Key Takeaways
- Wall Street prepares for critical retail earnings reports next week, offering insights into U.S. consumer resilience amidst President Trump’s new tariff policies.
- Concerns deepen over the protracted conflict in Ukraine, with the EU Foreign Policy Commissioner stating Russia has no immediate intention of ending the war.
- The French Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned Israel's approval of over 3,000 new housing units in East Jerusalem, labeling it a serious violation of international law that threatens the "two-state solution."
- High-stakes diplomatic talks are underway, with European allies meeting ahead of a crucial Washington summit between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Donald Trump, following Trump's recent meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
- Reports indicate that occupation forces have detained foreign solidarity activists in the West Bank, further escalating tensions in the region.
Wall Street is keenly awaiting upcoming earnings reports from major retailers next week, which are expected to provide crucial insights into the health of U.S. consumers under President Trump’s recently implemented tariff policies. The performance of these retailers will be a key indicator of how American households are coping with potential price increases and economic shifts driven by the new trade measures.
Meanwhile, the geopolitical landscape remains fraught with tension. The EU Foreign Policy Commissioner has delivered a stark assessment regarding the conflict in Ukraine, stating that "The bitter truth is that Russia has no intention of ending the Ukraine war anytime soon." This declaration underscores the persistent nature of the conflict and its ongoing implications for global energy markets and European stability.
In the Middle East, the French Foreign Ministry has issued a strong condemnation of Israel's decision to approve a settlement project involving the construction of more than 3,000 housing units in East Jerusalem. The ministry asserted that this settlement expansion constitutes a "serious violation of international law" and poses a significant threat to the viability of the "two-state solution" by potentially fragmenting the West Bank. In a related development, occupation forces reportedly detained foreign solidarity activists in the village of Susiya in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron in the West Bank, as reported by Al Jazeera.
High-level diplomatic engagements are also unfolding, with Ukraine’s European allies scheduled to hold talks on Sunday. These discussions precede a pivotal meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Donald Trump in Washington on Monday. This follows a recent summit between Trump and Russia’s Vladimir Putin in Alaska, suggesting a period of intense international dialogue aimed at addressing ongoing global challenges. The New York Times also reported that two European officials were briefed on a recent call involving President Trump, though further details on the call's content remain undisclosed.
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.