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Listeners, it's Saturday, July 12th. I'm Francesca Fontana for the Wall Street Journal and this is what's news in markets. Our look at the biggest stock moves of the week and the news that drove them. Let's get to it. Maybe one day I won't sound like such a broken record, but once again the big story of the stock market this week was trade, trade, trade. I'm going to stick to a couple of the highlights. So first off, President Trump's announcement of tariffs on global copper imports sent the metals futures rising and with them shares of mining companies like Freeport McMorran, which gained 2.5% on Tuesday and the stock rose roughly 3.5% on Thursday, the day after Trump reiterated his plans for the US to start collecting the tax on August 1st. There was also the Brazilian tariff news, 50% also starting next month. And this sent a black Rocky ETF that tracks an index of Brazilian stocks falling U.S. traded shares of jetmaker Embraer dropped more than 4% on Thursday. And most relevant to my caffeine fueled lifestyle, Arabica coffee futures rose 1.3%. All in all, the three major indexes each fell on the week. The Dow lost 1%, the S&P 500 lost 0.3% and the Nasdaq edged 0.1% lower. The beef between Trump and billionaire Elon Musk is still going strong and still moving shares of Musk's electric carmaker Tesla. On Monday, traders reacted to the latest in their feud over the weekend. Musk posted on his platform X, formerly Twitter, that he's creating a new political party, the America Party. Trump called that ridiculous. These guys have been trading barbs for a while now and for Tesla investors, there are real stakes here. Trump recently raised the prospect that he could eliminate contracts and other benefits that the government gives to Musk's companies. So it makes sense that we saw Tesla shares decline 6.8% on Monday and on the week the stock slipped 0.6%. Sorry in advance if you have a sweet tooth. Next up, we're talking W.K. kellogg, maker of Froot Loops and Frosted Flakes and and Ferrero, the Italian candy maker behind Ferrero Rochere and Nutella. Ferrero has agreed to acquire W.K. kellogg for roughly $3 billion, which would give Ferrero a boost in its business across the pond. Now reminder, W.K. kellogg is different from Kellogg. In 2023, Kellogg spun off its North American cereal business. That's W.K. kellogg from its now called Kellanova. And Kellanova's being acquired too. It struck a roughly $30 billion deal with M and Ms. And skittle maker Mars last year. W.K. kellogg's shares jumped roughly 30% on Thursday and held onto those gains to end the week. If you think a 30% move is big, just wait. Rare Earths miner MP Materials made an unusual deal with the Pentagon to help the US Get a leg up in what I think is a fascinating market. Magnets okay, long story very short. Rare earths minerals are used to make magnets that are critical to manufacturing cars, wind turbines and jet fighters. China has a near monopoly on rare earths production, which was a big problem In April. Trump's tariffs kicked off the US China trade war and Beijing started limiting rare earth exports, upending the global supply chain. Then in June, they made a the US Temporarily reduces the tariffs. China pledges to expedite exports. But the underlying issue China's chokehold on this crucial industrial resource, it's still there, right? So the Defense Department agreed to take a 15% stake in MP Materials, invest billions by its output, and in return, the company will build a new factory to ramp up. With this factory, the company is aiming for 10,000 metric tons of magnets a year. And just to put that in perspective, one research firm expects US production of 250 to 750 tons of the main type of magnet this year, a pretty big leap. MP Materials shares also made a big leap on Thursday, about 50%. That's five zero. And now you know what's news in markets this week. You can read about more stocks that moved on the weekly week's news in the Score, my column in the Wall Street Journal's Exchange section. Today's show was produced by Charlotte Gartenberg with supervising producer Talia. I'm Francesca Fontana. Have a great weekend and I'll see you next.
Hosted by Francesca Fontana | Released on July 12, 2025
In this episode of WSJ What’s News, Francesca Fontana delves into the week's most significant market movements, dissecting the interplay between global trade tensions, corporate maneuvers, and geopolitical strategies that are shaping the financial landscape.
Timestamp: 00:45
The episode opens with a comprehensive analysis of ongoing trade disputes, particularly focusing on President Trump's recent announcement of tariffs on global copper imports. Francesca explains, "President Trump's announcement of tariffs on global copper imports sent the metals futures rising and with them shares of mining companies like Freeport McMorran, which gained 2.5% on Tuesday and the stock rose roughly 3.5% on Thursday" (00:50). This move not only bolstered metals prices but also positively impacted mining stocks, signaling investor optimism in the sector amidst protectionist policies.
Timestamp: 01:30
Further complicating the trade landscape, Brazil announced a 50% tariff on certain imports starting next month. Francesca highlights the ripple effect of this decision, noting, "U.S. traded shares of jetmaker Embraer dropped more than 4% on Thursday" (02:10). The increase in Brazilian tariffs led to a decline in Brazilian-focused ETFs and negatively impacted companies like Embraer, reflecting concerns over international trade relations and their direct impact on specific industries.
Timestamp: 03:00
Shifting focus to commodities, Arabica coffee futures saw a notable increase. Francesca points out, "Arabica coffee futures rose 1.3%" (03:10). This uptick is attributed to various factors, including weather conditions affecting supply and increased global demand, illustrating the volatility and sensitivity of commodity markets to both environmental and economic variables.
Timestamp: 04:00
Despite gains in specific sectors, the broader market faced a downturn. Francesca summarizes the week's performance: "The Dow lost 1%, the S&P 500 lost 0.3%, and the Nasdaq edged 0.1% lower" (04:10). This decline across major indexes underscores a cautious investor sentiment, influenced by the persistent uncertainties in global trade and political dynamics.
Timestamp: 05:00
A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to the ongoing feud between former President Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, which continues to influence Tesla's stock performance. Francesca elaborates, "Musk posted on his platform X... that he's creating a new political party, the America Party. Trump called that ridiculous" (05:15). This public spat has tangible consequences for investors, as Musk's ventures face potential governmental challenges. "Tesla shares declined 6.8% on Monday and on the week the stock slipped 0.6%" (05:45), highlighting the direct impact of political conflicts on company valuations.
Timestamp: 06:30
In corporate news, Francesca reports on Ferrero's strategic acquisition of W.K. Kellogg for approximately $3 billion. She clarifies, "W.K. Kellogg is different from Kellogg. In 2023, Kellogg spun off its North American cereal business" (06:40). This acquisition is poised to expand Ferrero's footprint in the global market, particularly in the North American region. The announcement sent W.K. Kellogg's shares soaring by roughly 30% (07:10), reflecting investor confidence in Ferrero’s growth strategy.
Timestamp: 08:00
The episode also covers MP Materials' groundbreaking deal with the Pentagon, aiming to reduce the U.S.'s reliance on Chinese rare earths. Francesca explains, "Rare earths minerals are used to make magnets that are critical to manufacturing cars, wind turbines, and jet fighters" (08:10). By securing a 15% stake in MP Materials, the Defense Department is investing billions to support the company's expansion. This partnership is expected to significantly boost domestic production capabilities, with plans to increase magnet output to 10,000 metric tons annually (09:00). The strategic move not only enhances national security but also propelled MP Materials' stock by an impressive 50% on Thursday (09:15).
Francesca Fontana wraps up the episode by directing listeners to the Wall Street Journal's Exchange section for a deeper dive into the week's market movements. Produced by Charlotte Gartenberg and supervised by Talia, the episode offers a succinct yet thorough overview of the forces shaping today's financial markets.
For more detailed analysis and updates, subscribe to WSJ What’s News and stay informed on the dynamic world of business and finance.