US stock futures rose after the Kremlin confirmed that Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump will meet for a summit in the coming days, raising hopes for a truce in Russia’s war with Ukraine.
Contracts for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 added 0.7%. Apple Inc. shares rose in premarket trading after announcing a $100 billion investment that could spare the company from President Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs on chip imports. Apple suppliers, including Corning Inc.
The dollar index fell for the fifth day in a row, its longest streak in nearly four months, while the euro rose to a session high. Yields on 10-year Treasury bonds remained stable. Oil pared gains.
The Stoxx Europe 600 index rose more than 0.8%, offsetting losses caused by last week’s disappointing US labor market data. The travel and leisure sector performed best. A basket of stocks of companies with interests in Ukraine rose, while defense stocks fell. Optimistic financial results from some of the region’s largest companies helped improve sentiment, even as industrial production in Germany suffered its biggest drop in nearly a year, dealing another blow to Europe’s largest economy.
“A peaceful resolution to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine should have a positive impact on European consumers and risk sentiment, and a negative impact on oil prices,” said Mohit Kumar, chief economist and strategist at Jefferies International Ltd. “Among the sectors that will benefit from this are European consumers, growth-sensitive sectors, and construction-related sectors.”
Market sentiment improved earlier after Trump announced that companies manufacturing goods in the US, such as Apple, would be eligible for exemptions from his proposed 100% tariff on chip imports. Growing speculation about a Federal Reserve interest rate cut is also supporting optimism in stock markets, as new tariffs aimed at reshaping global trade officially took effect on Thursday.
Eli Lilly & Co. shares fell after the pharmaceutical company released disappointing results from trials of its weight-loss drug
DoorDash Inc. jumped in premarket trading after releasing a third-quarter order forecast that beat Wall Street expectations
Paycom Software Inc. rose after raising its full-year revenue forecast
Fortinet Inc. fell after the software company released updated information about its firewall update cycle
Airbnb Inc. declined on weak growth forecasts
German defense company Rheinmetall AG fell after missing analysts’ forecasts for operating profit as orders from Germany and other European countries that have increased defense spending have not yet materialized.
Deutsche Telekom AG fell after reporting second-quarter results that showed weak performance in Germany, its largest market.
Siemens AG rose after reporting higher revenue and orders in the third fiscal quarter.
Allianz SE, a German insurance company that owns bond management company Pacific Investment Management Co., rose after second-quarter profit growth on the back of better results in the property and casualty insurance segment and an inflow of funds at Pimco.
Shares of A. P. Moller-Maersk A/S, a global trade leader, rose after the company raised its financial forecast for 2025, saying demand outside North America is “resilient” even amid concerns about a trade war.
Sandoz Group AG
rose after the Swiss pharmaceutical company reported better-than-expected results.
On Wednesday evening in the US, Trump said that the US would impose “a tariff of approximately 100% on microchips and semiconductors.”
He added: “But if you build in the United States of America, there will be no tariffs.” These comments came after Apple CEO Tim Cook, alongside Trump in the Oval Office, announced a $100 billion investment plan.
Later on Thursday, the Bank of England is expected to cut rates. The pound rose slightly against the dollar, while the UK’s benchmark stock index fell.
Meanwhile, three Fed officials expressed concern about the US labor market on Wednesday, noting that interest rates could be cut in September.
San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly said policymakers would likely have to adjust interest rates in the “coming months” to prevent further deterioration in the employment situation.
Data released last week pointed to a sharp cooling of the labor market over the past few months. Policymakers left rates unchanged at the end of July, and the next meeting will take place in September. After that, they will hold two more meetings in 2025.
Traders are awaiting weekly jobless claims data, due out on Thursday, for more insight into the state of the US labor market.
Separately, Trump said he would likely appoint a temporary Fed governor to fill the vacant seat on the central bank’s board in the coming days, rather than using the seat to demonstrate his choice to replace Jerome Powell as chairman.
At the same time, China’s export growth unexpectedly accelerated last month, reaching its highest level since April. Foreign supplies remained stable despite high tariffs imposed by the US. Chinese stocks remained unchanged.
In other tariff news, the US also imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods, effectively doubling the rate announced a few days ago. Indian stocks fell.
Some key market developments:
Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-06/stock-market-today-dow-s-p-live-updates
The Kametstal plant of the Metinvest mining and metallurgical group (Kamensk, Dnipropetrovsk region) has begun the first stage of a large-scale overhaul of one of its important substations, which supplies electricity to technological processes.
According to the company, the overhaul will also include the modernization of key equipment, which will improve the reliability of power supply and occupational safety.
The main tasks of the overhaul include replacing obsolete equipment that is no longer used in external power grids with modern switching equipment. In particular, disconnectors will be replaced with new 150 kV gas-insulated circuit breakers. Electromagnetic relays will also be replaced with microprocessor-based protection and automation relay units, which provide more sensitive protection with automatic rapid response of equipment to emergency situations.
It is specified that the new equipment will enable the protection of 150 kV electrical circuits directly at the Kametstali substation, whereas previously this was carried out at the remote DTEK substation. This will enable power engineers to localize the emergency area and optimize the process of eliminating the emergency situation.
The report notes that this is one of the most important overhauls of key equipment in the workshop this year, replacing outdated electrical equipment with modern automated equipment. In particular, this is a new level and a modern approach to the process of operational switching, which will now be performed remotely – automatically, using a control key, without the physical presence of employees at the switching device.
“This is a significant step towards improving the safety of our personnel. As a result, we expect to have a modern, reliable power supply system for an important part of the enterprise, as well as improved conditions and increased safety for the personnel of the Central Power Plant,” explained Mikhail Revin, assistant head of the network and substation engineering department, whose words are quoted in the report.
Currently, the old equipment has been completely dismantled at the repair site, and excavation work is underway to pour the foundations for the new equipment. After that, repair specialists will begin its installation.
Kametstal is part of the Metinvest Group.
Metinvest, Ukraine’s largest mining and metallurgical holding, reduced steel production by 13% year-on-year to 908,000 tons in January-June 2025, according to its operating results for the period.
According to a press release from the parent company Metinvest B.V. on the results of its operating activities for Q2 2025, total iron ore production for this period also decreased by 13% compared to January-June 2024, to 7.725 million tons.
At the same time, the production of marketable iron ore concentrate (MIOC) decreased by 8% compared to the first half of 2024, to 7.528 million tons. Together with the total production of MIOC in the first half of 2025, it decreased by 13%, to 7.725 million tons.
It is noted that coke production in January-June 2025 decreased by 5% compared to the first half of 2024, to 5%, to 535 thousand tons.
At the same time, it is specified that in the second quarter of 2025, pig iron and steel production at the Kame-Stal Metallurgical Plant decreased by 19% and 14%, respectively, compared to the previous quarter and the first quarter of 2025, to 353 thousand tons and 420 thousand tons, due to the shutdown of blast furnace No. 9 for major repairs in April-June 2025. In the first half of 2025, pig iron production amounted to 789 thousand tons, which is 11% less than in the same period last year, due to the aforementioned overhaul of furnace No. 9 at Kametstal and a temporary technological shutdown at the pulverized coal fuel (PCF) site in March 2025. This led to a decrease in steel production to 908 thousand tons, or 13% less than in the corresponding period of the previous year.
Against the backdrop of a decline in pig iron production and an increase in domestic consumption of billets at subsequent stages of production, the output of semi-finished products decreased in the second quarter of 2025 by 26% compared to the previous quarter, to 128 thousand tons; in the first half of 2025, by 20% compared to the same period last year, to 301 thousand tons.
In the second quarter of 2025, finished product output increased by 5% compared to the previous quarter and amounted to 628 thousand tons. In particular: flat steel production increased by 11% to 289,000 tons, mainly due to growth in orders for hot-rolled coils at Ferriera Valsider (Italy).
Long product production remained almost at the previous quarter’s level and amounted to 339,000 tons, with output at Kametstal increasing by 4%.
In the first half of 2025, finished product production increased by 3% compared to the same period in 2024. In particular, long product production increased by 5% thanks to higher volumes at Kametstal, while flat product production remained almost unchanged from the previous period.
In the second quarter of 2025, coke production increased by 6% compared to the previous quarter, to 275,000 tons, mainly due to the emergency shutdown of Zaporizhkox in February due to military operations. In the first half of 2025, coke production decreased by 5% to 535,000 tons compared to the same period last year due to the decommissioning of coke oven battery No. 1 at Kametstal.
In the second quarter of 2025, the production of total iron ore concentrate and marketable iron ore products remained almost at the level of the previous quarter and amounted to 3.910 million tons and 3.767 million tons, respectively. At the same time, due to the shutdown of the roasting machine at the Central GOK for major repairs in May 2025, iron ore concentrate production increased by 5% to 2.175 million tons, while the output of pellets decreased by 6% to 1.592 million tons.
In the first half of 2025, total iron ore concentrate production decreased by 13% compared to the same period last year due to the shutdown of the Ingulets GOK in July 2024. This was partially offset by an increase in volumes at the Northern GOK – by 47% due to increased production at the Hannivskyi open pit, as well as at the Central GOK – by 22% due to increased iron ore supplies from third parties. At the same time, the production of marketable iron ore products decreased by 8%, including concentrate by 16%, while the output of marketable pellets increased by 3%.
In December 2024, due to the intensification of hostilities and the approach of the front line, the production site of the Pokrovsk Coal Group was suspended. Subsequently, against the backdrop of power outages and a further deterioration in the security situation, production at the mine and enrichment plant was suspended.
As a result, starting in 2025, coal concentrate production has been concentrated exclusively at United Coal Company (USA). In the second quarter of 2025, coal concentrate production fell to 518,000 tons, down 10% from the previous quarter, due to the deterioration in the quality of coking coal.
In the first half of 2025, coal concentrate production decreased by 53% to 984,000 tons due to the shutdown of the Pokrovsk Coal Group.
As reported, Metinvest increased steel production by 4% in January-March this year compared to the same period last year, but decreased by 1% compared to the previous quarter, to 488,000 tons. Total iron ore production for this period decreased by 15% compared to January-March 2024, but increased by 11% compared to the previous quarter, to 3.761 million tons.
At the same time, the production of commercial iron ore concentrate (CIO) decreased by 27% compared to Q1-2024 and increased by 7% compared to the previous quarter, reaching 2.064 million tons. Total production of IRC in Q1 2025 decreased by 21% compared to Q1 2024 and increased by 17% compared to the previous quarter, reaching 3.815 million tons.
At the same time, Metinvest increased its production of pellets by 7% compared to Q1 2024 and by 9% compared to Q4 2024, to 1.697 million tons. but reduced its total output of coking coal concentrate by 52% in Q1 2024 and by 51% compared to the previous quarter, to 518 thousand tons. Coke output in January-March 2025 decreased by 8% compared to Q1 2024 and by 6% compared to Q4 2024, to 260 thousand tons.
As reported, Metinvest increased steel production by 4% in 2024 compared to 2024, to 2.099 million tons, while total iron ore production increased by 42%, to 15.733 million tons. At the same time, commercial iron ore concentrate production increased by 58% to 14.826 million tons. Coke output in 2024 decreased by 10% to 1.122 million tons. At the same time, Metinvest increased its total production of pellets by 14% to 6.022 million tons, but reduced its total output of coking coal concentrate by 22% to 4.277 million tons.
Metinvest is a vertically integrated group of mining and metallurgical enterprises. Its enterprises are located in Ukraine, in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia, and Dnipropetrovsk regions, as well as in the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The main shareholders of the holding company are the SCM Group (71.24%) and Smart Holding (23.76%). Metinvest Holding LLC is the managing company of the Metinvest Group.
In the first half of 2025, the Dila medical laboratory opened 22 new branches, increasing its number of locations to 260 throughout Ukraine.
According to Ivan Telichkun, the company’s director of strategic development, who spoke to Interfax-Ukraine, Dila has closed one branch since the start of the full-scale invasion, while the remaining 17 branches that were damaged have already been restored and are continuing to operate.
“Since the beginning of the invasion, 17 branches have been damaged and one has been closed in Nikopol. The other damaged branches have been completely restored and are once again serving customers,” he said.
Telichkun specified that Dila branches are currently operating in frontline areas, including Chernihiv, Shostka, Kharkiv, Pavlohrad, Mykolaiv, and Kryvyi Rih. In Shostka, Kharkiv, and Mykolaiv, they were opened during the full-scale invasion.
“Dila operates in cities and regions that are under frequent threat of missile or drone attacks. These are Odesa (Odesa, Izmail), Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Poltava, Kirovohrad, Sumy (Shostka), Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Mykolaiv,” he said.
Telichkun noted that Dila continues to expand its network of branches across Ukraine, focusing primarily on the needs of its clients.
“Among the new locations of Dila branches are not only central areas of cities, but also modern residential complexes, which today form separate communities with developed infrastructure. We plan to expand the network further,” he said.
Commenting on the dynamics of prices for laboratory tests, Telichkun noted that since the beginning of the year, prices for laboratory tests have been gradually increasing.
“The main reasons are the rising cost of reagents and consumables purchased in foreign currency, as well as changes in salaries to ensure market-level wages. Responding to external economic factors, including price adjustments, allows us to maintain our core principles of quality and accuracy in our research, which are the foundation of our customers’ trust. We plan to keep prices stable, provided the market situation remains stable,” he said.
As reported, in 2024, the Dila medical laboratory opened 14 partner branches and expanded its network to 238 branches. In addition, Dila performed 9.3 million tests for 1.3 million patients in 2024.
US President Donald Trump has decided to impose additional tariffs of 25% on India due to its purchase of Russian oil, according to a presidential decree published by the White House.
“Thus, goods from India imported into the US will be subject to ad valorem duties of 25%,” the document says.
“I have determined that it is necessary and appropriate to impose ad valorem duties on imports from India that directly or indirectly purchase oil from the Russian Federation,” Trump explained in the decree.
Ad valorem duties are levied as a fixed percentage of the price of the goods, rather than per unit of cargo.
At the same time, the order specifies that it applies not only to oil of Russian origin, but also to petroleum products.
“The term ‘oil of the Russian Federation’ means crude oil and petroleum products extracted, refined, and exported from the Russian Federation, regardless of the nationality of the company involved in the production or sale of oil or petroleum products,” the document explains.
The term “indirect import” is also clarified, which, according to the US, means the purchase of Russian oil through intermediaries or third countries, whereby the origin of the oil can be traced back to Russia if the head of the Ministry of Trade, who consulted with the Secretary of State and the head of the Ministry of Finance, comes to such conclusions.
Last week, Trump announced that he was imposing 25% tariffs on Indian goods, as well as “penalties” for India’s purchase of Russian oil and weapons. Trump later expressed hope that India would stop buying Russian oil.
Trump then threatened to seriously increase tariffs on Indian exports, arguing that India’s purchases of Russian oil contribute to the continuation of Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine.
In turn, the Indian Foreign Ministry said that the US and EU’s dissatisfaction with Delhi’s purchase of Russian oil was unfounded. Trump’s threats were also condemned by the ruling party and the opposition in India.
Ukraine and Romania plan to open the Bila Tserkva-Sighetu Marmatiei border crossing point by the end of this year – Sighetu Marmatiei“ border crossing point on temporary infrastructure for passenger cars while the ”full” infrastructure is being built, according to the Deputy Minister of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine Serhiy Derkach following a meeting with the State Secretary of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure of Romania Ionel Scristea.
“The construction of the new Bila Tserkva-Sighetu Marmatiei checkpoint is a priority. The contract for the work has been signed. The construction itself will be divided into three stages. This is a large infrastructure project that requires time and resources,” Derkach said on his Facebook page.
Among other key agreements, he mentioned the synchronization of work at the largest checkpoint with Romania, Porubne-Siret, in order to simultaneously complete the development of lanes for trucks. This will double the throughput capacity, the deputy minister stressed.
According to him, the opening of local checkpoints, in particular one each in the Chernivtsi and Zakarpattia regions, was also discussed. It is noted that these checkpoints will be created for passenger cars and pedestrians.
Among the latest joint developments, Derkach recalled the possibility of large-capacity buses freely traveling through the Dyakovtsi-Rakovets checkpoint.
“The next step is to consolidate this decision without restrictions on an indefinite basis. Plus, add the possibility of crossing with empty trucks. Our Romanian colleagues are considering this possibility and will provide feedback,” the deputy minister said.
