Japan’s Spring Wage Hikes Hit New High, but Real Purchasing Power Shrinks; U.S. Tariff Standoff Looms

Japan’s 2025 "shunto" (spring wage negotiations) concluded with average pay hikes reaching 5.25%—equivalent to ¥16,356 per month—marking the second consecutive year of 5%-plus increases. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) offered 4.65% raises (¥12,361 monthly), up 0.2 percentage points from 2024 but still lagging far behind large corporations. The Japanese Trade Union Confederation noted that while wage gains expanded, SMEs failing to hit the 5% threshold widened income disparities.

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Canadian Economy Faces Double Pressure: April PMI Below Boom - Bust Line, Soft Housing Market and Tariff Shock

Canada's economic momentum slowed significantly in April. The Ivey Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) plummeted from 51.3 in March to 47.9, falling below the boom - bust line for the first time since January. The employment sub - index has contracted for two consecutive months (48.0), and the cost pressure on enterprises has eased slightly (price - payment index 70.0). Meanwhile, the housing market in Toronto is also cooling down.

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Canada Accelerates Trade Diversification to Counter U.S. Tariff Shocks

Canada is pushing faster trade diversification to fend off U.S. tariff impacts: its U.S. export share dropped 10 percentage points to 68% between May 2024 and May 2025, with auto parts and steel hit hardest. Over the period, U.S.-bound exports fell C$7.7 billion (-15%), while gains to the UK, EU, and Asia-Pacific (C$5.7 billion, +42%) failed to offset the gap.

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S&P/ASX 200 Index Rises on Trade Talks Hope

The S&P/ASX 200 index closed 92.4 points higher, or 1.13%, on Friday. Expectations of a possible easing of the China - US trade impasse drove the index to its best weekly performance in nearly two years and to a two - month high. The statement by the Ministry of Commerce that it is "evaluating" the request from US trade officials to launch trade negotiations further boosted investor confidence.

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Australian Shares Edge Lower Ahead of RBA Decision; Tariff Clouds Linger

Australia’s stock market pulled back from record highs on July 7, with the S&P/ASX 200 slipping 0.16% to 8,589.3 and the All Ordinaries Index down 0.18% to 8,826.4. The decline followed confirmation that U.S. tariffs on multiple nations will take effect August 1—later than the previously expected July 10—with the U.S. Commerce Secretary stating "take-it-or-leave-it" tariff notices had been sent to over a dozen countries, stoking trade uncertainty.

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Plummeting International Student Numbers in Australia Raise Labor Shortage Fears; RBA Rate Cut Imminent

Australia is grappling with a sharp decline in international students, triggering concerns over labor market gaps. As of April 2025, the total number of international students dropped to 794,000, a decrease of 300,000 from the end of 2024. New enrollments plummeted 13% year-on-year to 219,000, while visa applications fell by over 30%. This is largely attributed to successive policy tightenings: visa fees were hiked twice in a year (from A$710 to A$1,600, then to A$2,000); English proficiency and financial proof requirements were raised

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New Zealand's S&P/NZX 50 Falls 0.7% as RBNZ Pauses Rate Cuts

New Zealand’s benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index dropped 0.7% to 12,769 on Wednesday, pulling back from a seven-week high hit the previous day, after the Reserve Bank paused its rate-cutting cycle. The central bank kept the cash rate at 3.25% as expected, citing concerns that current inflation and global trade tensions could fuel price pressures. It had cut rates six times since August 2023, totaling 225 basis points, but signaled further cuts may come if inflation eases as projected in May.

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Microsoft’s Resurgence: Cloud and AI Partnerships Drive Growth and Shape Future Prospects

Microsoft has achieved a remarkable resurgence, fueled by its prowess in cloud computing through Azure and strategic collaboration with OpenAI in artificial intelligence. With Azure capturing 23% of the global cloud market share and the explosive popularity of ChatGPT accelerating the commercialization of its AI tools, the tech giant has solidified its position as a leader in the digital landscape.

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France and Spain Face Hurdles in Economic Policy Adjustment: Fiscal Austerity and Military Spending Pressure

In France, on May 3rd, Prime Minister Bérut stated that in order to defuse the social backlash caused by large - scale fiscal austerity, he is considering holding a referendum on the national budget, claiming that debt reduction is crucial for the "future of the country" and requires a decision from the entire population.

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US - UK Trade Agreement Nears, UK Auto Market in the Doldrums

The UK and the US are on the verge of finalizing a trade deal, according to British and American officials. This agreement, set to be signed this week, will offer lower tariff quotas for UK steel and car exports, shielding some British goods from the full impact of the 25% additional tariffs on steel and car imports imposed by Trump in February and March.

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Australian Shares Edge Up in Narrow Range; RBA Rate Decision Sparks Volatility

Australia’s benchmark S&P/ASX 200 inched up 0.02% to 8,590.7 on Tuesday, oscillating narrowly after the Reserve Bank’s surprise decision to hold rates steady triggered intraday dips. The index briefly turned negative in early trading but recovered modestly by close.

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Electricity costs reduced by 25% as Thailand works to boost data center industry

Electricity costs reduced by 25% as Thailand works to boost data center industry

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Nvidia’s Soaring Success: AI - Driven Dominance Faces Regulatory and Competitive Headwinds

Fueled by the explosive growth of AI computing demand, Nvidia witnessed a staggering 200% surge in its market value in 2023, becoming the first chipmaker to join the prestigious trillion - dollar club. The company’s GPUs command a dominant 90% share of the AI data center market, while its CUDA software ecosystem has created an almost insurmountable barrier for competitors.

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FTSE 100 Index Records 13 - day Winning Streak, but Macroeconomic Signals are Mixed

The FTSE 100 index has witnessed a remarkable 13 - day consecutive gain, reaching a seven - year high. On May 2nd, it edged up 0.02% to 8,229.97. However, individual stocks showed a significant divergence. Rolls - Royce saw a 1.7% increase after confirming that tariff - relief measures would safeguard its annual targets.

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Australian Shares Edge Higher on Wall Street Record; RBA Rate Cut in Focus

Australian stocks rose modestly on Friday (July 5), buoyed by fresh record highs on Wall Street. The S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.17% to 8,610 in midday trade—less than 30 points from its all-time peak—while the All Ordinaries Index added 0.16% to 8,847.3. Despite stronger-than-expected U.S. jobs data dampening hopes for a July Fed rate cut, markets reacted positively to signs of economic resilience.

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