Key Takeaways
- International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi expressed hope that inspectors could return to Iran within weeks, emphasizing the urgency to avoid a "serious problem" amid ongoing nuclear talks in Istanbul between Iran and the E3 (France, Britain, and Germany).
- China's Ministry of Finance announced plans for proactive fiscal measures in 2025, including a higher deficit-to-GDP ratio and increased government bond issuance, to boost economic growth and domestic demand.
- Iraq's oil exports reached 98.882 million barrels in June, as reported by the Oil Ministry, indicating steady crude sales despite regional tensions.
- Centene (CNC) reported a Q2 2025 adjusted EPS of -$0.16, significantly missing estimates of $0.55, despite revenue of $48.74 billion exceeding expectations.
- Aon (AON) surpassed Q2 2025 earnings expectations with an adjusted EPS of $3.49 against an estimated $3.40, and organic revenue growth of 6%.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi stated his hope that inspectors would be able to return to Iran within weeks, underscoring the critical need for their presence to avoid a "serious problem." This comes as talks between Iran and the E3 (France, Britain, and Germany) are taking place at Iran's consulate in Istanbul, marking the first face-to-face discussions since US and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites in June. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi reiterated Tehran's "firm and steadfast" position, asserting that uranium enrichment will continue and that the talks are a "continuation of previous discussions." The IAEA has proposed discussions on the modalities for restarting inspections, though immediate site inspections are not yet on the agenda.
In economic news, China's Ministry of Finance has unveiled plans for a more proactive fiscal policy in 2025. This strategy aims to bolster economic growth and domestic demand through measures such as increasing the fiscal deficit-to-GDP ratio and issuing a larger scale of government bonds. The focus will be on optimizing expenditure structure to improve livelihoods, boost consumption, and enhance sustained growth momentum.
Meanwhile, Iraq's Oil Ministry announced that the country's oil exports in June reached 98.882 million barrels. This figure indicates a steady level of crude sales, with preliminary data suggesting an average of approximately 3.28 million barrels per day (bpd).
In corporate earnings, Centene (CNC) reported its Q2 2025 results, with an adjusted EPS of -$0.16, significantly below the estimated $0.55. However, the company's revenue of $48.74 billion exceeded the estimated $44.27 billion, and managed care membership reached 28.00 million, slightly above the estimated 27.76 million. Aon (AON) also released its Q2 2025 earnings, reporting an adjusted EPS of $3.49, surpassing the estimated $3.40. The company's adjusted operating margin was 28.2%, in line with estimates, and organic revenue grew by 6%, exceeding the estimated 4.98%. Revenue for Aon came in at $4.16 billion, matching expectations.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.