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May 28, 2025

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In Stocks

Europe markets open: Stoxx 600 hovers near flatline; focus on German data, US Fed, Nvidia results

4 Mins Read

European stock markets exhibited a cautious and mixed start to Wednesday’s trading session, with the pan-European Stoxx 600 index hovering near flat territory as investors braced for a significant influx of economic data from across the continent.

Currency markets saw both the British pound and the euro soften against the US dollar, while global attention turned towards upcoming US Federal Reserve meeting minutes and highly anticipated earnings from chip giant Nvidia.

Shortly after the opening bell, the pan-European Stoxx 600 was trading flat, reflecting a general lack of strong directional conviction among investors.

National bourses showed slight variations: London’s FTSE 100 and the French CAC 40 were marginally higher, indicating a touch of resilience.

Germany’s DAX, which had impressively scaled a record high in Tuesday’s session, was trading around 0.1% higher, suggesting it was holding onto its recent strong gains.

This tentative market mood comes as participants anticipate a swathe of economic indicators due for release throughout the day.

Key data points include German import prices, final French gross domestic product (GDP) figures, employment data from both France and Germany, and an update on Turkish economic confidence.

These releases will provide further insights into the health and trajectory of the European economy.

Currency watch: pound and euro dip against dollar

In foreign exchange markets, the British pound was trading 0.2% lower against the US dollar on Wednesday morning.

This movement put sterling on track for its second consecutive day of losses versus the greenback, though it’s important to note that the pound has still appreciated by a significant 7.7% against the dollar year-to-date.

Similarly, the euro was also trading 0.2% lower against the US currency, potentially extending its losses for a second day.

Despite this recent dip, the euro has recorded a gain of more than 9% against the US dollar since the beginning of the year.

Global focus: Fed minutes and Nvidia’s numbers awaited

Global investors are keenly awaiting the release of minutes from the US Federal Reserve’s May meeting, which are due later on Wednesday.

These minutes will be scrutinized for any fresh clues regarding the central bank’s thinking on inflation, interest rates, and the overall economic outlook.

While no major corporate earnings were expected out of Europe on Wednesday, market participants on both sides of the Atlantic are closely monitoring the upcoming earnings report from US chipmaking behemoth Nvidia.

The company’s results, due after Wall Street’s closing bell, are widely seen as a key barometer for the tech sector and broader market sentiment.

Asia-Pacific recap and US market cues

The trading backdrop from the Asia-Pacific region was mixed on Wednesday.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 was last seen trading 0.3% higher, while South Korea’s Kospi added a more substantial 1.8%.

However, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 shed 0.2% after the country reported a higher-than-expected rise in inflation.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was also down 0.4%.

On Wall Street, stock futures were flat ahead of Wednesday’s trading session.

This followed broad gains on Tuesday, as investors reacted positively to US President Donald Trump’s decision to pause the implementation of 50% tariffs on European Union imports, a development that markets absorbed as they reopened after the Memorial Day holiday.

German import prices show unexpected contraction

Adding to the day’s economic narrative, fresh data from Germany revealed an unexpected development in import prices.

Figures from the Federal Statistical Office showed that German import prices fell by 0.4% year-on-year in April.

This was a surprise, as analysts polled by LSEG data had been anticipating an annual rise of 0.2%.

The previous month, March, had seen import prices in Germany rise by 2.1%, making the April contraction particularly noteworthy.

The post Europe markets open: Stoxx 600 hovers near flatline; focus on German data, US Fed, Nvidia results appeared first on Invezz

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In World news

Investment Protection Agreement with the Ecuador Government on Challenger’s El Guayabo Project

2 Mins Read

Challenger Gold Limited (ASX: CEL) (‘CEL’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce it has entered into an Investment Protection Agreement (“IPA” or “the Agreement”) with the Government of Ecuador for its 100% owned El Guayabo Project (“El Guayabo” or “the Project”). Under the terms of the IPA, the Government of Ecuador has granted CEL legal protections including stability of the regulatory framework, resolution of disputes through international arbitration, and protection of CEL’s investment.

The IPA covers US$75 million in investment from CEL encompassing expenditures from CEL’s initial acquisition of the project in 2019 and expenditure incurred until the end of 2027. It has an initial term of 8 years and is renewable. Key incentives and protections under the IPA include:

  • Regulatory stability and protection from changes to the current legal framework
  • The legal framework at the time of execution will continue to apply if the terms are more favourable to the project owner than any potential new framework
  • The IPA guarantees rights including non-discriminatory treatment, property protection, and legal certainty
  • International arbitration, should there be any disputes in relation to the Project, with the seat of arbitration in London under the rules of the International Chamber of Commerce

Commenting on the Investment Protection Agreement, CEL Managing Director, Mr Kris Knauer, said

“The completion of the Investment Protection Agreement is a significant development for the Project..

The IPA provides certainty with respect to the legal framework governing the Project, including stable mining regulations and fiscal terms, and security of title and investment for the term of the agreement. Additionally, it provides protection from all forms of confiscation and a mechanism for international arbitration should there be any disputes related to the project.

The IPA is also timely given recent corporate action in Ecuador as we take steps to monetise our Ecuador assets following the significant resource upgrade from 4.5 million ounce1 to 9.1 million ounces1,2,3.‘

Click here for the full ASX Release

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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In Politics

Kennedy and Milei double down on WHO exit after meeting in Buenos Aires: ‘Free from totalitarian control’

3 Mins Read

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. met with Argentine President Javier Milei on Tuesday at the Casa Rosada, where both leaders reaffirmed plans to withdraw their nations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and build a new international health framework.

The meeting brought together two strong-willed political outsiders. Milei, a libertarian economist known for cutting government spending, and Kennedy, a Trump-appointed health chief skeptical of pandemic-era mandates. Both promised to challenge what they call global overreach and politicized health policy.

Argentina officially confirmed its exit from the WHO during Kennedy’s visit, following Milei’s initial announcement in February. The move aligns with President Trump’s revived pledge to pull the U.S. out of the WHO as part of his ‘Make America Healthy Again’ (MAHA) agenda.

Milei’s government blasted the WHO for what it called a failed COVID response. ‘The WHO’s prescriptions do not work because they are not based on science but on political interests and bureaucratic structures that refuse to review their own mistakes,’ the government said, referring to the group’s lockdown strategy as a ‘caveman quarantine.’

Kennedy offered support, encouraging other countries to also exit the WHO in a recent address to the World Health Assembly. He has argued the organization is compromised by foreign governments and corporate interests, and that a fresh approach is needed.

After the meeting, Kennedy posted on X: ‘I had a wonderful meeting with President Milei about the mutual withdrawal of our nations from the WHO and the creation of an alternative international health system… free from totalitarian impulses, corruption, and political control.’

Both governments say the new alliance will prioritize real science, individual freedom, and national sovereignty, pushing back against what Milei’s team calls ‘interference’ from global agencies.

The meeting also highlighted shared philosophies between the two leaders. Milei took office vowing to slash Argentina’s massive public spending. He famously carried a chainsaw during his campaign to symbolize budget cuts—and has since followed through, cutting public salaries, halting state projects, and ending energy subsidies.

His tough measures have produced results: Argentina posted its first budget surplus in nearly 15 years and sharply reduced monthly inflation.

Kennedy’s MAHA campaign echoes Milei’s anti-establishment style, but in the health sector. The Trump administration’s health agenda has focused on rolling back federal overreach, enforcing science-based policy, and promoting transparency in public health.

Tuesday’s meeting marks a deeper alignment between Argentina and the current U.S. administration. Milei has welcomed top American officials in recent months and shown clear interest in building strong ties with Washington. Now, by joining the U.S. in rejecting the WHO, Milei becomes the first foreign leader to openly back Trump’s health sovereignty push.

The decision is a major departure from Argentina’s previous international partnerships and could signal a shift for other countries weighing similar moves. Both Milei and Kennedy have framed the initiative as the start of a more accountable and independent global health network.

Critics, including some in Argentina’s opposition, warn that leaving the WHO could limit access to funding and vaccines. Global health experts largely defend the WHO’s role, despite acknowledging its COVID missteps.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

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