Trump’s Tariff Shock: EU Bends, Puma Breaks & AI Wars Heats Up

Money Masters' Market Kickoff Week 31

July 28, 2025

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Dear Money Master,

This week’s global financial pulse has a clear epicenter: President Trump’s surprise 15% tariff deal with the EU. While markets briefly exhaled relief over dodging the dreaded 30% threat, the fallout has been swift and brutal. But the U.S. didn’t leave the table empty-handed $750B in energy purchases and $600B in new EU investments mark a massive trade win for Washington. In earnings, Puma slashed its forecast and tumbled, Volkswagen profits decreased significantly, and supply chains are rattled.

In parallel, the UK and India signed a historic free trade agreement, boosting long-term commerce by £25.5B annually. Meanwhile, the China-U.S. rivalry reaches a new front: artificial intelligence. Both powers launched competing global AI plans, signaling not just competition but divergence in tech ethics, governance, and dominance.

On the corporate side, Meta poached an OpenAI co-founder, Samsung locked in a $16.5B Tesla chip deal, and Intel faces an existential crisis as it weighs shutting down its foundry ambitions. Finally, healthcare and insurance stocks nosedived, led by Centene’s surprise loss and rising medical costs that continue to pressure margins across the sector.🌍💼

📰 Your Daily Financial Digest - July 28th, 2025

🌍 Economics & Finance:

  1. Trump Secures EU Trade Deal with 15% Tariffs 🚛
    The U.S. will impose a 15% tariff on most European goods—lower than Trump’s 30% threat but higher than the EU’s target. In return, the EU will invest $600B more into the U.S. and buy $750B in American energy. Read More 

  2. U.K. and India Ink $34B Annual Trade Boost Pact 🤝
    The historic FTA slashes tariffs on textiles, alcohol, and autos. Long-term trade is projected to grow by £25.5B per year by 2040, following years of negotiation accelerated by global trade instability. Read More

  3. NFL Fines Over 100 Players for Profiting Off Super Bowl Tickets 🏈
    The league will penalize players 1.5x and employees 2x the face value of resold tickets from Super Bowl 59. Those caught selling to ticket “bundlers” also risk losing future ticket privileges. Read More

💻 Technology:

  1. China Proposes Global AI Alliance at Shanghai Summit 🌐
    Premier Li Qiang introduced a global AI action plan urging international cooperation and regulation, just days after Trump’s “America First” AI policy launch. The global tech rivalry just took a major diplomatic turn. Read More

  2. Meta Hires OpenAI Co-Creator Shengjia Zhao as Chief Scientist 🧠
    Zhao, co-creator of ChatGPT, joins Meta Superintelligence Labs, working directly with Zuckerberg and Alexandr Wang to lead Meta’s aggressive $14B AI expansion. Read More

  3. Samsung Signs $16.5B Tesla Chip Deal, Eyes AI6 Production 🤖
    Tesla and Samsung formalized a major semiconductor supply deal lasting until 2033. Samsung’s Texas fab will manufacture Tesla’s next-gen AI6 chips, with Musk pledging hands-on support. Read More

  4. Tesla’s Robotaxi Dreams Hit Regulatory Wall in California 🚫
    While Musk hinted at robotaxi expansion, California regulators stated Tesla can’t operate autonomous vehicles without a driver. Service will remain limited to driver-involved rides under existing permits. Read More

💹Earnings:

  1. Puma Slashes Forecast as U.S. Tariffs Crush Sales 📉
    Shares tanked after Puma projected a full-year sales drop and warned of a 2025 operating loss, reversing its earlier €445M–€525M profit outlook due to U.S. tariffs. Read More

  2. Volkswagen’s Profits Sink 29% on Tariff Hit 🚗
    Q2 profit missed estimates, with U.S. tariffs costing €1.3B and restructuring adding another €700M. VW now expects lower margins and flat sales for the year. Read More

  3. Intel Dropped Despite Earnings Beat on Foundry Fears 💻
    Even with a revenue beat, Intel’s warning about potentially halting its 14A foundry plans rattled investors. No major external customers have signed on yet. Read More

  4. Centene Surprises with Loss as Healthcare Costs Surge 💊
    The insurer reported a surprise loss with a 93% medical cost ratio, up from Wall Street’s 89.3% forecast. Read More

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