Key Takeaways
- Tesla (TSLA) was found partially liable for a fatal 2019 crash involving its driver-assistance technology, with a jury ordering the company to pay $200 million in punitive damages, contributing to a total of $329 million in damages awarded to the victims.
- Copper prices experienced a significant drop for the second consecutive week after President Trump announced unexpected, scaled-back tariffs, exempting refined forms of the metal.
- Airbus (AIR) delivered 63 aircraft in July, a decrease from 77 deliveries in the same month last year, reflecting ongoing supply chain challenges.
- Genentech's Susvimo, a treatment for wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), has demonstrated stable vision for over five years with only two refills annually, following its reintroduction after a voluntary recall.
A Miami jury has found Tesla (TSLA) partially responsible for a deadly 2019 crash, ordering the electric vehicle manufacturer to pay $200 million in punitive damages. This ruling, coupled with additional awards, brings the total damages to $329 million for the victims of the accident involving Tesla's driver-assistance technology. The decision marks a significant setback for Tesla, which has historically sought to avoid liability in crashes involving its systems, and could open the door to further costly lawsuits. The jury determined that Tesla's technology was partially to blame for enabling the driver to momentarily divert his attention and for failing to warn him that the road was ending.
In commodity markets, copper prices have fallen for a second consecutive week following a surprising announcement from President Trump regarding tariffs. The President imposed a 50% tariff on copper pipes and wiring but unexpectedly exempted refined copper, which constitutes the majority of international trade. This scaled-back tariff policy led to a more than 17% plunge in U.S. copper prices on the Comex exchange and eliminated a premium that U.S. prices had held over the London global benchmark. Analysts suggest this "epic backflip" on tariff policy indicates the U.S. economy cannot afford broad trade restrictions on the metal.
Airbus (AIR) reported a decrease in aircraft deliveries for July, with 63 units delivered compared to 77 in the same period last year. This brings the total deliveries for the first half of the year to 306, a 5.56% decrease from the 323 delivered in the first half of 2024. The European manufacturer aims to deliver 820 aircraft in 2025, an increase from 776 last year, but faces ongoing supply chain challenges, particularly with engine availability.
Meanwhile, in the healthcare sector, Genentech's Susvimo has shown promising long-term results for patients with wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). The treatment, which involves a refillable ocular implant, has maintained stable vision for over five years with just two refills annually. This reintroduction of Susvimo follows a voluntary recall and offers a significant alternative to more frequent eye injections for the 1.5 million people in the U.S. affected by wet AMD.
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.