Asian Stocks Rise as AI Chip Rally Lifts South Korea, Japan 
S&P 500 Retreats From Record High as AI Stocks Slide, Retail Sales Disappoint 
KOSPI Rebounds 20% as Samsung, SK Hynix Lead South Korea Stock Rally 
Gold Prices Rise as Weak US Retail Sales Cut Fed Rate Hike Bets 
Japan Government Backs Earlier BOJ Rate Hike as Inflation Pressures Build 
KOSPI Eyes Best Weekly Gain Since June as Samsung, SK Hynix Rally 
Oil Prices Fall as U.S. Crude Inventories Surge and Hormuz Tensions Persist 
France Inflation Rises 2.4% in July as Consumer Prices Increase 
Oil Prices Slide as OPEC, IEA Cut 2026 Demand Forecasts 
Wall Street Hits Record High as Softer Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
Gold Prices Retreat From Two-Month High as Softer Inflation Eases Fed Rate Hike Bets 
Asian Currencies Edge Higher as Soft US Inflation Weighs on Dollar 
China Automakers Accelerate Global Expansion as Domestic Car Sales Slump 
Asian Stocks Rally as Cooling US Inflation Boosts Fed Rate Outlook 
Trump Imposes New Tariffs on Drone Imports Over US Security Concerns 
Asian Currencies Steady as Dollar Holds Firm After U.S. Inflation Data 
Asian Currencies Steady Ahead of US CPI as Oil Prices Rise 
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European stock markets traded higher on Wednesday as investors anticipated more corporate earnings. Germany’s DAX climbed 0.7%, while the UK’s FTSE 100 and France’s CAC 40 gained 0.2% each.
Global debt surged by $7 trillion in 2024, hitting a record $318 trillion, according to the Institute of International Finance (IIF). The global debt-to-GDP ratio jumped to 330%, marking the first annual increase since the pandemic. The IIF expects debt growth to slow in early 2025 due to high borrowing costs.
Stellantis (NYSE: STLA) reported a sharp 70% drop in net profit for 2024, plunging to €5.5 billion from €18.6 billion in 2023. The automaker, which owns brands like Jeep, Dodge, and Peugeot (OTC: PUGOY), is implementing cost-cutting measures to improve profitability.
Meanwhile, Deutsche Telekom (OTC: DTEGY) exceeded its 2024 financial targets, reporting a 3.4% rise in revenue to €115.8 billion and a 6.2% jump in adjusted EBITDA AL to €43 billion. Free cash flow AL soared 18.7% to €19.2 billion, while adjusted net profit increased 18.3% to €9.4 billion. The company forecasts continued growth in 2025, with adjusted EBITDA AL expected to reach €44.9 billion (+4.5%) and free cash flow AL to rise 4% to €19.9 billion.
Anheuser-Busch InBev (EBR: ABI) posted record revenue despite volume declines in China and Argentina. Revenue rose 2.7% to $59.77 billion, driven by a 4.3% increase in revenue per hectoliter, while normalized EBITDA climbed 8.2% to $20.96 billion.
Crude oil prices rebounded from two-month lows after U.S. stockpile declines. Brent crude rose 0.3% to $72.69 per barrel, while WTI crude increased 0.3% to $69.14.
