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- 25. August 2025
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Global Markets Sunday News
Moment of truth for Nvidia
The markets remained relatively calm ahead of Fed Chairman Jerome Powell’s speech in Jackson Hole this week. European stock markets nevertheless rose slightly, while Wall Street fell following a correction in technology stocks.
Tops of the week
Dayforce +30.86%: According to its own statements, the HR software provider is in advanced negotiations regarding a takeover by private equity fund Thoma Bravo based on a price of USD 70 per share.
Vestas +19.9%: Like the entire sector, the global leader in wind energy is benefiting from new tax regulations in the US. These provide clearer rules and are more favorable than expected, particularly with regard to tax credits.
Novo Nordisk +11.66%: Following several positive announcements, including FDA approvals for Wegovy and for the drug to treat metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), the Danish pharmaceutical company is attempting a breakaway move.
Palo Alto Networks +4.96%: The company reported solid fourth-quarter results and an unexpectedly positive outlook for 2026. As a result, investors remained confident in the strength of its growth despite the $25 billion acquisition of CyberArk.
UnitedHealth +1.12%: Berkshire Hathaway’s $1.57 billion acquisition of a stake in the health insurer sent the share price soaring. This is a typical investment for Warren Buffett, who is known for his interest in quality companies that are temporarily neglected by the market.
Flops of the week
WH Smith -34.23%: After an external audit found that figures for North America, the company’s second-largest market, had been overstated, the British bookstore chain lowered its outlook for the full year. However, the share price decline was limited at the end of the week.
CTS Eventim -16.59%: Following the publication of its half-year figures, the European market leader in ticketing and event management finds itself in a difficult position. CTS Eventim is facing rising costs due to the macroeconomic environment and the additional costs of integrating its latest acquisitions. EBITDA was 23% below analysts’ estimates.
Palantir -10.4%: The stock took a nosedive this week, losing its recent record high despite solid figures and AI-driven growth, as investors consider its valuation excessive compared to other tech giants.
Alcon -6.72%: The eye care company has lowered its outlook for the year for the second time. Although the group is well positioned in its market, it is suffering in the current quarter from the difficult environment for eye surgery and the effects of tariff policy.
Walmart -3.17%: For the first time in 13 quarters, the retail giant missed earnings per share expectations. High extraordinary costs were the main reason for this.
Applied Materials +0.45%: Despite a better-than-expected third quarter, the company presented an extremely disappointing outlook for the fourth quarter. Management pointed to volatile demand in China, the timing of semiconductor manufacturers, and an uncertain macroeconomic environment.
Commodities
Energy: It is difficult to predict where the oil market will go in the near future, as this continues to depend on negotiations over the Ukraine conflict. After initial enthusiasm about a possible meeting between Zelensky and Putin, a ceasefire seems less likely given the current tensions, particularly the latest Russian attacks on Ukraine. Sanctions against Russian oil could therefore be tightened, although there is uncertainty about the US position toward Moscow in this regard. Meanwhile, oil prices rose: Brent crude traded at USD 67.60, while its US counterpart, WTI, rose to USD 63.50.
Metals: The price of a ton of copper remained stable in London this week at USD 9,724 (spot price). Despite the sharp rise in the dollar, industrial metals benefited from the solid US purchasing managers’ index for the manufacturing sector for August. On the supply side, market participants are waiting to see whether copper producer Codelco will revise its production forecasts following the accident at the El Teniente mine. In the precious metals segment, the price of gold remained at around USD 3,330 over the course of the week. Here, too, investors remained cautious in the run-up to the central bank meeting in Jackson Hole due to a lack of catalysts.
Agricultural products: Grain prices began a technical recovery in Chicago. However, due to oversupply, a downward trend is still likely. A bushel of wheat currently costs around 528 cents (contract maturing in December 2025). Corn also rose in price and is now trading at 411 cents (maturing in December 2025).
Macroeconomics
Market sentiment: Sometimes you have to be patient. Despite some conflicting US economic data, investors adopted a cautious stance ahead of Jerome Powell’s comments in Jackson Hole. As a result, US indices fell steadily until Friday afternoon. A few magic words then brought about a trend reversal and a rally shortly before the close of trading, allowing the week to end on a positive note after all. The chairman of the US Federal Reserve spoke of an adjustment to monetary policy in light of the labor market data. In plain language: an interest rate cut in September seems to be a done deal.
Cryptocurrencies
Cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin lost 4.6% in the wake of the slump in US technology stocks. This downward trend was also directly reflected in Bitcoin spot ETFs, which have recorded net outflows of over USD 1 billion since the beginning of the week. Similar developments can be seen for other important cryptocurrencies: Ether (ETH) fell 4.9% to USD 4,250, XRP slipped 8.7% to USD 2.81 and Solana (SOL) fell 6.45% to USD 178. Meanwhile, Michael Saylor has backed away from his promise not to issue any more shares if the price falls below a certain level. Strategy therefore clearly needs further liquidity, even though the stock has lost over 20% since its peak in November, while Bitcoin gained 23% over the same period. Some investors are now wondering whether the historic premium that made the model so strong is beginning to crumble.
Outlook
At the end of the vacation month of August, market participants and most MarketScreener employees will be returning to work next week. What better way to welcome them back than with Nvidia’s results, which are expected on Wednesday evening. Another important event will be the release of US consumer price inflation on Friday, the Fed’s preferred indicator of inflation. However, the current baseline scenario of an interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve in September could be called into question by this single figure.
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