By Lucia Mutikani WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. consumer spending increased slightly more than expected in August as households went on vacation and dined out, keeping the economy on solid ground as the third quarter progressed, while inflation continued to steadily pick up. The report from the Commerce Department on Friday suggested the economy has so far retained most of its momentum from the April-June quarter. Signs of the economy's resilience evident in other data this week showing low layoffs and stro ...

Group 1 - European stocks are expected to open flat to slightly lower as a busy week for central bank meetings and key economic releases concludes [1] - U.S. stock futures increased after FedEx reinstated its full-year profit outlook, indicating positive sentiment in the market [1] - The Bank of Japan maintained steady interest rates and announced plans to offload exchange-traded funds, impacting Asian markets [2] Group 2 - U.S. jobless claims dropped significantly, suggesting resilience in the U.S. economy and reducing recession fears [3] - Gold prices increased while oil prices decreased as traders awaited further sanctions on Russian oil [4] - U.S. stocks reached record highs, with Nvidia agreeing to invest $5 billion in Intel Corp, reflecting strong corporate activity [4] Group 3 - The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite rose by 0.9%, S&P 500 increased by 0.5%, and Dow Jones gained 0.3% following the Federal Reserve's interest rate cut [5] - European stocks closed higher, with the pan-European STOXX 600 advancing by 0.8%, driven by positive reactions to central bank decisions [5]

Ghent, 18 July 2025 – 19.30 hrs Press release / Regulated information Highlights first half-year 2025 With sales of 53.6 million euros in the first half, the group achieved 17.7% growth. The 2nd semester 2024 acquisitions were integrated for the first time, with an impact of 9.6%. We also achieved 8.1% organic growth.Belgium and France generated a growth of 17.6% and 12.8% respectively (both +2.8 million euros), the Netherlands achieved a growth of 32.5% (+2.4 million euros).The Monitoring & Infrastructure ...

America’s economic resilience owes much to its strong fundamentals. More immediate boosts are helping, too https://t.co/TRMTmPL57b ...

Malaysia’s industrial production grew at a faster-than-expected pace for a second straight month, underscoring signs of a resilient economy that prompted the central bank to keep interest rates unchanged last week https://t.co/azUrW4pf6R ...

From @WSJopinion: Israel’s economic resilience should be attributed not to indifference but to resolve in the face of adversity—and to a remarkable potential for growth, writes Nimrod Sapir https://t.co/x0roxlpv7K ...

Economic Impact of Tariffs - The economic fallout from Trump's "Liberation Day" tariff announcements has been milder than expected, with no immediate signs of empty store shelves or significant inflation increases [2][3] - Recent job data revisions indicate a downward trend, with May and June job gains revised to under 20,000, while the unemployment rate slightly increased to 4.2% in July [3][4] - The stability observed in economic indicators does not equate to strength, and experts caution against assuming this stability will continue [4][5] Tariff Implementation and Corporate Resilience - Tariffs have not been implemented as aggressively as initially announced, with many exemptions and delays introduced [5][6] - Strong corporate balance sheets have provided a buffer against the economic impact of tariffs, making the U.S. economy more shock-resistant [6] - The effects of tariffs take time to materialize, as companies like Rock City Coffee and Procter & Gamble have begun raising prices due to increased costs [7][9] Corporate Responses to Tariffs - Companies like General Motors and Ford are absorbing tariff costs, leading to significant financial impacts, including projected losses of $4-5 billion for GM by 2025 [9][10] - The current tariff policy is seen as reactive and inconsistent, disadvantaging many American companies while failing to align with their economic realities [10][11] Market Reactions and Investment Strategies - Despite the tariff impacts, equity prices remain strong, with companies absorbing costs or passing them on to consumers [12][13] - The market's response may not be rational, with signs of froth in credit markets, emphasizing the need for selectivity in investment [13][14] Company Performance Highlights - Amazon reported strong Q2 performance with earnings per share of $1.68, revenue of $167.7 billion, and AWS revenue growth of 17% [16][18] - Google maintained a stable search engine market share and reported a 12% increase in search revenue, alongside strong performance in its cloud and YouTube segments [19][21] - Novo Nordisk faced challenges due to competition from illegal alternatives to its weight loss drug, leading to lowered sales growth guidance [22][23]

Core Viewpoint - Despite various adverse factors affecting global economic development, Egypt's economic outlook remains resilient according to Standard Chartered Bank's report [1] Economic Stability - The report highlights ongoing macroeconomic stability, strong foreign exchange inflows, and significant investment commitments as evidence of confidence in Egypt's economic prospects [1] GDP Growth Forecast - The current GDP growth forecast for Egypt for the fiscal year 2025/2026 is maintained at 4.5%, emphasizing the critical role of private sector investment in the country's economic recovery [1]

Market Outlook & Economic Growth - HSBC raises S&P 500 target to 6400, with a bull case of 7000 driven by AI optimism [2] - AI is seen as the primary driver of US economic growth, as consumer spending and labor market gains slow down [3] - The market may be adjusting to a slower pace of economic and services growth [4] - Earnings growth is concentrated in S&P 100 and Nasdaq companies, particularly in industrial sectors related to grid and data center build-outs [5] - Cloud computing and data center related activities are experiencing significant growth [6] Interest Rates & Fed Policy - Potential Fed rate cuts could revitalize the housing market and boost consumer spending [7] - The market is in a historically choppy period, with uncertainty surrounding the Fed's actions [9] - The market is awaiting signals from the Federal Reserve regarding potential rate cuts in September, which could stimulate the housing market [11] - There's debate on whether the Fed will cut rates due to concerns about inflation remaining above target, even with a potentially weakening labor market [14] - Some believe the Fed will prioritize caution and cut rates at the first sign of labor market weakness [15] Market Volatility & Investment Strategy - August is typically a volatile month for market performance [10][12] - Small position sizing is recommended in the current choppy market environment due to uncertainty about Fed rate cuts [13] - A potential 5-7% pullback from the high is anticipated, possibly triggered by weaker-than-expected ISM services data [19] - The market's reaction to upcoming jobless claims data will be important [20]

_Before trading options, please read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options here: https://www.theocc.com/Company-Information/Documents-and-Archives/Options-Disclosure-Document_ Tony discusses economic resilience, steady rates, and labor market deterioration. He then shares a trade idea for a data storage solutions company and looks back to a recent trade for an automotive company. Questions? Drop them below 👇 and we’ll reply right in the comments. - For more about In the Money: https://www.fideli ...