Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

Economy update Donald Trump’s threat to impose 50% tariff on copper sends the commodity to record highs. He also pledged to press ahead with a 200% tariff on pharmaceuticals. Uncertainty is the soundbite, investors, companies, producers and end-users are quite simply in the dark of what to expect. Prices at Chinese factory gates fell at […]

A slight recovery in bourses after the fall inspired by Trumps sending tariff letters to countries including Japan, South Korea, Thailand, South Africa and others threatening 25-40% tariffs but extended deadline to Aug 1. APAC also caught by RBA decision to hold pat on interest rate when a 25bps cut was widely predicted. As Q2 […]

Trade tension keeps simmering ahead of the Jul 9 deadline which has been reportedly extended to August 1. The US President threatened BRICS countries with an additional 10% punitive duty for ‘Anti-American’ policies. On the bright side, investors are the most upbeat for three years in the euro zone due to economic recovery. Industrial output […]

Economy Update It took a VP Vance casting vote to get the Big, Beautiful Bill across the line but oddly, there was little reaction from markets and none today. Chat centres around better JOLTs jobs and what it could mean for FED cuts. This links with the USD, its continued weakness and how it was […]

Asian and European factory activities were in the centre of attention this morning. The manufacturing sector stabilized on the old Continent last month and also showed signs of revival in the UK. China’s PMI of smaller companies expanded, but the sector is still sluggish in Japan and South Korea. The US budget bill is debated […]

The strong Wall St finish on Friday extends into an APAC and European session helped by a new dialogue between US/Canada over trade and an extension of the tariff deadline. Europeans latterly drift as reciprocal tariffs begin to breed fear. Many bourse indices are in striking distance of all-time highs. The sweeping ‘big, beautiful bill’ […]

The dollar is under immense pressure with its index below 97 after the US President renewed his attack on the Fed chair and has hinted at selecting his replacement shortly. The CME FedWatch tool now shows that investors are pricing in a September rate cut. US Treasury yields are trending lower. European shares are supported […]

Economy update The NATO summit in the Hague is expected to result in the unequivocal endorsement of raising defense spending to 5% of the GDP of member countries. In return, the US President reassured his partners of his commitment to protect member states. Expectations of an impending Fed rate cut are on the rise after […]

The sharp turnaround in oil prices understandably coincided with a rally in equity markets as hopes for a sustainable peace between Iran and Israel grow, albeit not irrevocably. Focus will now hopefully return to trade deals and tariff negotiations. Fed vice chair says time to cut rates is fast-approaching. Fed chair Powell’s testimony is this […]

Economy update Equity markets also reacted to the US bombing of Iran with relative composure as global equities are edging lower but not plunging. The IAEA chief believes that probably ‘very significant’ damage was caused by the US strikes to Iran’s Fordo enrichment plant. The country’s parliament is seeking to halt co-operation with the agency. […]