Financial Trade
Amazon Hits 1 Million Robots, Launches DeepFleet AI to Revolutionize Logistics with "Second-Level Response"
Recently, Amazon announced that the number of its robots deployed globally has reached 1 million, and launched a generative AI foundation model named DeepFleet, bringing a major transformation to the logistics industry and opening a new era of "second - level response".
Title: Trump Imposes 50% Punitive Tariffs on Brazil, Launches Unfair - Trade Probe
Local - time on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump turned his trade anger towards Brazil, the largest economy in Latin America. He announced a 50% punitive tariff on Brazilian goods exported to the US and ordered an investigation into "unfair trade practices", which may lead to higher tariffs. The new tariff will take effect on August 1, much higher than the 10% tariff imposed on Brazil on April 2 this year.
New Zealand Central Bank Pauses Rate Cuts as Recession Risks Loom
On July 9, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) kept the Official Cash Rate (OCR) steady at 3.25%, in line with market expectations. This pause brings an end to six consecutive rate cuts since August 2023, during which the rate was slashed by a cumulative 225 basis points.
RBA Pauses Rate Cuts; Mortgage Stress Shows Regional Divergence
Australia’s central bank held its cash rate at 3.85% on July 9, with the Monetary Policy Committee voting 6-3 to wait. While May inflation dipped to 2.1% (core 2.4%, a 3.5-year low), June’s CPI was "slightly stronger than expected," and rising global trade policy uncertainties—like U.S. tariff hikes—prompted the RBA to seek more data confirming inflation’s steady move toward the 2.5% target.
Trump Tariffs Jolt Australian Stocks; Gold Mining Sector Leads Declines
Australia’s stock market fell across the board on July 9, with the S&P/ASX 200 dropping 0.61% to 8,538.6 points. Markets reeled after Trump announced plans to impose 50% tariffs on imported copper (effective as early as late July) and 200% on pharmaceuticals, triggering a 13.1% daily surge in copper prices—their biggest jump since 1989.
Canada's S&P/TSX Rises 0.35% as Real Estate Leads, Tariff Impact Muted
Canada’s S&P/TSX Composite Index ended a two-day slide, edging up 0.35% to 26,998.66 on July 9, with real estate stocks leading gains. Markets reacted divergently to Trump’s 50% copper tariff plan (effective as early as late July) and extended trade talks to August 1: the real estate index (.GSPTTRE) rose 0.5% on H&R REIT’s (HR_u.TO) 4.7% surge amid Blackstone acquisition talks.
Japan's Corporate Bankruptcies Hit 11-Year Half-Year High, Pressures Mount
Japan saw 4,990 corporate bankruptcies in H1 2025, up 1.19% year-on-year and the highest H1 tally since 2014. Small businesses bore the brunt: 172 firms collapsed directly due to labor shortages—a record—with 89.8% of failed companies employing fewer than 10 people. They faced a vicious cycle: forced to raise wages but unable to absorb costs, widening the "pay gap" with large corporations.
UK Stocks Trade Sideways; Energy Sector Under Pressure
London’s stock markets saw mixed trading on July 7, with the FTSE 100 flat and the FTSE 250 mid-cap index edging up 0.2%, as focus remained on the U.S. delaying tariff implementation to August 1 and progress in trade talks.
RBNZ Likely to Pause Rate Cuts This Week; Economic Outlook Faces Pressures
New Zealand’s Reserve Bank (RBNZ) is expected to keep the Official Cash Rate (OCR) unchanged at 3.25% on July 10, pausing its streak of six consecutive rate cuts since August 2024. Market expectations for a cut this week stand at just 15%, though most forecasts anticipate 25–50 basis points of easing by November. ANZ Bank holds a differing view, assigning a 40% probability of a cut and projecting cumulative 75 basis points of reductions by February 2025, bringing the OCR to 2.5%.