Commodities, Business & Shipping (and Tariffs)

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Trump is going to eventually earn the "boy who cried wolf" status with on again off again tariff threats that never materialize.
 

Beef cow slaughter drops 17% from last year | Weekly Livestock Market Update​

May 30, 2025
In this conversation, Meghan Grebner and Kenny Burdine discuss the current state of the beef cattle market, focusing on slaughter numbers, consumer demand, pricing dynamics, and the impact of trade tariffs. They explore the implications of low beef cow slaughter rates, the importance of consumer behavior in shaping market trends, and the necessity of risk management in a volatile market environment. The discussion also highlights the significance of seasonal demand and the effects of recent cold storage data on supply levels.

Beef cow slaughter drops 17% from last year | Weekly Livestock Market
 

Rare-Earths Plants Are Popping Up Outside China​

GOIÂNIA, Brazil—In a warehouse deep in Brazil’s savanna, machines churn through piles of red clay to produce chalky rocks packed with metals critical for making electric cars, smartphones and missiles.

But what is particularly precious about these minerals is their intended destination: They are bound for the U.S., not China.

China mines some 70% of the world’s rare earths, the 17 metallic elements primarily used in magnets needed for civilian and military technologies. But its 90% share of processing for rare earths mined around the world is what really concerns officials from other countries working to secure their supply.

More:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/science/e...up-outside-china/ar-AA1F1yDF?ocid=socialshare
 

U.S.-China Trade Truce Risks Falling Apart Over Rare-Earth Exports​

A trade truce between the U.S. and China is at risk of falling apart, as China’s slow-walking on rare-earth exports fuels U.S. recriminations that China is reneging on the deal.

Getting the pact together in Geneva earlier this month hinged on Beijing’s concession on the critical minerals, according to people familiar with the matter.

The people say the U.S. trade negotiators presented their Chinese counterpart, Vice Premier He Lifeng, with a demand that Beijing resume rare-earth exports. In return, the U.S. would agree to a 90-day tariff truce. He agreed to the demand in the final hours of marathon discussions with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, the people said.

More:

 

‘Trump time’ becomes a liability for president’s tariff agenda​

President Donald Trump’s move-fast-and-break-things ethos this week led to a major setback for his trade policy, leaving the White House scrambling to chart its way around a potentially devastating legal ruling.

Yet with the central element of his economic agenda in jeopardy, Trump is digging in on his vow to impose steep tariffs by any means necessary — and stick it to those who question his strength and think he’s bound to “chicken out.” He and administration officials have said that negotiations with other countries will continue, are insisting they’ll win their current tariff battle in court and are even preparing back-up strategies for new tariffs in case they don’t.

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Take Five: Plot twist​

LONDON (Reuters) -U.S. jobs data, a European Central Bank meeting and big global oil producers all vie for investor attention this week.

And as a new month begins, court rulings on U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs suggest further plot twists to the trade story.

Here's what's coming up in the week ahead in world markets from Lewis Krauskopf in New York, Rae Wee in Singapore, and Yoruk Bahceli, Dhara Ranasinghe and Alex Lawler in London.

More:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/economy/take-five-plot-twist/ar-AA1FU7C4?ocid=socialshare
 

Shares and dollar tumble as tariff tensions flare​

By Wayne Cole and Amanda Cooper

SYDNEY/LONDON (Reuters) - Stocks and the dollar slipped on Monday as U.S.-China trade tensions bubbled and investors turned defensive ahead of U.S. jobs data and a widely expected cut in European interest rates.

Shares in Asian and European steelmakers, which export metal to the United States, dropped in reaction to President Donald Trump's threat late on Friday to double tariffs on imported steel and aluminium to 50%, starting June 4. The move drew criticism from European Union negotiators.

Speaking on Sunday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Trump would soon speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping to iron out a dispute over critical minerals.

Beijing then forcefully rejected Trump's trade criticism, suggesting a call might be some time coming.

More:

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/oth...f-tensions-flare/ar-AA1FUy5f?ocid=socialshare
 

Joakim Hannisdahl | Shipping Stocks 2025, Investing Ideas, Oil Tankers, VLGC, Containers | Vonheim​

Jun 2, 2025 Vonheim Podcast

Joakim Hannisdahl is a shipping investor and the founder and CEO of Gersemi Asset Management. Tune in for a great conversation about investing, shipping, and what's to come ahead, in volatile and unpredictable markets.

Joakim Hannisdahl | Shipping Stocks 2025, Investing Ideas, Oil
 
Probably a propaganda piece but she's not hard on the eyes so..................

 

Meta signs nuclear power deal with Constellation Energy​

  • Meta has signed a 20-year agreement to buy nuclear power from Constellation Energy.
  • Beginning in 2027, the tech giant will purchase about 1.1 gigawatts of power from Constellation’s Clinton Clean Energy Center in Illinois. Without Meta’s backing, the plant was in danger of premature closure.
  • Tech companies, including Amazon, Google and Meta, signed a pledge in March led by the World Nuclear Association calling for nuclear energy worldwide to triple by 2050.
Meta has signed a 20-year agreement to buy nuclear power from Constellation Energy, continuing the wave of tech giants teaming up with the industry in order to meet the growing power needs of data centers.

Beginning in June 2027, Meta will buy roughly 1.1 gigawatts of energy from Constellation’s Clinton Clean Energy Center in Illinois, which is the entire output from the site’s one nuclear reactor. The companies said the long-term agreement will support the continuing operation of the plant, as well as its relicensing. Without the commitment from Meta, the plant was in danger of closing when its zero-emission credit, which it’s relied on since 2017, expired.

More:

 

Wall Street Breakfast Podcast: Tech, Media Giants Slash More Jobs​

Summary​

  • Microsoft announces over 300 additional layoffs, following a recent 6,000 headcount reduction, with impacted roles undisclosed.
  • Disney to cut several hundred jobs, mainly in its Entertainment unit, affecting marketing, TV, and corporate financial operations globally.
  • Major record labels are negotiating with AI music startups for licensing deals, aiming to resolve copyright lawsuits and secure compensation.
  • Premarket futures are down, with notable movers like Credo Technology surging on strong earnings.
More:

 

Walmart Shows Significant Price Increases Likely Tied to Tariffs, Despite Trump’s Demand To Maintain Pricing​

Walmart may be raising prices on a variety of its items, likely as a result of cost increases related to President Donald Trump’s tariffs, despite the president having demanded that the retailer (and others in the space) “eat the tariffs,” according to The New York Post.

The outlet noted that some price increases exceeded a 100% markup, with toys — a product category particularly impacted due to the majority of them being manufactured in China — being the most obvious examples. The Trump administration had previously enacted a 145% tariff on Chinese imports, a levy which has since dropped to a more modest, yet still significant, 30%.

More:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/mar...maintain-pricing/ar-AA1G23Wf?ocid=socialshare
 

Walmart and Target workers are sharing pics of price increases amid Trump’s trade war​

Workers at Walmart and Target have been sharing evidence of price hikes that they believe to be caused by Donald Trump's tariffs.

Since announcing his "Liberation Day" import taxes at the start of April, Trump has repeatedly raged at companies not to raise their prices — including Walmart, Ford, and Mattel.

"Walmart should STOP trying to blame Tariffs as the reason for raising prices," he posted last month. "Between Walmart and China they should, as is said, ‘EAT THE TARIFFS,’ and not charge valued customers ANYTHING. I’ll be watching, and so will your customers!"

But on Reddit boards dedicated to the two U.S. retail giants, eagle-eyed workers have also been tracking the situation.

"I work in Toys and we had about 600 price changes in the last couple days... EVERYTHING went up," one user posted last week. "Most things went up $4, but the bigger toys like RCs and hover boards jumped a whole $40-50. It's f***ing crazy."

More:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/com...rump-s-trade-war/ar-AA1FXBNw?ocid=socialshare
 
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