Squawk Box Europe Express

China’s post-Covid recovery stutters as factory prices nosedive at their fastest pace in seven years. Risk of deflation prompt calls for more government stimulus. The S&P 500 is up by 20 per cent since its low in October, sparking talk of a potential new bull market. Crypto exchange Binance suspends all U.S. dollar deposits in the wake of its SEC lawsuit. SEC chair Gary Gensler has slammed the crypto sector calling it rife with ‘hucksters’ and ‘fraudsters’. Meanwhile in Washington, President Biden hosts UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak where the pair announced an ‘Atlantic Declaration’ which pledges to strengthen ties on clean energy and A.I. The deal, however, falls far short of an FTA between the two nations. And former U.S. President Donald Trump has been indicted on seven criminal charges in Miami over alleged mishandling of classified documents.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Bank of Canada surprises markets by hiking rates, becoming the second global central bank to take a hawkish turn ahead of next week’s Fed meeting. U.S. Treasury Secretary tells CNBC exclusively that strong American employment will not prevent inflation from being reined in back to target. Crypto exchange Coinbase’s CEO Brian Armstrong slams the SEC for moving to ring-fence the sector, saying that the case against his company should not be compared with procedures against Binance. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is in Washington on a two-day trip where he is to meet with President Biden, seeking to play down trade tensions between the two countries. Volvo unveils its electric EX30 premium SUV as it plans for half of its products to be fully electric by 2030. We hear from CEO Jim Rowan who says that last year’s supply chain concerns are finally dissipating.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chinese exports disappoint in May by a wide margin as weak domestic forecasts and global consumption concerns weigh. U.S. indices rally, however, with fresh record highs for the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq. The VIX drops to its lowest intra-day level since before February 2020. The World Bank slashes its global growth forecast for next year, citing higher rates and tight credit conditions. Deputy Chief Economist Ayhan Kose tells CNBC that the world economy remains in a precarious situation. U.S. authorities clamp down on crypto, targeting Coinbase and freezing all U.S. assets globally owned by Binance. SEC Chairman Gary Gensler tells our U.S. colleagues that the sector’s business model must be regulated. And in sports news, the PGA Tour merges with Saudi-backed outfit LIV, ending all litigation between the factions.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apple launches Vision Pro – its first mixed-reality product since it first entered the wearable category almost a decade ago. In crypto news, the SEC sues the world’s biggest exchange, Binance, as well as its CEO Changpeng Zhao for breaking security rules in the U.S. The RBA unexpectedly hikes rates by 25bps, warning that a soft landing still remains elusive for the Australian economy. ECB President Christine Lagarde admits that there are signs core inflation is moderating but says it is too early to announce price pressures have peaked in the euro zone.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oil prices lift following Saudi Arabia’s pledge to cut supply by a further 1m bpd from July onwards. Speaking exclusively to CNBC, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said that the move was a precautionary measure. Friday’s Dow Jones session was the strongest since January, moving 700 points on news of a strong U.S. jobs report and President Biden signing the debt agreement into law. We also hear from IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva in Dubrovnik who says that despite a stellar U.S. employment situation, it is still too early for the Fed to step back from its tightening cycle. ECB hawk and Croatian National Bank Governor Boris Vujčić echoes her words, saying that rate rises will only stop when the economic situation allows. We are also at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore where German defence minister Boris Pistorius tells us that German weapons manufacturers are working non-stop to support Ukraine’s military endeavours against Russia.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Pr

The U.S. Senate votes to pass the debt ceiling agreement to send it onto President Biden to ratify, avoiding what would have been the first ever U.S. default. The news pushes Asian markets into the green. The Nikkei is now on course for its eighth consecutive week of gains while tech stocks lead the way on the Hang Seng in Hong Kong. Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy puts pressure on NATO to forge a path for Kyiv’s accession with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak telling CNBC Ukraine rightfully belongs in the alliance. And crude prices are up ahead of this weekend’s Opec+ meeting but still track towards their worst week since early May.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The debt ceiling bill is approved by House Representatives, moving it onto the Senate. Hose Speaker Kevin McCarthy has warned Democrats he intends on making more cuts in coming years. Markets lower odds of a Fed rate hike in June after two officials say they are in favour of pausing this month. We are live in Moldova where 50 European leaders are meeting to discuss the war in Ukraine with President Volodomyr Zelenskyy expected to attend. Manufacturing activity in China recovers in May according to a private sector survey.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The bill to raise the U.S. debt ceiling clears the first hurdle in the House Rules Committee and faces a House floor vote tonight. Chinese manufacturing contracts further, reaching a five-month low while the services sector activity hits its slowest pace in four months. Asian markets slump as a result. The Nasdaq manages to cross the 13,000-point mark for the first time since August 2022, buoyed by an A.I. tech stock-inspired rally. The Dow, however, is set to post its first negative month in three. Sticking with tech, chip maker Nvidia briefly joins the trillion-dollar club, but falls back towards the end of the session with a market cap of $990bn. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Following a battering for his PSOE party in regional and municipal elections, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez calls a snap election for 23rd July. The U.S. debt ceiling agreement is due to face its first test today when it comes up against the House Rules Committee. President Biden says he is confident the bill will pass despite signs of resistance from some GOP lawmakers. Asia markets are mixed with oil slipping as investors await Wall Street’s reaction to the debt deal following the Memorial Day weekend. In the UK, shop price inflation shows no signs of abating, hitting 9 per cent – its highest level in 18 years. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy hail a debt ceiling deal with a vote on the agreement set for later this week. Markets in Asia respond positively to the news with the Nikkei hitting a 30-year high while U.S. futures trade in the green with oil also up. In regional Spanish elections, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s PSOE party get thumped with the conservative People’s Party making significant gains in key areas. Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan claims victory in Sunday’s presidential election to extend his hold on power into a third decade.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The White House and Republicans are reportedly inching towards a debt deal that will remain in place until past the 2024 elections. On Wall Street, the Nasdaq closes up 1.7 per cent, powered primarily by Nvidia shares. U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo holds ‘candid and substantive’ talks with her Chinese counterpart Wang Wengtao after months of tit-for-tat incidents and raised trade tensions between Washington and Beijing. And we are live in Valencia ahead of pivotal regional elections across much of the country this weekend. The poll is seen as a key test for parties going into this winter’s general election.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Political wrangling over the debt ceiling continues in Washington D.C., prompting Fitch to place the U.S.’ AAA rating on negative watch. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy still manages to strike an optimistic note. There are differing opinions emerging at the Federal Reserve over the future rate path. The most recent FOMC meeting’s minutes show members now less certain that further hikes are needed. Chip maker Nvidia sees shares soar in after-hours trade, adding more than $200bn in value to take its market cap beyond $1tn as the firm posts its largest quarterly beat in 5 years. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis officially throws his hat into the 2024 presidential race. However, his Twitter Spaces announcement alongside owner Elon Musk suffers numerous technical glitches upon launch.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wall Street is in the red as the debt ceiling negotiations drag on, with the deadline just over a week away. Speaking at the CNBC CEO Council Summit, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon says that the chance of recession this year is worsening as inflation remains stickier than predicted. Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel believes the ECB must hike several more times in its fight against inflation in the euro zone as the central bank marks its 25th anniversary. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is reportedly due to announce his presidential run later today during a special Twitter conversation with billionaire owner Elon Musk. And, according to the Janus Henderson Global Dividend Index, global dividend payouts have soared to a record $327bn during the first quarter this year.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Biden says talks with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy at the White House have been productive as negotiators seek to strike a debt ceiling deal ahead of the 1 June deadline. Minneapolis Federal Reserve President Neel Kashkari tells CNBC he is open to either hiking rates or skipping an increase next month but warned that investors should not expect a cut any time soon. JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon has said he plans to continue as boss of America’s largest bank so long as he is energized by the role. Facebook parent Meta is hit with a record $1.4bn fine by the EU for transferring user data to the U.S. The company has pledged to appeal the decision.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy attends the G-7 summit in Hiroshima and laments the destruction of the city of Bakhmut which Russian forces claim to have taken over the weekend. U.S. President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy are to meet at the White House to discuss stalled debt ceiling talks. Biden says the GOP must compromise over its “extreme positions”. China slaps trade restrictions on U.S. chip maker Micron, claiming the company poses security risks. In aviation news, Ryanair posts FY profits of €1.4bn on the back of strong recovery in traffic. However, the carrier warns that its fuel bill will soar by €1bn next year. And in Greece, incumbent Prime Minister Kyriako Mitsotakis claims victory in parliamentary elections but his New Democracy party falls short of an outright majority. New elections are likely to held in the summer.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The G-7 summit kicks off in Hiroshima, Japan. Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy will reportedly attend the meeting where Western leaders have vowed to harden their stance against Russia. In the U.S., there are signs an agreement on the debt ceiling could be reached with a vote as a early as next week to avoid a default ahead of the June 1st deadline. Wall Street indices are on track to post their best week since March and in Asia, the Nikkei hits its highest level since 1990. In retail news, Alibaba shares are down after the e-commerce giant missed expectations while Walmart hikes full-year guidance on the back of a robust Q1.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It appears U.S. President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy may be closing in on a deal to avert a default. As Biden flies to Hiroshima to attend a G-7 summit, McCarthy tells our U.S. colleagues that the size of the debt issue can no longer be ignored. The optimism pushes the Dow by 400 points and regional banks also surge with Western Alliance reporting strong deposits for the quarter. In retail news, U.S. giant Target sees shares rise on an earnings beat but warns that organised retail theft could cost the company up to $1bn. Deutsche Bank agrees to settle a lawsuit concerning Jeffrey Epstein’s victims with a $75m payout following accusations that the lender enabled the late financier’s sex trafficking activities. Global debt has soared by $8tn in the first quarter this year as rising interest rates drive costs up. Total global debt has now stabilised at 335 per cent of GDP.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info

Tesla CEO tells our CNBC colleagues Stateside that this year will be challenging for the electric car maker. In a wide-ranging exclusive interview, Musk said that U.S.-China trade tensions should concern everyone. We also hear from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella who says Musk is wrong to claim that the software maker controls OpenAI. U.S. President shortens his Asian tour to return to help secure a debt ceiling agreement to avoid a default. In banking news, UBS says it will suffer a $17bn hit from its takeover of former rival Credit Suisse as it aims to close the deal by next month. Siemens raises its FY outlook, now expecting comparable revenue growth of 9-11 per cent for the year.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Asian stocks hold steady following disappointing retail and manufacturing data out of China. The U.S. moves closer to a default with no agreement between lawmakers. Budget talks will resume at the White House later today. Ray Dalio’s Bridgewater Capital offloads its shares in 5 of the largest regional American banks following the recent turmoil. However 13- F filings show that two major hedge funds have bought regional bank stakes despite the volatility. The EU passes Microsoft’s $69bn Activision takeover in contrast with the UK’s denial of the deal. The bloc’s anti-trust chief Margrethe Vestager tells CNBC exclusively that the decision is not a contradiction. And President Emmanuel Macron has courted €13bn of blue-chip investment money during the Choose France business summit.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Turkish presidential elections look set to head to a run-off after as neither candidate garners enough support outright but President Erdogan believes he will win another 5-year mandate. In the U.S., the debt ceiling wrangling intensifies as congressional leaders attempt to arrange a deal. President Biden believes a default will be avoided this week. G-7 finance ministers meet in Japan and target Russian energy and trade with tighter sanctions in a bid to blunt Moscow’s war efforts in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukrainian president Volodomyr Zelenskyy performs a whistle-stop tour around European capitals in a bid to bolster the region’s military support for his country. In financial news, insurer AXA posts a 1 per cent revenue jump to €32bn in the first quarter but AUM drops by 7 per cent.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.