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As France steps into the new year, the political and economic uncertainty that has been a hallmark of the euro zone's second-largest economy shows no signs of abating. The political crisis, triggered by President Emmanuel Macron's call for snap parliamentary elections last summer, has resulted in a fragmented National Assembly where both far-left and far-right parties claimed victory. This led to the formation of a short-lived centrist government, which was ousted in a confidence vote over disagreements on the 2025 budget. Now, with a new minority government in place, the challenges remain the same: managing a budget deficit projected at 6.1% and a debt of 112% of GDP, both exceeding EU limits. The political instability has not only affected financial markets, with France's CAC 40 index falling by 2.2% in 2024, but also led to a downgrade by Moody's, highlighting concerns over fiscal consolidation. Amidst this, Macron has acknowledged his misstep in calling for the snap elections, admitting it has brought more division than solutions. The economic outlook for 2025 is grim, with forecasts predicting minimal growth and potential stagnation, as political parties position themselves for the next presidential election, possibly even pushing for an early vote in 2025.
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Nvidia Corp. has voiced strong opposition to forthcoming US chip export restrictions, which are set to be announced before the transition to the Trump administration. These restrictions aim to limit the export of US artificial intelligence chips, particularly targeting countries like China and Russia, by imposing caps on sales both by country and by company. Nvidia's Vice President of Government Affairs, Ned Finkle, criticized the policy, suggesting it would not enhance national security but instead drive global markets towards alternative technologies. The proposed regulations would categorize countries into three tiers, with US allies having full access to American semiconductors, while most other nations would face stringent limits on computing power. This move, according to Nvidia, could harm the US economy and benefit its adversaries. Nvidia's CEO, Jensen Huang, expressed readiness to collaborate with the incoming Trump administration, highlighting the company's significant growth due to AI spending and its position as the world's most valuable chipmaker.
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The U.S. economy showed robust job growth in December, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting an addition of 256,000 jobs, significantly higher than the anticipated 165,000. This growth was accompanied by a decrease in the unemployment rate to 4.1% from 4.2% the previous month. Wage growth aligned with expectations, increasing by 0.3% for the month, although it was slightly lower than the 0.4% seen in November. Despite these positive indicators, the labor market displayed signs of cooling, with the hiring rate and quits rate both declining. The labor force participation rate remained steady at 62.5%. Moreover, job openings rose to 8.1 million, marking the highest level since May 2023, suggesting a still tight labor market. However, private payroll additions slowed according to ADP's report, indicating a cautious approach in hiring. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has indicated that further cooling in the labor market isn't necessary to achieve the Fed's inflation targets, reflecting a nuanced view on economic policy amidst these labor market dynamics.
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Walgreens Boots Alliance reported a better-than-expected first-quarter adjusted profit, surpassing analysts' lowered expectations. Despite a significant drop in its share value in 2024, the company's stock rose 11.4% in premarket trading following the announcement. CEO Tim Wentworth's turnaround efforts, including multiple store closures, aim to improve profitability and cash flow. The company reported a loss on a reported basis due to costs from store closures and other charges, but excluding these, earnings were 51 cents per share, beating the consensus estimate of 37 cents. Walgreens reiterated its 2025 profit forecast and announced a $1 billion cost-cutting program along with plans to close over 1,200 stores. Despite these measures, the company faces ongoing challenges from low drug reimbursement rates and consumer behavior shifts, leading to speculation about potential sales to private equity firms.
