Squawk Box Europe Express

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hails a ‘big agreement’ struck with Brussels while European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen says the deal removes almost all trade barriers with a new a free trade zone of 2bn people. President Trump has increased tariffs on South Korean autos and other goods to 25 per cent. Metals are up at new record highs due to geo-political uncertainties with silver on course for its best month in more than 40 years. And in retail news, China’s Anta moves to acquire a 29 per cent in German sportswear brand Puma.  

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Gold continues its upward trajectory, bypassing the $5,000/oz for the first time ever as investors seek security due to geo-political risks. President Trump threatens Canada with 100 per cent tariffs sho8uld is seal a trade deal with China but Prime Minister Mark Carney says he was not pursuing an FTA with Beijing. A partial U.S. government shutdown looms as Democrats are set to vote against an ICE funding extension after a second fatality by federal agents in Minneapolis.

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Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy slams Europe’s ‘lost’ leaders during his address at the WEF in Davos, calling for action, not words in response to Russia’s invasion of his country. Nineteen nations sign up to President Trump’s Board of Peace despite a lack of commitment from key European nations. The leaders of Paraguay and Kosovo tell CNBC that sceptical nations will eventually come around to the initiative. Crude prices bounce back following President Trump’s claims he would renew attacks on Tehran should it attempt to revive its nuclear programme. Trump also moves to sue JP Morgan and its CEO Jamie Dimon for $5bn accusing the lender of allegedly debanking his accounts for political motives.

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President Trump tells CNBC’s Joe Kernen he has ‘the concept of a deal’ over Greenland and has stood down his threat of tariffs as a result. The reversal sends U.S. equities back into the green with the S&P 500 posting its best session since November and European futures point to a rebound as well. President Trump prepares for a signing ceremony for his Board of Peace in Davos but some leaders have so far declined to join. Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof tells CNBC his government still has reservations about the agreement. And there are hopes of a bilateral meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy. Polish President Karol Nawrocki warns this channel that Russia will plan to attack Europe in the future irrespective of a Ukrainian peace deal.

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U.S. markets endure their worst session since October as the President Trump ratchets up tariff tensions over Greenland. Speaking on a CNBC panel of central bank governors, Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel warns against the investigation into Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney bemoan the U.S. administration’s ‘rupture’ from hitherto established foreign policy strategies.

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Wall Street futures are in the red as U.S.-Europe tensions over the fate of Greenland concern global markets. Prior to leaving for the WEF in Davos, Switzerland, President Trump said only the U.S. can adequately protect the Arctic territory and he threatened to increase tariffs on French wine and champagne after President Macron declined his invitation to the Gaza Board of Peace. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dismisses ‘unwise’ European retaliatory tariffs while Siemens Energy Chairman Joe Kaeser tells CNBC dialogue between Brussels and the White House must continue.

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President Trump has warned 8 European countries of further tariffs should they block the U.S. from acquiring Greenland by June. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, says European leaders will eventually be convinced the move is beneficial to the collective security of all NATO members. However, EU leaders will hold an emergency summit this week where French President Macron is expected to urge the bloc to launch almost €100bn of retaliatory tariffs and to employ its anti-coercion trade ‘bazooka’ instrument against Washington. China achieves its 5 per cent GDP growth target for 2025 thanks to booming exports but moribund domestic consumption weighs on the data. 

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Chicago Federal reserve Chairman Austan Goolsbee says the removal of Fed independence would see inflation “roaring back” and the IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva has pledged her support behind Jerome Powell who is under criminal investigation. However, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick tells CNBC that the Fed has ‘plenty of room’ to prompt further interest rate cuts. European equities hit another record high during Thursday’s session following bumper earnings from Taiwan’s TSMC. The result nudged European chip makers up and helped push the tech subindex to levels last seen at the start of the century. And a U.S. Congressional delegation are in Copenhagen to meet with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to discuss the future of Greenland.

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UK GDP figures for November beat expectations to come in 0.3 per cent higher month-on-month and 1.4 per cent year-on-year. Denmark and EU allies boost their troop presence in Greenland as talks in Washington fail to deliver an agreement. President Trump says the U.S. needs the Arctic territory for its national security. Crude prices fall as U.S.-Iranian tensions ease slightly, however both the U.S. and UK decide to withdraw military personnel from an American-run base in Qatar. And in luxury news, Cartier owner Richemont enjoys a bumper Christmas season, posting an 11 per cent surge in quarterly sales.

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U.S. core inflation data for December dips slightly below forecasts with hopes it may have peaked. President Trump once again lashes out at Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell over interest rate cuts. Crude experiences a volatile session with the prospect of U.S. intervention in Iran protests still on the table after President Trump told protestors on the ground that ‘help was on its way’. And China posts a new record high trade surplus of $1.2tn in 2025 despite U.S. tariffs.

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