Squawk Box Europe Express

President Joe Biden begins the first presidential debate in Atlanta on the back foot, struggling to counter attacks from former President Donald Trump. In Brussels EU leaders renominate Ursula Von Der Leyen for a second term as European Commission President. Estonian PM Kaja Kallas and Portuguese PM Antonio Costa get the nod for foreign policy chief and EU council president respectively despite opposition from Italy and Hungary. The yen against the dollar is trading at its weakest level in almost 40 years as Japan names a new currency chief. And in retail news, Nike issues a large sales warning, with shares plunging 12 per cent in extended trade.  

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Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer go head-to-head, trading tax accusations in the final televised debate ahead of next month’s UK general election. The yen has fallen to a new 38-year low against the greenback, triggering speculation the BoJ will intervene and raise interest rates in July. The Nasdaq is in the green, helped by Amazon breaching $2tn in market cap for the first time ever. Chip maker Micron sees revenues soar by 80 per cent but Q4 guidance fails to impress investors. Shares fall almost 8 per cent lower after yesterday’s close.  

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The leaders of France’s three main political blocs participate in a TV debate with Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and National Rally’s Jordan Bardella accusing one another over unrealistic budgetary plans. In Brussels, European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen looks set to win another term as negotiators have reportedly struck a deal ahead of the formal summit. Volkswagen pushes EV start-up Rivian shares 50 per cent higher in extended trade following its $5bn investment announcement in the firm. Chip maker Nvidia claws back recent losses to close yesterday’s session almost 7 per cent higher.

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Nvidia’s record-breaking rally comes to an end with the stock price plunging 7 per cent. The fall erases $550bn from the A.I. semiconductor’s market cap since last week’s peak. At the so-called ‘summer Davos’ WEF meeting in Dalian, Chinese premier Li Qiang says he believes China can hit its growth targets this year, playing down trade conflicts with the EU. In aviation news, Airbus cuts its guidance and slows production of its best-selling A320 Neo craft as supply chain issues continue to hinder the plane maker. And fast fashion firm Shein is reportedly filing to go public on the LSE rather than on Wall Street, which would be the City’s biggest listing in more than a decade.

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European Union and Chinese officials are to hold talks about the bloc’s planned tariffs on Chinese EVs. Asian markets are mixed after a soft end to the week on Wall Street in the longest stretch of low volatility since the GFC. In France, President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist Ensemble alliance loses more ground in the polls, trailing Marine Le Pen’s National Rally ahead of next weekend’s electoral first round. Former U.S. President Donald Trump holds a rally in Philadelphia while Joe Biden prepares for this week’s presidential debate.  

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We hear exclusively from IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva who says Europe is on the right economic path but must take advantage of the single market or fall behind. The Nasdaq breaks its longest winning streak of the year as Nvidia shares pare back. However Wall Street is on course for a positive end to the week with energy stocks leading gains. The BoE signals it may cut interest rates in August after keeping them steady yesterday with a finely balanced decision. And in the Netherlands, Prime Minister Mark Rutte is on course to become the new NATO secretary-general after his only remaining rival, Romanian president Klaus Iohannis, withdraws from the race. 

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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.

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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.  

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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.

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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.

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