Squawk Box Europe Express

Tiktok's sale of its U.S. operations could hit another roadblock after China's Commerce Ministry tightens its regulations on technology exports. Meanwhile, China’s official PMI points to a recovery spurred by demand with services in August growing at a higher rate than July. Chinese manufacturing activity continues to expand in August, but slightly under expectations. In Japan, Abe’s resignation does not deter Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway from buying stakes in Japan's five leading trading companies, sending shares higher. Asian stocks rise on the final day of trade for the month, after the Dow erases this year's losses and the S&P 500 looks set to have its best August in nearly 34 years. And Nestle makes an offer to buy food allergy prevention expert Aimmune for $2.6bn dollars, as the conglomerate looks to expand its health portfolioSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has resigned over his health. The news caused Tokyo stocks to slide, wiping out about $47 billion of market value, while pushing the yen higher. The Federal Reserve will allow inflation to temporarily overshoot its 2 percent target, in a major policy shift that it hopes will stimulate the U.S. economy. Chair Jerome Powell highlighted the risks to persistently low inflation in a move that is set to see interest rates stay lower for longer. President Trump has formally accepted the Republican nomination for president in the final day of the party's national convention. Trump delivered his speech from the White House, breaking with tradition by using the executive mansion as a political backdrop and defying pandemic guidelines addressing a packed and largely mask less crowd.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hurricane Laura makes landfall on the Texas-Louisiana state border - now rated a Category 4 storm. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has warned that Laura’s storm surge is ‘unsurvivable’. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell is expected to signal a major policy change as global central bankers attend a virtual Jackson Hole symposium. The third night of the Republican National Congress sees a surprise visit to Baltimore by President Trump as renewed racial tensions rage in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Vice-President Mike Pence tells the RNC that Trump’s re-election is fundamental to maintaining law and order. And in media news, TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer has resigned, citing a changing political landscape following the U.S. administration’s moves to ban the Chinese video app for alleged threats to national security.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Asian indices fail to follow the S&P 500 which hits a third consecutive high despite U.S. consumer confidence falling to a six-year low. The U.S. Gulf Coast braces for Hurricane Laura which is gathering strength towards Texas and Louisiana. Major oil facilities have been evacuated and Brent reaches a five-month peak. The second night of the Republican National Congress defies convention as First Lady Melania Trump delivers her speech at the White House and Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, from Jerusalem on a diplomatic trip. Trade tensions between Washington and Beijing continue to wane but Mexico’s nominee to lead the WTO tells CNBC the basis of trust and cooperation between the world’s two largest economies has been severely eroded.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Asian markets near a two-year high, following the new record set by the S&P 500 on the back of Covid-19 vaccine optimism. Washington and Beijing both signal progress in renewed trade talks. The Dow closes above the 28,000-mark after a major reshuffle which sees Exxon Mobil, Pfizer and Raytheon Technologies substituted by Salesforce, Amgen and Honeywell. At the Republican National Congress in Charlotte, North Carolina, President Trump officially accepts the presidential nomination and warns that Democrats are aiming to ‘steal’ the election in November. And in a world first, there is confirmation a 33-year-old Hong Kong man has been re-infected with Coronavirus for a second time.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Trump is reportedly aiming to fast-track AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine, bypassing safety standards as the FDA is set to award the British company and Oxford University ‘emergency use authorisation’ in October. In tech news, Microsoft backs Epic Games in its payment confrontation with Apple. The creator of Fortnite says Apple is unlawfully trying to stamp out any opposition, and the entire gaming industry could be affected. Washington and Brussels agree to a ‘mini-deal’ on almost $200m worth of tariff cuts amid growing signs of easing trans-Atlantic trade tensions. And in a historic scenario, the Gulf of Mexico braces for twin tropical storms Marco and Laura, which are set to make landfall later this week.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Joe Biden formally accepts the Democrat presidential nomination and uses his speech to slam President Trump for allegedly failing in his most basic duties to the American nation. Putin critic Alexei Navalny is fighting for his life in Omsk, Siberia, after falling ill in a suspected poisoning. Reports suggest he may be transferred to Germany for treatment. In France, President Emmanuel Macron hosts Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel. The pair have vowed to avoid further virus lockdowns and border closures at any costs. And in auto news, a U.S. judge has thrown out parts of a lawsuit which claimed Volkswagen had misled its investors over the 2015 emissions scandal, but upheld SEC claims against former CEO Martin Winterkorn.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Asian markets plunge into the red on jitters over the U.S. pandemic recovery after the Fed paints a gloomy economic picture and hints at potentially more central bank measures to come in September. The Democrats’ choice for vice-president, Kamala Harris, officially accepts her nomination and tells the virtual DNC that the Trump presidency has left U.S. citizens in fear. Apple reaches a new milestone to become the first ever company to achieve a $2tn market valuation. This means the tech giant makes up to 7 per cent of the total worth of the S&P 500 index. And in Frankfurt, the DAX reshuffles its blue chips, pushing disgraced payment processor Wirecard out and letting Delivery Hero in, after the takeaway firm’s strong surge in performance during lockdown.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A historic high for the S&P 500 as the index manages to recoup its entire Coronavirus losses with a 54 per cent jump from the lows of March. This marks the end of the shortest American bear market in history. U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin slams Democrats for delaying a fresh stimulus bill and tells CNBC that Main Street is greatly affected by the impasse. Joe Biden is formally announced as the Democratic Party presidential nominee. Key party figures vow Biden will end the ‘chaos’ of the Trump administration. And in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng morning session is cancelled as Typhoon Higos drenches the territory.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

CNBC learns that U.S. software giant Oracle is challenging Microsoft for Chinese app TikTok’s North American assets. BHP has missed its full-year forecasts but keeps its dividend. The Anglo-Australian miner warns that most economies will continue to contract throughout the rest of the year but iron ore prices are set to rebound. In the U.S., a virtual Democratic National Convention has opened with former First Lady Michelle Obama focusing her ire on President Trump’s leadership. And in Belarus, a first sign of concession as President Alexander Lukashenko has reportedly said he would hold a new leadership referendum if the current anti-government protests cease.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recalls lawmakers in a bid to resolve the mail-in voting dispute. CNBC hears exclusively from senior White House advisor Jared Kushner who defends President Trump’s handling of the Coronavirus pandemic. The U.S. leader piles more pressure onto Chinese firms by threatening to extend his ban on TikTok to include online retail giant Alibaba. Trade talks between Washington and Beijing have been delayed indefinitely. Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway dumps almost $13bn of shares with the investor selling down its bank stakes in Wells Fargo, JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs. France reports more than 3,000 Covid-19 cases in a single day, while Germany extends a travel warning for Spain’s Balearic islands as fears of a second wave of the virus sweep across western Europe.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chinese retail and manufacturing data for July fails to signal a significant rebound for the economy, raising concerns about China’s rate of recovery. Asian equities have reacted to the downside. In the U.S., President Trump threatens to veto the virus stimulus bill should it involve postal funding for mail-in voting. The Senate is now adjourned until next month potentially causing further delay. Israel and the United Arab Emirates agree a U.S.-brokered peace deal, creating diplomatic ties between the two nations and suspending Israel’s annexation of Palestinian territories in the West Bank. UAE Foreign Minister Anwar Gargash tells CNBC the agreement could diffuse some threats to peace. And France has vowed to retaliate after the U.K. hits travellers with a 14-day quarantine on their return from the country.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. indices remain defiant in the face of stalled virus stimulus talks with the S&P 500 closing just under record highs. President Trump calls Democratic lawmakers’ demands ‘ridiculous,’ as negotiations for a rescue package remain gridlocked. Joe Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris make their first joint appearance, and the Vice-Presidential candidate immediately launches an attack at President Trump’s handling of the Coronavirus pandemic. The U.K. is considering adding France to its quarantine list where case numbers have soared by more than 2,500 in a day. The British government is wary, however, of repeating the mayhem sparked by its sudden measures against Spain. And German travel giant Tui secures a €1.2bn state aid package from Berlin to see it through the winter.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A stalemate in talks between Democrat and GOP lawmakers over a multi-trillion dollar stimulus package helps end a week-long rally for the Dow Jones and S&P 500, outweighing optimism over a Covid-19 vaccine. This, as Russia announces it has granted approval for its Sputnik V drug. Presidential candidate Joe Biden chooses Kamala Harris as his running mate – the first black woman to be chosen on a major party ticket. President Trump is swift to attack Harris’s record as a former rival to Biden in the Democrat primaries. And in a bid to make stocks more accessible, electric car maker Tesla offers a 5-4-1 share split, sending valuations soaring in after-hours trading.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Asian markets rally, following U.S. stocks into the green with the Hang Seng and Nikkei leading the pack. Investors opt out of the tech sector and move towards cyclical stocks. U.S. lawmakers remain divided over the virus relief package, but Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin tells CNBC that President Trump’s strategy will yield results in reviving the economy. In Lebanon, the government resigns following last week’s massive port explosion and ongoing protests. Outgoing Prime Minister Hassan Diab blames endemic corruption for the tragedy. And German drug developer Curevac hopes to raise $245m to fund a potential Covid-19 vaccine by listing on the Nasdaq.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Trump signs executive orders to extend unemployment assistance after virus stimulus plans collapse between Republican and Democrat lawmakers. Twitter has reportedly made a move for Chinese video app TikTok, which is seeking to sue the Trump administration over the U.S. ban. In Lebanon, Prime Minister Hassan Diab says he will request an early election in a bid to quell ongoing protests following last week’s port explosion in Beirut. And in energy news, Saudi Aramco sees Q2 profits nosedive by 73 per cent, but CEO Amin Nasser says the worst is over, sending shares higher in early trade today.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Asian indices slump into the red after President Trump signs an executive order banning U.S. companies from working with Chinese apps TikTok and WeChat. Trump has branded both mobile applications as a “threat” to U.S. national security and economy. Mixed Chinese trade data for July sees exports rising by 7 per cent, but imports fall by 1.4 per cent due to depressed demand. Uber’s Q2 revenues fall by almost a third as the ride-sharing app’s pivot to delivery services fails to offset a dearth in passengers during global lockdowns. And we hear from BoE governor Andrew Bailey who tells CNBC that negative rates are “in the toolbox” but that the central bank had no immediate plans of implementing them. He also denied accusations the BOE was too optimistic about the speed of the recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. markets close higher, shrugging off dismal ADP jobs numbers as Democrats continue their opposition to proposals in a fresh virus stimulus package. U.S. airlines shares respond to the upside following GOP Senators’ backing of a $25bn aid package for the industry. Bosses of the largest carriers warn that demand will take years to rebound. Siemens makes changes to its managing board as it beats Q3 forecasts, but the German industrial giant expects the pandemic to weigh on profits in the fourth quarter. And in London, the BoE prepares to issue its latest decision. There is speculation that policy makers will dash hopes of a V-shaped recovery for the UK.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A massive chemical explosion in Beirut leaves more than a hundred dead and thousands wounded. President Trump suggests the blast may have been intentional. Chinese service sector growth retreats from a decade-high, as new localised lockdowns blunt the country’s post-pandemic recovery. In media news, shares in Disney rally despite a poor Q2, as investors pin hopes on a new streaming strategy potentially offsetting theme park losses of 85 per cent on the year. And Virgin Atlantic files for bankruptcy protection in the U.S. as it scrambles to secure a rescue plan to ward off creditors.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A 3-way deal? President Trump says the U.S. Treasury should receive a significant cut of Microsoft’s bid for Chinese social media app TikTok, as he says the companies have until 15 September to reach an agreement. U.S. major averages start August in the green with the Nasdaq hitting another record high. Google parent Alphabet issues a record $10bn in corporate debt at a rock-bottom coupon price. And in Europe, German lender Commerzbank goes against the advice of its second-largest shareholder, private equity group Cerberus to appoint Hans-Jorg Vetter as chairman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.