Money Talks. Sunday the 18th of May 2025

Subscribe today so you never miss an episode! Today on Money Talks: Moody’s downgraded the U.S. credit rating from Aaa to Aa1 due to rising federal debt and high interest costs (The New York Times). Former President Trump announced major business deals with the UAE, including AI semiconductor investments and U.S. energy funding (The Financial Times). The U.S. lifted sanctions on Syria, leading to an $800 million port development with DP World, in alignment with Gulf interests (The Guardian). China’s export pivot to the Global South caused economic strain for ASEAN nations, with layoffs and factory closures increasing (The Financial Times). A 90-day U.S.-China trade truce sparked a rally that pushed the S&P 500 into positive territory (The New York Post). Wall Street ended flat Friday but logged a strong weekly gain, supported by easing inflation (Associated Press). Asian markets capped a strong week with a quiet finish as U.S.-China trade optimism cooled (Reuters). Oil prices stabilized after a sharp drop tied to U.S.-Iran nuclear deal speculation but closed the week higher (The Economic Times). Gold prices slipped slightly for the week amid minor fluctuations, weighed down by soft inflation data (The Times). U.S. Treasury yields fell as expectations of policy easing grew following weaker inflation reports (Reuters). Alphabet shares rose 2.4% and UnitedHealth rebounded 1.4%, leading tech and healthcare market moves (Market Watch). Applied Materials stock dropped 6.6% after missing revenue expectations, impacting the tech sector broadly (The Wall Street Pit). Charter Communications’ stock climbed 3% after announcing a $21.9 billion acquisition of Cox Communications (The Financial Times). Alibaba's earnings disappointed, triggering a sharp selloff that rippled across Asian markets (EconoTimes). Walmart warned of upcoming price hikes due to tariffs, citing potential pain for U.S. consumers (The US Sun). Japan’s economy contracted in Q1 2025, prompting the BOJ to delay interest rate hikes (The Wall Street Journal). China’s recovery remained weak with falling credit growth and slowing services activity, pressuring policymakers for new stimulus (India Blooms). The U.S. dollar weakened across major currencies amid a risk-off mood (Kitco). Investors awaited U.S. retail sales and Walmart results for further economic direction (Axios and Yahoo Finance). Lastly, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled a potential policy shift on inflation, citing structural pressures that may demand faster action (The Wall Street Journal and Market Watch). These news summaries were written using AI technology. While every effort has been made to ensure factual accuracy, occasional mistakes or omissions may occur. Your understanding is appreciated, and we warmly welcome any feedback to help us continue improving the quality of our reporting. Thank you for being part of our journey!