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European stocks edged higher on Thursday, showing resilience despite the latest round of trade tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump. Investors appeared to remain cautiously optimistic, even amid the increasing uncertainty surrounding global trade relations.
U.S. President Trump Imposes New Tariff Rates
On Wednesday, President Trump sent out letters outlining new tariff rates on at least seven more countries’ imports, which adds to the previous announcements targeting 14 other nations earlier this week. Notably, Trump also imposed a 50% tariff on copper, fulfilling his earlier threat, and announced a 50% tariff on Brazil following a spat with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. However, Brazil’s President responded by indicating that the new tariffs would be met with reciprocal measures.
Despite the escalating trade tensions, European investors found some solace in the fact that the European Union (EU) was spared from these latest tariffs. The EU is reportedly making progress on a framework trade agreement, with the EU’s trade chief, Maros Sefcovic, suggesting that a deal could be finalized in the coming days. This could signal a potential resolution to the trade conflict between the U.S. and Europe.
German Inflation Confirms ECB’s Target
On the economic front, Germany’s inflation rate eased to 2.0% in June, aligning with the European Central Bank’s (ECB) target level, as confirmed by the latest data. This marked a slight decrease from the previous month when inflation stood at 2.1%. The ECB has expressed its intention to wait until September before considering another cut in its key policy rate, especially given ongoing uncertainties in the trade sector and the recent appreciation of the euro.
Porsche Anticipates Tariff Impact
In the corporate sector, Porsche announced it expects a €300 million ($351 million) hit to its results due to the impact of U.S. import tariffs imposed in April and May. This tariff burden will likely weigh on the luxury sports car manufacturer’s quarterly results.
Additionally, WPP, the advertising giant, has appointed Cindy Rose as its new CEO, effective September 1. Rose, a senior executive at Microsoft, joins WPP after the company downgraded its profit forecasts. Meanwhile, Barry Callebaut, the chocolate manufacturer, reported a 6.3% decline in sales volume for the first nine months of the fiscal year 2024-25. Despite this, the company saw a 56.7% increase in revenue, driven by higher cocoa prices.
Looking Ahead
As the week progresses, investors will turn their attention to U.S. economic data, with the weekly jobless claims report serving as a key indicator of the strength of the U.S. labor market. Additionally, Federal Reserve officials, including Christopher Waller and Mary Daly, are scheduled to speak, providing further insights into the central bank’s policy stance.
While the global trade environment remains uncertain, especially with the tariff issues still unresolved, European stocks are showing resilience, and there is cautious optimism about potential progress in trade talks.
