Group 1 - The article discusses the positive performance of the US economy in July, which exceeded expectations, leading to a reversal in the global capital "rebalancing" trend, with funds flowing back to the US [2] - Developed market indices saw an overall increase, with the Nikkei 225 rising by 3.7% and the S&P 500 increasing by 0.9% [4][5] - The article highlights the significant rebound in glass prices, which increased by 13.9% [50] Group 2 - The article notes that the US core CPI for July was weaker than expected, with a month-on-month increase of 0.3%, aligning with market expectations, but the performance of goods related to tariffs was notably weak [70][74] - The article mentions that the market's expectation for a rate cut by the Federal Reserve in September has increased, driven by the weaker-than-expected CPI data [70] Group 3 - The article reports that the US Treasury auction demand remained robust, with strong absorption rates for short-term bonds, indicating stable interest from overseas and money market funds [68] - The article details the performance of various sectors within the S&P 500, with healthcare, consumer discretionary, and communication services rising by 4.6%, 2.5%, and 2.1% respectively [10]

Group 1: Economic Impact of Tariffs - The implementation of new tariffs by the U.S. government has led to increased uncertainty in the economy and a clear trend of rising costs for consumers across various products, from coffee to household items [1][2] - As of June, U.S. consumers had already absorbed 22% of the tariff costs, with expectations that this will rise to 67% by October due to the ongoing transfer of costs from businesses to consumers [2] - The trade-weighted average tariff rate for all products in the U.S. has surged to 20.11%, significantly higher than the 2.44% at the beginning of the year [2] Group 2: Price Increases by Companies - Procter & Gamble announced plans to raise prices on approximately 25% of its personal care and household products by an average of 2.5% to offset an additional $1 billion in costs due to tariffs [4] - Retail prices for imported goods have increased by about 4%, while domestic goods have seen a 2% rise from March to July [3] - Companies like Mohawk Industries and Gear Drive are also planning to pass on tariff costs to consumers, indicating a broader trend of price increases across various sectors [4][5] Group 3: Consumer Behavior and Market Dynamics - Concerns about rising prices and potential inflation are leading to changes in consumer purchasing behavior, with some customers reducing their buying volumes [5] - The uncertainty surrounding tariffs is complicating operations for companies, with reports of a 50% decrease in inquiries from international buyers [5] - Companies are restructuring their operations to manage increased costs, including layoffs and discontinuing certain products to maintain profitability [5]

Core Insights - The S&P 500 companies have significantly exceeded earnings expectations in the current earnings season, primarily due to their ability to mitigate tariff impacts and benefit from a weaker dollar [1] Group 1: Earnings Performance - S&P 500 companies reported a year-over-year earnings per share growth of 11%, which is substantially higher than the market consensus expectation of 4% [1] - This quarter has seen one of the highest frequencies of earnings exceeding expectations in history, according to Goldman Sachs' Chief U.S. Equity Strategist David Kostin [1] Group 2: Factors Influencing Performance - Companies have managed to maintain better-than-expected profit margins in the face of tariffs by negotiating with suppliers, adjusting supply chains, cutting costs, and passing price increases onto consumers [1] - Analysts had previously lowered earnings expectations significantly due to Trump's tariffs, creating a lower baseline that made it easier for companies to surpass expectations [1] - A weaker dollar has also contributed to accelerated sales growth in the second quarter [1]

Market Overview - US stock markets mostly declined last Friday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising and reaching an intraday record high [1] - US Treasury yields increased, with the 10-year yield hitting a two-week high as traders reduced bets on a larger-than-usual rate cut by the Federal Reserve next month [1] - The dollar fell, maintaining expectations for a rate cut in September due to a series of data releases [1] - Oil prices dropped by nearly $1 amid potential easing of sanctions on Moscow due to US-Russia talks regarding the Ukraine war [1] - Gold prices remained stable but experienced a weekly decline [1] Economic Indicators - US retail sales increased by 0.5% month-on-month in July, with June's growth revised up to 0.9%, driven by auto sales and major online promotions [7] - Industrial output declined in July, affected by weak manufacturing [7] - The Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index unexpectedly fell for the first time since April, with rising inflation expectations due to tariff concerns [7] - Foreign investors held a record amount of US Treasury bonds in June, with the largest increases from the UK and Belgium, while China's holdings remained largely unchanged [7] Corporate Developments - OpenAI plans to invest trillions of dollars in building AI data centers and is reportedly looking to sell approximately $6 billion in stock to investors, valuing the company at around $500 billion [7] - Longfor Group (0960.HK) anticipates a core profit decline of about 70% year-on-year in the first half of 2025 due to a downturn in the real estate market affecting profit margins [9] - WeRide (WRD.US) announced a multi-million dollar equity investment from Southeast Asian platform Grab, aiming for large-scale deployment of Robotaxi services in the region [9] Currency and Commodity Markets - High-beta currencies performed poorly, while major core currencies (euro, yen, pound, Swiss franc) strengthened, leading to a decline in the dollar index [10] - Oil prices fell as investors focused on the US-Russia summit, which could reshape Russia's oil flow [11] - Gold prices remained stable amid market fluctuations [11]

Core Viewpoint - The competition between Apple and Samsung in the U.S. smartphone market has intensified, with Samsung experiencing a significant increase in market share while Apple's dominance shows signs of decline [1][2]. Group 1: Market Performance - In Q2 2025, Samsung's shipments reached 8.3 million units, capturing 31% of the market share, a notable increase from 6.0 million units and 23% market share in Q2 2024, reflecting a 38% annual growth [2]. - Apple's shipments fell to 13.3 million units, resulting in a market share decrease from 56% to 49%, marking an 11% decline year-over-year [2]. - Overall smartphone shipments in the U.S. totaled 27.1 million units in Q2 2025, showing a slight annual growth of 1% compared to 26.7 million units in Q2 2024 [2]. Group 2: Product Innovation - Samsung's resurgence is attributed to the launch of innovative foldable smartphones, including the Z Fold 7 and Z Flip, which have garnered significant attention on social media [3][4]. - The Z Fold 7 can transform into a tablet, while the Z Flip resembles a modern smartphone with a flip design, appealing to a wide range of consumers [3]. Group 3: Market Strategy - Analysts suggest that Samsung's ability to offer a diverse range of products at various price points, from low-end to high-end devices, has contributed to its market share growth [4]. - Samsung's Galaxy and Z series phones range in price from $650 to $2400, allowing the company to target different consumer segments effectively [4]. - In contrast, Apple's strategy has been to wait until a technology is mature before adopting it, with expectations of launching its first foldable iPhone in September 2026 as part of the iPhone 18 series [5].

Group 1 - Major Japanese cosmetics companies are facing significant challenges, with varying performance across different brands and markets [2][7][30] - Kao Corporation reported a remarkable increase in operating profit by nearly 108%, while other companies like Kose and I-ne experienced declines of 17.7% and 17.0% respectively [2][7] - Several brands under major Japanese cosmetics companies are struggling, with notable declines such as a 57% drop for the brand "Zui Xiang" and decreases for brands like Anessa, Shiseido, Decorte, and POLA [2][10] Group 2 - The Japanese cosmetics market is facing challenges, with a 3.4% decline in the overall market and specific brands like Kose's Sekkisei down by 0.5% [2][30] - The performance in the Chinese market is dragging down overall sales, with many companies planning to withdraw, liquidate, or close stores by 2025 [2][28] - Kao is the only company among the five major Japanese cosmetics groups to show growth across all markets, with increases of 2.4% in the Americas, 3.0% in Europe, and 2.3% overseas [2][30] Group 3 - Shiseido's operating profit turned positive, but net sales showed only a slight increase of 0.82%, indicating ongoing challenges [9][30] - Kose's net sales increased by 0.9%, but its operating profit fell by 17.7%, highlighting the difficulties faced by the company [9][30] - POLA ORBIS reported a decline in net sales by 1.4%, primarily due to reduced sales from its core POLA brand [21][23] Group 4 - I-ne's skincare segment saw a significant increase of 432%, while its hair care segment declined by 10.8% [27][28] - Kao's beauty-related sales for the first half of 2025 reached 211.5 billion yen (approximately 10.32 billion RMB) and 118.5 billion yen (approximately 5.78 billion RMB) for cosmetics, with both segments showing profit growth [13][15] - Kose's high-end brand sales showed mixed results, with Sekkisei growing by 11.4% while other core brands like Decorte faced declines [16][18] Group 5 - The overall performance of Japanese cosmetics companies indicates a need for strategic adjustments, especially in light of economic downturns and increased competition in the Chinese market [37][40] - Companies are exploring growth opportunities in Southeast Asia, but face challenges from numerous competitors in these emerging markets [47][28] - The Japanese domestic market also presents challenges, with brands like Zui Xiang ceasing operations and Kose's Sekkisei facing a slight decline [42][45]

Group 1 - The article discusses the better-than-expected performance of the US economy in July, which, along with stronger-than-expected Q2 earnings, led to a reversal in the global capital "rebalancing" trend, with funds flowing back to the US [2] - Developed market indices saw an overall increase, with the Nikkei 225 rising by 3.7% and the S&P 500 increasing by 0.9% [4][5] - The article highlights the significant rebound in glass prices, which increased by 13.9% [50] Group 2 - The article notes that the US core CPI for July was weaker than expected, with a month-on-month increase of 0.3%, aligning with market expectations, but the performance of goods related to tariffs was notably weak [70][74] - The article mentions that the market's expectation for a rate cut by the Federal Reserve in September has increased, driven by the weaker-than-expected CPI data [70] Group 3 - The article reports that the US 10-year Treasury yield rose by 6.0 basis points to 4.3%, while yields in other developed countries also saw increases [22] - Emerging market 10-year Treasury yields showed mixed results, with Turkey's yield rising by 205.5 basis points to 31.2% [27] Group 4 - The article indicates that the US dollar index fell by 0.4% to 97.85, while the offshore RMB appreciated to 7.1891 against the dollar [33][43] - It also notes that commodity prices mostly declined, with WTI crude oil dropping by 1.7% to $62.8 per barrel [48]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the recent controversy surrounding Swatch's marketing campaign, which has led to significant backlash from Chinese consumers and a subsequent apology from the company. The situation is compounded by declining sales and potential impacts from U.S. tariffs on Swiss imports. Group 1: Company Response and Controversy - Swatch issued an apology on August 16, acknowledging the backlash regarding the model's portrayal in their ESSENTIALS series and has removed all related materials globally [3] - The controversy has sparked strong protests from Chinese consumers, highlighting issues of racial sensitivity in marketing [1] Group 2: Financial Performance - Swatch Group reported a sales decline of 11.2% year-on-year for the first half of 2025, with net sales at 3.059 billion Swiss francs [7][8] - The company's net profit plummeted 88% to 17 million Swiss francs, with a net profit margin of 0.6%, down from 4.3% in the previous year [7][8] - The Chinese market, which is Swatch's largest regional market, generated 2.63 billion Swiss francs in 2023, accounting for 33.3% of total sales, but saw a 30% decline in 2024 [8] Group 3: Market Conditions and Tariffs - The U.S. is Switzerland's largest export market, with 19% of Swiss exports going to the U.S. The Swiss watch industry exported 26 billion Swiss francs worth of watches in 2024, with the U.S. accounting for 16.8% of this total [12] - The recent increase in tariffs to 39% on Swiss imports by the U.S. could severely impact Swiss brands, including Swatch, which derives 18% of its sales from the U.S. market [11][14] - Analysts warn that sustained high tariffs could be devastating for many Swiss brands, as the company has already raised prices by 5% in response to earlier tariff announcements [14]

Core Viewpoint - Tariffs have re-emerged as a focal point in global economic and trade policies, particularly due to the rise of trade protectionism in the U.S. and the reevaluation of tariff policies by multiple countries amid geopolitical conflicts and fiscal pressures [5]. Summary by Sections Origin and Characteristics of Tariffs - Historically, tariffs originated as a form of transit fee for cross-border goods, primarily aimed at controlling the movement of people and goods, rather than for fiscal purposes [7]. - Tariffs have evolved from being a minor component of national fiscal systems to a crucial tool for economic intervention and revenue generation, especially since the 16th century with the rise of international trade [8][11]. Functions of Tariffs - Tariffs serve three main functions: revenue generation, protection of domestic industries, and economic regulation [11]. - The role of tariffs has shifted over time, influenced by economic development and prevailing economic ideologies, with their revenue-generating function becoming less significant in developed countries [12][19]. Evolution of Tariff Systems - The evolution of global tariff systems can be divided into five main stages from the 16th century to the present, reflecting changes in economic thought and development levels [13][14]. - **First Stage (16th-18th Century)**: Mercantilism dominated, with tariffs primarily used for revenue collection [15]. - **Second Stage (19th Century)**: The rise of free trade theories led to a reduction in tariffs in industrialized nations, while developing countries continued to rely on tariffs for revenue and protection [16]. - **Third Stage (Early 20th Century)**: Protectionism surged post-World War I, reinforcing tariffs as tools for revenue and industry protection [17]. - **Fourth Stage (Post-WWII to 2017)**: Establishment of a global free trade system led to a general decline in tariffs and a shift towards income and consumption taxes as primary revenue sources [18]. - **Fifth Stage (2018-Present)**: A resurgence of protectionism, particularly in the U.S., has seen tariffs used again for industry protection and economic regulation [19]. Dependency on Tariff Revenue - Global economies can be categorized based on their dependency on tariff revenue, with developed economies generally showing low dependency (below 3%), while some developing economies exhibit medium (3%-5%) or high dependency (over 5%) [20][23][26]. - Countries like Japan, Canada, and the U.S. have low tariff revenue contributions to their overall fiscal income, while nations like the Philippines show a high reliance on tariffs due to weaker tax systems [23][28].

Global Asset Price Performance - Global long-term government bond yields have generally risen. Major global stock markets saw an increase this week, with the S&P 500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq Composite rising by 0.9%, 1.7%, and 0.8% respectively, likely supported by stable interest rate cut expectations and a mild inflation rebound [2] - In the bond market, the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield increased by 6 basis points, attributed to rising consumer inflation expectations in Michigan [2] - Oil prices declined this week, with the IEA predicting a slowdown in oil demand growth. Gold prices weakened, reaching a new low in the past two weeks. The U.S. dollar index fell by 0.4% this week [2] Major Central Bank Monetary Policies - Inflation remains stable, supporting interest rate cut expectations. Federal Reserve officials expressed caution regarding rate cuts, preferring to wait for more data before making decisions. U.S. Treasury Secretary indicated that the Fed is considering a 50 basis point cut in September [4] - The Bank of Japan is perceived to be slow in raising interest rates, with Japanese officials downplaying external political pressures on domestic monetary policy [4] U.S. Economic Dynamics - The July CPI year-on-year growth rate remained steady at 2.7%. Core services held steady, while energy and food prices cooled, countered by rising goods prices. The PPI year-on-year growth rate increased by 0.9 percentage points to 3.3%, with the largest month-on-month increase in three years [12] - Retail sales year-on-year growth decreased by 0.4 percentage points to 3.9%, with a month-on-month increase of 0.5%. Core retail sales excluding automobiles saw a month-on-month growth of 0.3%. The Michigan consumer confidence index fell to 58.6, with one-year inflation expectations rising from 4.5% to 4.9% [14] - The imposition of tariffs on chips was noted, with Nvidia and AMD agreeing to pay 15% of their sales revenue from China to the U.S. government. Trump hinted at imposing chip tariffs potentially as high as 300% [14] Other Regional Economic Dynamics - Eurozone industrial production showed a month-on-month decline of 1.3% in June, indicating a marginal weakening in industrial production, particularly in non-durable consumer goods and capital goods [26] - Japan's economy showed strong performance with a quarterly GDP growth of 0.3% and a year-on-year growth rate of 1%, driven by increased capital expenditure and strong exports [26]