Squawk Box Europe Express

Asian equities hit their lowest levels in two years following tech weakness on Wall Street ahead of key inflation data and the start of earnings season. Increased recession fears in Europe pushes the euro close to parity with the dollar which is strengthened by further expected rate hikes by the Fed. In corporate news, Twitter is preparing to file a lawsuit against Elon Musk after the billionaire dropped his $44bn takeover bid. Eurogroup finance ministers meet in Brussels with gas prices top of the agenda. This as the Nord Stream 1 pipeline shuts down for scheduled maintenance.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Twitter vows to take Tesla CEO Elon Musk to court after he sought to cancel his $44bn acquisition of the social media company. Tory contenders jostle to replace Boris Johnson as UK Prime Minister but one early favorite, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, pulls out of the leadership race. In Germany, troubled utility giant Uniper completes its bailout application. We hear from French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire who says that the EU must brace for a shutdown of Russian gas. Japan’s ruling coalition increases its majority in upper house elections, two days after the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Following yesterday’s dramatic resignation, Boris Johnson stays on as caretaker prime minister until a new leader is selected. This, despite numerous calls for him to leave Downing Street immediately. We are live from Westminster for the latest. Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is shot while on the campaign trail for upper house elections. Japan’s current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has said Abe is in a ‘grave’ condition. U.S. markets are in the green ahead of today’s non-farm payroll numbers. We are also live in Berlin where the German lawmakers have given the green light to further state intervention to secure the energy sector. There are reports that Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government will seek to take a stake in excess of 30 per cent to prop up beleaguered gas utility Uniper.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

UK Prime Minister refuses to step down despite senior cabinet ministers urging him to quit late yesterday afternoon. More than 40 Conservative MPs have now left government roles. WE are live in Downing Street for the latest. June’s FOMC minutes signal more restrictive policies are being lined up in a bid to rein in U.S. inflation. French Prime Minster Elisabeth Borne announces plans to nationalise beleaguered energy firm EDF to secure ‘full control’ of the nation’s electricity. And we are live in Berlin where the Bundestag has been debating new energy security rules with the prospect of a bailout for gas utility Uniper now on the cards.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The 2- and 10-year Treasury yields briefly invert for the third time this year sparking fresh recession fears. Concerns of a global economic slowdown prompt crude prices to tumble 10 per cent before recovering. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government is in turmoil following the resignations of Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid over continued political scandals. The pound plunges to its lowest level since the start of the Covid pandemic as a result. We are live in Downing Street for the latest. And we are also live in Düsseldorf, Germany, where the government is reportedly set to take on a 25 per cent stake in Uniper – the country’s largest importer of Russian gas – in order to keep the company alive following a sharp decline in supply from Moscow.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Beijing and Washington hold ‘pragmatic and frank’ trade talks with suggestions that the U.S. may cut tariffs in a bid to suppress inflation. The RBA raises rates by 50 bps – its third such hike in three months. Germany’s Uniper sees shares plunge by 30 per cent on reports of a government bailout. German politicians are to draft a new bill to allow Berlin to nationalize struggling gas importers. In Norway, oil and gas workers stage a two-day walkout which could cut supply by up to 89k bpd, rising to 292k bpd. And in the crypto sector more ongoing volatility forces two platforms to implement transaction restrictions.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos slams U.S. President Joe Biden on inflation, accusing him of a ‘deep misunderstanding’ of economics. Tesla suffers its first quarterly decline in deliveries in two years due to continued Chinese Covid lockdowns. The IEA warns of a ‘red alert’ for a global recession and calls on Saudi Arabia to pump more oil while the Norwegian Oil & Gas Association says that industrial action may cut the country’s output by 13 per cent. Stateside, travellers are braced for 4th of July chaos while in Europe, Ryanair cabin crew in Spain have voted to strike.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of inflation eases but remains at levels not seen since the 1980s. The S&P 500 ends H1 with its worst performance since 1970. Asian equities are down but Chinese stocks outperform as factory activity rebounds at its fastest pace for a year. Siemens reports a write-down of its stake in Siemens Energy which will create a €2.8bn loss in Q3. And in crypto news, FTX is reportedly close to buying BlockFi in a $25m fire sale.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The S&P 500 stares down the barrel its worst first half since 1970 while a host of other assets trade at multi-decade lows, but energy outperforms amid the turbulence with WTI on track for its longest quarterly win streak ever. The world’s top central bankers walk the inflation tightrope at the ECB's Sintra summit, with Fed Chair Jerome Powell admitting aggressive tightening could spark a recession. Over in Asia, the end of strict Covid curbs boosts the Chinese economy with factory activity expanding for the first time in 3 months while the service sector rebounds at its fastest pace in more than a year. Three Arrows Capital becomes the latest casualty of the crypto winter. Liquidators move in after the hedge fund defaults on a loan tied to big bets on digital currencies.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Turkey lifts its veto to NATO expansion, allowing Finland and Sweden to join the alliance. Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg tells CNBC that the ‘historic’ move will be globally significant. In Bavaria, G-7 leaders have pledged to maintain sanctions on Russia to curtail key revenues. French President Emmanuel Macron tells this channel that a price cap mechanism on Russian oil is still a work in progress. We also hear from ECB chief economist Philip Lane in Sintra, Portugal, who says the central bank is set to raise rates by 25bps in July and potentially by more in September. And in U.S. markets, consumer sentiment plunges, with Wall Street on track for its worst H1 performance since 1970.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

G-7 leaders mull the feasibility of a price cap on Russian oil as French President Macron admits he faces reluctance from major international producers to boost supply. NATO announces it will increase the number of troops on high alert from 40,000 to 300,000. We are live in Madrid ahead of the bloc’s summit. A Swiss court finds Credit Suisse guilty in a high-profile Bulgarian money-laundering case. CEO Thomas Gottstein is due to face investors at the lender’s Investor Deep Dive today. Central bank governors arrive in Sintra, Portugal at the ECB Forum where ECB board member Isabel Schnabel warns that fragilities are beginning to show between nations over inflation. And in crypto news, Robinhood shares are in the red in extended trade after cryptocurrency exchange FTX denies rumours it is looking to buy the trading app.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We are live at Elmau Castle in Bavaria where G-7 leaders are meeting to increase pressure on Moscow through a price cap on Russian oil and a ban on imports of Russian gold. Western sanctions have pushed Russia to default on its foreign debt for the first time in more than a century. The BiS has warned that the world has reached a tipping point on inflation. French energy executives have urged consumers to cut back on gas usage, warning of social fractures should supplies fail be replenished before winter. And in the U.S., the S&P 500 posts its largest one-day rally since 2020 but overall, U.S. stocks are still set to record their worst H1 performance in more than 50 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. Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell faces the House Financial Services Committee and admits that he had underestimated inflation. Lawmakers pressed the central bank chief on how he would respond should his aggressive rate hikes push the U.S. economy into a recession. Wall Street is set to break a three-week losing streak later today as a very volatile H1 comes to a close. EU leaders unanimously approve candidate status for Ukraine but European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen insists the process will not be rushed through. Inflation in Japan exceeds the BoJ’s expectations for the second consecutive month. Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son leads the investment titan’s AGM. He says that, despite pressure from London, chip maker ARM is most likely to list on the Nasdaq. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell has told the Senate Committee that a soft landing for the economy is now very difficult but insists that the central bank must succeed in reining in inflation. President Biden has called for a three-month federal gas tax holiday to ease the burden on U.S. consumers. He faces strong opposition from lawmakers, including from within his own party. The GOP has branded the move as “yet another gimmick”. In France, President Macron seeks compromise with opposition parties following the loss of his parliamentary majority. And, we hear exclusively from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg who says that the virtual ecosystem, or ‘metaverse’ will create huge new economic opportunities.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The S&P 500 hits back with its best day in June so far as Wall Street recovers from its worst weekly loss in 2 years. However, Asian markets don’t follow suit. South Korean stocks lead declines while the yen hits its lowest level in almost 24 years. Germany’s industry association, the BDI, has slashed its 2022 outlook and says a European recession is certain should Russia cut gas supplies completely. Meanwhile in the U.S., President Biden and Chevron CEO Michael Wirth spar over energy policy criticism. And in France, President Emmanuel Macron holds talks with rival parliamentary parties as National Rally leader Marine Le Pen says she was now entitled to key cabinet positions.    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We speak exclusively to Deutsche Bank CEO Christian Sewing who warns that spiraling inflation and the energy crisis are a “perfect storm” to trigger a European recession. Asian markets are up and U.S. futures point to solid gains following the long Juneteenth weekend. President Biden says he is considering a pause on federal gasoline tax to help ease the cost burden on Americans ahead of the driving season while downplaying the risks of the U.S economy slipping into recession. In France, President Macron is set to hold coalition-building talks following the loss of his parliamentary majority.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Emmanuel Macron loses his absolute majority in the French parliament to a leftist coalition and a resurgent National Rally. Germany has announced it will return to coal in a bid to secure energy supplies ahead of winter as Russia continues to cut gas output. Asian markets are in the red on the back of the worst weekly performance by the S&P 500 since March 2020. And Bitcoin claws back some losses following a sharp weekend sell-off which saw the world’s biggest cryptocurrency hit an 18-month low. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Dow plunges to below the 30,000-mark for the first time since January last year following the Federal Reserve’s historic 75-bps rate hike. U.S. President Joe Biden says that a recession Stateside is still ‘not inevitable’ but he admitted that signs of an economic slowdown is weighing on the mood of the nation. In Luxembourg, German finance minister Christian Lindner tells CNBC that euro zone fragmentation is not a concern following a surge in bond yields within the bloc. The leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Romania visit Kyiv to demonstrate their support for Ukraine’s ‘eventual’ accession into the EU.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Federal Reserve hikes interest rates by a historical 75 bps in what is its most aggressive move since 1994. Chairman Jerome Powell has suggested that July’s FOMC meeting could result in a similar move should rampant inflation show no signs of abating. The markets react immediately, with the Dow and the S&P 500 breaking five-day losing streaks. Asian stocks follow suit and European equities are set to do likewise. The ECB touts a new ‘anti-fragmentation tool’ in a bid to quell the recent bond market turmoil. Reaction, however, is muted following the central bank’s emergency meeting yesterday. The SNB is also now under pressure, warning that Swiss bank assessment has deteriorated. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. Treasury yields achieve new highs while the S&P 500 sinks even further into bear market territory as investors anticipate more aggressive rate moves from the Fed. DoubleLine Capital’s Jeffrey Gundlach calls for a 200-bps interest rate hike while legendary investor Bill Ackman slams the U.S. central bank for losing control of inflation. We are live in Berlin at the world’s largest private equity event, SuperReturn International. Meanwhile in China, retail sales continue to fall but manufacturing picks up against expectation as Beijing authorities continue to rein the current Covid outbreak. And cryptocurrency exchange platform Coinbase sacks 18 per cent of its staff as a reported ‘crypto winter’ sets in for the sector.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.