Trumpcoaster Dives Deep

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Good morning, Woke up to find tariffs making a comeback, oil prices taking a dive, jobs pretending everything's fine, and AI models charging like they're gold-plated. Meanwhile, Vietnam just became the new economic scapegoat and your sneakers might soon cost as much as your rent.

Happy Saturday—Capitalism's working hard. Hope you are too!

TARIFF
Trump’s tariff pivot soothes markets

President Trump’s tariff tornado hit a speed bump. After weeks of market chaos, with the S&P 500 and Treasuries battered, Trump softened his stance on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and China. On Tuesday, he nixed plans to fire Powell, despite earlier jabs, and hinted at slashing China’s 145% tariffs, possibly to 50-65% over five years, per the Wall Street Journal. A “fair deal” with Beijing is in sight, he told reporters, though talks remain informal.

The U-turn, spurred by warnings from retail giants like Walmart and advisors like Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, calmed nerves. The S&P 500 jumped 1.7%, though markets remain jittery, tied to Trump’s unpredictable moves. Manufacturing wanes, inflation expectations climb, and the Fed, with rates steady, braces for tariff fallout. China’s Foreign Ministry keeps the door open, but insists on mutual steps. As Trump dangles “leverage,” the world watches for his next play.

ECONOMY
Riding the Trumpcoaster

It’s April 2025, and President Trump’s second term is a whirlwind. His tariff blitz, targeting everyone from Canada to China, has torched decades of trade norms, unleashing chaos. The S&P 500 teeters near bear territory, down 11% since January, while U.S. Treasuries endure a historic sell-off. The dollar’s 9% plunge is its worst start since 1971, and the CBOE Volatility Index, Wall Street’s “fear gauge,” hit 50 post-tariff announcement, now simmering at 30.

Global markets feel the sting—Europe’s STOXX 600 dips 1.4%, China’s CSI 300 1.1%—but the U.S. bears the brunt. Investors are yanking cash from U.S. assets, spooked by Trump’s erratic policy moves. Companies like Apple’s suppliers scramble, shipping $2 billion in iPhones to dodge tariffs. Safe havens shine: gold soars 21.4% to $3,500 an ounce, the Swiss franc and yen climb 9%.

The Fed’s growth forecasts are slashed, with JPMorgan pegging a 60% chance of U.S. recession, Goldman Sachs at 45%. Global trade outlooks sour, with the WTO predicting a decline. Trump’s “America First” gamble ripples worldwide—Canadian shoppers snub U.S. goods, European tourists vanish, and oil prices tank, squeezing Russia. As trade wars loom, the Trump rollercoaster shows no signs of slowing.

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ENERGY
Namibia's nuclear ambition

Namibia’s President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, the nation’s first female leader, dropped a bombshell in her inaugural state-of-the-nation address: the world’s third-largest uranium producer is eyeing a nuclear power plant. With talks set to kick off this financial year, Namibia aims to harness its uranium riches to secure energy independence, though no timeline for the plant’s completion was shared.

The southern African nation isn’t stopping there. Nandi-Ndaitwah announced plans to fast-track oil and gas projects, with oversight now under her direct control to boost revenue. A crude refinery is also on the horizon. To spark economic growth, corporate taxes for non-mining firms will dip from 31% to 30% this year and 28% by 2026. Youth unemployment, a staggering 44%, gets a $13.7 million fund, and university education will be free from 2026.

Land reform is another priority, with 130,000 hectares slated for redistribution by 2030, ditching the sluggish “willing-buyer, willing-seller” model. Namibia’s bold moves signal a nation ready to reshape its future.

AI & TECHNOLOGY
Label It or leave it

In a move that blends consumer transparency with climate goals, the EU is slapping smartphones and tablets with a new kind of baggage: mandatory labels grading battery life, repairability, and durability — all part of a sweeping rulebook rolling out June 20th.

Think energy ratings for your fridge, now on your phone. These labels won’t just tell you how efficient your device is (A to G scale), but how long the battery lasts, how many charges it can handle, and how easily it can be fixed if it breaks. Add to that durability scores and water/dust protection grades, and the glossy marketing brochures may soon have real competition.

But there’s more. Under new “ecodesign requirements,” manufacturers must make key spare parts available within 5–10 working days, guarantee battery performance (80% capacity after 800 charges), and deliver timely software updates — or risk getting benched from EU shelves. From flagship smartphones to grandma’s cordless phone, almost everything with a screen up to 17.4 inches is covered. The only safe zone? Futuristic rollables and Windows tablets, which get their own playbook.

Europe’s message is clear: phones should last longer, be easier to fix, and tell the truth — on the box.