China to Suspend Some Rare-Earth Curbs, US Chip Firm Probes

Market Trends & Geopolitics - US-China trade tensions are easing, with China agreeing to allow rare earth minerals and magnets to flow again and the US withholding escalation of its entity list [2][3] - The US Supreme Court will hear arguments on the legality of President Trump's tariffs, potentially impacting businesses reliant on international trade [10][11] - Emerging markets have experienced a strong rally, driven by supportive global backdrop, solid growth data, and compelling valuations [33][34] - The market is pricing the Fed rate path into the end of next year as excessively dovish, even with dark info in terms of not having lots of data [28] Earnings & Financial Performance - European earnings reporting period shows 52% win and 29% lose, a significant percentage, though typically lower than the US [13] - European equities are seeing record ETF flows as European investors repatriate funds [20] - US earnings are broadening out, with 9% earnings growth outside of the "Magnificent Seven" tech stocks [21] - Renewable energy investments reached a record $386 billion during the first half of 2025, outperforming traditional energy investments [71] Energy Sector - OPEC-Plus plans to pause output hikes for next year, assessing market conditions and demand dips in the first quarter of 2026 [53][54] - The energy industry anticipates a surge in power demand from data centers, potentially doubling by next year, equivalent to Japan's total power demand [50] - BP has agreed to sell its stakes in US shale assets for $15 billion [47] - Ryanair expects to exceed its growth target, predicting 207 million passengers this year due to strong demand and early Boeing aircraft deliveries [84][85]