European elections extravaganza

The BoE and Norges Bank are expected to hold rates steady today while the SNB looks set to make a second consecutive cut today. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak suffers another blow to his chances of re-election with one poll predicting the Tories are on track for its lowest ever seat total next month. In Brussels, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s ECR party overtakes Macron’s Renew bloc to become the third-largest party in the European Parliament. In autos news, Chinese automakers reportedly urge Beijing lawmakers to hike duties on ICE imports in retaliation for tariffs placed on EVs.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The world’s most valuable company Nvidia overtakes Microsoft in terms of market cap following a 170 per cent rally this year. Treasury yields fall following lower-than-expected retail sales numbers bolster hopes of a Fed rate cut later this year. Luxury trainer maker Golden Goose shelves plans to list on the Milan stock exchange blaming a deterioration of market conditions following the recent European elections. And in the UK, inflation looks set to return back to target – the last print before next month’s general election.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Europe's competition chief Margrethe Vestager will soon be ending her mandate in Brussels, after ten years of taking on Big Tech and others. In an exclusive conversation with Squawk Box Europe's Silvia Amaro, she addressed some of the ongoing investigations into Microsoft and Apple and offered a sobering perspective on Europe's place in the world.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 in Brussels where the European Commission top job is up for grabs. The EPP is demanding the presidency is split into two terms of two-and-a-half years. Wall Street enjoys a mega-cap rally with the S&P 500 notching a 30th record close this year. In aviation news, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun prepares to face lawmakers on Capitol Hill over the plane maker’s recent safety record troubles. And Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dissolves his war cabinet as discontent grows over the ongoing war in Gaza.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chinese retail sales deliver but concerns remain over the property sector which drag on fixed asset investment. Minneapolis Fed Chairman Neel Kashkari signals a rate cut may happen in December as he calls for more evidence inflation is falling. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemns his generals’ decision to allow for tactical pauses in fighting to permit daily aid to Gaza. Paris sees protests against Marine Le Pen’s National Rally party which has taken an early lead in polls ahead of next month’s snap election.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

G7 nations agree on a $50bn aid package to Ukraine, using frozen Russian assets to underwrite the deal. We are live in Bari for the latest where EU Council President Charles Michel tells CNBC that Russia must pay up for its invasion of the country. In Asia, the yen slides as the BoJ keeps rates on hold but signals that quantitative tightening is on the way. Tesla shareholders approve CEO Elon Musk’s $56bn pay package for the second time to make it the largest public company compensation in history. In the UK, the Labour Party unveils its election manifesto with pledges on the economy at its core. A new YouGov poll puts Reform in second place ahead of the incumbent Conservative Party.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 leaves interest rates on hold at a record 20-year high and indicates it will make only one cut this year. Chairman Jerome Powell says the fight against inflation continues. Equity markets react to cooling inflation. The S&P 500 hits a fresh new high while Apple temporarily overtakes Microsoft as the world’s most valuable company. French President Emmanuel Macron holds a briefing to explain his decision to hold July’s snap election. Meanwhile, the EU is set to slap Chinese EVs with tariffs of up to 38 per cent. Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis tells CNBC the bloc deserves a level playing field. And we are live in Bari, Italy ahead of the G7 summit where the U.S. are to broaden sanctions against Russia with leaders aiming at using interest from frozen assets.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Disappointing Chinese consumer activity keeps a lid on consumer prices in the world’s second-largest economy while manufacturing activity fell for the 20th consecutive month. The EU is set to more than double tariffs on Chinese-made EVs, risking further confrontation. Apple posts its best daily performance since 2002 as investors turn bullish over its A.I. push while in the UK, the Conservative Party launch their election manifesto with financial security being a key tenet of the plan.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

European equities are lower as they digest the weekend’s EU election results. However, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq hit new record highs ahead of this week’s Fed meeting. In France, right-wing parties hold emergency coalition talks following President Emmanuel Macron’s snap election decision following his party’s poor result on Sunday. In tech news, Apple launches long-awaited A.I. features, announcing a partnership with OpenAI which would allow Siri to connect with Chat GPT. And in the UK, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak unveils his Conservative Party manifesto with a pledge to cut taxes. The opposition Labour Party has slammed the proposals as “the most expensive panic attack in history.”See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A shock in France: President Emmanuel Macron takes a gamble, calling a snap parliamentary election after his party suffers a humiliating defeat in EU elections. The Centre holds but the Far-Right sees record support, unsettling the bloc's mainstream establishment. Germany's ruling coalition suffers its worst ever result as the rise of the right raises questions over the government's stability. And, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni comes out on top - solidifying her mandate and positioning herself as one of the most powerful figures in the European Union. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.