The U.K. stock market's benchmark FTSE 100 is down sharply in negative territory on Tuesday, extending losses to a fourth straight session, with several counters across various sectors seeing a sell-off amid concerns about the outlook for global .Rising worries about AI bubble, uncertainty surrounding the Federal Reserve's upcoming policy moves, and concerns about the potential impact of U.S. tariffs on global economic growth appear to be weighing on investor sentiment.The FTSE 100, was down 120.72 points ...

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]

Economic Outlook - Japan's factory output fell 1.2% in August, exceeding the median market forecast of a 0.8% decline, raising uncertainties about the economic outlook [2][8] - Retail sales in Japan declined 1.1% year-on-year in August, marking the first decline in 42 months, contrary to the expected 1.0% increase [7][8] Industrial Production - The production of electrical machinery and information and communication electronics equipment fell 5.7% in August, while fabricated metal production decreased by 7.8% [3] - Motor vehicle production increased by 2.5% in August, attributed to higher output for models sold overseas and an easing parts shortage [5] Trade and Tariffs - A trade deal between Washington and Tokyo established a baseline 15% tariff on nearly all Japanese imports, down from an initial 27.5% on autos, providing some relief to Japanese exporters [4] - Analysts express caution, noting that higher U.S. import tariffs under the trade deal are negatively impacting shipments from Japanese manufacturers [6] Bank of Japan's Stance - The Bank of Japan is likely to maintain its current interest rates due to the dismal economic data, with Governor Kazuo Ueda indicating a preference for more data before making decisions on rate hikes [6][8]

Core Viewpoint - The company, founded by industry titan Martin Sorrell, has lowered its like-for-like net revenue projection for the second time in three months, citing volatility partly triggered by U.S. tariffs [1] Group 1 - The company has experienced significant volatility in its operations [1] - The reduction in revenue projections indicates challenges in the current market environment [1] - U.S. tariffs are identified as a contributing factor to the company's financial adjustments [1]

Core Insights - Jeremy Szafron has joined Kitco News as an anchor and producer, bringing a wealth of experience in journalism, particularly in finance and commodities [1][5] Background and Career Development - Jeremy began his journalism career in 2006 at CTV, initially focusing on entertainment before transitioning to business reporting, particularly in mining and small-cap companies [2] - He gained recognition for his macro-financial and market trends analysis, becoming a sought-after commentator on CTV Morning Live and CTV News Network [2] - A significant highlight of his career was covering the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games, which led to the development of an online video news program for PressReader, a digital newsstand with 8,000 editions in 60 languages [3] Digital Media and Industry Focus - In 2012, Jeremy launched The Green Scene Podcast, which quickly attracted over 400,000 subscribers, establishing him as a prominent voice in the cannabis industry [4] - Following this success, he created Investor Scene and Initiate Research, platforms that provide exclusive market insights and deal-flow opportunities in mining and Canadian small-cap sectors [4] Professional Expertise - Jeremy has experience as a market strategist and investor relations consultant for various publicly traded companies across mining, energy, consumer packaged goods (CPG), and technology industries [5] - He holds a BA in Journalism from Concordia University, which has supported his diverse career trajectory [5]

Group 1 - The article discusses the experience and background of Ernest Hoffman, a Crypto and Market Reporter for Kitco News, highlighting his 15 years in media and market news [3] - Hoffman established the broadcast division of CEP News in Montreal, creating a fast web-based audio news service and producing economic news videos [3] Group 2 - The article includes a disclaimer stating that the views expressed may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. and emphasizes the importance of accuracy in the information provided [4]