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Sources say that the new Japanese PM is planning a large-scale economic stimulus in order to combat inflation.
Sanae Takaichi, the new Japanese Prime Minister, is working on an economic stimulus package which will likely exceed last year's $82 billion in order to help families combat inflation. Government sources familiar with this plan told Reuters that it is expected to be more than double what was spent by households to fight inflation. Takaichi, who advocates big fiscal expenditures, took office Tuesday. This is her first major economic initiative. It reflects her commitment to "responsible fiscal policy". Sources declined to identify themselves because it was a private matter. They said that the plan will be built on three pillars - measures to combat inflation, investments in industries of growth, and national safety. The Nikkei 225 index of Japan's shares reversed its losses on Wednesday after the report and rose. Meanwhile, the yen was unchanged and had only made gains in the morning. The Takaichi government plans to quickly abolish the provisional gas tax rate as part of its core measures for inflation relief. The program also aims at expanding local government grants with an emphasis on small and medium-sized businesses that cannot benefit from the existing tax incentives to increase wages. As the government concentrates on economic development, it will include investments in sectors of growth such as artificial Intelligence and semiconductors. Sources said that the exact size of the package was still being finalised. The announcement could come as soon as next month. In order to fund these measures, the government has begun drafting the supplementary budget that will cover the current fiscal year up until March. It is hoped it will be passed during the next extraordinary session of parliament. If the additional spending exceeds expectations, it may be necessary for the government to issue bonds to cover deficits, which raises questions about how best to balance economic growth and fiscal discipline.
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Morning bid Europe-Inflation will wipe out UK's rate-cutting bets
Rae Wee gives us a look at what the European and global markets will be like tomorrow. The Bank of England's (BoE), which is expected to cut rates again this year, will likely be disappointed if the consumer prices in Britain are higher than expected. The BoE expects the inflation rate in September to be 4%, which is the highest of all the big economies around the world and twice the BoE target. The markets currently price in a chance of nearly 15% that the central banks will ease rates by 25 basis point at their November meeting. A positive surprise in the Wednesday figures will almost certainly wipe out these bets. This would also cloud the central bank's rate outlook into the end of the year, as policymakers are divided between those who wish to take aggressive action in order to counter the slowing down of the job market and others who are concerned about the persistent inflation pressure. A majority, however, is in favour a gradual rate cut. The rapid pace of UK price increases, which continue to put pressure on households and raise borrowing costs, adds to the challenges facing Finance Minister Rachel Reeves. She has promised to ease cost-of living pressures and accelerate economic growth. Reeves, who is trying to reach her fiscal goals and avoid disappointing investors that have already driven up borrowing costs in Britain sharply, has indicated she will increase taxes and reduce spending as part of her budget plan for November 26. Investors were also reeling in other markets from the sudden drop in gold prices that has stopped the metal's explosive rally, despite the lack of an obvious cause. Asian shares also declined, but Japan's Nikkei recovered from its early losses and traded higher following a report that Sanae Takaichi is preparing a stimulus package for the economy that will likely exceed last year’s 13.9 trillion ($92.19) billion yen to help consumers tackle inflation. Money managers from around the world are returning to Japan's debt and stock markets because of its reflationist promises and to diversify away from more expensive U.S. or European markets. The following are key developments that may influence the markets on Wednesday. UK Inflation (September) - Barclays, Tesla earnings
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Oil prices rise more than 1% due to supply risks and US-China trade negotiations
The oil prices rose for the second day in a row on Wednesday. They increased by more than 1 percent, boosted by supply risks related to sanctions and hopes of a U.S. China trade agreement. Investors also took note of news that the U.S. was seeking oil deliveries for its strategic reserves. Brent crude futures were up 94 cents or 1.5% to $62.26 a barrel as of 0400 GMT. U.S. West Texas intermediate crude futures were up 92 cents or 1.6% to $58.16. Oil prices have recovered from a five-month low, which was reached on Monday. Producers increased supply and trade tensions dampened demand. News that the summit between U.S. president Donald Trump and Russian president Vladimir Putin had been put on hold, as well as fears of disruption fuelled by Western pressures on Asian oil purchases from Russia, led to a supply risk. Mukesh S. Sahdev, CEO and founder of energy market consulting firm XAnalysts, said that despite the general bearish sentiment, a glut of oil and weak demand in the Middle East, Venezuela, Colombia, and Russia still prevents the oil price from falling below $60. Investors monitored the tension between Venezuela, an important oil producer and the U.S. The U.S. attacks against Venezuela in international water are a dangerous escalation, and they amount to "extrajudicial killings", a group independent United Nations experts stated on Tuesday. As part of the campaign to combat a "narcoterrorist threat" emanating from Venezuela, U.S. president Donald Trump ordered strikes against at least six vessels that were suspected by the U.S. of transporting drugs in the Caribbean. Investors will also be closely monitoring the progress of U.S. China trade talks, as officials from both nations are due to meet in Malaysia this week. Trump said Monday he expected to negotiate a fair deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping whom he intends to meet next week in South Korea. Trump's comments on trade negotiations are likely to provide some support for the market. The cancellation of the Trump and Putin summit is also likely to provide some support, said ING commodities analysts on Wednesday. Market sources cited American Petroleum Institute data on Tuesday to confirm that U.S. crude oil, gasoline, and distillate stock levels fell in the last week. In a note to clients on Wednesday, ANZ analysts found that oil was also in favor of a U.S. strategy for replenishing strategic reserves. The U.S. Department of Energy announced on Tuesday that it plans to purchase 1 million barrels of oil to replenish its Strategic Petroleum Reserve. It is hoping to benefit from the relatively low prices of oil to do so. (Reporting and editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman in Singapore and Christopher Cushing; Siyi Liu, Jeslyn Lerh)
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Vard Picks SMST to Supply Equipment for North Star’s New SOVs
Dutch offshore equipment supplier SMST has secured a new contract from Norwegian shipbuilder Vard for the delivery of two sets of mission equipment to be installed on an additional two of North Star’s newbuild Service Operation Vessels (SOVs).These vessels are part of a long-term charter agreement between shipowner and operator North Star and energy company RWE.SMST previously supplied similar equipment for the first two CSOVs, the Grampian Eagle and Grampian Kestrel, which are also set to operate for RWE.RWE, North Star Ink Long-Term SOV Charter AgreementsFor these new hybrid-powered SOVs, safe and efficient transfer of technicians working offshore is ensured through the integration of SMST’s Telescopic Access Bridge (TAB) L2, a motion compensated gangway equipped with advanced automation packages.Additionally, the inclusion of a 5t Motion Compensated Crane will enable streamlined and reliable cargo handling operations.“We are proud to contribute to such a significant collaboration between two leading industry players. Above all, we value the continued partnership with North Star and VARD’s ongoing trust in SMST, now reflected in the selection of our equipment for a fifth and sixth vessel,” said Jochem Tuinstra, Sales Manager at SMST.
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Offshore Industry Majors Join Forces for Next-Gen Subsea Flowline Tech
A consortium of offshore energy companies including TotalEnergies, Equinor, Aker BP, DeepOcean, Tenaris, and LS Cable & System has launched a joint industry project to commercialize a new subsea flowline heating technology designed to cut costs and carbon emissions related to deepwater oil and gas subsea tie-back projects.The system, named FlowHeat, aims to lower manufacturing and installation costs by up to 35% and reduce carbon emissions by 30% through separating pipeline and heating installation processes.Subsea tiebacks are key to connecting remote wells to processing facilities, but cold, deepwater environments pose challenges such as wax and hydrate formation. FlowHeat simplifies the heating process by allowing the installation of power cables after the pipeline is laid, or as an alternative, integrating them into a reeled pipeline.“The patented design represents a breakthrough in subsea pipeline heating, offering significant cost savings, improved efficiency, and environmental benefits. The key advantages include reduced topside weight, lower power consumption, and less complex installation. The cable is also repairable and enables real-time monitoring via optical fiber,” said Andries Ferla, DeepOcean’s Technology Director and project owner.The system can be deployed after pipeline installation and is suitable for tiebacks of up to 30 km, potentially extending to 50 km, and water depths reaching 3,000 meters. It allows heating installation using smaller remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), reducing project complexity and vessel requirements.“After a very important phase progressing from idea to proof-of-concept, TotalEnergies is very enthusiastic to enter in a full-scale validation with this group of highly skilled specialists, for qualification of the technology. Together, we believe we can unlock longer tiebacks and access to remote reserves,” added Florent Boemare, Offshore Solutions and Technology Research Manager at TotalEnergies.Initial trials have demonstrated the system’s electrical efficiency and reliable cable installation over obstacles and long distances. FlowHeat can be deployed from various vessel types, supporting a 30% emissions reduction by optimizing pipeline use, cutting installation days, and allowing smaller vessels to be used.Industry participants see strong market potential on the Norwegian Continental Shelf and globally, with more than 300 potential electrically heated flowline projects identified by 2030 in regions such as Brazil, the United States, and Africa.Each company brings distinct expertise - DeepOcean leads project management and subsea integration; Tenaris provides advanced thermal insulation coating solutions; LS Cable & System contributes its experience in power and fiber-optic cables; and TotalEnergies, Equinor, and Aker BP offer operator-level support, infrastructure, and validation capacity.The project has received funding from the Research Council of Norway to conduct pilot testing under real operating conditions, supporting the technology’s qualification and eventual commercialization.
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Shanghai copper prices fall on weak China demand and strong dollar
Shanghai copper fell on Wednesday. The gains made in the previous session were lost due to a weakening of Chinese demand, resulting from high prices, and a stronger US dollar. As of 0302 GMT, the most active contract for copper on Shanghai Futures Exchange had fallen 0.63% to 84,990 Yuan ($11,931.77) a metric ton. The two sessions of gains were halted by the strong industrial production in China and new attempts to ease Sino U.S. trade tensions. The benchmark three-month futures for copper fell 0.15%, to $10608 per ton. The red metal's demand is muted by the low acceptance of high prices from downstream buyers. It's a good thing the copper price was corrected, because it might encourage some real consumption by downstream buyers. "They were not buying anything before," said a Shanghai copper trader, who requested anonymity because the person was not authorized to talk to the media. The copper price was also affected by the stronger dollar, despite Wednesday's slight decline. The price of commodities in greenbacks is weakened by a strong dollar, as buyers who use other currencies are forced to pay more. Traders also closely followed the China-U.S. Trade Conflict in the lead-up to a meeting planned between U.S. president Donald Trump and his Chinese equivalent Xi Jinping in South Korea next week. Copper prices are still held at a minimum by the supply shortage caused by mine disruptions. Any decline is therefore limited. Nickel was the only metal to lose 0.30%. Zinc and lead also remained unchanged. Zinc and lead, among other LME metals gained 0.23% while aluminium and nickel were barely changed.
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Gold continues to fall from its record high due to profit-booking and trade optimism
Gold prices continued to fall on Wednesday as investors took profits from the recent bullion rally, while they awaited U.S. inflation figures due later in the week. As of 0236 GMT, spot gold was down by 0.4%, at $4,109.19 an ounce. Bullion dropped more than 5% Tuesday, its steepest drop since August 2020. U.S. Gold Futures for December Delivery climbed 0.4%, to $4124.10 an ounce. Matt Simpson, senior analyst at StoneX, said that the "simmering" tensions in trade between the U.S. This is a simple technical repositioning of a market which clearly needed a pullback following an extended move over $4,000. I believe we have seen the worst day-to-day fluctuations as dips are still likely to be purchased." U.S. president Donald Trump said he expects to reach a fair deal with Chinese president Xi Jinping next week when they meet in South Korea. He also played down the risk of a conflict over Taiwan. The Mint newspaper in India reported that New Delhi and Washington were close to a long-stalled agreement which would reduce U.S. import tariffs from 50% to 15% or 16%. The gold price has risen by 56% in the past year. It reached a record high of $4,381.21 yesterday, thanks to geopolitical, economic and rate-cutting bets, as well as sustained central bank purchases. Investors are now looking forward to Friday's release of the U.S. Consumer Price Index report for September. This will provide more clues about the Federal Reserve’s path towards interest rate cuts. Due to the U.S. shutdown, this report was delayed. According to a survey of economists, the Fed will cut its key interest rate next week by 25 basis points and again in December. However, opinions are still divided about where rates will end up by next year. Silver spot edged up 0.1% to $48,82 an ounce. Platinum fell 1.5% to 1,528.15 while palladium rose 0.7% to $1418.09. (Reporting by Brijesh Patel in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)
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Iron ore prices rise on signs of eased US-China trade tension
Iron ore prices rose on Wednesday as signs of easing U.S. China trade tensions, and the expectation that Beijing will unveil more stimulus measures to boost economic growth, outweighed worries about a rising ore supply or a decreasing steel demand. After U.S. president Donald Trump stated on Monday that he expects to reach a fair deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping, hopes grew of a deescalation in the trade spat. Trump said that he will visit China in early 2019, at Beijing's request. By 0207 GMT, the most-traded iron ore contract for January on China's Dalian Commodity Exchange rose by 0.78% to $775 yuan (US$108.80) a metric ton. As of 0157 GMT, the benchmark November iron ore traded on Singapore Exchange was up 0.42% at $104 per ton. Analyst Zhuo Guiqiu at Jinrui Futures said that the rise was driven by a macroeconomic factor, as a reduction in U.S. - China trade tensions is expected. This has sparked heightened risk-on sentiment. Investors also bet on more China stimulus after a series of disappointing data. The Communist Party's four-day meeting behind closed doors that began Monday will culminate in an outline of the next five-year strategy. The price increases were tempered by the expectation of a growing supply in the remainder of the year and the seasonal slowdown of steel demand. Vale, the largest iron ore miner in the world, produced 94.4 millions metric tons (the equivalent of steelmaking material) during the third quarter. This is a 3.8% increase on an annual basis and the highest production since the final three months of 2018 Rio Tinto (RIO.L) has also stocked up 2 million tonnes of high-grade ore in Guinea at its Simandou Project for a shipment scheduled to take place mid-November. Both coke and coal, which are used in the production of steel, grew by 0.59%. The benchmarks for steel on the Shanghai Futures Exchange have gained ground. Rebar gained 0.33%. Hot-rolled coil increased by 0.47%. Wire rod gained 0.21%. Stainless steel gained 0.28%. $1 = 7.1230 Chinese Yuan (Reporting and editing by Amy Lv, Colleen Waye)
Top cases heard by the US Supreme Court in 2025-2026
The U.S. Supreme Court is preparing to decide a number of cases during its upcoming term that begins in October. These cases include issues like transgender rights; campaign finance laws; gay "conversion therapies"; crisis pregnancy centers; religious rights and the death penalty. The following are some of the cases that will be heard during the upcoming court term. Separately, the court has also acted in emergency cases involving challenges against President Donald Trump's policy.
TRANSGENDER SPORTS PARTICIPATION On July 3, the court decided to hear Idaho and West Virginia's bid to enforce state laws that prohibit transgender athletes in female sports teams of public schools. This is another civil rights challenge against Republican-backed restrictions for transgender individuals. Idaho and West Virginia appealed lower court decisions siding with transgender plaintiffs. Plaintiffs argued the laws discriminate based upon sex or transgender status, in violation of U.S. Constitution 14th Amendment equal protection guarantee and Title IX civil right statute which prohibits sex discrimination in schools. The arguments have not been scheduled.
CAMPAIGN-FINANCE On June 30, the court agreed to hear a Republican challenge, based on free speech grounds, to a federal campaign finance provision that limits spending by parties in coordination and cooperation with candidates for office. The case involved Vice President JDVance. Vance and two Republican committees, both of whom were running for U.S. Senate at the time the litigation started, appealed the ruling by a lower court that affirmed restrictions on how much money political parties can spend in campaigns, with the input of candidates they support. The question is whether the federal restrictions on coordinated campaign expenditures violate First Amendment protections against government abridgment. The arguments have not been scheduled.
The Justices agreed on March 10, to hear the challenge of a Christian therapist on free speech grounds against a Democratic-backed Colorado Law banning "conversion therapies" that are intended to change a child's sexual orientation, or gender identity. Kaley Chiles, a licensed counselor, appealed the decision of a lower court that rejected her claim that a 2019 statute violated the First Amendment by censoring her communications with her clients. The state claims it regulates professional conduct and not speech. Chiles, a Colorado-based Christian therapist who believes that "people flourish when they live in accordance with God's plan including their biological gender," according to court documents. The arguments have not been scheduled.
CRISIS PREGNANCY COUNTER The court agreed on June 16 to reconsider a New Jersey operator's attempt to stop the Democratic-led attorney general of the state from investigating whether a Christian faith-based organisation deceived the women into thinking it offered abortions. First Choice Women's Resource Centers has appealed the ruling of a lower court that said the organization had to contest the attorney general's summons in state court prior to bringing a lawsuit against it. Crisis pregnancy centers offer services to pregnant women in order to prevent them from getting an abortion. Abortion rights activists have called the centers deceptive because they do not publicize their anti-abortion position. First Choice argues that it has the right to take its case to federal court, because it alleges a violation of First Amendment rights for free speech and freedom of association. The arguments have not been scheduled.
RASTAFARIAN INMATES The Justices took up on June 23, a Rastafarian's lawsuit against state prison officials in Louisiana for holding him down and shaving him bald, in violation of their religious beliefs. Damon Landor's religion dictates that he let his hair grow. He appealed the decision of a lower court to dismiss his lawsuit filed under a U.S. statute protecting against religious infringements by state and local government. Landor was not allowed to sue officials individually for damages under this law, according to the lower court. The law in question protects religious rights for people who are confined to institutions like prisons and jails. The arguments have not been scheduled.
DEATH ROW INMATES The court decided on June 6 to hear the appeal of Alabama officials against a ruling that an Alabama man convicted of murder in 1997 was intellectually disabled. This finding spared him the death penalty, but the Republican-governed State is still pushing to execute him. According to the lower court's analysis of Joseph Clifton Smith's IQ scores and expert testimony, he was deemed intellectually disabled. According to a Supreme Court precedent from 2002, the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unjust punishment is violated by executing a person with intellectual disabilities. The arguments have not been scheduled.
LOUISIANA ELECTORAL DISTRECTS The court will hear arguments for a third time in a dispute involving a Louisiana election map that increased the number of U.S. Congress districts with a majority of Black people in the state. Justices heard arguments on March 24, but ordered on June 27 that the matter be debated again. State officials and civil right groups appealed an earlier court ruling which found that the map of Louisiana's six U.S. House of Representatives district - now with two districts that are majority Black, instead of one - violated equal protection guarantees in the Constitution. The arguments have not been scheduled.
COX COMMUNICATIONS PIRACY VERDICT On June 30, the justices took up a dispute over copyright between Cox Communications, an internet service provider, and a group music labels. This was in response to a court decision that had thrown out a $1 Billion jury verdict against Cox Communications for alleged music piracy by Cox users. Cox Communications appealed the lower court decision that it was still responsible for copyright violations by its customers despite the ruling overturning the verdict. Sony Music, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group are among the labels. The arguments have not been scheduled.
CHEVRON and EXXON COASTAL POLLLUTION On June 16, the court agreed to hear an application by Chevron and Exxon Mobil, as well as other oil and gas firms to move lawsuits filed by two Louisiana municipalities accusing them of damaging the state's coastline over a decade-long period to federal court. The companies appealed the lower court's decision rejecting their claim that the lawsuits should be heard in federal court, because the parishes Plaquemines & Cameron were suing for oil production undertaken during World War II to fulfill U.S. Government refinery contracts. Federal court is a more friendly venue for such litigation. Arguments have not been scheduled.
ENBRIDGE PIPELLINE DISPUTE On June 30, the justices decided to hear Enbridge’s request to change the venue of Michigan’s lawsuit to force the Canadian pipe-line operator to cease operating a line beneath the Straits of Mackinac (waterways connecting two of the Great Lakes) due to environmental concerns. Enbridge appealed the lower court's decision rejecting its request to transfer the case from state to federal court. Federal court is considered to be more favourable to defendants. The arguments have not been scheduled.
(source: Reuters)