The European Central Bank meets next Thursday with policymakers relieved that the threat of fresh U.S. tariffs over President Donald Trump's demands to buy Greenland proved short-lived. ...

Core Argument - New research challenges President Trump's assertion that foreign entities are primarily responsible for funding certain expenses, indicating that this claim may not be accurate [1] Group 1 - The research presents evidence that contradicts the notion that foreigners are significantly covering costs, suggesting a need for reevaluation of funding sources [1] - It highlights the importance of understanding the actual financial contributions from foreign entities versus domestic sources [1] - The findings may have implications for policy discussions and public perception regarding foreign investment and funding [1]

Core Insights - Toyota Motor reported strong U.S. deliveries of 2,518,071 units in 2025, reflecting an 8% year-over-year increase [1][8] - Electric vehicle sales reached 1,183,248 units, up 17.6% year-over-year, constituting 47% of total sales [1][8] - The company maintained its position as the second-largest automaker in the U.S. by sales volume, following General Motors [2] Sales Performance - In Q4 2025, Toyota sold 652,195 vehicles, marking an 8.1% increase compared to Q4 2024 [3] - Electrified vehicle sales in Q4 2025 totaled 290,840 units, a 1.9% decline, accounting for 45% of total sales [3] - The Toyota division ended 2025 with sales of 2,147,811 vehicles, reflecting an 8.1% year-over-year increase [3] Division Performance - The Lexus division reported year-end 2025 sales of 370,260 vehicles, up 7.1% year-over-year [4] - In Q4 2025, Lexus division sales reached 99,685 vehicles, showing a 2.3% improvement [4] Market Dynamics - Toyota absorbed U.S. tariff costs to sustain demand, particularly for entry-level models like the Corolla sedan [5] - Executives indicated that the ability to absorb tariff-related costs may not continue in the near future [5] - Declining electric vehicle demand is a concern for Toyota moving forward [5]

Core Viewpoint - Birkenstock forecasts fiscal 2026 profit below Wall Street expectations and lower annual revenue growth due to U.S. tariffs impacting margins and cautious consumer spending affecting demand for its products [1][2]. Financial Performance - The company expects fiscal 2026 gross profit margin to be between 57% and 57.5%, down from 59.1% in 2025 [4]. - Adjusted earnings per share are forecasted to be between 1.90 and 2.05 euros, compared to the expectation of 2.08 euros [4]. - Fourth-quarter revenue was reported at 526.3 million euros ($616.88 million), slightly above analysts' average estimate of 522.6 million euros [6]. Market Conditions - U.S. import duties are expected to have a 100 basis-point impact on annual gross margins [1]. - The company anticipates more significant tariff impacts on cost of goods sold (COGS) in 2026 compared to 2025, despite having mitigated some effects through price hikes and pre-tariff shipping [3]. Growth Strategy - Birkenstock aims for annual revenue growth of 13% to 15%, which is lower than the growth rates in fiscal 2024 and 2025 [5]. - The company has been expanding its retail presence, opening 30 stores this year and planning to open about 40 more globally in fiscal 2026 [5][6]. - New collections and seasonal drops are being introduced to attract younger affluent shoppers [5].

Market Overview - The U.K. stock market's benchmark FTSE 100 is experiencing a significant decline, down 120.72 points or 1.25% at 9,554.71, marking the fourth consecutive session of losses [2] - Concerns regarding the global economic outlook, particularly related to the AI bubble, U.S. tariffs, and the Federal Reserve's policy decisions, are negatively impacting investor sentiment [1] Sector Performance - Major bank stocks such as Standard Chartered, HSBC Holdings, and Barclays have seen declines ranging from 3.2% to 3.5% [2] - Other notable declines include Anglo American Plc down 3.7%, Convatec down 3.6%, and IAG down 3.1%, with Fresnillo and Antofagasta also down nearly 3% [2] Company-Specific Movements - Companies like Schroders, WPP, Prudential, Rio Tinto, Diageo, 3i Group, Mondi, Airtel Africa, Glencore, and Rolls-Royce Holdings are also experiencing sharp declines [3] - In contrast, ICG is gaining nearly 6% due to stronger than expected earnings, while Imperial Brands is up 2.7% following a nearly 5% increase in annual adjusted operating profit [3] - Other companies such as Rightmove, BAE Systems, Sainsbury (J), AstraZeneca, British American Tobacco, and Centrica are showing modest gains [3]

Core Insights - The U.S. economy experienced a boost in spring and summer as consumers rushed to purchase new cars to avoid tariffs and take advantage of expiring tax breaks [1] - Currently, there is a noticeable decline in car shopping activity among consumers [1] Economic Impact - The rush to buy new cars was driven by the anticipation of U.S. tariffs and the expiration of certain tax incentives, indicating a temporary spike in consumer spending [1] - The shift in consumer behavior suggests a potential slowdown in the automotive sector, which could impact overall economic growth [1]

Core Viewpoint - Panasonic Holdings has reduced its full-year operating profit forecast by 13.5% primarily due to a decline in profit from its energy unit, which supplies batteries to Tesla and other automakers [1][2]. Financial Performance - The revised operating profit forecast for Panasonic is now 320 billion yen ($2.12 billion) for the fiscal year ending March 2026, down from the previous expectation of 370 billion yen [1]. - The energy unit's operating profit saw a dramatic decline of 96.4%, reporting only 1.2 billion yen for the second quarter ending September, compared to the same period last year [3]. Market Conditions - The forecast adjustment reflects the impact of U.S. tariffs, lower-than-expected sales volumes, reduced benefits from U.S. federal tax credits for the automotive battery sector, and higher-than-anticipated restructuring costs [2]. - Panasonic has also reduced its automotive battery sales projection for North America by 13% to 40 gigawatt hours (GWh) for the fiscal year 2025/26, citing worsening EV market conditions in the U.S. [4]. Industry Context - LG Energy Solution, a competitor, has also lowered its earnings guidance, predicting a mid-single-digit percentage decline in 2025 sales due to the expiration of U.S. tax credits for electric vehicle purchases, which contrasts with its previous growth expectations of 5% to 10% [3].

Inflation has been creeping higher from a postpandemic low of 2.3% earlier this year due in part to the highest U.S. tariffs in decades. ...

Core Insights - Abbott missed third-quarter revenue estimates due to weaknesses in its diagnostics and nutrition businesses, despite strong demand for medical devices [1][3] - The company is facing challenges from declining COVID-19 testing demand, new U.S. tariffs, and a freeze on foreign aid [1] Financial Performance - Total revenue for the quarter ended September 30 was $11.37 billion, slightly below analysts' estimate of $11.40 billion [3] - Adjusted profit per share was reported at $1.30, aligning with analysts' expectations [5] - Annual adjusted profit is now expected to be between $5.12 and $5.18 per share, a slight adjustment from the previous range of $5.10 to $5.20 [5] Business Segments - The medical devices segment outperformed estimates, driven by sales of heart devices and continuous glucose monitors [3] - The nutrition business, particularly the pediatric division, faced challenges due to competition and lawsuits related to its specialized formula for premature infants [4] Market Conditions - The diagnostics division is experiencing pricing pressure from China's procurement program, which purchases medical devices at significant discounts [2] - CEO Robert Ford indicated that growth in China is around 5% to 7% when excluding the diagnostics segment [2] - Current headwinds are viewed by RBC Capital Markets analysts as "transitory" [2][3] Regulatory Impact - Abbott expects a financial hit of under $200 million from current tariffs this year but does not anticipate a significant impact from the Section 232 probes into medical device imports [5]

Core Insights - Americans are reducing their credit card usage in August, indicating a trend of caution among households [1] Economic Context - Households are facing persistent inflation, a challenging job market, and ongoing economic uncertainty related to U.S. tariffs [1]