Key Takeaways
- JD.com (JD) exceeded Q2 revenue and earnings estimates, signaling resilient consumer spending in China.
- CK Hutchison Holdings (0001.HK) is divesting a significant portion of its global port operations for $22.8 billion, a deal facing extensive regulatory scrutiny across multiple continents.
- French President Emmanuel Macron reported that Donald Trump indicated the US and "all willing allies" should provide security guarantees for Ukraine, explicitly excluding NATO.
- India is actively engaging China on rare earth magnet supplies and progressing on a trade deal with the US, aiming for a September-October conclusion.
- The European Central Bank (ECB) reported notable activity in its overnight loan and deposit facilities, with €1 million borrowed and €2677.83 billion deposited.
Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com (JD) reported strong second-quarter earnings, with net revenue reaching 356.66 billion Yuan, surpassing analyst estimates of 335.45 billion Yuan. The company also posted adjusted earnings per ADS of 4.97 Yuan, outperforming the estimated 3.78 Yuan. This performance suggests resilient consumer spending on its platform amidst broader economic pressures.
In a major corporate development, CK Hutchison Holdings (0001.HK) announced that its $22.8 billion deal to sell an 80% stake in its global port operations will require approvals from a wide array of authorities, including China, the US, the UK, and the EU. The consortium acquiring these assets includes BlackRock, Terminal Investment Limited (TiL), and Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), with the transaction encompassing 43 ports across 23 countries, notably the Panama Ports Company. The deal, initially announced in March 2025, has encountered delays due to regulatory reviews and an ongoing audit in Panama.
Geopolitical discussions remain at the forefront, with French President Emmanuel Macron revealing that Donald Trump conveyed to European leaders on Wednesday that the US and "all willing allies" should be part of security guarantees for Ukraine. Crucially, Trump explicitly ruled out NATO's involvement in these security assurances. Separately, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed that Ukraine has secured $1.5 billion in US weapons, which were purchased by European allies.
In the Middle East, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Shareren Haskel stated that post-war Gaza requires a non-Israeli, peaceful civilian administration. This comes as a US-backed initiative quietly promotes Palestinian businessman Samir Hulileh as a potential governor under Arab League auspices, acceptable to both Israel and the United States. Meanwhile, Iran's top security official met with the Hezbollah leader in Lebanon, indicating ongoing regional diplomatic activities.
On the trade front, India’s Commerce Secretary reported that trade relations with China are improving positively, with good developments. India is specifically "in touch with China on rare earth magnets" amidst Beijing's earlier export restrictions. Additionally, discussions for a US trade deal with India are ongoing at various levels and are anticipated to conclude by September-October, highlighting India's active engagement in global trade talks.
Finally, the European Central Bank (ECB) reported its latest liquidity operations, with 1 million Euros borrowed via its overnight loan facility and 2677.83 billion Euros deposited. These figures provide insight into the Eurozone's banking system liquidity and the ECB's monetary policy implementation.
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.