Author: 24newz

After a six-year hiatus, Argentina has resumed soybean meal exports to China—a move that signals a renewed chapter in global agricultural trade. With U.S.-China trade tensions continuing to rise, China is actively looking to diversify its import sources, and Argentina has emerged as a key supplier. Thanks to its strategic logistics and competitive pricing, Argentina is well-positioned to erode the dominance of U.S. agricultural products in the Chinese market. This shift not only reshapes the global supply chain but also opens fresh opportunities for investors looking to capitalize on changing agricultural trade flows.

Goldman Sachs has raised its 12-month target for the S&P 500 to 6,900, projecting an 11% potential return. The investment bank has turned more bullish on U.S. equities, citing the possibility of faster interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve and strong fundamentals in the tech sector. Investors are advised to keep a close eye on high-growth areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing. However, it’s also important to remain cautious of ongoing U.S.-China trade tensions and rising corporate cost pressures, which could weigh on future market performance.

The White House has announced that steep tariffs on imports from 12 countries will be reinstated starting August 1. If negotiations fail to reach a resolution by July 9, tariff rates on certain goods could surge as high as 70%. This development has weighed on U.S. stock futures, sparking a rise in market risk aversion. Investors should closely monitor shifts in global trade dynamics and consider making prudent adjustments to their portfolios to manage potential volatility.

Global oil prices continued their downward trend this week after OPEC+ announced plans to increase production by 548,000 barrels per day starting in August 2025. The move sparked renewed concerns over a potential supply glut, coupled with ongoing weakness in global demand.

Rising trade tensions between the U.S. and China, along with signs of a sluggish economic recovery in China, have further clouded the outlook for energy consumption. Investors are now closely watching the flexibility of future OPEC+ policy decisions and broader economic indicators. In the near term, heightened volatility in crude prices is likely to persist.

Stronger-than-expected U.S. jobs data has shifted the market outlook, with the unemployment rate unexpectedly falling to 4.1%. As a result, expectations for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut in July have cooled significantly. According to current interest rate futures, the probability of a rate cut now stands at just 5%. Investors are turning their attention to upcoming economic indicators and comments from Fed officials, watching closely for signals on the future direction of U.S. interest rates.

U.S. private sector job growth unexpectedly turned negative in June, with ADP data showing a loss of 33,000 jobs—the steepest drop in nearly 15 months. The downturn suggests that businesses are becoming more cautious in their hiring strategies. Often seen as a preview of the official nonfarm payrolls report, this “mini-NFP” indicator is fueling concerns about a slowing U.S. economy and strengthening expectations for an upcoming Federal Reserve interest rate cut.