Archives June 2025

China on Monday countered President Donald Trump’s earlier remarks that the country had violated the trade truce struck between Washington and Beijing last month in Geneva, saying the U.S. had introduced measures that “seriously undermine” their deal.

According to a translation, a Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesperson vowed to “take resolute and forceful measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.” The spokesperson said that following last month’s Geneva talks, the U.S. had “successively introduced a number of discriminatory restrictive measures against China, including issuing export control guidelines for AI chips, stopping the sale of chip design software (EDA) to China, and announcing the revocation of Chinese student visas.”

“These practices seriously violate the consensus reached by the two heads of state on January 17, seriously undermine the existing consensus of the Geneva economic and trade talks, and seriously damage China’s legitimate rights and interests,” the spokesperson added.

The response by Beijing follows a post by Trump on Friday saying that “the bad news is that China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US. So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!”

The escalation of trade tensions between the two nations weighed on global stocks. The Stoxx Europe 600 index is about 0.4% lower, while Japan’s Nikkei closed down 1.3% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng—where the biggest Chinese companies are listed—dropped 0.6%. U.S. stock futures are pointing lower, with those associated with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 0.3%, Nasdaq futures 0.6% lower, and S&P 500 futures down 0.5%.

President Donald Trump said Friday that Tesla (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk is “really not leaving” his cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency, and expects Musk is “going to be back and forth” to continue his work.

Trump thanked Musk for his efforts leading DOGE so far in a Friday press conference, after Musk said earlier this week that he would leave the Trump administration and refocus on his companies.

Musk said Friday he expects to “continue to be visiting” Washington and remain a “friend and advisor” to the president after his legally stated term as a “special government employee” has ended.

Musk also said that he continues to believe DOGE will find more ways to cut government spending, and achieve the group’s goal of $1 trillion in cuts by the time the program—which may be extended—is set to end in the middle of 2026.

Shares of Tesla fell about 3% Friday, but posted gains for the week. The electric vehicle maker’s stock has trended higher over the last month since Musk said in Tesla’s latest earnings call that he would scale back his government work starting this month amid calls for the CEO to spend more time at Tesla.

Setting your home’s asking price is one of the most significant decisions you have to make when listing your home. Price it too high and your home might stay on the market for a long time. Price it too low and you might shortchange yourself. We’ll cover the most effective strategies for listing your house at its best price point, so you get the most value and can sell your home quickly.

Understand the Market

Before we jump into how the market affects your asking price, realize that the housing market can be dramatically different across the country. Do your research to learn about the market conditions in your area. Specifically, are you looking at a seller’s market or a buyer’s market?

If there’s not a lot of housing inventory and more buyers than homes, you’re looking at a seller’s market, so you can price your home more aggressively. On the other hand, if there aren’t many buyers and there are lots of homes to choose from, you’ll have to price your home competitively.

Sometimes, the market is balanced between buyers and available homes. If that’s the case, keep your pricing fair and don’t expect to get much more for your home than it’s worth. Market conditions, like prevailing mortgage interest rates, can often determine the level of buyers that can afford to buy homes.

Analyze Comparable Properties

Ask your realtor to run a comparative market analysis (CMA). This report compares your home to similar ones in your area. This gives you a good idea of what buyers are paying for similar homes. The report takes into account your home’s square footage, number of beds and baths, condition, age, and location.

Avoid Overpricing

If you price your home for more than it’s worth or what similar homes are going for, you’re limiting your pool of eligible buyers. Plus, buyers will see more competitively priced homes as better deals. And, if your home sits on the market for very long, you’ll probably have to cut the asking price.

Pay attention to how many offers you get during the first two weeks. If your home is not attracting much interest, quickly adjust the price so it’s more competitive and doesn’t linger on the market.

Use Strategic Pricing

Listing prices are very intentional, often using psychology to support their determination. For instance, items priced under century numbers (round numbers) are proven to be more attractive. So, instead of listing your home at $505,000, psychological pricing suggests asking $499,900. This also expands your pool of potential buyers to anyone searching for homes under $500,000.

To use psychological pricing, avoid awkward prices and instead select round-number brackets, such as $250,000–$300,000 or $500,000–$550,000. 

Evaluate Unique Property Features

If your home has special features that make it stand out, include these when setting the price, because they make your home more valuable. Here are some examples of unique property features:

• Bathroom or kitchen renovations
• Location near good schools or parks
• Larger lot or located in a highly desirable area
• Swimming pool
• Antique architecture

Avoid Emotional Pricing

One of the worst things you can do is let your emotions determine your home’s listing price. While you might feel your home is worth a lot because it has sentimental value or has been in your family for generations, these feelings don’t translate to increased market value.

Remember, your comparative market analysis is one of your most valuable tools.

Leverage Professional Appraisal

Listing your home can be stressful. Putting together a team of professionals can make the process so much easier, especially if you hire a professional appraiser. They can give you an unbiased estimate of your home’s value.

You should also consider hiring an experienced listing agent who can help you put your home on the market and adjust the asking price as needed.

Plan for Launch Impact 

Ideally, your home should get some buzz or at least several offers within the first week or two. This lets you know the home is priced right. If the housing market in your area is hot and you face stiff competition, you can generate interest by underpricing slightly. This could lead to multiple offers or even a bidding war, where you sell the home for over asking.

Monitor and Adjust the Price

There is the possibility that your home won’t get any offers or have showings within the first few weeks. If this happens, talk with your professional team about tweaking the price.

You should also be aware that the market is typically more active during spring and summer when most people are looking to move. Listing your home during the fall or winter might mean making more price adjustments.

The Bottom Line

Putting your home on the market can be a stressful time, but it’s important to use professional advice and market data when making decisions about the asking price. Instead of letting your emotions set an unrealistic price, professionals and data can help you list the home so it’s more likely to sell quickly and for the most value.

Written by the Market Insights Team

High bar for sustained dollar weakness

George Vessey – Lead FX & Macro Strategist

The initial boost to the US dollar from the Federal Trade Court’s ruling against Trump’s tariffs quickly faded as a federal appeals court granted a stay on the ruling until 9 June, keeping tariffs in place for now. Moreover, markets shifted focus to Section 899 of the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” as US policy uncertainty remains a key overhang.

Adding to renewed trade tensions with China, this could be another growing challenge for the US dollar. Section 899, if passed through the Senate, would allow the US to tax companies and investors from countries deemed to have “unfair foreign taxes”, such as digital services taxes or rules on under-taxed profits. This could effectively act as a capital account tax, at a time when investor confidence in US assets is already shaky. A policy that reduces foreign investors’ returns on US holdings would likely dampen capital inflows, further driving away foreign investors from US assets, including the dollar, already weakened by Trump’s unpredictable trade moves and worsening fiscal conditions.

However, there are still uncertainties around the bill’s final form. It has yet to clear the Senate, and key details remain unresolved. First, it’s unclear if income from US Treasuries will be exempt. Second, S899 would primarily target countries like the EU, UK, Australia, and Canada, while Middle Eastern and Asian nations, home to large global reserves, are seemingly excluded.

Market positioning already reflects broad scepticism toward the dollar, but the scale of additional bearish shifts may be constrained. Traders remain focused on tariff developments, fiscal policy, and global trade negotiations, but much of the negative USD sentiment may be priced in. The dollar’s direction this week will continue to be driven by developments with the court ruling on tariffs, but a slew of economic data will also be key. The May jobs report on Friday will be closely watched, especially for signs of Liberation Day’s impact on hiring and whether DOGE spending cuts are starting to weigh on federal employment.

Euro’s path hinges on ECB and market momentum

George Vessey – Lead FX & Macro Strategist

The European Central Bank’s (ECB) upcoming meeting on Thursday is drawing attention, as recent developments in trade and tariffs have slightly increased the possibility of a pause. However, a downward revision to inflation forecasts and the earlier-than-expected drop in headline inflation to below 2% suggest that the balance is tilting toward a 25 basis-point rate cut. Inflation risks continue to weigh on the outlook, reinforcing expectations for monetary easing.

Eurozone inflation data due on Tuesday is expected to show a decline to 2.0% in the headline print for May. This drop is largely due to falling energy prices and a reversal of last month’s core inflation spike, which had been inflated by Easter-related holiday and leisure costs. With core inflation likely returning to 2.5%, policymakers may see further justification for easing. A rate cut could exert downward pressure on the euro, though much depends on how aggressively markets price in future ECB policy moves.

A dovish ECB, combined with cooling trade tensions and legal battles, could drive EUR/USD lower in the near term. However, the pair has reclaimed its 21-day moving average, which is starting to slope upward, suggesting positive momentum may be rebuilding for the euro. The options market and positioning trends indicate that traders are still favouring euro strength, though short-term volatility remains a risk.

Pound’s rally faces key tests

George Vessey – Lead FX & Macro Strategist

Sterling edged lower to $1.35, retreating from its three-year high of $1.3593 on May 26, as investors reassessed growth prospects and trade dynamics. In tandem, GBP/EUR pulled back from near €1.20, with traders shifting toward the euro amid global trade tensions and rising FX volatility.

Recent soft US economic data, including a Q1 contraction and higher jobless claims, has strengthened expectations for two Fed rate cuts by early 2026, creating a potentially supportive backdrop for GBP/USD. However, lingering global uncertainty and UK-specific factors remain key for near-term direction. The BoE’s cautious approach reflects resilient UK data, with strong April retail sales, improved consumer confidence in May, and sticky inflation.

Markets are pricing 54bp of BoE cuts over 12 months, compared to 60bp from the ECB, leaving a policy gap of around 200bp in the UK’s favor. The recent stabilization in risk sentiment has pushed GBP/EUR toward levels consistent with rate differentials and VIX, though modest further upside remains possible.

For GBP/USD, staying above its 21-day and long-term moving averages suggests the uptrend remains intact. With four consecutive monthly gains, further upside could materialize—especially if investors continue reducing dollar exposure amid US policy uncertainty. A move toward $1.40 in H2 2025 remains on the radar, contingent on macro drivers aligning.

Euro back on the offensive

Table: 7-day currency trends and trading ranges

Key global risk events

Calendar: June 2-6

All times are in BST

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*The FX rates published are provided by Convera’s Market Insights team for research purposes only. The rates have a unique source and may not align to any live exchange rates quoted on other sites. They are not an indication of actual buy/sell rates, or a financial offer.

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Major U.S. equities indexes were mixed in the final session of the holiday-shortened trading week as President Donald Trump reverted to an antagonistic tone on trade with China and the latest Personal Consumption Expenditures data showed that inflation fell more than expected in April.

The S&P 500 staged a Friday-afternoon rally, coming back from deeper in negative territory to end with a loss of less than 0.1%. The Nasdaq was down 0.3%, while the Dow held onto a gain of 0.1%. The Nasdaq and S&P logged their strongest months since 2023. Read Investopedia’s full coverage of today’s trading here.

Shares of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN) plunged 19%, dropping the most of any stock in the S&P 500. The losses came after an experimental treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in former smokers, developed by Regeneron in collaboration with Sanofi (SNY), failed to meet primary endpoints in a Phase 3 trial. The companies said they are reviewing the data and will work with regulators to outline potential next steps. U.S.-listed shares of Sanofi slid 5.7%.

Cooper Cos. (COO) shares dropped 15% after the contact lens manufacturer reduced its full-year outlook for organic growth while edging out consensus sales and adjusted profit estimates with its fiscal second-quarter results. Analysts at JPMorgan downgraded Cooper stock to “neutral” from “overweight,” citing the company’s uneven execution and the possibility of a sustained slowdown in market trends.

Shares of Eastman Chemical (EMN), known for its specialty plastics and adhesives, fell 3.8%. The company announced that its molecular recycling project in Longview, Texas, which was previously expected to receive $375 million in public funding, was among 24 awards revoked by the Department of Energy.

Cosmetics retailer Ulta Beauty (ULTA) topped sales and profit estimates for its fiscal first quarter and lifted its outlook for the full year. CEO Kecia Steelman highlighted contributions from new and exclusive brands as well as strong sales of fragrance products, noting that consumers were turning to beauty products “as a comfort and escape from the stress of macro uncertainty.” Ulta shares skyrocketed 12%, scoring the S&P 500’s top daily performance.

Shares of Palantir Technologies (PLTR) jumped 7.7% as a New York Times report indicated that the Trump administration has expanded the data analytics software firm’s role in government data-sharing initiatives. The tech company, which has lucrative contracts with the federal government and Defense Department, is reportedly engaged in efforts to improve access to data across government agencies.

Enphase Energy (ENPH) stock advanced 5.5%. Shares of the solar microinverter manufacturer came under heavy pressure alongside other renewable energy players after the House of Representatives passed a tax and spending bill that would eliminate certain incentives for clean energy projects, including a federal tax credit for the installation of solar rooftop systems. Enphase Energy shares dropped to a 52-week low on May 22, the day the bill was passed, but have staged a partial recovery since.

Costco Wholesale (COST) stock added 3.1% after the bulk retailer’s quarterly revenue and net income edged out consensus forecasts. Same-store sales also grew more than expected. Analysts have suggested that high-margin membership revenue could provide Costco with some flexibility to navigate tariff-related cost pressure without raising prices.

Ralph Lauren is a luxury brand with an appealing stock, according to Deutsche Bank analysts.

The bank on Friday resumed coverage of Ralph Lauren (RL) with a “buy” rating and a price target of $343—roughly 24% above where shares closed Thursday, and the second-highest tracked by Visible Alpha. The average price target among analysts that follow Ralph Lauren and polled by Visible Alpha was a bit above $327.

“We see [Ralph Lauren] as a market share gainer, with growth levers across geographies, channels, and categories more than offsetting reduced wholesale doors, ultimately positioning the brand closer to European luxury peers,” said Deutsche Bank.

Ralph Lauren stands out thanks to its strong fundamentals, pricing power, and limited sourcing from China, analysts said. Exports from China are currently subject to a minimum 30% import tax in the U.S.

Ralph Lauren said last week it was raising prices in North America this fall and assessing whether to increase them further as a way to offset the cost of tariffs. Still, the retailer an audience that spans entry-level and aspirational customers, as well as traditional luxury clientele, the analysts said.

This allows Ralph Lauren to “capture consumers trading both up and down,” they said.

Ralph Lauren had a strong holiday season, allowing the retailer to ease up on discounts and sending its stock to an all-time high in February. Shares have since come down, but remain up some 20% this year. Ralph Lauren stock closed Friday near $277.

May was the best month for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite since November 2023, with the indexes rising 6.2% and 9.6%, respectively. 

Investors entered the month cautiously optimistic. Employment data at the beginning of the month suggested the economy remained on solid footing. Meanwhile, White House officials were signaling a desire to ease tensions with China, whose imports at the time were subject to a minimum 145% tariff. 

Stocks surged mid-month when the U.S. and China agreed to slash their respective tariff rates for 90 days while officials negotiate a broader deal. Stocks got additional boosts from President Trump’s dealmaking tour of the Middle East and progress in Congress on Trump’s tax-cutting ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill.’

The AI Trade Returns

The AI trade came back into vogue in May, thanks to solid big tech earnings reports and the flurry of AI-focused deals coming out of Trump’s Middle East trip. AI favorites Constellation Energy Group (CEG) and Super Micro Computer (SMCI) were the S&P 500’s second and third-best performing stocks, rising 37% and 26%, respectively. 

Nvidia (NVDA) stock gained 24% in May. Much of those gains came on the U.S.-China trade reprieve, but a strong quarterly earnings report near the end of the month helped. 

Tesla (TSLA) stock advanced nearly 23% as CEO Elon Musk distanced himself from the Trump administration and reassured Wall Street he’s committed to leading the electric vehicle maker through a tumultuous time. Tesla is expected to take a major step toward refashioning itself as an AI company when it launches its robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, in June.

Healthcare Faces Headwinds

May was a difficult month for the health sector. Shares of UnitedHealth Group (UNH) lost about a quarter of their value as the healthcare conglomerate withdrew its full-year guidance, announced the departure of its CEO, and reportedly came under Justice Department investigation for Medicare fraud. UnitedHealth was the worst-performing stock in the S&P 500. It also weighed on the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which rose a relatively modest 3.9% over the month, which wasn’t even its best monthly performance of 2025.

Eli Lilly (LLY) was the second-worst performer, falling about 18% during the month. Lilly is in a race with Denmark’s Novo Nordisk (NVO) to dominate the GLP-1 market, but the weight-loss drugs’ high prices have drawn scrutiny.

A May 12 executive order targeting drug prices, while less severe than expected, was an additional headwind for pharmaceutical stocks this month.

U.S. Steel (X) shares will be in the spotlight to start the week after President Donald Trump on Friday said he plans to double steel and aluminum tariffs to 50%.

Addressing a rally at the one of the steel producer’s processing plants in Pennsylvania, the president said the move would help protect American steelworkers and “further secure the steel industry.” Proponents of steel tariffs argue they boost the domestic steel sector and reduce reliance on foreign-made steel, while critics say they raise costs of local manufacturers and reduce innovation within the industry.

Friday’s announcement came after Trump recently gave the green light to a “partnership” between U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel. A $14.1 billion merger between the two steelmakers was originally blocked by the Biden administration in early January due to national security concerns.

U.S. Steel shares have gained 33% over the past two weeks and trade nearly 60% higher since the start of the year as of Friday’s close.

Below, we break down the technicals on U.S. Steel’s chart and identify key price levels that investors will likely be watching.

Symmetrical Triangle Breakout

Shortly after the 50-day moving average (MA) crossed above the 200-day MA to form a bullish golden cross on the chart in late March, U.S. Steel shares consolidated within a symmetrical triangle, indicating a pause in the stock’s uptrend that began in late December.

More recently, the price staged a decisive breakout last month, with strong follow-through buying driving the relative strength index into overbought territory. It’s also worth pointing out the rally has occurred on above-average trading volume, signaling conviction behind the jump.

Let’s apply technical analysis to identify an upside price target amid the potential for further buying and also locate support levels worth monitoring during future retracements.

Measured Move Price Target

To forecast a price target, investors can use the measured move technique, also know by chart watchers as the measuring principle.

When applying the analysis to U.S. Steel’s chart, we calculate the distance of the trend in points that preceded the symmetrical triangle and add that amount to the pattern’s breakout area. For instance, we add $16 to $43.75, which projects an upside target of $59.75, around 11% above Friday’s closing price.

Key Support Levels Worth Monitoring

The first lower level to monitor sits around $46. Retracements to this key area would likely encounter support near the top of the symmetrical triangle, which also closely aligns with a trough that formed on the chart in February last year.

A close below this level could see the shares test support near $43. This location may attract buying interest around the upward sloping 50-day MA and a series of peaks on the chart stretching back to April last year.

Finally, a more significant drop in U.S. Steel shares could bring the $36 level into play. Investors may look to accumulate shares in this region near a horizontal line that connects multiple troughs that developed on the chart between December 2023 and March this year.

The comments, opinions, and analyses expressed on Investopedia are for informational purposes only. Read our warranty and liability disclaimer for more info.

As of the date this article was written, the author does not own any of the above securities.

Tesla (TSLA) shares slid about 3% Friday, but posted gains for the week and second straight month as CEO Elon Musk steps back from his role leading the cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency. 

The electric vehicle maker’s stock has trended higher over the last month since Musk said in Tesla’s latest earnings call that he would scale back his government work and refocus on his companies starting this month. Musk has done a number of interviews in the weeks since, leading one bullish analyst to say the CEO looks like a “different Musk” compared to the one seen in the last few months.

On social media earlier this week, Musk thanked President Donald Trump as his period of being able to work as a “special government employee” for 130 days came to an end. In a press conference Friday, Trump said he expects Musk could be “back and forth” to continue his DOGE work.

Analysts have been getting more bullish on Tesla in recent weeks despite sinking sales numbers across Europe and China, as many focus more the EV maker’s future prospects rather than its current performance.

A key point of focus is next month’s planned launch of Tesla offering paid rides in a small number of its vehicles in Austin, Texas, operating fully autonomously. Musk has said the plan is to start with 10 or so vehicles, and quickly expand to a larger number and more cities if the program is going well.

Tesla’s stock has lost about 14% since the start of the year.

This article has been updated since it was first published to include additional information and reflect more recent share price values.