Tesla stock has plunged below $300 apiece. The reason? A renewed clash between US President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. The two parties have recently exchanged threats, reigniting old tensions. So, sparks have started flying once again. As a result, their conflict has entered a new phase, impacting Tesla’s stock price.

The other day, Tesla shares dropped below $300, losing nearly 6% in just one day. On June 30, they closed at $317 per share. Just a week ago, the stock was trading above $340.

Elon Musk, who once became a staunch supporter of Trump and even served as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), harshly criticized his boss’s latest tax bill, a piece of legislation the President has dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill. According to Musk, the bill pushes America toward "debt slavery" by raising the national debt ceiling.

Musk recently announced that he is ready to launch a new political party as soon as the controversial bill is passed. In response, Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social, telling the Tesla CEO to "go back to South Africa," and accusing him of setting a record for receiving government subsidies.

Reportedly, subsidies have become the main point of contention in this new conflict. Musk had pushed for the continuation of tax incentives for electric vehicles, especially for Tesla, as well as for renewable energy subsidies. However, the president dismissed these requests. In response, Elon Musk — already hit hard by sluggish EV sales — began openly criticizing the legislation.

Businessman Peter Schiff has made waves with his latest remarks, claiming that Bitcoin is harming the US economy and putting heavy pressure on the dollar. He believes that President Donald Trump is squandering national resources on the flagship cryptocurrency.

Schiff, a long-time proponent of gold investments and a vocal Bitcoin skeptic, recently said that the cryptocurrency’s record highs create only an illusion of value.

In his view, diverting capital from dollars into Bitcoin poses a serious threat to America’s economic foundations. Such moves erode demand for the greenback and undermine its status as the world’s reserve currency. “Selling the US Dollar to buy Bitcoin will actually place greater pressure on the Dollar,” he warned.

Schiff’s comments followed Trump’s praise of Bitcoin for easing pressure on the dollar, creating jobs in the United States, and gaining traction as a payment method. However, Schiff argued that the crypto market’s volatility and the risk of a sudden Bitcoin crash could result in substantial losses to America’s strategic reserves rather than generate profits.

Beyond his disagreement with the president’s stance, Schiff accused Trump of using digital assets as “a gimmick to court donors.” He claimed that the American leader backs Bitcoin in order to win the support of wealthy sponsors who rely on cryptocurrency.

Earlier, Schiff criticized Trump for hosting a gala dinner with top TRUMP memecoin holders, many of whom reportedly spent nearly $150 million to secure a seat at the event.

Notably, the US government does not plan to purchase Bitcoin directly with dollars. According to the executive order establishing a national BTC reserve, holdings are to be accumulated through confiscated cryptocurrency.

What a surprise move from the White House! On June 26, the US administration announced that the July 9 deadline set by the president for striking new trade agreements could be extended. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized, “The deadline is not critical.” Yet, to many observers, the entire process seems like a taunt.

The initial 90-day window for tariff negotiations, which began in April, has so far yielded only two deals: one with the United Kingdom and another with China. This temporary period was intended to encourage agreements with America’s key trading partners.

According to Leavitt, the current July 9 deadline could be adjusted. She reminded reporters that Trump has the authority to impose or modify retaliatory tariffs based on what he deems to be in the best interest of the United States and its workers.

Starting July 9, under the president’s plan, a baseline 10% tariff will apply to all trading partners. If no agreements are reached, retaliatory duties will increase further. Currently, talks are ongoing with most countries, including the European Union and India. Against this backdrop, the White House is considering extending the July timeline.

Earlier, Wall Street Journal analysts noted that EU countries are seeking ways to reduce tariffs on select American imports in an attempt to secure a quick trade deal with Trump.

The world’s first cryptocurrency still astonishes market participants. Bitcoin’s potential has been duly recognized by US authorities, including President Donald Trump. In a recent press conference at the White House, the American leader acknowledged the important role of Bitcoin in relieving pressure on the US dollar.

The US president affirmed that he fostered the creation of an industry that has become “strategically significant” for America. Trump believes that the recognition of cryptocurrencies in the US carries enormous geopolitical value. Besides, this initiative helps the US remain competitive in the global arena, the president summed up.

In Trump’s view, Bitcoin is increasingly integrating into the economy, as more and more people are using the first cryptocurrency for payments. Moreover, the majority of retail outlets in the US have begun accepting BTC as a means of payment for goods and services. “People are using Bitcoin more and more often. People are saying it takes a lot of pressure off the dollar. It is a great thing for our country!” the White House leader emphasized.

Previously, Trump said that he became a “fan of cryptocurrency” several years ago. However, he added that while he personally does not invest in Bitcoin, his family does invest in various crypto projects. When asked whether he is willing to halt his relatives’ cryptocurrency initiatives, the US president stated that his sons manage the portfolio and that he does not monitor their investments.

Interestingly, the president’s family launched a decentralized lending platform in 2024, World Liberty Financial (WLFI), with its own stablecoin called USD1. Later, the American leader introduced the TRUMP OFFICIAL token, and shortly thereafter, a coin called MELANIA showed up, dedicated to the First Lady of the US.

Recently, the president’s son Eric Trump suggested that Bitcoin could rise to $170,000 by 2026. He pointed out that Michael Saylor, ex-CEO of MicroStrategy, played a key role in the Trump family’s growing interest in crypto assets. MicroStrategy regularly purchases Bitcoin for long-term holding and capital growth.

Poor Jerome Powell, the Federal Reserve Chairman! He has to overcome a long-running feud with the US president, withstand nasty remarks from Trump’s administration, and steer monetary policy amid Trump’s protectionist policy. Yet, the central bank chief forges ahead with high interest rates. The question is how much longer he can endure.

The likelihood that Fed Chair Jerome Powell will remain in office after his term expires in May 2026 is fading by the day. Recent comments from President Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggest that a nominee could be unveiled well before Powell’s official term ends.

According to experts, this is a risky development. It creates a scenario in which a so-called “shadow Fed Chair” could effectively begin to take over even while Jerome Powell is still in office.

As reported by Bloomberg, Scott Bessent recently stated that the White House is open to appointing the next Federal Reserve chair as early as January 2026.

"There’s a 14-year seat opening up in January," Bessent emphasized. "So we’ve been thinking that maybe this person would become Chair when Jay Powell steps down in May."

Alternatively, the new chairman could simply be appointed in May, which would not interfere with Powell’s current duties, Bessent noted. However, for a potential Vice Chair or successor, this would mean a shorter two-year term.

According to Bessent, current Federal Reserve members are also being considered for the top job: "Obviously, there are people among the candidates who are already working at the Federal Reserve," he said. "If you add another one in January, the institution’s work continues as normal, and markets wouldn’t be confused."

Some analysts and market participants believe that Powell’s influence is already weakening. His once-unshakable authority has begun to erode with help from the White House.

"President Trump has succeeded in turning Fed Chair Jerome Powell into a lame duck," Louis Navellier at Navellier & Associates said. He also pointed to increased chatter from FOMC members, hinting at a possible rate cut by the end of July.

EU representatives are in a difficult position. They are willing to accept a universal 10% tariff on most goods exported to the United States. However, there is a catch. EU leaders are pushing hard for lower tariffs and exemptions for several sectors.

European authorities are seeking to persuade Washington to reduce tariffs on pharmaceuticals, alcohol, semiconductors, and commercial aircraft as part of any trade agreement.

In addition, European negotiators are demanding quotas and exemptions to lower Washington’s 25% tariff on cars and auto parts, as well as its sky-high 50% tariff on steel and aluminum.

Officials at the European Commission, which handles trade policy, argue that the potential agreement would favor the United States to some extent. “We are fully and deeply engaged in negotiations — a negotiated, mutually beneficial solution remains our preferred outcome,” European leaders noted in their report.

The EU now hopes to strike a trade deal with Trump before a crucial July 9 deadline, after which tariffs on nearly all European exports to the US are set to soar to 50%.

US President Donald Trump has delivered an unusual and rather ironic statement about the Japanese government. He declared that “Mr. Japan” is engaged in unfair trade practices with the United States.

According to the White House leader, if Japan fails to reach an agreement with the US, Washington will maintain a 25% tariff on Japanese cars.

Recently, Trump reproached the Japanese authorities for not buying enough American automobiles, while the US imports millions of vehicles from the Asian country. “It’s not fair,” Trump emphasized. He added that Japan could purchase more US oil and “a lot of other things” to help reduce the trade deficit.

Earlier, Ryosei Akazawa, Japan’s economy minister and the country’s top trade negotiator, said that talks between Tokyo and Washington are “at a critical stage.” He has repeatedly called the US tariffs on imported cars unacceptable.

Akazawa also emphasized Japan's enormous contribution to the US economy, citing investments totaling over $60 billion and the creation of 2.3 million jobs. During the negotiations, the issue of 25% tariffs was raised again, with Japan’s economy minister describing them as a “huge blow” to the Japanese economy.

Just imagine — the US dollar has revealed its worst performance in half a century! Analysts have come to the conclusion that US President Donald Trump is once again to blame.

According to analysts at the Financial Times (FT), the greenback has slumped by 10% since the beginning of 2025. It is the sharpest drop since 1973. The main driver behind this collapse was President Trump's tariff policy. Amid trade wars initiated by the White House, the US currency fell by 10% against a basket of six major global currencies.

Experts at FT believe that the outcome of Trump’s tariff initiatives took markets by surprise. As a result, investors, facing market turmoil, flocked to European assets, pushing the euro up by 13%.

After a series of tariff hikes, market participants began speculating about a potential loss of the dollar's status as a reserve currency. However, the situation later stabilized, and the greenback reached a relative balance. Nevertheless, the fundamentals of the US dollar have been shaken. In the meantime, the dollar is no longer seen as a "safe haven." Market participants around the world rush to hedge their dollar-denominated assets, putting more pressure on the US currency.

There’s also an alternative view of the situation, which suggests that the dollar’s weakness, if not directly initiated by the Trump administration, still fits into a broader plan to eliminate the US trade deficit. According to this view, to minimize the “gaping trade deficit”, which amounted to $918 billion in 2024, a devaluation of the US dollar by 20–30% might be necessary. Implementing such a measure would take at least two years.

It is generally accepted that the American trade deficit is closely tied to the dollar’s status as the world’s reserve currency and the US role as an exporter of reserve assets. Capital inflows typically support the dollar’s value despite a current account deficit, but the flip side of this process is the need to export US Treasuries to sustain global growth. This is precisely the issue criticized by Trump’s supporters, who argue that the overvalued dollar makes American exports less competitive. As a result, the country becomes increasingly dependent on foreign goods, including in areas critical to national defense.

Challenging times lie in store for China’s real estate market. China’s long-standing struggle to stabilize its fragile housing market continued in May 2025. According to recent reports, new home prices in the country fell by 0.2% from a month ago. 

This decline followed a stagnant performance in April, raising concerns among analysts. According to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, nearly 70% of Chinese household wealth is tied to real estate, underscoring the sector’s critical role in the national economy.

Currently, China's property sector is crippled by weakening market demand and changing buyer sentiment. This downturn has been lingering for several years, despite Beijing’s efforts to boost demand. “The catalyst was the unprecedented tightening of real estate policies in 2021, followed by strict COVID lockdowns in 2022,” analysts at Goldman Sachs say.

Experts surveyed by Reuters forecast a 5% decline in home prices in China for 2025, with stagnation likely in 2026. Some experts even believe the housing crisis could persist until 2027. Goldman Sachs analysts underscore a significant drop in the number of new construction projects—a trend that continues to intensify. “The ongoing correction in China’s housing market represents one of the most significant economic events of the decade,” the experts assert.

At the same time, Goldman Sachs analysts warn that insufficient monetary easing could lead to “a sustained erosion of confidence and private demand, as well as prolonged deflation.” In their view, additional stimulus measures from Beijing are fully justified under the current circumstances.

Bitcoin is back in the spotlight. US authorities have recognized the cryptocurrency’s potential, with President Donald Trump highlighting its role in alleviating pressure on the dollar.

Since taking office, the American leader has supported the creation of an industry that has become “strategically significant” for the United States. Trump believes that adopting cryptocurrencies has foreign policy implications and helps the country remain competitive on the global stage.

Trump noted that Bitcoin is increasingly integrated into the economy as more people use it for payments. He added that most US merchants now accept Bitcoin for goods and services. “I noticed more and more you pay in Bitcoin... I mean, people are saying it takes a lot of pressure off the dollar, and it's a great thing for our country,” the president emphasized.

Earlier, Trump stated that he had become a crypto fan several years ago. He highlighted that during the recent market downturn, BTC and other cryptocurrencies declined less than stocks. The president added that he does not personally invest in Bitcoin, though his children put money into various crypto projects.

When asked whether he would consider pausing his family’s cryptocurrency initiatives, Trump said that his sons manage the portfolio and he does not monitor their investments.

Last year, the Trump family launched World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a decentralized lending platform with its own stablecoin, USD1. Later, the US president introduced the TRUMP token, followed shortly by the MELANIA coin, which is dedicated to the first lady.

Recently, Eric Trump, the president’s son, suggested that Bitcoin could reach $170,000 by 2026. He admitted that Michael Saylor, chairman of MicroStrategy, which regularly purchases BTC for long-term storage, played an important role in sparking the Trump family’s interest in cryptocurrency.

The UK economy has eventually had its moment in the spotlight. Many experts, independently of one another, confirmed the strong growth of the British economy in the first quarter of 2025.

According to ING analysts, the UK economy has gained momentum in the first quarter of this year, as confirmed by the final gross domestic product data. However, there is no room for complacency—challenging times lie ahead.

Data published by the UK’s Office for National Statistics confirmed that the country’s GDP grew by 0.7% sequentially in Q1 2025. The British economy expanded by 1.3% from a year ago.

This is an impressive result, considering the country showed virtually no growth in the second half of 2024. According to ING analysts, the UK economy “came back to life” in the first quarter after a prolonged period of stagnation. “Is this the Trump effect? Possibly, but only partially. In the first three months of 2025, UK manufacturing rose by 0.8%, with transport equipment—Britain’s primary export to the US—accounting for the bulk of that growth,” the experts added.

The situation shifted in April, when US President Donald Trump’s unpredictable trade policy came into force, including the introduction of sweeping tariffs. Against this backdrop, UK GDP fell by 0.3% month-on-month, more than the anticipated decline of 0.1%.

“After four months of growth, April saw the largest monthly drop on record in UK goods exports to the US. Most categories of goods saw declines following the newly introduced tariffs,” Liz McKeown, Director of Economic Statistics at the UK’s Office for National Statistics, noted.

In response to the situation, the Bank of England decided to keep interest rates unchanged at 4.25% per annum. Meanwhile, core inflation in May 2025 stood at 3.4%, way above the official 2% target.

The central bank expects the key interest rate to rise to 3.7% by September and remain near 3.5% through the end of the year. Previously, Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey stated that the recent uptick in inflation had “increased uncertainty around the outlook for price growth.” He also highlighted signs of weakening in the UK labor market.

“In recent months, there has been growing evidence of emerging excess supply, particularly in the labor market,” Bailey pointed out. He added that uncertainties remain “regarding the overall balance between supply and demand in the economy.”

Despite the mixed nature of the current situation, there is some good news: employers’ confidence in the domestic economy has reached its highest level in nine years. Companies are now more optimistic about the country’s economic outlook. Lloyds’ Business Barometer inched up by one point to 51, its highest reading since November 2015. This marks the most positive development following April’s downturn, when President Trump announced steep tariff hikes, which were later suspended.

Shares of chipmaking giant Nvidia have once again climbed to record highs. On June 25, the stock price surged to $154.31 per share, marking an astonishing rally that lifted the company’s market capitalization to $3.77 trillion. This new milestone allowed the chipmaker to reclaim its title as the world’s most valuable publicly traded company.

According to analysts, Nvidia’s stock rally is only gaining momentum. What is more, experts predict that the company could soar to a staggering $6 trillion in market value.

Following the June 25 surge, Nvidia shares extended their gains by another 1% late last week, reaching $155 each. This price spike marks an impressive return to the top of the leaderboard. Against this backdrop, Loop Capital analyst Ananda Baruah raised his price target on Nvidia shares to $250. This reflects a potential increase of 127% and implies a market capitalization of about $6 trillion, the highest forecast on Wall Street. Baruah is confident that with AI infrastructure spending already at such elevated levels, even larger investments from hyperscale players are likely on the horizon.

In this environment, Nvidia anticipates growing demand for so-called AI factories, integrated data centers built to train advanced models. Loop Capital's projections suggest Nvidia has "line of sight" to tens of gigawatts of demand in the next two to three years.

New AI models require hundreds of times more resources than traditional language models. This reality is prompting major tech players to expand their computing capacity and invest in Nvidia’s server solutions.

Baruah forecasts that Nvidia’s data center revenue will more than double, growing from $115 billion in 2025 to $367 billion in 2028. Thanks to its dominance in critical technologies, Nvidia is well-positioned to increase its margins. “Our work suggests we are entering the next 'Golden Wave' of Gen AI adoption and Nvidia is at the front end of another material leg of stronger-than-anticipated demand,” the Loop Capital analyst concluded.

Good times have come for the British economy. On June 30, a new trade agreement between the United States and the United Kingdom officially took effect. This deal is expected to lower US tariffs on British exports of automobiles and aerospace components, offering a boost to key sectors of the UK economy.

British automakers can now export up to 100,000 vehicles annually to the United States at a reduced tariff rate of 10%, down from the previous 27.5%. Meanwhile, tariffs on aircraft engines and parts have been completely eliminated. 

However, questions surrounding steel and aluminum tariffs remain unresolved, and it is still unclear how these issues will ultimately be addressed. Currently, British steel exports are exempt from 50% tariffs, but this temporary reprieve granted by US authorities is set to expire on July 9, after which the duties could be reinstated. Stabilizing the situation requires a new bilateral agreement that has yet to be reached.

The new deal is expected to boost British exports of automobiles and aerospace products, but for steel producers, the outlook remains uncertain. So far, no long-term tariff exemptions have been secured for the sector.

Canada has made a bold move. The Canadian government has scrapped its previous Digital Services Tax (DST) in a strategic effort to resume trade and security negotiations with the United States. Curiously, the tax was indeed a major obstacle. So, its removal has opened the door to renewed dialogue. Both sides now intend to reach a mutually beneficial agreement by July 21.

According to François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s Minister of Finance, the government will suspend the DST collection scheduled for June 30 and will introduce legislation to repeal the Digital Services Tax Act, which had targeted large tech companies operating in Canada. The tax, introduced in 2020, had long been viewed by US authorities as a key barrier to broader trade negotiations.

This decision came just days after US President Donald Trump abruptly halted trade talks, calling the DST “a blatant attack.” In response, the Canadian government saw no choice but to pull the plug on the controversial tax.

“Eliminating the Digital Services Tax will allow negotiations on new economic ties and security cooperation with the United States to make critical progress,” Champagne stated.

Interestingly, Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Trump have agreed to quick-start negotiations aiming to reach a comprehensive deal that supports workers and businesses on both sides of the border. According to Carney, Canada is prepared to spend “as much time as necessary,” within reason, to finalize the agreement.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell is once again under fire from US President Donald Trump.
This time, the American leader called the Fed chief "politicized and very stupid." It seems the compliments just keep pouring down on the poor central banker!

In light of the current situation, Trump announced that he is considering "three or four" candidates to replace Jerome Powell. But the big question remains: would they be any better than the seasoned financial expert?

"I think he's terrible," the US president said about the Fed chairman. Trump had previously described Powell as a "very politicized guy" and "a very stupid person."

According to experts, these attacks are driven by Powell’s refusal to cut interest rates. The Fed chief has explained his stance by warning that the import tariffs imposed by the president are likely to push prices higher by mid-summer.

Analysts also note that Powell is walking a tightrope by opposing the president. His term does not expire until 2026, yet Trump is openly discussing his potential replacement. Previously, the White House had to deny reports that Trump was planning to fire Powell prematurely.

Trump maintains that he has “better instincts” in business than those making monetary policy decisions in the US, and is confident that his success stems from experience and natural talent.

Groundbreaking news has been announced in Texas. A new law establishing a cryptocurrency fund has come into force. Now digital currencies, especially Bitcoin, have an environment to grow and thrive.

On June 21, Governor Greg Abbott signed the Texas Strategic Bitcoin Reserve bill, previously approved by the US Congress. According to the document, Texas is the first American state whose government is now authorized to invest public funds in BTC and other digital assets in order to: 1. reduce financial risks entailed by rising inflation; 2. protect against economic instability; and 3. increase the financial resilience of the state of Texas.

The regulation allows officials to purchase cryptocurrencies, albeit on the particular condition: the average market capitalization of such assets over the past two years must be at least $500 billion. Currently, only Bitcoin meets this requirement, with a market capitalization exceeding $2 trillion.

Ethereum, which ranks second in market capitalization among digital assets, has a total token value estimated at $277 billion. Under these circumstances, the Texas government will not invest in ETH or other, less profitable digital currencies.

The new initiative in Texas has sparked a wave of comments among crypto enthusiasts, many of which have been pessimistic.

“The bad news for Texas is that the law creating a state-managed strategic Bitcoin fund has come into effect. The good news is that the state will be prohibited from buying Bitcoin if its market capitalization drops below $500 billion,” Peter Schiff, a well-known critic of digital currencies, commented on the news.

However, for Bitcoin’s market capitalization to fall below $500 billion, its price would need to drop fourfold. At present, BTC is trading at $106,930, making Schiff’s grim forecast highly unlikely. Moreover, for the Texas government to stop buying up Bitcoin, its price would have to fall below $30,000 – something that seems unrealistic in the near future.

US President Donald Trump's crusade against America's trade deficit has instead sent it soaring to record highs! His aggressive trade moves backfired, creating bigger problems that now require quick solutions.

According to the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, the US trade deficit surged by 44.3% in the first quarter of 2025, hitting a staggering $450.2 billion. This pushed the deficit to 6% of GDP, its highest level since the third quarter of 2006. For context, the deficit stood at 4.2% of GDP in the fourth quarter of 2024.

The primary driver appears to be Trump’s return to the presidency. The head of the Write House had vowed to slash the trade gap, but his weapon of choice—slapping steep tariffs on multiple trading partners—had the opposite effect.

In response, US companies rushed to import foreign goods, stockpiling inventory to hedge against tariff volatility. According to economists, Trump’s tariff policies could have long-term consequences. His duties were far steeper than markets anticipated, and their abrupt suspension only fueled chaos, undermining the dollar’s status as a safe-haven asset.

US authorities are demanding that President Donald Trump reconsider his approach to cryptocurrencies! According to Adam Schiff, a Democratic Party senator, the White House leader should not profit from cryptocurrency.

President Trump and his family members should not benefit from promoting cryptocurrencies, Schiff asserts. In addition, he has called for a ban on government officials, including the president, vice president, congressmen, and their families, from issuing or promoting their own crypto assets. These provisions were outlined in a document called the Curbing Officials’ Income and Nondisclosure (COIN) Act. The bill restricts government employees from launching, promoting, or sponsoring various types of digital assets, including memecoins, NFTs, and stablecoins. The ban applies “180 days prior to and 2 years after” an individual’s time in office.

“We need far greater scrutiny of the president’s financial dealings, and to stop him and any other politician from profiting off of such schemes,” Schiff emphasized.

Previously, Trump had planned an executive order to make cryptocurrencies a priority in US policy. Industry representatives might even gain advisory roles in the administration.

Recall that in January 2025, just days before his inauguration, Trump announced the launch of his own cryptocurrency. "My NEW Official Trump Meme is HERE!" the president wrote in a post on Truth Social. Within 24 hours, the OFFICIAL TRUMP (TRUMP) token surged fivefold, peaking at $34.50 per coin. Analysts at the Financial Times estimate the project has netted the president $350 million since its debut.

The British pound is again arousing traders’ interest. Experts at BCA Research believe the pound sterling has a chance to continue its recovery. What is more, sterling could emerge as the winner in its competition with the US dollar. If all goes well, the British pound could return to the levels it traded at before Brexit — that is, before the UK decided to leave the European Union.

In the current environment, BCA Research’s currency analysts are confident that the decline in the US stock market, driven by President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, will put selling pressure on the dollar. Against this backdrop, both the euro and the pound could come out ahead. Moreover, it is sterling that may become the “big winner” in the case of the greenback’s protracted weakness.

According to analysts, the global market landscape changed after Trump launched his campaign to raise tariffs on many countries. If the US effectively withdraws from global trade, it will be the first to suffer. In such a scenario, the greenback could lose its status as a “privileged safe haven”, and the US dollar may face a “structural shift” going forward.

“Given that an exchange rate is a relative price, an American Brexit offsets the British Brexit and could bring the GBP/USD pair back to the $1.50–$1.80 range,” BCA Research notes.

In this situation, analysts recommend taking a long position on GBP/USD, as they have done themselves. The firm expects that the pound could reach $1.60 within the next few years.

The current investor flight from the US dollar could also serve as a catalyst for Bitcoin’s growth. BCA Research predicts that the world’s most popular cryptocurrency could soar to $200,000 over the next two years. At the moment, Bitcoin is trading near $107,738.

Despite the potential for some downside in the flagship crypto, Bitcoin’s bullish trajectory remains “one of the high-conviction structural long positions,” the analysts emphasize.

Europe finds itself in a tough spot. European Union leaders believe that a baseline 10% rate on the so-called reciprocal tariffs is inevitable in any trade deal between the US and the EU. These are challenging times indeed.

European negotiators continue to push for lowering the tariff below 10%. However, securing a lower rate for the region appears an impossible task. "10% is a sticky issue. We are pressing them but now they are getting revenues," one of the EU officials said.

Talks on reducing tariffs for the EU have stalled after the US began generating revenue from its global duties.

Earlier, it was reported that EU leaders refused to accept 10% as the baseline tariff during negotiations. At the same time, regional authorities acknowledged that it would be difficult to change or abolish that baseline.

Notably, US President Donald Trump imposed a 50% tariff on steel and aluminum and a 25% levy on cars. Against this backdrop, EU leaders are scrambling to strike a deal before July 9, when reciprocal tariffs on most other goods could jump from 10% to 50%. The eurozone’s $236 billion trade surplus with th US recorded in 2024 is adding fuel to the fire. In the current situation, the eurozone stands to suffer more from tariffs than the UK, which runs a trade deficit with the US.

Tensions are rising following recent attacks from the White House against the EU. On June 24, The US leader once again accused the bloc of unfair trade practices.

Washington also strives to include non-tariff barriers in the negotiations, such as digital taxes, sustainability reporting rules, LNG exports, and food standards.

US President Donald Trump is keeping close watch on oil prices, demanding they stay low to counter geopolitical adversaries. His strong message comes amid escalating tensions with Iran.

Following recent US-Israel strikes on Iranian targets, the American leader reacted sharply to subsequent price increases. "EVERYONE, KEEP OIL PRICES DOWN. I’M WATCHING! YOU’RE PLAYING RIGHT INTO THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY. DON’T DO IT!" Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform. He explicitly ordered the US Energy Department to ramp up production, demanding immediate compliance: "DRILL, BABY, DRILL!!!" 

The remarks followed Sunday's bombing of Iran. On June 22, the United States attacked three Iranian nuclear facilities near Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. White House officials characterized the operation as a one-time action, though Iran retaliated by threatening to block tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

Against this backdrop, Brent crude spiked to $81.40 per barrel, though the banchmark later stabilized.

A moment of glory is approaching for the single European currency. Apart from predictions that the euro will take the dollar’s place in the global financial system, discussions about creating its digital counterpart have also resurfaced. The main thing now is to turn these plans into reality.

Earlier this week, Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank (ECB), urged European lawmakers to swiftly pass legislation that would enable the introduction of a digital euro. According to the head of the regulator, the legal framework paving the way for the introduction of the crypto euro "must be established as soon as possible." Let’s wish the European leaders success in tackling this complicated and crucial challenge!

Christine Lagarde also underscored the importance of timely action in this area, stating that making key political decisions will allow Europe "to harness the current momentum to improve the economic outlook of the euro area and its citizens."

The payments world is caught up in stablecoin mania! Incredibly, major corporations such as Amazon and Walmart are exploring creating their own tokens. While optimists call this a new existential threat to Visa and Mastercard, Jefferies analysts disagree. They see no viable mass-market use case to date, warning that market enthusiasm exceeds real-world adoption.

"We don’t view stablecoins as a threat to Visa and Mastercard," Jefferies analysts emphasize, dismissing notions of an inevitable cryptocurrency payments revolution. These conclusions follow recent talks about Amazon and Walmart potentially issuing stablecoins or even forming a merchant consortium for a shared token. This initiative aims to reduce card network fees and increase payment control. While stablecoins could theoretically lower costs, speed up settlements, and offer buyer rewards, Jefferies sees such projects as unlikely to materialize.

Jefferies analysts highlight that the core challenge lies in consumer adoption. "The value prop to the merchant is clear (lower acceptance costs by avoiding interchange) but we struggle to see what actually drives consumer adoption. The stickiness of consumer behavior in payments is consistently underrated when discussing risk from alt. schemes/payment methods," Jefferies noted.

If Amazon and Walmart launch their own coins, such a model would likely resemble a closed-loop wallet like Target's REDcard, but in digital form. However, Jefferies remains skeptical about US consumers widely adopting merchant-issued stablecoins. "For stablecoins to displace cards, they’d need to offer either much deeper discounts (which would eat up all the cost savings) or radically better utility," the bank said.

While stablecoins have been touted as a panacea for cross-border payments, analysts argue that they offer no speed or cost advantages over existing currency exchange channels for major currency systems. All transactions still require fiat currency conversion.

"Stablecoins only represent the rail for movement of cross-border liquidity; fiat currency is still required to complete a payment into the intended recipient’s local bank account," Jefferies emphasized.

Stablecoins remain one of the most popular payment methods, but Jefferies sees little risk to Visa and Mastercard's dominance. This issue ultimately comes down to consumer adoption, which  is exceptionally challenging to achieve, the firm assumes.

Bulgaria is ready for a major challenge. Starting from January 1, 2026, Bulgaria is set to become the 21st member of the eurozone. Well, not so fast—this still requires formal approval from European leaders. Nevertheless, things are on track. In fact, the first step has already been taken: last week, EU finance ministers endorsed Bulgaria’s adoption of the euro.

Their support came after positive assessments from two key institutions—the European Commission and the European Central Bank (ECB)—which reviewed Bulgaria’s readiness to join the single currency union. The decision is expected to receive final approval from EU leaders at the summit in Brussels on Friday, June 27.

Back in 2007, when Bulgaria joined the European Union, it made significant efforts to adopt the common currency. However, public opinion in Bulgaria remains divided. According to a Eurobarometer survey conducted in May 2025, 50% of Bulgarians remain skeptical about the euro, while the other half welcomes the adoption of the shared currency. Some citizens are concerned that switching to the new currency might trigger another round of inflation.

As for the exchange rate from the Bulgarian lev to the euro, it will be set by the EU finance ministers, allowing Bulgaria time to adjust. The country will be granted a six-month technical preparation period, leading up to the full transition in 2026.

The artificial intelligence sector is abuzz again! Apple Inc. is reportedly in talks to acquire Perplexity AI, a fast-growing startup known for its advanced chat platform, a potential move that could significantly bolster the tech giant's AI ambitions.

According to Bloomberg, high-level talks are at an early stage, with the outcome still uncertain. Analysts view this potential acquisition as a sign of Apple's struggles to compete in the AI sector. The company's market position has weakened due to problems with integrating artificial intelligence into its hardware and software ecosystem. Recent persistent delays in upgrading Siri have left Apple's voice assistant lagging behind competitors like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Elon Musk's Grok.

A successful deal valued at an estimated $14 billion would mark Apple's largest acquisition ever, surpassing previous transactions in both scale and strategic importance. It could accelerate Apple's AI development and enhance user interactions across its ecosystem.

However, there are stumbling blocks along this path that Apple has encountered. The potential Perplexity purchase has drawn scrutiny from US antitrust regulators, creating uncertainty that may push Apple to consider developing its own AI-powered search system instead. Notably, Apple's leadership has not yet formally approached Perplexity about a potential acquisition.

The AI arms race continues to intensify as tech giants vie for top talent and cutting-edge capabilities. For typically acquisition-shy Apple, pursuing Perplexity signals a strategic shift aimed at closing its AI gap, a departure from its traditionally conservative approach to major deals.