Wall Street termine sans direction claire, veut croire en une baisse de taux de la Fed

La Bourse de New York a terminé en ordre dispersé mercredi, quelque peu minée par la publication d’un indicateur sur l’emploi privé bien pire qu’attendu, les investisseurs espérant toutefois voir la banque centrale américaine (Fed) baisser ses taux en raison de ces données. Le Dow Jones a perdu 0,22%, l’indice Nasdaq a pris 0,32% et l’indice élargi S&P 500 a terminé proche de l’équilibre (+0,01%).Le marché “continue de fonctionner avec un air de résilience malgré la pression à la vente”, ont résumé les analystes de Briefing.com.En début de séance, la place américaine a accueilli des chiffres nettement moins bons qu’attendu sur les créations d’emplois dans le secteur privé aux Etats-Unis. Elles ont atteint en mai leur plus faible niveau depuis mars 2023, selon l’enquête mensuelle ADP/Stanford Lab.Le mois dernier, 37.000 emplois ont été créés dans ce secteur, contre 60.000 en avril, alors que les analystes attendaient au contraire 110.000 créations d’emplois, d’après le consensus publié par MarketWatch.Mais “l’idée que la Fed réagisse rapidement aux signes d’affaiblissement de l’économie a joué un rôle de soutien” sur une partie du marché boursier, estiment les analystes de Briefing.com.Le président américain Donald Trump a en effet appelé le président de la Réserve fédérale (Fed) Jerome Powell à baisser les taux de l’institution “maintenant”, tout en jugeant “incompréhensible” le statu quo de la Fed alors que d’autres banques centrales tendent à diminuer les leurs.Par ailleurs, l’activité économique a “légèrement reculé” dans l’ensemble aux Etats-Unis, le trouble autour des droits de douane poussant entreprises et ménages à faire plus attention à leurs finances, selon une enquête de la Fed publiée mercredi.”Les perspectives sont légèrement pessimistes, les entreprises étant dans l’expectative (…) la croissance dans les mois à venir sera probablement modérée”, a souligné Jeffrey Roach, analyste de LPL Financial.D’autres données sur le marché du travail aux Etats-Unis doivent être publiées dans les prochains jours, en particulier vendredi, avec le rapport sur l’emploi non agricole.Dans ce contexte, sur le marché obligataire, le rendement des emprunts d’État américains à 10 ans se détendait nettement à 4,35% vers 20H15 GMT, contre 4,45% mardi en clôture.Selon Peter Cardillo, analyste de Spartan Capital Securities, le marché a aussi profité des derniers commentaires de Donald Trump, qui a décrit le président chinois Xi Jiping comme “TRÈS DUR” en affaires.”Le marché a peut-être interprété cela comme étant positif dans le sens où il y aurait probablement un accord à l’horizon, (…) si cela se produit, cela pourrait signifier que nous approchons de la fin de la guerre commerciale”, a commenté Peter Cardillo.Au tableau des valeurs, le secteur de l’énergie a pâti de la baisse des prix du pétrole, à l’image d’Exxon Mobil (-1,45%), de Chevron (-1,54%) ou ConocoPhilips (-2,23%).La chaîne de magasins d’articles à bas prix Dollar Tree a chuté de 8,37%, à 88,62 dollars, après avoir annoncé que son bénéfice net par action du deuxième trimestre pourrait plonger de près de 50%, notamment à cause des hausses de prix liées aux droits de douane. Le spécialiste de la cybersécurité CrowdStrike a perdu 5,77%, à 460,56 dollars, l’entreprise ayant prévenu que son chiffre d’affaires pour le trimestre en cours devrait être compris entre 1,14 et 1,15 milliard de dollars, en deçà des attentes.Le constructeur automobile américain Ford a terminé dans le vert (+0,49% à 10,24 dollars) après une hausse en mai de plus de 16% sur un an de ses ventes aux Etats-Unis, profitant de ses remises.Le groupe a décidé en avril d’accorder les prix remisés destinés à ses employés à l’ensemble de ses clients, en réaction aux droits de douane imposés sur les importations automobiles aux Etats-Unis.

Wall Street termine sans direction claire, croit en une baisse de taux de la Fed

La Bourse de New York a terminé en ordre dispersé mercredi, les investisseurs espérant voir la banque centrale américaine (Fed) baisser ses taux après la publication d’un indicateur sur l’emploi privé bien pire qu’attendu. Le Dow Jones a perdu 0,22%, l’indice Nasdaq a pris 0,32% et l’indice élargi S&P 500 a terminé proche de l’équilibre (+0,01%).

Canada steelworkers urge Ottawa to counter Trump

Steelworkers in the Canadian city of Hamilton see President Donald Trump’s latest trade war escalation as a wake-up call, insisting US efforts to protect struggling metal producers demand an equivalent national response. Hamilton is known locally as “Steeltown,” with expansive industrial plants dominating the view from the main bridge that leads into the city. Hamilton has endured countless setbacks as the steel industry that drove its growth through much of 20th Century declined. Trump’s decision to double steel and aluminum tariffs to a crippling 50 percent did not come as a shock to those who have spent decades in the industry. “Steel is like a roller-coaster,” said Jake Lombardo, who retired after 38 years at Stelco, one of Hamilton’s main plants.  Lombardo’s career spanned the era that saw automation and cheaper foreign product hollow out Hamilton’s steel sector.He voiced a degree of understanding for Trump’s efforts to shield US producers from external competition. “I’m not a Trump supporter, but one thing I like (about) what he said, he wants to do things in-house. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that,” Lombardo, 69, told AFP. “We should have been doing this a long time ago.” Hamilton’s steel industry was born in the early part of the last century, hitting its peak in the decades following World War II, when the main local union, United Steelworkers Local 1005, counted more than 12,000 members. That number has since fallen to about 650, said union president Ron Wells. Wells said he wasn’t opposed to a future where Canadian producers serve Canadian demand and cross-border trade is reduced. But, like Lombardo, he believes Ottawa needs to create the environment that ensures that Canadian steelmakers thrive. “We’ve been saying that for, like years, if not decades,” Wells told AFP. – ‘Better late than never’? -The union chief said he was encouraged by Prime Minister Mark Carney’s pledge to counter Trump’s trade war by boosting internal trade and ushering in an era of massive construction across Canada. Asked about the prospect that Hamilton could benefit from Carney’s recent promise that his government would “build baby build,” Wells said: “we applaud it.””It’s better late than never.”Carney on Wednesday called Trump’s decision to double steel and aluminum tariffs “unjustified” and “illegal” and promised that Canada — the largest supplier of foreign steel and aluminum to the United States — will respond. But in the short term, Wells said there is cause for concern. Stelco, which was bought by the US steel producer Cleveland-Cliffs last year, had been sending about 30 percent of its output to the United States, Wells said. Those orders largely dried up when Trump imposed a blanket 25 percent tariff on all metal imports in March. But Stelco was still selling to Canadian clients who were making products subsequently sold to the United States, with the American importers absorbing the 25 percent tariff hit. – ‘The wrong foe’ -At 50 percent, Wells voiced fear that business could vanish.”People are just pissed off that (Trump) keeps changing his mind and he’s playing chicken with the economy,” Wells told AFP. “Our members want to see the tariffs situation get resolved. So go back to full production and we can share the wealth.”The Canadian Steel Producers Association, an industry group, said Wednesday that “at a 25 per cent tariff rate, we saw significant layoffs, curtailed investments and a significant drop of shipments to the United States.” “At a 50 per cent tariff rate, the US market is effectively closed to Canadian steel, leaving billions of dollars of Canadian steel without a market,” it warned.Throughout Trump’s trade war, Canadian workers in targeted sectors — notably auto and metal — have voiced frustration over the president’s decision to harm a bilateral trade relationship widely seen as mutually beneficial. “We think they’re picking on the wrong foe,” Wells said.  Tony Mclaughlin, who has worked for Stelco for 47 years, told AFP he “always thought we’d be exempt,” from tariffs.” “Is he trying to get a new trade agreement?” He asked.”Maybe that’s the big plan.”

Syria says Israeli strikes ‘aimed at undermining’ progress, stability

Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani condemned on Wednesday Israeli strikes in retaliation for overnight rocket fire, saying they were aimed at destabilising his country.Israel bombed southern Syria after the military reported that two projectiles were fired into Israeli territory, with media reports saying these were the first launched from Syria since the fall of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December.Two unknown groups claimed responsibility for the launches, while Syrian authorities denied responsibility and said they would “never be a threat” to anyone in the region.Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz held Syria’s leader “directly responsible”.There were no reports of casualties or damage on the Israeli side from the projectiles, which the military said triggered air raid sirens in the southern Golan Heights, a territory Israel seized from Syria in 1967 and annexed in 1981.The Israeli military said that the two projectiles “fell in open areas”, later announcing it struck “weapons” belonging to the Syrian government in retaliation.Shaibani said that the Israeli attacks were “coordinated provocations aimed at undermining Syria’s progress and stability”.”These actions create an opening for outlawed groups to exploit the resulting chaos,” the top Syrian diplomat told a news conference in Damascus alongside visiting EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Suica.”Syria has made its intentions clear: we are not seeking war, but rather reconstruction,” he added.- Israel blames Sharaa -The foreign ministry earlier said in a statement carried by the official SANA news agency that the Israeli shelling was a “blatant violation of Syrian sovereignty” that “aggravates tensions in the region”.”Syria has never been and will never be a threat to anyone in the region,” it said.The ministry said it could not confirm whether rockets were launched towards Israel, blaming “numerous parties… trying to destabilise the region”.Katz said in a statement that “we view the president of Syria as directly responsible for any threat or fire directed at the State of Israel”.Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa led the Islamist group that spearheaded the offensive that toppled Assad.Following Assad’s overthrow, Israel moved its forces into the UN-patrolled demilitarised zone in the Golan, and has carried out hundreds of strikes against military targets in Syria.Israel says the strikes aim to stop advanced weapons from reaching Syria’s new authorities, whom it considers jihadists.A group called the “Martyr Mohammed al-Deif Brigades”, named after the Hamas commander killed by Israel in the Gaza Strip, released a video it said showed the moment the rockets landed in the occupied Golan Heights.A second group known as the “Islamic Resistance Front in Syria” claimed responsibility for launching the two rockets at Israel. The group was created a few months ago and called for action against Israel from south Syria.AFP was unable to verify the authenticity of their claims.- Escalation -SANA reported Israeli shelling “targeting the Yarmuk Basin, in the west of Daraa” province.The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said bombardments had hit farmland in the province, without reporting casualties.Since taking over, Sharaa has said Syria does not want conflict with its neighbours, urging international pressure on Israel to halt its attacks.Analyst Bassam al-Suleiman said those benefiting from the escalation were “Iran and its militias”, former Assad allies with a past presence in Syria.A strong government in Damascus “apparently contradicts the Israeli vision for Syria” as a weak neighbour, he said.Israel’s recurring bombings of Syrian army infrastructure “hinders the emergence of a force capable of controlling all of Syria”, Suleiman added.Syria and Israel have technically been at war since 1948.US President Donald Trump last month lifted sanctions on Syria and expressed hope for eventual normalisation with Israel — though analysts say that remains unlikely.During a visit to Damascus last week, US Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack proposed a “non-aggression agreement” as a starting point between the two countries.

Four I.Coast opposition figures barred from October presidential voteWed, 04 Jun 2025 19:46:08 GMT

Four prominent opposition figures in Ivory Coast have been excluded from the final electoral list, officials announced on Wednesday, leaving them ineligible to contest presidential elections later this year.Tidjane Thiam, leader of the main opposition party, the Democratic Party of Ivory Coast (PDCI), was struck from the voter roll in April after a court ruling …

Four I.Coast opposition figures barred from October presidential voteWed, 04 Jun 2025 19:46:08 GMT Read More »

US-China at trade impasse as Trump’s steel tariff hike strains ties

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday it is “extremely hard” to reach a deal with China over a trade impasse that has roiled global markets, while his doubling of metal tariffs fueled tensions with key partners.Trump’s latest salvos came as ministers from Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries gathered in Paris to discuss the world economy’s outlook in light of the trade war.The US leader’s sweeping duties on allies and adversaries have strained ties with trading partners and sparked a flurry of negotiations.The White House has suggested Trump will speak to Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, raising hopes they can soothe tensions and speed up a trade deal between the world’s two biggest economies.But early Wednesday, Trump appeared to dampen hopes for a quick resolution.”I like President XI of China, always have, and always will, but he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!!” he posted on his Truth Social platform.Asked about the remarks, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Beijing’s “principles and stance on developing Sino-US relations are consistent.”China was the biggest target of Trump’s April tariff blitz, hit with additional levies of 145 percent on its goods as both sides engaged in tit-for-tat escalation. China’s countermeasures on US goods reached 125 percent.Both sides agreed to temporarily lower rates in May, while Trump delayed most sweeping measures on other countries until July 9.- US neighbors incensed -Trump’s remarks came hours after he increased tariffs on aluminum and steel imports from 25 percent to 50 percent on Wednesday, raising pressure on key trading partners, while exempting Britain from the higher levy for now.The move drew sharp rebukes from immediate neighbors Canada and Mexico, with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum vowing countermeasures if Trump did not grant tariff relief.Mexico will request an exemption from the higher metals tariff, Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard said.Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney blasted the levies as unjustified and illegal, adding that his country would respond.Trump’s tariffs have fanned worries among Canada’s workers. Ron Wells, president of United Steelworkers Local 1005 expressed concern that Canadian steel company Stelco could see significant parts of its orders dry up, impacting staff.The union’s members who work at the company want to see the tariffs situation resolved, he told AFP.”People are just pissed off that (Trump) keeps changing his mind and he’s playing chicken with the economy,” Wells said.Tensions could surge further in the coming weeks, with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick opening the door Wednesday to potential tariffs on imported commercial aircraft and parts.Lutnick said Washington is expecting an investigation update on such imports and will soon “set the standard for aircraft part tariffs.”While some of Trump’s most sweeping levies face legal challenges, they have been allowed to remain in place as an appeals process takes place.- US-EU talks ‘advancing’ -The United States and European Union struck a more conciliatory note after talks on the sidelines of the OECD gathering.US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said after talks with EU counterpart Maros Sefcovic that negotiations were “advancing quickly.”Greer added that the meeting was “very constructive and indicates a willingness by the EU to work with us to find a concrete way forward to achieve reciprocal trade.”EU goods will be hit with 50-percent tariffs on July 9 unless the 27-nation bloc reaches a deal with Washington. The EU has vowed to retaliate.Sefcovic said the doubling of metal tariffs “doesn’t help the negotiations” but both sides were nonetheless “making progress.”The US-EU meeting took place a day after the OECD cut its forecast for global economic growth, blaming Trump’s tariffs for the downgrade.A report by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office in Washington found Wednesday that Trump’s tariffs would reduce the size of the US economy and fuel inflation, while lowering federal deficits.After talks Tuesday between UK Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Greer, London said US tariffs on metal imports from Britain remain at 25 percent for now. Both sides need to work out duties and quotas in line with the terms of a recently signed trade pact.burs-bs-bys/aha

US-China at trade impasse as Trump’s steel tariff hike strains ties

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday it is “extremely hard” to reach a deal with China over a trade impasse that has roiled global markets, while his doubling of metal tariffs fueled tensions with key partners.Trump’s latest salvos came as ministers from Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries gathered in Paris to discuss the world economy’s outlook in light of the trade war.The US leader’s sweeping duties on allies and adversaries have strained ties with trading partners and sparked a flurry of negotiations.The White House has suggested Trump will speak to Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, raising hopes they can soothe tensions and speed up a trade deal between the world’s two biggest economies.But early Wednesday, Trump appeared to dampen hopes for a quick resolution.”I like President XI of China, always have, and always will, but he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!!” he posted on his Truth Social platform.Asked about the remarks, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Beijing’s “principles and stance on developing Sino-US relations are consistent.”China was the biggest target of Trump’s April tariff blitz, hit with additional levies of 145 percent on its goods as both sides engaged in tit-for-tat escalation. China’s countermeasures on US goods reached 125 percent.Both sides agreed to temporarily lower rates in May, while Trump delayed most sweeping measures on other countries until July 9.- US neighbors incensed -Trump’s remarks came hours after he increased tariffs on aluminum and steel imports from 25 percent to 50 percent on Wednesday, raising pressure on key trading partners, while exempting Britain from the higher levy for now.The move drew sharp rebukes from immediate neighbors Canada and Mexico, with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum vowing countermeasures if Trump did not grant tariff relief.Mexico will request an exemption from the higher metals tariff, Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard said.Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney blasted the levies as unjustified and illegal, adding that his country would respond.Trump’s tariffs have fanned worries among Canada’s workers. Ron Wells, president of United Steelworkers Local 1005 expressed concern that Canadian steel company Stelco could see significant parts of its orders dry up, impacting staff.The union’s members who work at the company want to see the tariffs situation resolved, he told AFP.”People are just pissed off that (Trump) keeps changing his mind and he’s playing chicken with the economy,” Wells said.Tensions could surge further in the coming weeks, with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick opening the door Wednesday to potential tariffs on imported commercial aircraft and parts.Lutnick said Washington is expecting an investigation update on such imports and will soon “set the standard for aircraft part tariffs.”While some of Trump’s most sweeping levies face legal challenges, they have been allowed to remain in place as an appeals process takes place.- US-EU talks ‘advancing’ -The United States and European Union struck a more conciliatory note after talks on the sidelines of the OECD gathering.US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said after talks with EU counterpart Maros Sefcovic that negotiations were “advancing quickly.”Greer added that the meeting was “very constructive and indicates a willingness by the EU to work with us to find a concrete way forward to achieve reciprocal trade.”EU goods will be hit with 50-percent tariffs on July 9 unless the 27-nation bloc reaches a deal with Washington. The EU has vowed to retaliate.Sefcovic said the doubling of metal tariffs “doesn’t help the negotiations” but both sides were nonetheless “making progress.”The US-EU meeting took place a day after the OECD cut its forecast for global economic growth, blaming Trump’s tariffs for the downgrade.A report by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office in Washington found Wednesday that Trump’s tariffs would reduce the size of the US economy and fuel inflation, while lowering federal deficits.After talks Tuesday between UK Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Greer, London said US tariffs on metal imports from Britain remain at 25 percent for now. Both sides need to work out duties and quotas in line with the terms of a recently signed trade pact.burs-bs-bys/aha