Week in review- week ending July 18,2025

🌍 Global Economic & Market News

• Europe / U.K.

  • Company insolvencies in England & Wales dropped to 2,043 in June—8% lower than May and 16% down year-over-year

  • The Bank of England signaled potential rate cuts if job market weakness continues, while threats of U.S. tariffs weighed on European equities.

  
  

• Middle East / UAE

  • Abu Dhabi’s stock index rose 0.2%, buoyed by a 0.75% increase in oil to $70.04/bbl; Dubai’s index retraced slightly following profit-taking.

  • Dubai-based Arada Developments is pursuing up to $500 million through sukuk to underpin its construction pipeline.

  • Singapore topped the list of the world’s most expensive cities for high-net-worth individuals; Dubai rose to 7th place.

  
  

• Asia

  • Ahead of Japan’s upper house election, the yen weakened further and the Nikkei edged down 0.3%, as investors braced for potential policy shifts.

  • Taiwan Semiconductor hit record profits; MSCI’s global equity index rose 0.57%, with U.S. markets marking new highs.

  
  

• U.S. & Global

  • Strong U.S. retail sales and lower jobless claims propelled the S&P 500 and Nasdaq to record highs.

  • President Trump’s announced plan for 15–30% tariffs on EU goods triggered market jitters, though U.S. data underpins investor confidence.

  • G20 leaders reiterated their commitment to central bank independence amid global geopolitical strains.

📈 Global Exchange Weekly Closes

U.S. Exchanges

• Dow Jones Industrial Average: 44,342.20

• S&P 500: 6,269.79

• Nasdaq Composite: 20,895.70

  
  

Canada

• S&P/TSX Composite: 27,314.00

• S&P/TSX 60: 1,797.71

  
  

Europe

• ATX: 4,485.47

• BFX (Belgium): 4,544.39

• CAC 40: 7,822.67

• DAX: 24,289.50

• AEX: 911.85

• OSE (Norway): 1,017.37

• OMXSPI (Sweden): 968.58

• Swiss Market Index: 1,1982.90

• FTSE 100: 8,992.12

• IBOVESPA (Brazil): 133,382.00

  
  

Asia-Pacific

• Shanghai Composite: 3,534.48

• Hang Seng (Hong Kong): 2,4825.70

• Nikkei 225: 39,819.10

• Taiwan Weighted: 23,383.13

• ASX 200: 8,757.20

• New Zealand (NZX 50): 13,987.50

  
  

Notable Cryptocurrency News & Prices

• Bitcoin (BTC): ~$118,166.00

• Ethereum (ETH): ~$3,745.00

• XRP: ~$3.513

💰 Commodities & Agricultural Data

Energy & Metals

• WTI Crude Oil (Aug ’25): $67.30 (−0.36%)

• Brent Crude (Sep ’25): $69.21 (−0.45%)

• Gold: 3,355.50 (+0.30%)

  
  

💵 Bond Market

• U.S. 10‑Year Treasury – 4.42 (-.96%).

• U.S. 30‑Year Treasury – 4.99 (-.46%).

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🔮 Looking Ahead

Next week, markets will monitor geopolitical developments including Japan’s election results and U.S.–EU tariff discussions. ECB and BoE may signal policy adjustments, while U.S. earnings remain in focus. Commodity watchers will track agricultural exports and oil supply stability amid Middle Eastern tensions.

Disclosure: The information provided herein is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. Market conditions are subject to change, and past performance is not indicative of future results. Please consult with a financial advisor before making any investment decisions.