MONEY MASTER

Optimism around a potential  EU-US trade agreement  powered global stock markets to new record highs on Thursday, just ahead of the  European Central Bank's (ECB) final meeting before its summer break  and an unexpected visit by  US President Donald Trump  to the Federal Reserve.  World Stocks on a Winning Streak MSCI’s global stock index  extended its winning streak to  seven sessions , buoyed by news that  15% tariffs with sector exceptions  between the EU and Washington were nearing agreement. The momentum followed a recently inked deal with Japan. Europe and Asia Join the Rally Tokyo’s Nikkei 225  came close to its all-time high overnight. In Europe, Germany’s  export-heavy DAX  jumped over  1% , while the  STOXX 600  rose  0.6% . Deutsche Bank  surged  4%  after a strong earnings beat, pushing  European banking stocks  to levels not seen since the 2008 financial crisis...

As trade negotiations tick down with  two weeks left , the  European Union isn’t taking any chances . While talks with the US are still active,  Brussels is drawing up countermeasures —and they're hitting where it hurts.  Phase 1: Already-Approved Retaliation (US$21B in US goods) Targeting  politically sensitive states and sectors : Soybeans  from Speaker Mike Johnson’s Louisiana Poultry ,  motorcycles Strategic goods aimed to spark domestic political pressure Phase 2: On Standby Boeing planes US-made cars Bourbon whiskey — These hits are designed to send a message without triggering a full trade war… yet. Phase 3: The Nuclear Option If talks fully collapse,  Europe may escalate  with: New  digital taxes  on US tech giants (Meta, Google, Amazon) Restrictions on US investments Bans on US firms  in EU government tenders   "The EU sees the US position stiffening — and it’s quietly gearing up for economic battle,"  inside...

With a July 9 deadline looming, the European Union and United States are racing to reach a breakthrough in high-stakes trade negotiations that could shape the future of transatlantic commerce. Central to the discussions: steep tariffs that threaten to hit nearly all EU exports to the US, particularly  automobiles, car parts, steel, and aluminum . While recent talks in Washington yielded what officials described as “technical progress,” the ultimate decision still hinges on  President Trump’s willingness to compromise . His administration’s proposed 50% blanket tariffs—part of a broader push to reshore manufacturing and fund tax cuts—have triggered resistance across EU capitals. Automakers in the Crosshairs European carmakers, especially those like  Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz , are among the most exposed. The EU is pushing hard for an “ offsets rule ” that would reduce or eliminate tariffs for companies that  invest in manufacturing facilities in the US . Whil...