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China’s Tight Grip on Rare Earth Exports Exposes Global Supply Vulnerabilities

China’s recent resumption of rare earth magnet shipments has done little to reassure global manufacturers and governments that supply shocks are a thing of the past. After imposing export restrictions in April in retaliation for heightened U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods, Beijing has begun issuing...

Global High-End Brands Embrace Conceptual Stores to Revive Sales in China

As luxury spending cools under wider economic pressures, leading fashion houses and jewelers are turning to elaborate, experience-driven environments to reignite consumer interest and bolster flagging revenues. From Tokyo to Paris and Shanghai, conceptual stores—spaces that blend retail with...

Chinese Carmakers Drive into Africa to Capture Next Growth Frontier

In a bold pivot away from saturated Western markets, leading Chinese automobile manufacturers are intensifying their push into Africa, enticed by the continent’s rapid urbanisation, burgeoning middle class and untapped automotive demand. With trade tensions and hefty import tariffs dampening...

Oil Markets on Edge as Iran-Israel Truce Reshapes Price Dynamics

A ceasefire between Israel and Iran, brokered late last week, has sent ripples through global oil markets, driving prices higher amid cautious optimism that supply disruptions may be avoided. While Brent crude briefly dipped near multi-week lows ahead of the truce, buyers have re-emerged, pushing...

Tapering Tensions in Middle East Weighs on Gold as Ceasefire Hope Ripples Through Markets

Spot gold erased early gains on Tuesday, plunging over 1% to a two-week low as hopes for a lasting ceasefire between Israel and Iran undercut bullion’s appeal as a safe-haven asset. In Asian trade, spot prices sank to $3,318.60 per ounce before rebounding modestly to hover near $3,326.33 by...

Europe Accelerates Drive for Digital Sovereignty Amid U.S. Tech Dominance

Europe’s push for “digital sovereignty” has surged to the forefront of policy debates and consumer behavior across the continent. Fueled by concerns over data privacy, geopolitical uncertainty, and the outsized influence of American technology giants, governments, businesses, and everyday users are...

Oil Markets on Edge as Investors Anticipate Surge After U.S. Strikes on Iran

President Donald Trump’s announcement on June 21 that U.S. forces had carried out precision strikes on Iran’s Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear facilities has set global financial markets on edge. With trading floors in Europe and Asia reopening Sunday evening, investors are warning that oil...

Beijing Grapples with Deepening Real Estate Slump as Demographics and Debt Take Their Toll

China’s property sector, once a pillar of rapid economic expansion, has entered its fourth consecutive year of contraction, with home prices, sales and investment all registering sharp declines. What began as a liquidity crisis among heavily indebted developers has morphed into a broader malaise...

Fed Policymakers Divided Over Balancing Inflation Risks and Timing of Rate Cuts

The Federal Reserve’s recent policymaking sessions have underscored a growing divide among its leadership over whether to continue guarding against upside inflation risks or to pivot more decisively toward interest‑rate reductions. In public remarks following June’s decision to hold the federal...

Humanoid Robotics Set to Reshape AI Server Manufacturing in Houston

Nvidia and Foxconn are poised to break new ground in factory automation with plans to deploy humanoid robots at Foxconn’s upcoming AI server manufacturing facility in Houston. If realized, this initiative would mark a watershed moment in the convergence of advanced robotics and large‑scale...

Stalled Listings: Global IPO Market Falters in 2025 Amid Policy Shifts and Economic Headwinds

Global equity markets have witnessed an abrupt stall in initial public offerings this year, as trade tensions, central-bank tightening and persistent market turbulence have dampened appetite for new listings. Through mid‑June, worldwide IPO proceeds have slipped to their lowest annual level in...

China’s Inexpensive Electric Vehicles Flood Brazil’s Market

Late last month, the world’s largest car-carrying vessel—capable of bearing the equivalent of 20 football fields’ worth of automobiles—made its maiden call at Itajaí, Brazil’s bustling southern port. On board, some 5,500 battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) from China’s BYD, the world’s leading...
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