{"id":65192,"date":"2026-07-22T02:08:15","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T06:08:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/trump-approves-landmark-saudi-nuclear-deal-nike-overhauls-china-strategy\/65192\/"},"modified":"2026-07-22T02:08:15","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T06:08:15","slug":"trump-approves-landmark-saudi-nuclear-deal-nike-overhauls-china-strategy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/trump-approves-landmark-saudi-nuclear-deal-nike-overhauls-china-strategy\/65192\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump Approves Landmark Saudi Nuclear Deal; Nike Overhauls China Strategy"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/trump-approves-landmark-saudi-nuclear-deal-nike-overhauls-china-strategy\/65192\/#Key_Takeaways\" >Key Takeaways<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/trump-approves-landmark-saudi-nuclear-deal-nike-overhauls-china-strategy\/65192\/#Trump_Approves_Landmark_Nuclear_Deal_with_Saudi_Arabia\" >Trump Approves Landmark Nuclear Deal with Saudi Arabia<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/trump-approves-landmark-saudi-nuclear-deal-nike-overhauls-china-strategy\/65192\/#Nike_Overhauls_China_Digital_Strategy_Amid_Sales_Slump\" >Nike Overhauls China Digital Strategy Amid Sales Slump<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/trump-approves-landmark-saudi-nuclear-deal-nike-overhauls-china-strategy\/65192\/#Akzo_Nobel_Beats_Q2_Estimates_Maintains_FY_Guidance\" >Akzo Nobel Beats Q2 Estimates; Maintains FY Guidance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/trump-approves-landmark-saudi-nuclear-deal-nike-overhauls-china-strategy\/65192\/#Escalation_in_the_Black_Sea_Drone_Warfare_and_Port_Strikes\" >Escalation in the Black Sea: Drone Warfare and Port Strikes<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/trump-approves-landmark-saudi-nuclear-deal-nike-overhauls-china-strategy\/65192\/#UK_Policy_Shift_Net_Zero_and_Transport_Reform\" >UK Policy Shift: Net Zero and Transport Reform<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Takeaways\"><\/span>Key Takeaways<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>U.S. President Donald Trump<\/strong> has approved a <strong>30-year civilian nuclear agreement<\/strong> with <strong>Saudi Arabia<\/strong>, a deal estimated to be worth <strong>tens of billions of dollars<\/strong> that could allow for domestic <a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/metal\/uranium\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"13\" title=\"Uranium\">uranium<\/a> enrichment.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Nike (<a href=\"\/stock\/NKE\">NKE<\/a>)<\/strong> is launching a massive sales overhaul in <strong>China<\/strong>, cutting ties with thousands of online distributors to consolidate sales through its own apps and major platforms like <strong>JD.com (<a href=\"\/stock\/JD\">JD<\/a>)<\/strong> and <strong>Tmall<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Akzo Nobel (<a href=\"\/stock\/AKZA\">AKZA<\/a>)<\/strong> reported <strong>Q2 2026 adjusted EBITDA of \u20ac398 million<\/strong>, beating analyst estimates of <strong>\u20ac392 million<\/strong>, driven by strategic price hikes that offset regional headwinds.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ukraine\u2019s drone forces<\/strong> have intensified maritime operations, reportedly striking <strong>13 Russian vessels<\/strong> in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov over the last 48 hours as part of &quot;Operation MoLoCHKa.&quot;<\/li>\n<li><strong>UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham<\/strong> has introduced a <strong>\u00a32 cap on single bus fares<\/strong> nationwide starting in January, marking a significant early policy shift for his new administration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Trump_Approves_Landmark_Nuclear_Deal_with_Saudi_Arabia\"><\/span>Trump Approves Landmark Nuclear Deal with Saudi Arabia<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>President <strong>Donald Trump<\/strong> has formally approved a historic <strong>30-year civilian nuclear pact<\/strong> with <strong>Saudi Arabia<\/strong>, a move expected to generate <strong>tens of billions of dollars<\/strong> for U.S. industry. The agreement, reported by the <em>Wall Street Journal<\/em>, includes a provision that could allow the Kingdom to <strong>enrich uranium<\/strong> on its own soil, provided a joint U.S.-Saudi study justifies the move.<\/p>\n<p>The deal aims to position <strong>American companies<\/strong> at the center of Saudi Arabia&#39;s burgeoning nuclear infrastructure, effectively sidelining competitors from <strong>Russia<\/strong> and <strong>China<\/strong>. While the administration argues the deal provides the U.S. with oversight to prevent military misuse, it is expected to face intense scrutiny in <strong>Congress<\/strong> over nuclear proliferation risks in the Middle East.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Nike_Overhauls_China_Digital_Strategy_Amid_Sales_Slump\"><\/span>Nike Overhauls China Digital Strategy Amid Sales Slump<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Nike (<a href=\"\/stock\/NKE\">NKE<\/a>)<\/strong> has announced a major restructuring of its distribution network in <strong>China<\/strong>, its third-largest market, following a <strong>12% revenue decline<\/strong> in the most recent quarter. Starting in <strong>January 2025<\/strong>, the sportswear giant will terminate relationships with more than <strong>1,000 &quot;digital storefronts&quot;<\/strong> operated by retail partners.<\/p>\n<p>The company plans to consolidate its online presence into a &quot;single, elevated destination&quot; consisting of its official website, app, and flagship stores on <strong>Tmall<\/strong>, <strong>JD.com (<a href=\"\/stock\/JD\">JD<\/a>)<\/strong>, and <strong>Douyin<\/strong>. Following the announcement, shares of major Nike distributor <strong>Topsports<\/strong> plunged <strong>23%<\/strong> in Hong Kong trading.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Akzo_Nobel_Beats_Q2_Estimates_Maintains_FY_Guidance\"><\/span>Akzo Nobel Beats Q2 Estimates; Maintains FY Guidance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Dutch paints and coatings leader <strong>Akzo Nobel (<a href=\"\/stock\/AKZA\">AKZA<\/a>)<\/strong> delivered a resilient <strong>Q2 2026<\/strong> performance, reporting <strong>adjusted EBITDA of \u20ac398 million<\/strong> ($454 million), surpassing the <strong>\u20ac392 million<\/strong> consensus. Despite a <strong>1% dip in revenue to \u20ac2.59 billion<\/strong> due to business divestments in India, the company achieved its fifth consecutive quarter of profitability growth.<\/p>\n<p>Management attributed the beat to <strong>price increases<\/strong> implemented earlier this year to counter supply chain disruptions caused by the ongoing Middle East conflict. The company reaffirmed its <strong>full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance<\/strong> of at least <strong>\u20ac1.47 billion<\/strong>, signaling confidence in its ability to pass on costs to consumers.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Escalation_in_the_Black_Sea_Drone_Warfare_and_Port_Strikes\"><\/span>Escalation in the Black Sea: Drone Warfare and Port Strikes<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The maritime conflict between <strong>Ukraine<\/strong> and <strong>Russia<\/strong> has reached a new fever pitch. Ukraine\u2019s drone forces commander, <strong>Robert Brovdi<\/strong>, announced that &quot;kamikaze&quot; drones successfully targeted <strong>13 Russian vessels<\/strong>, including tankers and cargo ships, over the past two days. These strikes are part of a broader campaign to disable Russia&#39;s &quot;shadow fleet&quot; used to circumvent international sanctions.<\/p>\n<p>Simultaneously, <strong>Russia<\/strong> reported carrying out precision strikes on <strong>Ukrainian ports<\/strong>, damaging at least <strong>two vessels<\/strong>. The intensification of attacks on civilian and commercial shipping has effectively shuttered vital maritime corridors in the <strong>Sea of Azov<\/strong>, raising fresh concerns regarding global grain and energy supply stability.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"UK_Policy_Shift_Net_Zero_and_Transport_Reform\"><\/span>UK Policy Shift: Net Zero and Transport Reform<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In his first week as UK Prime Minister, <strong>Andy Burnham<\/strong> has moved quickly to implement populist economic measures. The government announced that <strong>single bus fares<\/strong> across England will be slashed by up to <strong>one-third<\/strong>, with a new <strong>\u00a32 cap<\/strong> taking effect in January.<\/p>\n<p>On the energy front, Burnham\u2019s appointment of <strong>Miatta Fahnbulleh<\/strong> as Energy Secretary has signaled a potential acceleration of climate goals. Fahnbulleh has previously advocated for reaching <strong>net zero targets<\/strong> as early as the <strong>2030s<\/strong>, a stance that may contrast with the administration&#39;s rumored openness to limited new North Sea drilling.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways U.S. President Donald Trump has approved a 30-year civilian nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia, a deal estimated to 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