To The Moon

Big-Tech’s PerformanceMacro Headlines This Week:Prolonged U.S. Government Shutdown Adds to Policy UncertaintyThe ongoing U.S. government shutdown has now become one of the longest on record. The policy backdrop remains characterized by a triple squeeze: loose expectations, weak macro data, and rising institutional risks. Although the Fed still has room to cut rates, the path forward remains unclear.U.S. Economy in a “Structural Caution” PhaseEmployment remains weak and layoffs are rising, though the service sector continues to show resilience. The government shutdown has created data blind spots, complicating policy assessment. Meanwhile, trade and tariff uncertainty remain key external risks. For both policymakers and investors, the medium-term environment suggests slower growth, inflatio

Big-Tech’s PerformanceMacro Headlines This Week:October FOMC meeting left the door open to a rate cut but delivered a hawkish tone. Chair Jerome Powell noted that while employment-data flashes some weakness, inflation risks remain elevated — which left investors questioning the path ahead. The latest initial jobless claims (Oct 25) showed a modest softening in the labour market: the unemployment rate held at 4.3%, and non-farm payrolls added only 22 k jobs, far below expectations, further supporting the Fed’s “pre-emptive” easing stance.Trade developments were intense this week. On the 25th the U.S. announced a pause in negotiations with Canada and slapped a 10% tariff, stoking concerns about North American supply-chains. Meanwhile, U.S.–China talks showed movement. The Senate, however, re

Big-Tech’s PerformanceMacro Headlines This Week:The week's macroeconomic narrative was dominated by two prominent headwinds. First, the government shutdown has led to data blackouts and heightened risks around policy implementation. Second, external risks—particularly those tied to US-China trade tensions—have re-entered the market's line of sight. Declining employment confidence signals potential further softening in consumer spending. Overall, the path to a "soft landing" for the economy feels increasingly fragile, leaving policymakers and markets alike in a holding pattern, awaiting the next data release or policy move.The Fed finds itself caught in a tug-of-war between its "eagerness for monetary easing" and the "harsh reality of shaky data." While markets are pricing in more rate cuts

Big-Tech’s PerformanceMacro Headlines This Week:Regional banks lighting up the risk fuse again? Earnings from mid-tier players like $Zions(ZION)$ showed credit quality tanking, with bad debt rates spiking over 3%, sparking fresh panic about the whole regional banking sector. It's got echoes of the 2023 SVB meltdown, but this time the spotlight's on private credit woes—corporate defaults are climbing to 5% in this high-rate world, putting serious pressure on smaller banks' balance sheets. Add in the ISM manufacturing index unexpectedly dipping to 47.2 (way below forecasts), signaling economic slowdown vibes. Markets freaked: $Cboe Volatility Index(VIX)$ surged, gold

Big-Tech’s PerformanceMacro Headlines This Week:The U.S. government shutdown continues to ripple through the economy. Since entering shutdown mode on October 1, select federal agencies have halted normal operations, delaying data releases and curtailing government contracts and project spending. Key economic indicators—like employment and manufacturing reports—are proving hard to release on time, reducing market visibility. That said, CPI data is still slated for release on October 24, thanks to the Labor Department recalling some staff to compile it (to avoid unduly influencing the Fed). Meanwhile, several state economies are showing contraction signals, with heavyweights like California and New York nearing inflection points.Tariff threats are reigniting tensions. Trump posted on social

Big-Tech’s PerformanceMacro Headlines This Week:Government Shutdown Kicks Off, But Non-Farm Payrolls Might Still Drop? As of midnight on October 1, the US federal government ground to a halt after Congress failed to pass a funding bill for the new fiscal year. A bunch of federal agencies are either partially or fully offline—think stats offices pausing data dumps (like jobs reports and inflation numbers), regulatory reviews dragging their feet, and government contracts/aid programs hitting pause. With the Fed's FOMC meeting looming at the end of October, this mess is seriously fogging up the policy outlook. That said, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) could still roll out September's jobs data since it's already in the bag.Job Signals Looking Shaky, Yet Stocks Keep Grinding Higher? The

Big-Tech’s PerformanceMacro Headlines This Week:The market is reassessing rate cut expectations. Due to slightly stronger economic data (particularly employment-related indicators), the market has been forced to adjust its expectations for further rate cuts. Some participants are questioning whether the labor market is more resilient than anticipated, leading to a resurgence in the U.S. dollar's strength. The three major indices all hit weekly lows as investors worry that the Federal Reserve might slow the pace of rate cuts. Meanwhile, technical corrections and profit-taking emerged in the market, with U.S. Treasury yields (long-end) rising, putting pressure on high-valuation tech and growth stocks.Political pressures on central bank independence, potential U.S. government shutdown, and co

Big-Tech’s PerformanceMacro Headlines This Week:The Fed's first rate cut in nearly a year signals a softening labor market. On September 16, the Federal Reserve lowered the federal funds rate by 25 basis points—the first cut since December 2024. The decision was driven primarily by weakness in the labor market and inflation that remains not fully under control. The Fed's economic projections (dot plot) indicate there could be two more rate cuts in 2025 (in October and December). However, internal opinions aren't fully aligned; new board member Stephen Miran advocates for a larger cut, while some officials remain wary of upside inflation risks. With job growth slowing but inflation still sticky, economists are once again warning of the risk of "stagflation" in the U.S. (slow growth + high i

Big-Tech’s Performance​Macro Headlines This Week:​​​Indices Hit New Highs Amid Increased Volatility.​​ The three major indices repeatedly set new closing records this week, with the Nasdaq performing particularly strongly, driven by tech stocks. However, due to disappointing inflation (CPI rose to 2.9% year-on-year from 2.7% in July) and employment data (approximately 22,000 new jobs added, which is relatively low; the unemployment rate rose to about 4.3%, and initial jobless claims surged to 263,000), market sentiment began to diverge, and concerns about stagflation (stagnation + inflation) intensified.​​Oracle's Surge Sparks Debate Over AI Concept Hype.​​ The AI narrative received a boost from ORCL's earnings report and positive cloud service contracts, leading to a one-day surge of appr

Big-Tech’s PerformanceMacro Headlines This Week: September seasonality and event-driven risks. Investors remain cautious on September’s historically weak performance — the month that has often been the worst for equities. Key events included preliminary announcements on the Russell index reconstitution, heightened sensitivity to upcoming labor market data and the Fed’s policy decision. Equity trading volumes were thin around the holiday, but tech and growth stocks led the market higher.Labor market weakness boosts rate cut expectations. ADP private payrolls added only 54k jobs (below consensus 69k). Initial jobless claims spiked to 237k (vs. 229k expected), showing persistent upward momentum and pressure in the labor market. Meanwhile, the ISM Services PMI climbed to 52, signaling expansio

Big-Tech’s Performance​Macro Headlines This Week: Focus on a September rate cut? Divergence in tech earnings.The Fed's "dovish pivot" has fueled market expectations. At the Jackson Hole meeting, Fed Chair Powell signaled a potential rate cut in September, seen as a policy shift, sparking global optimism about an easing cycle. The US dollar is on track for a monthly decline as markets increase bets on rate cuts. The core PCE inflation data, the Fed's preferred gauge, is due this week. If it rises as expected, it could influence the timing of the rate cut.Trump's recent attempts to remove Fed Governor Lisa Cook are ongoing, raising concerns about the Fed's independence. This adds a new risk dimension for the Fed, while markets view Powell's "dovish pivot" as still tentative.Markets continued

Big-Tech’s Performance​Macro Headlines This Week: Market in divergence while techs in correctionThe three major US stock indexes experienced a sustained decline this week, with the $S&P 500(.SPX)$ recording a "five-day losing streak." technology stocks were broadly under pressure, and the consumer sector was significantly dragged down by $Wal-Mart(WMT)$ (the first time in three years that profits fell short of expectations, reflecting the pressure of tariffs pushing up costs), whileU.S. Treasury yields rose across the board. Market concerns over the Fed's hawkish stance intensified, with the bond market reacting based on the logic of "stagflation trading" — conflicting economic data (strong manufacturi

Big-Tech’s Performance​Macro Headlines This Week: High Rate Cut Expectations, but Uncertainty Emerges​​​​Data Divergence Increases Policy Difficulty.​​ July CPI (+2.9% YoY) and Core CPI (+3.2% YoY) both undershot expectations, strengthening market bets on a Fed rate cut within the year, pushing the probability of a September cut above 80%. However, a subsequent surge in PPI reignited inflation concerns, suggesting tariffs are shifting from a short-term to a structural impact. The Fed must now balance growth and inflation risks. $Cboe Volatility Index(VIX)$ ​​Fed Independence Remains in Focus.​​ Fed officials expressed divergent views: Bowman cited weak jobs data as supporting three more cuts this year; Schmid advocated holding rates at 4.25%–4.50%;

Big-Tech’s Performance​Macro Headlines This Week: Tariff Escalation? Fed Divisions Emerge; US Stock Structure Diverges​​Chain Reaction from Deteriorating Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP)?​​ May-June NFP was cumulatively revised down by 258K (the largest downward revision since May 2020), July job additions were only 73K (versus 110K expected), the unemployment rate rose to 4.2%, while this week's continuing jobless claims reached 1.97 million (highest since November 2021), signaling rapid cooling in the labor market. On one hand, the methodological differences between the NFP and ADP employment reports technically contribute to this gap. On the other hand, Trump seized this opportunity to replace the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner appointed during the Biden administration with his own appo

Big-Tech’s Performance​Macro Headlines This Week: Rising Tariffs? Fed Disagreement; Structural Divergence in U.S. StocksTrump’s “Transactional Hegemony”Using tariffs as leverage to forcibly reshape global trade rules—short-term, it creates room for domestic industries, but long-term, it undermines the stability of global supply chains. His push for rate cuts is essentially laying the groundwork for fiscal expansion, fundamentally conflicting with the Fed's inflation mandate. On July 31, Trump signed an executive order imposing tariffs of 10% to 41% on goods from 92 countries, pushing the U.S. Dollar Index above 100—the highest level in nearly three years.The Fed’s Crisis of IndependenceThe Fed held rates steady in July. At the press conference, Chair Powell emphasized a “wait and see” appr

Big-Tech’s Performance​Macro Headlines This Week: Tariff Escalation? Fed Division; Structural Divergence in US Stocks​​​​Tariff Tug-of-War:​​ Mixed signals emerged on the tariff front. The US-Japan trade framework was finalized, featuring mutual 15% tariffs, $550 billion in Japanese corporate investment in the US, the launch of a US-Japan LNG joint venture in Alaska, and the opening of Japan's agricultural market. External parties raised concerns about the agreement's funding mechanism and return structure, suggesting it appears more like a political gesture than a concrete investment plan. Concurrently, Japan faces domestic political shifts, contributing to the Yen's position as the weakest major non-US currency recently.​​Can the Fed Resist Pressure in July?​​ On July 22nd, President Tru

Big-Tech’s PerformanceMacro Headlines This Week: Tariff Escalation? Fed Divided; U.S. Markets Enter Structural RotationTariff Escalation:Early this week, Donald Trump announced new tariffs ranging from 25% to 40% on goods from countries including Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and South Africa. The announcement on July 7 triggered immediate market panic. On July 9, Trump expanded the global trade war further by imposing a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods and planning a similar 50% tax on copper, set to take effect on August 1. While long-term impacts remain uncertain, copper prices surged in the short term, boosting related mining and metal stocks. Data suggests that uncertainty from this cross-border trade war is gradually seeping into corporate earnings and consumer costs.Federal Reserve Div

Big-Tech’s PerformanceMacro Headlines This Week:“The Great and Beautiful” bill passes; conflicting employment data; U.S.-Vietnam tariff deal reached, but July 9 deadline looms?The "Great and Beautiful" Bill, championed by Trump, passed the Senate in a 50-50 tie (with Vance casting the decisive vote). The House also approved it on July 3, and it's expected to be signed into law on July 4. While markets fear it may worsen the fiscal deficit, it could provide a short-term economic boost — potentially just the beginning. In response, Elon Musk once again lashed out, threatening to form a new political force to oppose it.Employment Data Clash:June ADP report showed a drop of 33,000 jobs (vs. forecast of +98,000), pushing the probability of a July rate cut to over 27%.However, the next day, the

Big-Tech’s PerformanceWeek Macro Highlights: Diverging Markets Amid Peace; Is the Fed Splitting Too?The Israel-Iran conflict appears to have reached a temporary conclusion this week. Although the U.S. launched strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities, escalating tensions, a ceasefire was soon reached between Israel and Iran, easing market concerns. U.S. equities showed divergence: while the Nasdaq 100, driven by tech stocks, hit new highs, the Dow Jones, with its traditional energy sector heavyweights, remained below its peak.Fed Chair Jerome Powell is facing off directly with Trump. Regardless of Trump's accusations that he's acting “too late,” Powell remained unmoved on rate cuts. In his congressional testimony this week, he emphasized a reluctance to “take the blame” and expressed co

Big-Tech’s PerformanceWeekly Macro Highlights: The showdown between the bigwigs With May’s CPI continuing to decline—core inflation easing even further—Trump launched a fierce attack on Powell at the White House this week, urging a rate cut and even specifying a "2 percentage point" reduction. Although his claim of saving $600 billion annually may not materialize, the reality is that with ballooning U.S. debt, government interest expenses are under significant pressure. On June 13, he went so far as to call Powell a “blockhead.” However, Powell remained committed to data-driven policy and resisting political interference, with no signs of easing tension. The market is closely watching the Fed's next moves.In macro markets, U.S. long-term bond yields fell by 6–8bps as expectations of Fed ra

Big-Tech’s PerformanceMacro Headlines This Week:Prolonged U.S. Government Shutdown Adds to Policy UncertaintyThe ongoing U.S. government shutdown has now become one of the longest on record. The policy backdrop remains characterized by a triple squeeze: loose expectations, weak macro data, and rising institutional risks. Although the Fed still has room to cut rates, the path forward remains unclear.U.S. Economy in a “Structural Caution” PhaseEmployment remains weak and layoffs are rising, though the service sector continues to show resilience. The government shutdown has created data blind spots, complicating policy assessment. Meanwhile, trade and tariff uncertainty remain key external risks. For both policymakers and investors, the medium-term environment suggests slower growth, inflatio

Big-Tech’s PerformanceMacro Headlines This Week:October FOMC meeting left the door open to a rate cut but delivered a hawkish tone. Chair Jerome Powell noted that while employment-data flashes some weakness, inflation risks remain elevated — which left investors questioning the path ahead. The latest initial jobless claims (Oct 25) showed a modest softening in the labour market: the unemployment rate held at 4.3%, and non-farm payrolls added only 22 k jobs, far below expectations, further supporting the Fed’s “pre-emptive” easing stance.Trade developments were intense this week. On the 25th the U.S. announced a pause in negotiations with Canada and slapped a 10% tariff, stoking concerns about North American supply-chains. Meanwhile, U.S.–China talks showed movement. The Senate, however, re

Big-Tech’s PerformanceMacro Headlines This Week:The week's macroeconomic narrative was dominated by two prominent headwinds. First, the government shutdown has led to data blackouts and heightened risks around policy implementation. Second, external risks—particularly those tied to US-China trade tensions—have re-entered the market's line of sight. Declining employment confidence signals potential further softening in consumer spending. Overall, the path to a "soft landing" for the economy feels increasingly fragile, leaving policymakers and markets alike in a holding pattern, awaiting the next data release or policy move.The Fed finds itself caught in a tug-of-war between its "eagerness for monetary easing" and the "harsh reality of shaky data." While markets are pricing in more rate cuts

Big-Tech’s PerformanceMacro Headlines This Week:Regional banks lighting up the risk fuse again? Earnings from mid-tier players like $Zions(ZION)$ showed credit quality tanking, with bad debt rates spiking over 3%, sparking fresh panic about the whole regional banking sector. It's got echoes of the 2023 SVB meltdown, but this time the spotlight's on private credit woes—corporate defaults are climbing to 5% in this high-rate world, putting serious pressure on smaller banks' balance sheets. Add in the ISM manufacturing index unexpectedly dipping to 47.2 (way below forecasts), signaling economic slowdown vibes. Markets freaked: $Cboe Volatility Index(VIX)$ surged, gold

Big-Tech’s PerformanceMacro Headlines This Week:The U.S. government shutdown continues to ripple through the economy. Since entering shutdown mode on October 1, select federal agencies have halted normal operations, delaying data releases and curtailing government contracts and project spending. Key economic indicators—like employment and manufacturing reports—are proving hard to release on time, reducing market visibility. That said, CPI data is still slated for release on October 24, thanks to the Labor Department recalling some staff to compile it (to avoid unduly influencing the Fed). Meanwhile, several state economies are showing contraction signals, with heavyweights like California and New York nearing inflection points.Tariff threats are reigniting tensions. Trump posted on social

Big-Tech’s PerformanceMacro Headlines This Week:Government Shutdown Kicks Off, But Non-Farm Payrolls Might Still Drop? As of midnight on October 1, the US federal government ground to a halt after Congress failed to pass a funding bill for the new fiscal year. A bunch of federal agencies are either partially or fully offline—think stats offices pausing data dumps (like jobs reports and inflation numbers), regulatory reviews dragging their feet, and government contracts/aid programs hitting pause. With the Fed's FOMC meeting looming at the end of October, this mess is seriously fogging up the policy outlook. That said, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) could still roll out September's jobs data since it's already in the bag.Job Signals Looking Shaky, Yet Stocks Keep Grinding Higher? The

Big-Tech’s PerformanceMacro Headlines This Week:The market is reassessing rate cut expectations. Due to slightly stronger economic data (particularly employment-related indicators), the market has been forced to adjust its expectations for further rate cuts. Some participants are questioning whether the labor market is more resilient than anticipated, leading to a resurgence in the U.S. dollar's strength. The three major indices all hit weekly lows as investors worry that the Federal Reserve might slow the pace of rate cuts. Meanwhile, technical corrections and profit-taking emerged in the market, with U.S. Treasury yields (long-end) rising, putting pressure on high-valuation tech and growth stocks.Political pressures on central bank independence, potential U.S. government shutdown, and co

Big-Tech’s PerformanceMacro Headlines This Week:The Fed's first rate cut in nearly a year signals a softening labor market. On September 16, the Federal Reserve lowered the federal funds rate by 25 basis points—the first cut since December 2024. The decision was driven primarily by weakness in the labor market and inflation that remains not fully under control. The Fed's economic projections (dot plot) indicate there could be two more rate cuts in 2025 (in October and December). However, internal opinions aren't fully aligned; new board member Stephen Miran advocates for a larger cut, while some officials remain wary of upside inflation risks. With job growth slowing but inflation still sticky, economists are once again warning of the risk of "stagflation" in the U.S. (slow growth + high i

Big-Tech’s Performance​Macro Headlines This Week:​​​Indices Hit New Highs Amid Increased Volatility.​​ The three major indices repeatedly set new closing records this week, with the Nasdaq performing particularly strongly, driven by tech stocks. However, due to disappointing inflation (CPI rose to 2.9% year-on-year from 2.7% in July) and employment data (approximately 22,000 new jobs added, which is relatively low; the unemployment rate rose to about 4.3%, and initial jobless claims surged to 263,000), market sentiment began to diverge, and concerns about stagflation (stagnation + inflation) intensified.​​Oracle's Surge Sparks Debate Over AI Concept Hype.​​ The AI narrative received a boost from ORCL's earnings report and positive cloud service contracts, leading to a one-day surge of appr

Big-Tech’s PerformanceMacro Headlines This Week: September seasonality and event-driven risks. Investors remain cautious on September’s historically weak performance — the month that has often been the worst for equities. Key events included preliminary announcements on the Russell index reconstitution, heightened sensitivity to upcoming labor market data and the Fed’s policy decision. Equity trading volumes were thin around the holiday, but tech and growth stocks led the market higher.Labor market weakness boosts rate cut expectations. ADP private payrolls added only 54k jobs (below consensus 69k). Initial jobless claims spiked to 237k (vs. 229k expected), showing persistent upward momentum and pressure in the labor market. Meanwhile, the ISM Services PMI climbed to 52, signaling expansio

Big-Tech’s Performance​Macro Headlines This Week: Focus on a September rate cut? Divergence in tech earnings.The Fed's "dovish pivot" has fueled market expectations. At the Jackson Hole meeting, Fed Chair Powell signaled a potential rate cut in September, seen as a policy shift, sparking global optimism about an easing cycle. The US dollar is on track for a monthly decline as markets increase bets on rate cuts. The core PCE inflation data, the Fed's preferred gauge, is due this week. If it rises as expected, it could influence the timing of the rate cut.Trump's recent attempts to remove Fed Governor Lisa Cook are ongoing, raising concerns about the Fed's independence. This adds a new risk dimension for the Fed, while markets view Powell's "dovish pivot" as still tentative.Markets continued

Big-Tech’s Performance​Macro Headlines This Week: Market in divergence while techs in correctionThe three major US stock indexes experienced a sustained decline this week, with the $S&P 500(.SPX)$ recording a "five-day losing streak." technology stocks were broadly under pressure, and the consumer sector was significantly dragged down by $Wal-Mart(WMT)$ (the first time in three years that profits fell short of expectations, reflecting the pressure of tariffs pushing up costs), whileU.S. Treasury yields rose across the board. Market concerns over the Fed's hawkish stance intensified, with the bond market reacting based on the logic of "stagflation trading" — conflicting economic data (strong manufacturi

Big-Tech’s Performance​Macro Headlines This Week: High Rate Cut Expectations, but Uncertainty Emerges​​​​Data Divergence Increases Policy Difficulty.​​ July CPI (+2.9% YoY) and Core CPI (+3.2% YoY) both undershot expectations, strengthening market bets on a Fed rate cut within the year, pushing the probability of a September cut above 80%. However, a subsequent surge in PPI reignited inflation concerns, suggesting tariffs are shifting from a short-term to a structural impact. The Fed must now balance growth and inflation risks. $Cboe Volatility Index(VIX)$ ​​Fed Independence Remains in Focus.​​ Fed officials expressed divergent views: Bowman cited weak jobs data as supporting three more cuts this year; Schmid advocated holding rates at 4.25%–4.50%;

Big-Tech’s Performance​Macro Headlines This Week: Tariff Escalation? Fed Divisions Emerge; US Stock Structure Diverges​​Chain Reaction from Deteriorating Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP)?​​ May-June NFP was cumulatively revised down by 258K (the largest downward revision since May 2020), July job additions were only 73K (versus 110K expected), the unemployment rate rose to 4.2%, while this week's continuing jobless claims reached 1.97 million (highest since November 2021), signaling rapid cooling in the labor market. On one hand, the methodological differences between the NFP and ADP employment reports technically contribute to this gap. On the other hand, Trump seized this opportunity to replace the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner appointed during the Biden administration with his own appo

Big-Tech’s Performance​Macro Headlines This Week: Rising Tariffs? Fed Disagreement; Structural Divergence in U.S. StocksTrump’s “Transactional Hegemony”Using tariffs as leverage to forcibly reshape global trade rules—short-term, it creates room for domestic industries, but long-term, it undermines the stability of global supply chains. His push for rate cuts is essentially laying the groundwork for fiscal expansion, fundamentally conflicting with the Fed's inflation mandate. On July 31, Trump signed an executive order imposing tariffs of 10% to 41% on goods from 92 countries, pushing the U.S. Dollar Index above 100—the highest level in nearly three years.The Fed’s Crisis of IndependenceThe Fed held rates steady in July. At the press conference, Chair Powell emphasized a “wait and see” appr

Big-Tech’s Performance​Macro Headlines This Week: Tariff Escalation? Fed Division; Structural Divergence in US Stocks​​​​Tariff Tug-of-War:​​ Mixed signals emerged on the tariff front. The US-Japan trade framework was finalized, featuring mutual 15% tariffs, $550 billion in Japanese corporate investment in the US, the launch of a US-Japan LNG joint venture in Alaska, and the opening of Japan's agricultural market. External parties raised concerns about the agreement's funding mechanism and return structure, suggesting it appears more like a political gesture than a concrete investment plan. Concurrently, Japan faces domestic political shifts, contributing to the Yen's position as the weakest major non-US currency recently.​​Can the Fed Resist Pressure in July?​​ On July 22nd, President Tru

Big-Tech’s PerformanceMacro Headlines This Week: Tariff Escalation? Fed Divided; U.S. Markets Enter Structural RotationTariff Escalation:Early this week, Donald Trump announced new tariffs ranging from 25% to 40% on goods from countries including Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and South Africa. The announcement on July 7 triggered immediate market panic. On July 9, Trump expanded the global trade war further by imposing a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods and planning a similar 50% tax on copper, set to take effect on August 1. While long-term impacts remain uncertain, copper prices surged in the short term, boosting related mining and metal stocks. Data suggests that uncertainty from this cross-border trade war is gradually seeping into corporate earnings and consumer costs.Federal Reserve Div

Big-Tech’s PerformanceMacro Headlines This Week:“The Great and Beautiful” bill passes; conflicting employment data; U.S.-Vietnam tariff deal reached, but July 9 deadline looms?The "Great and Beautiful" Bill, championed by Trump, passed the Senate in a 50-50 tie (with Vance casting the decisive vote). The House also approved it on July 3, and it's expected to be signed into law on July 4. While markets fear it may worsen the fiscal deficit, it could provide a short-term economic boost — potentially just the beginning. In response, Elon Musk once again lashed out, threatening to form a new political force to oppose it.Employment Data Clash:June ADP report showed a drop of 33,000 jobs (vs. forecast of +98,000), pushing the probability of a July rate cut to over 27%.However, the next day, the

Big-Tech’s PerformanceWeek Macro Highlights: Diverging Markets Amid Peace; Is the Fed Splitting Too?The Israel-Iran conflict appears to have reached a temporary conclusion this week. Although the U.S. launched strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities, escalating tensions, a ceasefire was soon reached between Israel and Iran, easing market concerns. U.S. equities showed divergence: while the Nasdaq 100, driven by tech stocks, hit new highs, the Dow Jones, with its traditional energy sector heavyweights, remained below its peak.Fed Chair Jerome Powell is facing off directly with Trump. Regardless of Trump's accusations that he's acting “too late,” Powell remained unmoved on rate cuts. In his congressional testimony this week, he emphasized a reluctance to “take the blame” and expressed co

Big-Tech’s PerformanceWeekly Macro Highlights: The showdown between the bigwigs With May’s CPI continuing to decline—core inflation easing even further—Trump launched a fierce attack on Powell at the White House this week, urging a rate cut and even specifying a "2 percentage point" reduction. Although his claim of saving $600 billion annually may not materialize, the reality is that with ballooning U.S. debt, government interest expenses are under significant pressure. On June 13, he went so far as to call Powell a “blockhead.” However, Powell remained committed to data-driven policy and resisting political interference, with no signs of easing tension. The market is closely watching the Fed's next moves.In macro markets, U.S. long-term bond yields fell by 6–8bps as expectations of Fed ra