At the start of 2025, Wall Street entered the year with bullish expectations for Chinese equities. Institutional investors were largely positioned in favor of a rebound in mainland Chinese stocks, betting that Beijing would deploy robust fiscal and monetary stimulus to offset mounting pressure from U.S. tariffs and domestic economic fragility.
Deutsche Pfandbriefbank AG $PBBGF, a key player in European real estate finance, announced on Wednesday that it is withdrawing its full-year 2025 guidance. The decision follows extraordinary expenses tied to exiting the U.S. commercial real estate market, marking a pivotal moment in the bank’s long-term strategic overhaul.
Poland has formally allocated more than 117 billion zlotys (PLN) — approximately $32 billion USD — in European Union Resilience and Recovery Funds, marking a pivotal phase in the disbursement of post-COVID stimulus capital. This figure represents 45% of Poland’s total EU allocation, underscoring the country’s accelerated efforts to leverage European funding for long-term economic revival.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. $TMO, one of the world’s largest life sciences and biotechnology companies, is reportedly seeking to sell its diagnostics business for approximately $4 billion USD, according to the Financial Times. The move signals a broader strategy to divest lower-margin and slower-growing segments in favor of focusing on core areas such as contract drug manufacturing and advanced analytical technologies.
India’s palm oil imports soared by 84% in May 2025, reaching a six-month high of 592,888 metric tons, according to data released by the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA). This sharp increase was driven by declining domestic inventories and an expanding price discount between palm oil and rival soft oils such as soyoil and sunflower oil.
Bank of America $BAC has significantly revised its price target for GE Vernova $GEV, raising it from $520 to $550 per share, citing robust structural demand for electricity across the U.S. and the company’s dominant market position in natural gas turbine technology. This bullish revision underscores a broader macro trend in the U.S. energy landscape as electricity consumption accelerates, driven by data center growth, electrification, and industrial reshoring.
On Wednesday, the US administration under President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, significantly intensifying global trade tensions. This escalation not only disrupted international markets but also accelerated trade negotiations between Washington and its key allies, particularly Canada and the European Union (EU). The unfolding developments highlight the fragile state of the world economy amid tariff-induced uncertainty.
On Thursday, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) voluntarily dismissed its civil lawsuit against Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, and its founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ). This decision marks a notable shift in the regulatory stance of the SEC towards the cryptocurrency sector amid the return of former President Donald Trump to the White House.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) initiated formal legal proceedings on Wednesday against Allan Guo, former director of the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange Blockchain Global. The charges allege multiple breaches of fiduciary duties related to Guo’s involvement with the now-defunct ACX Exchange. The exchange shuttered operations in December 2019 after clients were unable to withdraw their funds or cryptocurrencies.
The Bank of Israel (BOI) announced on Monday that it would maintain its benchmark interest rate at 4.50% for the eleventh consecutive meeting. The central bank cited persistent inflationary pressure as its primary concern, even as the national economy shows signs of moderate recovery from the economic disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
In a notable reversal of its previous stance, influential proxy advisory firm Glass Lewis has recommended that shareholders re-elect Akio Toyoda, chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation $7203.T, at the automaker’s upcoming annual general meeting in June. This shift follows two consecutive years during which the firm urged shareholders to vote against Toyoda’s reappointment, citing governance and oversight concerns.
Universal Orlando Resort, long considered a secondary destination on the path to Walt Disney World, is undergoing a dramatic repositioning. Comcast Corporation $CMCSA, the parent company of NBCUniversal, is set to open its highly anticipated Epic Universe theme park this Thursday. With a $7 billion investment, this expansion doubles the resort’s footprint and challenges Disney's $DIS long-standing dominance in the Central Florida tourism economy.
