudden escalation in Middle East tensions. The situation intensified after Israel launched a strike on Iran , triggering a wave of risk-off sentiment across global markets. In immediate reaction, oil prices surged by nearly 10% , with Brent crude reaching its highest intraday level in months. The spike in energy prices has reignited concerns over stagflation , especially as inflation remains a key concern in many developed economies. Global equity indices, which had been buoyed by optimism around reduced trade barriers and improving U.S. consumer confidence, fell sharply , with sectors like aviation, logistics, and energy-intensive industries leading the decline. Analysts warn that if tensions pers...

  Tesla’s stock price took a sharp hit this week as tensions between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and former U.S. President Donald Trump erupted into a very public feud. The clash, which first surfaced on social media and was quickly amplified by global news outlets, has raised investor fears over potential political risks for the electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer. According to market data, Tesla shares slid by more than 7% in intraday trading, erasing billions from the company’s market capitalization. Analysts say that investors are concerned the fallout could affect Tesla’s standing with U.S. regulatory bodies and the future of federal EV incentives — particularly if Trump regains political power in the upcoming 2024 U.S. presidential election. What Sparked the Feud? The dispute began earlier this week when Trump criticized Musk in a public interview, questioning Tesla’s reliance on government subsidies and mocking Musk’s ambitions around artificial intelligence and space exploratio...