Faced with the loss of U.S. trade as Donald Trump’s tariff war began to take hold, China’s factory output shrank in April by the most in the past 15 months, the Financial Times reported.
Category: TRENDS ON THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC FRONT – May 6 2025
SPOTLIGHT: TROUBLES CONTINUE FOR THE LUXURY INDUSTRY
Cosmetics giant Estée Lauder reported revenues 10 percent lower in its fiscal third quarter than a year earlier, falling to $3.55 billion.
TOP TREND 2024, A GOLDEN YEAR FOR GOLD: CHINESE INVESTORS SHELTER IN GOLD FUNDS AMID ECONOMIC CHAOS
Chinese investors poured the equivalent of $7.4 billion into gold-focused exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in April, a record pace as trade with the U.S. began to collapse under Donald Trump’s trade war and the country’s domestic economy continues to face an uncertain future.
ECB LEADERS PLAY FAVORITES IN PROMOTIONS, STAFF SAYS
Just 19 percent of European Central Bank (ECB) employees think the bank “does a good job of promoting the most competent people,” a new Ipso survey found.
CHINA’S AUTOMAKERS CONTINUE STRONG SALES IN APRIL
Coming off a robust first quarter, China’s “new energy” vehicle makers such as BYD and Xpeng reported strong sales continued through April.
GLOBAL CRYPTO PLATFORMS PLAN OFFICES IN U.S.
Encouraged by Donald Trump’s enthusiasm for digital assets and his administration’s moves to rescind strict oversight measures, cryptocurrency trading platforms are actively looking to open outlets for U.S. customers.
U.S., UKRAINE SIGN MINERALS AGREEMENT
On 30 April, the U.S. and Ukraine closed an agreement giving the U.S. access to Ukraine’s mineral resources.
BIG OIL FACES A THIRD YEAR OF LOWERED PROFITS
After falling from 2022 through 2024, oil majors’ revenues and profits are poised to mark a third 12-month period of disappointment.
EUROZONE ECONOMY PERKS UP IN FIRST QUARTER
The collective economy of the 20-nation Eurozone grew by 0.4 percent in this year’s first three months, doubling the pace of growth reached during 2024’s final quarter. If the quarter-on-quarter pace sustains throughout the year, the area’s GDP will grow by 1.4 percent, The Wall Street Journal said.
GOING OUT OF BUSINESS TRENDS
The economic landscape has presented an array of challenges that will profoundly affect the business community this year.