[SMM Aluminum Express News] Guinea Bauxite & Alumina Exports in January 2026. Ministry of Mines and Geology reports: Total bauxite 20.26 million tons; alumina 46,764 tons. Bauxite Highlights (top contributors): 1. SMB: 6.57 Mt (32 vessels) – leading exporter 2. Chalco: 2.64 Mt (14 vessels) 3. CBG: 1.64 Mt (28 vessels) 4. Zhicheng Guinee Mining/GBT: 0.94 Mt (5 vessels) 5. CDM China: 0.94 Mt (5 vessels) Other key volumes: 6. Cobad: 0.82 Mt 7. AMC: 0.79 Mt 8. BAM: 0.63 Mt 9. KBM: 0.58 Mt Alumina: 1. Friguia: 46,764 tons (2 vessels) – sole reported exporter

The champagne corks in Brussels may have popped too soon. On January 14, 2026, the European Commission released a soaring press statement celebrating the official entry of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) into its "Definitive Regime." In the official narrative, this was a triumph of digitalization: over 10,000 customs declarations verified in real-time, with the system running as smooth as silk. However, if we shift the lens from the desks of Brussels to the customs brokers in Hamburg, the steel traders in Rotterdam, and the customs officials currently drowning in paperwork across the continent, a starkly different picture emerges. What we are witnessing is a carefully whitewashed administrative "cardiac arrest." Forensic-level investigation into the first seven weeks of 2026 reveals that the landing of CBAM is far from the glitz claimed by officials. On the contrary, plagued by suspected low-level data errors, catastrophic approval backlogs, and teetering temporary patches, the mechanism is currently mired in a dual crisis of legality and operations. I. The Absurd "Default Values": When Taiwan’s Stainless Steel "Became" Indonesian Coal If one were to find a single representative footnote for this chaos, the "Default Value Controversy" would be the undisputed choice. For importers unable to obtain precise carbon emission data from upstream factories, the EU’s official "default values" are a lifeline. This was supposed to be a baseline derived from rigorous scientific calculation. Yet, in the 2,400-page document released on December 31, 2025, mere hours before the new rules took effect, industry experts witnessed a jaw-dropping scene. This is not merely a margin of error; it looks more like a metallurgical farce. Industry bodies have pointed out that when the Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD) established the carbon emission default values for stainless steel from the Taiwan region, the data tables contained suspected structural errors, bearing traces of a "copy-paste" job from Indonesian data structures. The consequence? In the physical world, processing a steel slab into a precision tube requires significant electricity, meaning the finished product should logically have higher emissions than the semi-finished one. Yet, in the table published by the EU, industry players have flagged phenomena where "Taiwanese semi-finished stainless steel allegedly emits more than the finished product," vehemently questioning its rationality. In metallurgy, this is impossible; in a bureaucratic Excel sheet, it became legal reference. More fatally, Taiwan’s stainless steel industry relies primarily on Electric Arc Furnaces (EAF) and scrap recycling, resulting in a relatively low carbon footprint. In contrast, the Indonesian stainless steel industry is highly dependent on Nickel Pig Iron (NPI) and coal-fired power, yielding extremely high emissions. This suspected "slip of the hand" by the EU is akin to forcefully assigning the calorie count of a rich braised pork belly to a light garden salad. This has directly resulted in European buyers of Taiwanese stainless steel facing artificially inflated financial costs. II. A 27% Pass Rate: The 15,000-Strong Army Blocked at the Gate If data controversies are "soft tissue damage," the backlog in administrative approval is a fatal "compound fracture." The core rule of the CBAM definitive stage is simple: without "authorized declarant" status, you cannot import. This means every company wishing to ship a screw or an aluminum sheet into Europe must first secure an "entry ticket." The reality is brutal. According to the Commission’s official press release, by January 7, over 12,000 operators across the EU had submitted applications, with just over 4,100 approved (a pass rate of roughly 34%). However, industry estimates suggest that by late February, applications swelled to approximately 15,000, causing the pass rate to slide to around 27%. Where did the massive remainder go? They are stuck in the overwhelmed approval systems of National Competent Authorities (NCAs). In Germany, due to the deluge of applications, logistics giant DSV issued a public notice stating it could not support clients with CBAM authorization and registration, bluntly forcing thousands of SMEs to crash into the complex reporting system like headless flies. In France, the labyrinthine digital authentication process has turned the application into a maze only a hacker could navigate. To prevent European ports from paralysis, the EU was forced to administer a "painkiller": Customs Code Y238. This is a temporary "hall pass" allowing companies that applied before March 31 but have not yet been approved to keep goods moving for now. But make no mistake, this merely lengthens the fuse on the bomb. III. The Strategy of Silence and the Risk of "Retroactive Reckoning" Faced with industry skepticism, Brussels seems to have chosen the oldest PR strategy: silence. Although industry giants like the Gerber Group issued detailed technical warnings as early as January 9, pointing out the absurdity of the Taiwan/Indonesia data, the industry notes that as of late February, no official "Corrigendum" has been issued to legally revise the default values. The updated Excel version released on February 13 merely added a disclaimer: "information only." This rigid attitude transfers all risk to the enterprises. For companies currently relying on the Y238 temporary arrangement, the real danger is not "whether goods are released," but "whether they will be retroactively penalized." Competent authorities have publicly warned that if an authorization application is ultimately rejected, member states can, under Article 26 (2)/(2a) of the CBAM Regulation, retroactively penalize goods imported during the waiting period. Such fines can, in certain cases, reach 3 to 5 times the standard penalty. In other words, this is not a procedural flaw; it is a compliance risk that could land directly on cash flows and balance sheets. Conclusion: Who Pays the Price for Hubris? CBAM was supposed to be the crown jewel of the EU’s climate ambition, a lighthouse for global green trade. But the opening scene of 2026 makes it look more like an unfinished Tower of Babel. From the "data ghosts" haunting the industry to the severely backlogged approval channels, this "hard landing" exposes a chasm between regulatory ambition and administrative capability. For European importers, every day now is an exercise in navigating through fog. They are forced to calculate not just carbon emissions, but the cost of policy uncertainty. And for the European Commission, if it cannot step out of this arrogant "silence" and clarify these glaring operational controversies, what CBAM loses will be more than just data accuracy; it will be the trust of its global trading partners.

Recently, the Hydrogen Energy (Ammonia Energy) Technology Research Center of the Low Carbon Institute published an important research paper in the renowned journal Journal of Materials Chemistry A, titled "The effect of Nafion on electrochemical nitrate reduction over CoRu alloy catalyst." This study, for the first time, reveals the synergistic mechanism by which perfluorosulfonic acid-based polymers enhance the performance of cobalt-ruthenium (CoRu) alloy catalysts, proposes a solvation interface model for electrochemical ammonia synthesis, and provides key theoretical guidance for the design of high-efficiency electrodes for electrochemical ammonia synthesis. The electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction can convert nitrate pollutants in water into ammonia, simultaneously achieving pollution control and resource recovery, making it a highly promising green pathway for ammonia synthesis. Perfluorosulfonic acid-based polymers, as the core adhesive in the catalytic layer of membrane electrodes, have had unclear micro-level effects on the catalytic mechanism until now. This study, using a combination of explicit solvent models and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, achieved two key findings: first, perfluorosulfonic acid-based polymers can effectively reduce the dissociation energy barrier of water molecules, promoting proton supply; second, they can enhance the adsorption and activation of nitrate ions on the catalyst surface through orbital interactions with nitrate ions. The research elucidates the influence mechanism of these polymers on electron-proton transport and reaction pathways, revealing the synergistic effects at the ionomer-catalyst layer interface, and provides theoretical support for the construction of membrane electrode interfaces. This achievement is expected to promote the integrated innovation of green ammonia synthesis and wastewater treatment technologies, contributing to the establishment of a sustainable nitrogen cycle and clean energy system. The first author of the paper is Gan Wen, an engineer at the Hydrogen Energy (Ammonia Energy) Technology Research Center of the Low Carbon Institute, who has long been engaged in research on electrochemical ammonia synthesis and nitrogen cycle catalytic materials, established high-throughput computational screening strategies, has applied for a total of 10 invention patents (3 authorized), and has published 8 academic papers as first author.

On September 26, 2025, the General Office of the Hunan Provincial People's Government issued the "Hunan Province Action Plan for Accelerating the Improvement of the New Energy Vehicle Penetration Rate (2025–2026)," focusing on the promotion and application of NEVs and industrial upgrading. It explicitly proposed accelerating the construction of energy replenishment facilities such as hydrogen refueling stations. The core contents are as follows: I. Core Action Targets The core objective is to narrow the gap with the national NEV penetration rate, advancing in phases: By the end of 2025, the gap between the provincial NEV penetration rate and the national average is expected to narrow to within 6%. By the end of 2026, the aim is to reach the national average NEV penetration rate. II. Four Key Action Tasks (1) Consumer Environment Optimization Action Innovating Sales Models : Automakers are encouraged to develop products suited to local scenarios, explore diversified sales models such as leasing instead of purchasing and battery-swapping, and expand ecological cooperation. Improving the Service Network : Promote the establishment of delivery centers and authorized after-sales service sites at the county level and in remote areas, carry out after-sales services in rural areas, and address shortcomings in grassroots services. Extending the Consumption Chain : Standardize the used car market, strengthen battery recycling and leasing management, and enhance the residual value of NEVs. Strengthening Financial Support : Increase credit supply, introduce low-down-payment, long-term financial solutions tailored to younger groups, and optimize NEV insurance services. (2) Commercial Vehicle Replacement Action Public Sector Replacement : Focus on promoting the application of NEVs in public sectors such as buses, taxis, sanitation, and freight delivery, and support key cities for air pollution prevention and control in taking the lead in replacing vehicles in urban construction logistics. Truck Transformation Incentives : Using the phase-out of trucks meeting National IV and lower emission standards as a breakthrough, implement provincial fiscal support and introduce preferential expressway toll policies for new energy trucks. (3) Energy Replenishment Facility Enhancement Action (Including Key Construction of Hydrogen Refueling Stations) Urban Residential Charging Convenience : Implement "unified construction and service" for charging piles in residential areas, provide one-stop services for car purchase, electricity connection, and pile installation, and simplify the application process. Public and Dedicated Facility Support : Improve supporting policies for land use, power grid, and electricity prices for dedicated energy replenishment facilities such as those for buses and trucks, and encourage private capital participation in construction. Energy Replenishment Network Construction at Transportation Hubs : Accelerate the planning and construction of a batch of large power charging (battery swap) stations and hydrogen refueling stations in key areas such as expressway service areas, logistics parks, ports, along major logistics corridors, and national and provincial highways. ; Promote the renovation and expansion of eligible gas (CNG/LNG) stations into comprehensive energy supply stations offering "fuel (gas) + charging (battery swap)" services. Full Coverage of Rural Energy Replenishment : Incorporate charging piles into the "Village Access Project" to achieve full coverage of charging stations in every township and charging piles in every village, promoting the integrated development of energy replenishment facilities with PV systems, parking lots, and others. (IV) Enhanced Support Policy Actions Leveraging Fiscal Funds : Coordinate special funds from the central and provincial levels to implement trade-in and car-to-countryside policies, carry out NEV sales promotions, explore charging consumption subsidies, and encourage municipalities and prefectures to issue car purchase subsidies. Traffic Priority and Parking Incentives : Encourage municipalities and prefectures to grant NEVs traffic priority on core urban routes, along with benefits such as extended operating hours and parking fee reductions in public areas. III. Safeguard Measures Establish a dual-led working mechanism by the Provincial Development and Reform Commission (Provincial Energy Bureau) and the Provincial Department of Commerce, coordinating multiple provincial departments for collaborative advancement; require local governments to refine measures and ensure implementation, while intensifying policy publicity to eliminate misconceptions and foster a social environment supportive of NEV development. This plan is expected to include hydrogen refueling stations as key components of energy replenishment facilities in transportation hubs, advancing them in coordination with charging (battery swap) stations. This will effectively address the energy replenishment challenges for NEVs (particularly hydrogen-powered vehicles), providing solid support for increasing the NEV penetration rate and transforming the energy structure in Hunan.

On June 7, Nanjing Iron & Steel Group Co., Ltd. (NISCO) and Huoqiu County held a "15th Five-Year Plan" local government-enterprise cooperation exchange meeting at Jin'an Mining. Huo Shaobin, member of the Standing Committee of the Lu'an Municipal Party Committee and Secretary of the Huoqiu County Party Committee, and Huang Yixin, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of NISCO, attended and delivered speeches. The meeting was chaired by Wei Nengwu, Deputy Secretary of the Huoqiu County Party Committee and County Magistrate. Mao Lingxia, Deputy County Magistrate of the Huoqiu County People's Government, heads of departments including the Huoqiu Economic Development Zone, the Huoqiu County National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the Huoqiu County Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, the Huoqiu County Bureau of Natural Resources, and Fanqiao Town, Wang Haiyong, member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Secretary to the Board of Directors of CITIC Pacific Special Steel Group Co., Ltd., and Shao Renzhi, Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of NISCO and President of the New Industry Investment Group, also attended the meeting. Shang Wenhu, General Manager of Huoqiu County Limin Company, and Xu Weizhuo, Chairman and General Manager of Jin'an Mining, signed the transfer contract for the Fanqiao Iron Mine exploration right project. Jin'an Mining introduced the strategic development plan for the "15th Five-Year Plan." Huo Shaobin pointed out that the successful signing of the Fanqiao Iron Mine project is an important achievement of the joint efforts and shared vision for development between the local government and the enterprise. It will strongly promote the complementary advantages and resource sharing between the local government and the enterprise, inject strong momentum into further optimizing, strengthening, and expanding Jin'an Mining, and provide solid support for the high-quality economic and social development of Huoqiu County. All departments at various levels in the county should further strengthen safeguard measures, optimize service mechanisms, and strive to create a first-class business environment. It is necessary to improve the regular communication mechanism between the government and enterprises, implement a list-based management of services, efficiently and precisely promote the implementation of enterprise-benefiting policies, and provide solid guarantees for deepening the strategic cooperation between the local government and enterprises. Huang Yixin stated that Jin'an Mining achieved multiple historical operating indicators in 2024, opening up a new pattern of dual-main-business-driven development. The signing of the transfer contract for the Fanqiao Iron Mine exploration right has fulfilled NISCO's long-held aspiration for sustainable development in Huoqiu. He expressed heartfelt gratitude to the successive leadership teams that have supported the development of Jin'an Mining over the years. In recent years, Huoqiu's business environment has continued to improve, and the efficiency of government services has been constantly enhanced, actively addressing the concerns and difficulties of enterprises. NISCO Group and Jin'an Mining will live up to expectations, fulfill their missions, and take the lead, committed to building a world-class technology-oriented excellent enterprise and contributing new "NISCO strength" to the high-quality economic and social development of Huoqiu County. Accompanied by Huang Yixin and others, Huo Shaobin and his delegation conducted in-depth surveys and provided guidance at the Jin'an Mining Smart Center. On the same day, Jin'an Mining held the commissioning ceremony for the 9-series permanent magnet ferrite ultra-pure iron powder pre-sintered material project. Huo Shaobin, member of the Standing Committee of the Lu'an Municipal Party Committee and Secretary of the Huoqiu County Party Committee, delivered a speech, and Huang Yixin, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of NISCO, announced the official commissioning of the project. Xu Weizhuo, Chairman and General Manager of Jin'an Mining, chaired the ceremony. The 9-series permanent magnet ferrite ultra-pure iron powder pre-sintered material project of Jin'an Mining is not only a vivid practice of Jin'an Mining's implementation of NISCO's "one body, three elements" large industrial ecosystem, but also an active response to the strategic deployment of the Huoqiu County Party Committee and County Government to focus on building an iron-based new material industrial cluster. This project is the first production line in China that uses ultra-pure iron powder as raw material to produce 9-series permanent magnet ferrite pre-sintered materials, filling a technological gap in this field and marking a milestone. In his speech, Huo Shaobin stated that the Jin'an Mining 9-series permanent magnet ferrite ultra-pure iron powder pre-sintered material project is a brand-new starting point and a magnificent symphony. Huoqiu County will thoroughly implement the project of "consolidating the foundation and nurturing vitality," continuously improve the work style of officials, optimize the business environment, nurture the project's healthy growth, assist Jin'an Mining in becoming bigger and stronger, and wish Nanjing Iron & Steel Group Co., Ltd. (NISCO) prosperous development and continuous innovation. Huang Yixin expressed gratitude to the leaders and guests who witnessed the commissioning of the Jin'an Mining 9-series permanent magnet ferrite ultra-pure iron powder pre-sintered material project and paid tribute to the participating construction units. He also introduced the development of NISCO and CITIC Pacific Special Steel Group Co., Ltd., as well as the latest developments in the mutually empowering development of Jin'an Mining's dual main businesses. He stated that Jin'an Mining will strive to become a world-class new materials company, making new contributions to Huoqiu's economic transformation and high-quality development. After the ceremony, the attendees jointly toured the production line of the 9-series permanent magnet ferrite ultra-pure iron powder pre-sintered material project. On June 6, the Board of Directors of Jin'an Mining held its 2025 annual meeting. Huang Yixin, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of NISCO, Shao Renzhi, Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of NISCO and President of New Industry Investment Group, as well as directors, supervisors, and members of the management team of Jin'an Mining attended the meeting, which was chaired by Xu Weizhuo, Chairman and General Manager of Jin'an Mining. The meeting focused on hearing reports on Jin'an Mining's "15th Five-Year Plan Strategic Planning Scheme," "2024 Annual Financial Final Accounts Report," and "2025 Annual Financial Budget Report." Huang Yixin stated that this year's Jin'an Mining Board of Directors meeting is a triple celebration: obtaining the exploration rights for the Fanqiao Iron Mine, the official commissioning of the 9-series permanent magnet ferrite ultra-pure iron powder pre-sintered material project, and Jin'an Mining achieving multiple historical milestones in 2024. Jin'an Mining's victory is a comprehensive one, which has also inspired the confidence of all officials and employees of Jin'an to dare to fight and win. Reviewing the past, Jin'an Mining has achieved six "leading the way and setting an example." First, leading the way and setting an example in innovation, breakthroughs, and creating history in production and operation; second, leading the way and setting an example in Party building and corporate culture construction; third, leading the way and setting an example in strategic guidance, planning, and implementation; fourth, leading the way and setting an example in incremental sustainable development; fifth, leading the way and setting an example in overall organizational and team building; sixth, leading the way and setting an example in the construction of a safe, happy, and green mine. For future development, Jin'an Mining must adhere to "five unwavering principles." First, it must unwaveringly achieve this year's profitability targets. Second, it must unwaveringly adhere to the strategy of developing iron-based new materials, while also firming up its determination to go public in the future. Third, it must unwaveringly promote the Fanqiao Mine to generate profits as soon as possible. Fourth, it must unwaveringly build a modern mine system. Fifth, it must unwaveringly advance the construction of the Party, corporate culture, and talent team development. Shao Renzhi expressed his congratulations to Jin'an Mining for acquiring the Fanqiao Iron Mine, which is a remarkable achievement for Jin'an. He emphasized the need to accelerate the pace of progress and achieve results as soon as possible. Since the last board meeting, Jin'an Mining's strategic positioning of "resources + new materials" has become more resolute and clearer. It must seize the development opportunities in new materials and live up to the resource endowment of "ginseng iron." The road ahead is long, and we must tread it steadily and securely. First, we must clearly plan the strategies and paths for what we want to accomplish during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period. Second, we must advance strategic research on new materials, build a talented team suited to development, and coordinate the synergistic development of several sectors. Third, we must accelerate the construction of digital and intelligent mines. Fourth, we must firmly grasp and implement safety work, maintaining a cautious attitude at all times. Safety must always be kept in mind, and there can be no room for slackness.

Pan Gongsheng, Governor of the People's Bank of China (PBOC), and Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank (ECB), held the first annual meeting between the Governors of the PBOC and the ECB. Both sides signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the People's Bank of China and the European Central Bank, which clearly establishes an annual meeting mechanism between the Governors of the PBOC and the ECB, and further improves the cooperation framework in areas such as information sharing, policy communication, and technical cooperation.

On June 11, 2025, a delegation led by the district leaders of Licheng District, Quanzhou, visited the headquarters of United Hydrogen for a field trip and exchange activity, embarking on an in-depth exchange journey focused on the hydrogen energy industry. The field trip was led by Li Chuiju, Deputy Secretary of the Licheng District Committee of the Communist Party of China and District Governor, accompanied by Li Xiaodong, Director of the District Government Office; Huang Wenming, Director of the District Culture and Tourism Bureau; Yang Chengwen, Deputy Director of the District Government Office; Wu Jianzhong, Deputy Director of the Investment Promotion Office; and Chen Pengxiang, Chairman of Quanzhou Jiangnan Urban Construction Group, among other leaders. United Hydrogen's CEO and Chairman Ma Xia, Vice President Zhang Jihua, and other company executives warmly received the delegation. The purpose of the field trip was to gain an in-depth understanding of the current development status and future trends of the hydrogen energy industry, and to explore cooperation opportunities between United Hydrogen and Licheng District, Quanzhou, in the hydrogen energy sector. In the exhibition hall of the Yangtze River Delta Hydrogen Energy Industrial Park, Ma Xia, the company's Chairman and CEO, along with the senior management team, provided a detailed introduction to the Licheng District leaders on the application scenarios of hydrogen energy, the hydrogen lifestyle product ecosystem, and the company's latest achievements in the layout of the entire hydrogen energy industry chain, enabling the delegation to gain a comprehensive understanding of the hydrogen energy industry. Hydrogen Energy for Life: A Life Energy Refueling Station During the subsequent visit to the company's exhibition hall, it was elaborated that United Hydrogen is constructing a hydrogen energy ecosystem closed loop centered around hydrogen, with end-use application products serving as the consumption carrier. This encompasses energy production, storage and transportation, infrastructure construction, hydrogen energy product applications, core parts production, carbon asset management, and more, aiming to provide one-stop services for the entire industry chain. Jointly Exploring Cooperation Opportunities in the Hydrogen Energy Industry At the symposium, both sides engaged in in-depth exchanges on the development trends, technological innovations, market applications, and policy support of the hydrogen energy industry. The exchange was highly productive, laying a solid foundation for potential future cooperation. Both sides look forward to strengthening communication and coordination in the future, jointly exploring cooperation opportunities in hydrogen energy infrastructure construction, application scenario expansion, industrial ecosystem construction, and other areas, to promote the high-quality development of the hydrogen energy industry and contribute to the realization of the national "dual carbon" goals. United Hydrogen warmly welcomed the visit of the Licheng District government leaders of Quanzhou and looks forward to deeper cooperation with Licheng District in the hydrogen energy sector, jointly promoting innovation and development in the hydrogen energy industry. United Hydrogen will adhere to its vision of "becoming China's largest hydrogen service provider and the most valuable linker of the hydrogen energy ecosystem," collaborating with more partners to drive the transformation of the energy structure and industrial upgrading through hydrogen energy, jointly painting a new picture of green and low-carbon urban development.

On Friday, Eastern Time, the US May non-farm payrolls data came in better than expected, easing market concerns about an economic slowdown and triggering a sharp rally in US stocks. All three major indices rose more than 1%, with the S&P 500 closing above 6,000 for the first time since February, though still more than 2% below its all-time high set in February. At the close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.05% to 42,762.87; the S&P 500 rose 1.03% to 6,000.36; and the Nasdaq Composite rose 1.20% to 19,529.95. (Minute-by-minute charts of the three major indices, source: TradingView) All three major indices posted gains for the week, with the S&P 500 up 1.5%, the Dow up 1.2%, and the Nasdaq up 2.2%. Thanks to the recent rebound, all three major indices have turned positive for the year. Data released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday showed that non-farm payrolls increased by 139,000 in May, a slowdown from the previous month's figure but higher than market expectations. The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.2%. The jobs report was released as other data suggested that US job growth may be slowing amid uncertainty over trade policy. The latest non-farm payrolls data provided a basis for the US Fed to maintain interest rates unchanged this summer. As a result, traders lowered their expectations for interest rate cuts in the coming months. "The non-farm payrolls data came in better than expected, suggesting that the labour market remains healthy despite a slowing growth trend," said Anthony Saglimbene, chief market strategist at Ameriprise. "There is still uncertainty about the inflationary impact of tariffs, which are expected to start showing up in economic data this summer. The market is now waiting to see the real impact of these factors on growth and earnings in the coming quarters. We're essentially back to where we were in February," Saglimbene said. Circle, the "first stablecoin stock," extended its rally, closing up more than 29% on its second day of trading, with cumulative gains of over 247% in two trading days. Performance of Popular Stocks Major tech stocks rose across the board, with Apple up 1.64%, Microsoft up 0.58%, Nvidia up 1.24%, Google up 3.25%, Amazon up 2.72%, Meta up 1.91%, and Tesla up 3.67%. Among popular Chinese ADRs, gains and losses were mixed. The Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index fell 0.06%, with Alibaba down 0.48%, JD.com up 0.09%, Pinduoduo up 1.28%, NIO up 0.28%, XPeng Motors down 2.40%, Li Auto up 0.85%, Bilibili up 1.46%, Baidu down 0.05%, NetEase down 1.25%, and Tencent Music up 1.01%. Company News [Tesla Produces 8 Millionth EV at Giga Berlin] On June 6, Tesla announced that its 8 millionth electric vehicle (EV) rolled off the production line at Giga Berlin, with the vehicle being a Model Y. [Lululemon Plunges 20%, Lowers Full-Year Profit Forecast] Athletic apparel brand Lululemon (LULU) closed down 19.80% on Friday, marking its worst single-day performance since March 2020. Lululemon had previously lowered its full-year outlook, projecting Q2 net revenue to be between $2.54 billion and $2.56 billion, falling short of analysts' consensus estimate of $2.57 billion. [Virgin Galactic Announces Potential Resumption of Commercial Spaceflight Services] Virgin Galactic's shares surged over 16% intraday but closed up 2.88%. The company announced that its commercial spaceflight services are expected to resume, signaling a new phase in the restart of its space tourism business. [Fitch Upgrades Uber's Rating to BBB+] Fitch Ratings upgraded Uber's (UBER) long-term issuer default rating (IDR) to "BBB+" and assigned a commercial paper rating of "F1." [Deutsche Bank: Exploring Stablecoin or Tokenized Deposits] In a recent report on Friday, Sabih Behzad, Head of Digital Assets and Currency Transformation at Deutsche Bank, stated that the bank is exploring stablecoins and various forms of tokenized deposits. It is understood that the options being evaluated by Germany's largest bank include issuing its own token or joining industry consortium initiatives, while also exploring the development of its own tokenized deposit solutions for payment purposes. [Switzerland Unveils Banking Reform Proposal; UBS Faces $26 Billion in Additional Capital Requirements] According to the banking reform proposal put forward by the Swiss government, UBS Group will face up to $26 billion in new capital requirements over the next decade. Following months of uncertainty that weighed on the share price of the Zurich-based bank, the Swiss Federal Council announced on Friday that it will require UBS's parent company to fully capitalize its foreign subsidiaries. The Swiss government estimates that this will force UBS to increase capital for its main Swiss operations by up to $23 billion, with the remaining capital to be raised through other measures.

【Japan No Longer Demands the US to Fully Eliminate Auto Tariffs, Proposes a Tax Reduction Plan】According to Japan's Asahi Shimbun, Japan no longer demands the US to fully eliminate the 25% auto tariffs but has proposed a tax reduction mechanism based on the contributions of various countries to the US automotive industry. Under Japan's latest proposal, the US will reduce auto tariffs based on factors such as the number of vehicles produced by Japanese automakers in the US and the number of vehicles exported from the US to other markets.

On May 29, Chen Xiangdong, Executive General Manager of China Energy Engineering Group International Power Engineering Co., Ltd. (CPIEC) and General Manager of CPIEC's Overseas Business Department, met with Jamal Al Ghurair, Founder and Managing Director of Al Khaleej Sugar Company, and his delegation. The two sides engaged in in-depth discussions on international business cooperation and the green hydrogen-based fuel industry. Chen Xiangdong welcomed Jamal Al Ghurair and his delegation, and highlighted CPIEC's global business layout and technological advantages. He noted that with the accelerated global energy transition, new-type clean energy sources such as hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, and green aviation fuel have become crucial for sustainable development in the future. CPIEC is accelerating the cultivation of large-scale system engineering capabilities that integrate "green electricity, green hydrogen, green carbon, and green fuels," driving technological and equipment development in areas such as biomass energy, hydrogen energy, and green chemicals. This can provide Al Khaleej Sugar Company with entire industry chain solutions for its industries in European, West Asian, and African markets, ranging from hydrogen production through renewable energy-powered water electrolysis, hydrogen storage and transportation, to integrated synthesis of hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol, as well as green aviation fuel production. He looks forward to both sides working together to inject new momentum into the green and low-carbon development of local energy. Jamal Al Ghurair highly praised CPIEC's comprehensive strength and expressed optimism about the cooperation prospects between the two sides in the European market. He pointed out that Europe is actively promoting energy transition, with a particular focus on the development of clean fuels such as green hydrogen, green methanol, and green aviation fuel. Spain boasts abundant renewable energy resources, providing a solid foundation for large-scale, low-cost production of green hydrogen and green aviation fuel. The company is optimistic about the application potential of green hydrogen, green ammonia, green methanol, and green aviation fuel in Spain's industrial decarbonization and transportation sectors. He looks forward to establishing a long-term strategic cooperation mechanism between the two sides, leveraging their respective advantages in technology, resources, and markets to jointly promote the development and construction of renewable energy-based hydrogen production, integrated hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol projects, and green aviation fuel projects in Spain, as well as in Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. Zhang Lemin, Deputy General Manager of the company, along with relevant heads from the R&D Department of CPIEC's Carbon Neutrality Institute, the Green Energy Company of CPIEC's Northeast Branch, and the Regional Business Center for Europe and the Americas, attended the exchange meeting.