Veteran fund manager calls Trump's tariffs ‘illegal'
Ethereum has lost over 12% weekly, and Solana has fallen more than 18%. The decline comes in the storm of macroeconomic pressure unleashed by President Trump's newly implemented "reciprocal" tariffs, which have fueled widespread risk aversion across asset classes.
From Wall Street to the crypto market, all indicators show a dump. The S&P 500 fell 4.5%, the NASDAQ fell 5.5%, and the Russell 2000 is headed for bear market territory. Gold, usually a safe bet, dropped 0.5%. VIX, a volatility index by MarketWatch, stands at 29, a sign of excessive fear. Oil prices crashed 6%, and the U.S. dollar index (DXY) fell under 101.5.
The current market fiasco has prompted Peter Schiff, a veteran fund manager known for disliking Bitcoin, to post on X on April 3, calling Trump's tariff illegal.
He said, "Trump's tariffs are illegal. Congress delegated the President the power to impose reciprocal tariffs. However, Trump's tariffs are reciprocal in name only. They are based on a bogus formula that attributes any nation's trade surplus to tariffs, even if tariffs are low or nonexistent."
When a follower asked if he opposed the tariffs because they hurt gold, Schiff replied, "They hurt the country. They will help gold." Schiff has been a big proponent of gold and believes the Trump tariffs will help gold in the long run.
Ironically, gold was not spared the panic-fueled sell-off. At the time of writing, gold fell more than 3%, below $3,060 per ounce on Thursday, following a fleeting peak above $3,160.
During the 2018–2019 U.S.-China Tariff War, gold prices dropped from $1,350/oz in April to $1,175/oz in August, a loss of over 12%, according to International Banker.
Some crypto advocates contend that in the aftermath, Bitcoin and stablecoins — both overseas and unpegged to the U.S. dollar — may be the long-term victors, given the U.S. dollar is seeing its worst start to the year in three decades.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump tariffs live updates: Trump says pharma tariffs could go to 250%, threatens EU if it fails on investment pledge
President Trump on Tuesday said he would announce tariffs on semiconductor and pharmaceutical imports "within the next week or so," as he prepares to add more sectoral duties to his mix of tariffs. "We'll be putting a initially small tariff on pharmaceuticals, but in one year — one and a half years, maximum — it's going to go to 150%. And then it's going to go to 250%, because we want pharmaceuticals made in our country," Trump said during a CNBC interview. Trump also threatened the European Union with increased tariffs if it failed to live up to a pledge to invest some $600 billion in the US. Meanwhile, the world is awaiting Trump's country-specific duties and jockeying ahead of their implementation. India has called out Trump after he threatened to "substantially raise" tariffs on Indian exports over its Russian oil purchases, slamming the move as unjustified. India said it would protect its interest and accused the US of a double standard on trade with Russia. Trump has signed an order to hike tariffs on Canada to 35%, while setting rates from 10% to 40% on dozens of partners. Those duties are set to come into full effect this week. Yahoo Finance's Ben Werschkul has more details on the latest orders. You can see the new rates Trump is set to levy in the graphic below: In the past several days, Trump has unleashed a flurry of deals and trade moves leading up to his self-imposed deadline: Trump granted Mexico, the US's largest trading partner, a 90-day reprieve on higher tariffs. The US agreed to a trade deal with South Korea. The agreement includes a 15% tariff rate on imports from the country, while the US will not be charged a tariff on its exports, Trump said. Trump imposed 50% tariffs on semi-finished copper products starting Aug. 1. The president signed an order to end the de minimis exemption on low-value imports under $800, thereby applying tariffs from Aug. 29. Trump signed another order to impose a total of 50% tariffs on many goods from Brazil. However, it exempts key US imports like orange juice and aircraft parts that benefit Embraer (ERJ). The US and EU agreed to a trade deal that imposes 15% tariffs on EU goods. The nations are still working on finalizing many terms of the deal. Read more: What Trump's tariffs mean for the economy and your wallet Here are the latest updates as the policy reverberates around the world. EU continues to press for tariff exemption on wine, spirits as part of US deal The EU is pushing for its wine and spirit exports to be exempt from US tariffs, while both sides work towards refining the deal they agreed last month. The WSJ reports: Read more here. Countries push for last-minute deals as Thursday tariff deadline looms Global importers are bracing for President Trump's next tariff deadline on Thursday morning, when the president's tiered approach to tariffs is expected to take effect. Yet some of the details around trade agreements remain fuzzy. Yahoo Finance's Ben Werschkul reports: Read more here. Trump's copper tariffs apply to $15B of products so far President Trump's copper (HG=F) tariffs are due to hit imports valued at more than $15B in 2024, highlighting the potential inflationary impact on American manufacturers. Trump's unveiling of 50% import duties rattled the global copper market last week, because the US president provided a surprise exemption to key forms of wiring metal. But it still leaves significant trade volumes subject to tariffs. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Trump threatens EU with increased tariffs if it doesn't meet investment pledge President Trump threatened to hike tariffs on the European Union back to 35% if the bloc fails to live up to a pledge to invest some $600 billion in the US. "A couple of countries came [and said], 'How come the EU is paying less than us?' And I said well, because they gave me $600 billion," Trump said during a CNBC interview. "And that's a gift, that's not like, you know, a loan," he said, claiming that the terms allow the US to direct where the EU invests. Trump says pharma duties could go to 250% President Trump said he would announce tariffs on semiconductor and pharmaceutical imports "within the next week or so." "We'll be putting a initially small tariff on pharmaceuticals, but in one year — one and a half years, maximum — it's going to go to 150%. And then it's going to go to 250%, because we want pharmaceuticals made in our country," Trump said during a CNBC interview. He said semiconductor and chip tariffs would be in a "different category." US tariff on EU goods set at flat 15% The EU said on Tuesday that European Union goods entering the US face a flat 15% tariff, including cars and car parts. The rate includes the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariff and won't exceed 15% even if the US raises tariffs on items like semiconductors and medicines. The EU said it still expects turbulence in its trade dealings with the US. Reuters reports: Read more here. India hits back at Trump's tariff threat India has called out President Trump after he threatened to "substantially raise" tariffs on Indian exports over its Russian oil purchases, slamming the move as unjustified. New Delhi said it would take all necessary steps to protect its economic interests. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Nvidia partner Hon Hai's July sales growth weakened by tariffs Nvidia's (NVDA) main server assembly partner Hon Hai Precision ( reported a sales slowdown for July due to US tariffs. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Mazda forecasts nearly $1B profit hit from US tariffs Reuters reports: Read more here. Diageo warns of $200M tariff hit Diageo (DEO) warned of a $200 million impact from tariffs on Tuesday and forecast flat full-year sales, after a periof of demand, share price turbulence and a sudden CEO exit. Reuters reports: Read more here. Trump administration posts guidance on tariff rollout Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Rolex, luxury watchmakers brace for Trump's tariffs on Swiss imports Yahoo Finance's Pras Subramanian reports: Read more here. Trump says he will 'substantially' raise tariffs on India President Trump said on Monday he will "substantially" raise tariffs on India. Stocks still remained in rally mode following Friday's sell-off. "India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits," wrote Trump on Monday morning. "They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA," he added. President Trump's sweeping tariffs are set to come into full effect later this week. Last week, Trump announced a 25% tariff on goods from India, plus an additional import tax because of the country's purchasing of Russian oil. Swiss prepare 'more attractive offer' to US to avert 39% tariff Bloomberg reports: Read more here. EU to suspend US tariff countermeasures for 6 months The European Union announced on Monday that it would suspend its two packages of US tariff countermeasures for 6 months. This follows the trade deal the US and EU reached last week Sunday. Reuters reports: Read more here. Swiss gold trading takes spotlight in trade talks with Trump President Trump's tariffs on Switzerland were prompted by the country being the world's largest hub for gold refining. Gold flows in from places like South America, Africa and gets processed in Switzerland and then exported to countries like the US. This gold trade makes Switzerland's exports to the US look large and the refiners don't get to keep most of the profits. Bloomberg News: Read more here. Greer says US-China talks 'about halfway there' on rare earths US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Sunday that rare earths were a key focus in last week's Stockholm talks. He told CBS the US had secured supply commitments from China but noted the two sides are "about halfway there." Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Swatch CEO calls on Swiss president to meet Trump to solve tariff dispute Swiss stocks took a hit on Monday as the market reopened after a holiday. Worries about the impact of President Trump's 39% export tariffs and a push for drugmakers to lower prices have caused tension in the market. In addition, Swatch Group ( Chief Executive Nick Hayek called on Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter to meet President Trump in Washington to negotiate a better deal than the 39% tariffs announced on Swiss imports into the United States. Hayek told Reuters on Monday he was confident an agreement could still be reached before the tariffs, which were announced on Friday, went into effect on Aug. 7. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Malaysia agrees to boost tech, LNG purchases from US as part of trade deal Reuters reports: Read more here. Trump presses India, China to halt Russian oil buys as trade talks roll on The US and China are making progress on a trade deal, but a major sticking point remains: Washington wants Beijing to stop buying oil from Iran and Russia. China has pushed back, saying it will secure energy based on its own national interests. 'China will always ensure its energy supply in ways that serve our national interests,' China's Foreign Ministry posted on X on Wednesday following two days of trade negotiations in Stockholm, responding to the U.S. threat of a 100% tariff. 'Coercion and pressuring will not achieve anything. China will firmly defend its sovereignty, security and development interests," the ministry said. In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has rejected pressure from President Trump, encouraging people to buy local goods. India has not told its oil refiners to stop purchasing Russian oil, and those decisions remain up to each company. 'The world economy is going through many apprehensions — there is an atmosphere of instability,' Modi said at a rally in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Saturday. 'Now, whatever we buy, there should be only one scale: we will buy those things which have been made by the sweat of an Indian.' EU continues to press for tariff exemption on wine, spirits as part of US deal The EU is pushing for its wine and spirit exports to be exempt from US tariffs, while both sides work towards refining the deal they agreed last month. The WSJ reports: Read more here. The EU is pushing for its wine and spirit exports to be exempt from US tariffs, while both sides work towards refining the deal they agreed last month. The WSJ reports: Read more here. Countries push for last-minute deals as Thursday tariff deadline looms Global importers are bracing for President Trump's next tariff deadline on Thursday morning, when the president's tiered approach to tariffs is expected to take effect. Yet some of the details around trade agreements remain fuzzy. Yahoo Finance's Ben Werschkul reports: Read more here. Global importers are bracing for President Trump's next tariff deadline on Thursday morning, when the president's tiered approach to tariffs is expected to take effect. Yet some of the details around trade agreements remain fuzzy. Yahoo Finance's Ben Werschkul reports: Read more here. Trump's copper tariffs apply to $15B of products so far President Trump's copper (HG=F) tariffs are due to hit imports valued at more than $15B in 2024, highlighting the potential inflationary impact on American manufacturers. Trump's unveiling of 50% import duties rattled the global copper market last week, because the US president provided a surprise exemption to key forms of wiring metal. But it still leaves significant trade volumes subject to tariffs. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. President Trump's copper (HG=F) tariffs are due to hit imports valued at more than $15B in 2024, highlighting the potential inflationary impact on American manufacturers. Trump's unveiling of 50% import duties rattled the global copper market last week, because the US president provided a surprise exemption to key forms of wiring metal. But it still leaves significant trade volumes subject to tariffs. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Trump threatens EU with increased tariffs if it doesn't meet investment pledge President Trump threatened to hike tariffs on the European Union back to 35% if the bloc fails to live up to a pledge to invest some $600 billion in the US. "A couple of countries came [and said], 'How come the EU is paying less than us?' And I said well, because they gave me $600 billion," Trump said during a CNBC interview. "And that's a gift, that's not like, you know, a loan," he said, claiming that the terms allow the US to direct where the EU invests. President Trump threatened to hike tariffs on the European Union back to 35% if the bloc fails to live up to a pledge to invest some $600 billion in the US. "A couple of countries came [and said], 'How come the EU is paying less than us?' And I said well, because they gave me $600 billion," Trump said during a CNBC interview. "And that's a gift, that's not like, you know, a loan," he said, claiming that the terms allow the US to direct where the EU invests. Trump says pharma duties could go to 250% President Trump said he would announce tariffs on semiconductor and pharmaceutical imports "within the next week or so." "We'll be putting a initially small tariff on pharmaceuticals, but in one year — one and a half years, maximum — it's going to go to 150%. And then it's going to go to 250%, because we want pharmaceuticals made in our country," Trump said during a CNBC interview. He said semiconductor and chip tariffs would be in a "different category." President Trump said he would announce tariffs on semiconductor and pharmaceutical imports "within the next week or so." "We'll be putting a initially small tariff on pharmaceuticals, but in one year — one and a half years, maximum — it's going to go to 150%. And then it's going to go to 250%, because we want pharmaceuticals made in our country," Trump said during a CNBC interview. He said semiconductor and chip tariffs would be in a "different category." US tariff on EU goods set at flat 15% The EU said on Tuesday that European Union goods entering the US face a flat 15% tariff, including cars and car parts. The rate includes the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariff and won't exceed 15% even if the US raises tariffs on items like semiconductors and medicines. The EU said it still expects turbulence in its trade dealings with the US. Reuters reports: Read more here. The EU said on Tuesday that European Union goods entering the US face a flat 15% tariff, including cars and car parts. The rate includes the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariff and won't exceed 15% even if the US raises tariffs on items like semiconductors and medicines. The EU said it still expects turbulence in its trade dealings with the US. Reuters reports: Read more here. India hits back at Trump's tariff threat India has called out President Trump after he threatened to "substantially raise" tariffs on Indian exports over its Russian oil purchases, slamming the move as unjustified. New Delhi said it would take all necessary steps to protect its economic interests. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. India has called out President Trump after he threatened to "substantially raise" tariffs on Indian exports over its Russian oil purchases, slamming the move as unjustified. New Delhi said it would take all necessary steps to protect its economic interests. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Nvidia partner Hon Hai's July sales growth weakened by tariffs Nvidia's (NVDA) main server assembly partner Hon Hai Precision ( reported a sales slowdown for July due to US tariffs. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Nvidia's (NVDA) main server assembly partner Hon Hai Precision ( reported a sales slowdown for July due to US tariffs. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Mazda forecasts nearly $1B profit hit from US tariffs Reuters reports: Read more here. Reuters reports: Read more here. Diageo warns of $200M tariff hit Diageo (DEO) warned of a $200 million impact from tariffs on Tuesday and forecast flat full-year sales, after a periof of demand, share price turbulence and a sudden CEO exit. Reuters reports: Read more here. Diageo (DEO) warned of a $200 million impact from tariffs on Tuesday and forecast flat full-year sales, after a periof of demand, share price turbulence and a sudden CEO exit. Reuters reports: Read more here. Trump administration posts guidance on tariff rollout Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Rolex, luxury watchmakers brace for Trump's tariffs on Swiss imports Yahoo Finance's Pras Subramanian reports: Read more here. Yahoo Finance's Pras Subramanian reports: Read more here. Trump says he will 'substantially' raise tariffs on India President Trump said on Monday he will "substantially" raise tariffs on India. Stocks still remained in rally mode following Friday's sell-off. "India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits," wrote Trump on Monday morning. "They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA," he added. President Trump's sweeping tariffs are set to come into full effect later this week. Last week, Trump announced a 25% tariff on goods from India, plus an additional import tax because of the country's purchasing of Russian oil. President Trump said on Monday he will "substantially" raise tariffs on India. Stocks still remained in rally mode following Friday's sell-off. "India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits," wrote Trump on Monday morning. "They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA," he added. President Trump's sweeping tariffs are set to come into full effect later this week. Last week, Trump announced a 25% tariff on goods from India, plus an additional import tax because of the country's purchasing of Russian oil. Swiss prepare 'more attractive offer' to US to avert 39% tariff Bloomberg reports: Read more here. Bloomberg reports: Read more here. EU to suspend US tariff countermeasures for 6 months The European Union announced on Monday that it would suspend its two packages of US tariff countermeasures for 6 months. This follows the trade deal the US and EU reached last week Sunday. Reuters reports: Read more here. The European Union announced on Monday that it would suspend its two packages of US tariff countermeasures for 6 months. This follows the trade deal the US and EU reached last week Sunday. Reuters reports: Read more here. Swiss gold trading takes spotlight in trade talks with Trump President Trump's tariffs on Switzerland were prompted by the country being the world's largest hub for gold refining. Gold flows in from places like South America, Africa and gets processed in Switzerland and then exported to countries like the US. This gold trade makes Switzerland's exports to the US look large and the refiners don't get to keep most of the profits. Bloomberg News: Read more here. President Trump's tariffs on Switzerland were prompted by the country being the world's largest hub for gold refining. Gold flows in from places like South America, Africa and gets processed in Switzerland and then exported to countries like the US. This gold trade makes Switzerland's exports to the US look large and the refiners don't get to keep most of the profits. Bloomberg News: Read more here. Greer says US-China talks 'about halfway there' on rare earths US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Sunday that rare earths were a key focus in last week's Stockholm talks. He told CBS the US had secured supply commitments from China but noted the two sides are "about halfway there." Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Sunday that rare earths were a key focus in last week's Stockholm talks. He told CBS the US had secured supply commitments from China but noted the two sides are "about halfway there." Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Swatch CEO calls on Swiss president to meet Trump to solve tariff dispute Swiss stocks took a hit on Monday as the market reopened after a holiday. Worries about the impact of President Trump's 39% export tariffs and a push for drugmakers to lower prices have caused tension in the market. In addition, Swatch Group ( Chief Executive Nick Hayek called on Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter to meet President Trump in Washington to negotiate a better deal than the 39% tariffs announced on Swiss imports into the United States. Hayek told Reuters on Monday he was confident an agreement could still be reached before the tariffs, which were announced on Friday, went into effect on Aug. 7. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Swiss stocks took a hit on Monday as the market reopened after a holiday. Worries about the impact of President Trump's 39% export tariffs and a push for drugmakers to lower prices have caused tension in the market. In addition, Swatch Group ( Chief Executive Nick Hayek called on Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter to meet President Trump in Washington to negotiate a better deal than the 39% tariffs announced on Swiss imports into the United States. Hayek told Reuters on Monday he was confident an agreement could still be reached before the tariffs, which were announced on Friday, went into effect on Aug. 7. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Malaysia agrees to boost tech, LNG purchases from US as part of trade deal Reuters reports: Read more here. Reuters reports: Read more here. Trump presses India, China to halt Russian oil buys as trade talks roll on The US and China are making progress on a trade deal, but a major sticking point remains: Washington wants Beijing to stop buying oil from Iran and Russia. China has pushed back, saying it will secure energy based on its own national interests. 'China will always ensure its energy supply in ways that serve our national interests,' China's Foreign Ministry posted on X on Wednesday following two days of trade negotiations in Stockholm, responding to the U.S. threat of a 100% tariff. 'Coercion and pressuring will not achieve anything. China will firmly defend its sovereignty, security and development interests," the ministry said. In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has rejected pressure from President Trump, encouraging people to buy local goods. India has not told its oil refiners to stop purchasing Russian oil, and those decisions remain up to each company. 'The world economy is going through many apprehensions — there is an atmosphere of instability,' Modi said at a rally in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Saturday. 'Now, whatever we buy, there should be only one scale: we will buy those things which have been made by the sweat of an Indian.' The US and China are making progress on a trade deal, but a major sticking point remains: Washington wants Beijing to stop buying oil from Iran and Russia. China has pushed back, saying it will secure energy based on its own national interests. 'China will always ensure its energy supply in ways that serve our national interests,' China's Foreign Ministry posted on X on Wednesday following two days of trade negotiations in Stockholm, responding to the U.S. threat of a 100% tariff. 'Coercion and pressuring will not achieve anything. China will firmly defend its sovereignty, security and development interests," the ministry said. In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has rejected pressure from President Trump, encouraging people to buy local goods. India has not told its oil refiners to stop purchasing Russian oil, and those decisions remain up to each company. 'The world economy is going through many apprehensions — there is an atmosphere of instability,' Modi said at a rally in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Saturday. 'Now, whatever we buy, there should be only one scale: we will buy those things which have been made by the sweat of an Indian.'
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Rwanda agrees to take deportees from the US after migrant deal with UK collapsed
Rwanda on Tuesday became the third African nation to agree to accept deportees from the United States under the Trump administration's plans to send migrants to countries they have no ties with to get them off American soil. Rwandan government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo told The Associated Press in a statement that the East African country would accept up to 250 deportees from the US, with 'the ability to approve each individual proposed for resettlement' under the agreement. Ms Makolo did not provide a timeline for any deportees to arrive in Rwanda or say if they would arrive at once or in several batches. She said details were still being worked out. The US sent 13 men it described as dangerous criminals who were in the US illegally to South Sudan and Eswatini in Africa last month and has said it is seeking more agreements with African nations. It said those deportees' home countries refused to take them back. The US has also deported hundreds of Venezuelans and others to Costa Rica, El Salvador and Panama under President Donald Trump's plans to expel people who he says entered the US illegally and are 'the worst of the worst'. Rwanda attracted international attention and some outrage when it struck a deal in 2022 with the UK to accept migrants who had arrived in the UK to seek asylum. Under that proposed deal, their claims would have been processed in Rwanda and, if successful, they would have stayed there. The contentious agreement was criticised by rights groups and others as being unethical and unworkable and was ultimately scrapped when Britain's new Labour government took over. Britain's Supreme Court ruled in 2023 that the deal was unlawful because Rwanda was not a safe third country for migrants. The Trump administration has come under scrutiny for the African countries it has entered into secretive deals with to take deportees. It sent eight men from South Sudan, Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar and Vietnam to South Sudan in early July after a US Supreme Court ruling cleared the way for their deportations. They were held for weeks in a converted shipping container at an American military base in Djibouti as the legal battle over their deportations played out. South Sudan, which is tipping towards civil war, has declined to say where the men are being held or what their fate is. The US also deported five men who are citizens of Vietnam, Jamaica, Cuba, Yemen and Laos to the southern African kingdom of Eswatini, where the government said they will be held in solitary confinement in prison for an undetermined period of time. A human rights lawyer in Eswatini said the men are being denied access to legal representation there and has taken authorities to court. Eswatini is Africa's last absolute monarchy. The king rules over government and political parties are effectively banned. Both South Sudan and Eswatini have declined to give details of their agreements with the US. Rwanda, a country of some 15 million people, has long stood out on the continent for its recovery from a genocide that killed more than 800,000 people in 1994. It has promoted itself under long-time President Paul Kagame as an example of stability and development, but human rights groups allege there are also deadly crackdowns on any perceived dissent against Mr Kagame, who has been president for 25 years. Government spokesperson Ms Makolo said the agreement with the US was Rwanda doing its part to help with international migration issues because 'our societal values are founded on reintegration and rehabilitation'. 'Those approved (for resettlement in Rwanda) will be provided with workforce training, healthcare and accommodation support to jumpstart their lives in Rwanda, giving them the opportunity to contribute to one of the fastest-growing economies in the world over the last decade,' she said. There were no details about whether Rwanda had received anything in return for taking the deportees. Gonzaga Muganwa, a Rwandan political analyst, said 'appeasing President Trump pays'. 'This agreement enhances Rwanda's strategic interest of having good relationships with the Trump administration,' he said.
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Marriott CEO Highlights Luxury Spend Offset By Economic Uncertainty, Reduced Government And Business Travel
Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR) reported its second-quarter fiscal 2025 earnings on Tuesday. The company's second-quarter sales reached $6.74 billion, marking a 4.7% year-on-year increase and surpassing the analyst consensus estimate of $6.64 billion. Marriott's comparable systemwide constant-dollar revenue per available room (RevPAR) grew 1.5% year-over-year, while actual dollar RevPAR saw a 1.7% in the U.S. and Canada was flat, with RevPAR edging down 0.1% in actual dollars, while international markets saw a 5.3% increase (6.1% in actual dollars). The company added roughly 17,300 net rooms during the quarter, a 4.7% increase from the end of the second quarter of 2024. Total expenses declined 5% to $5.51 billion, contributing to an adjusted EBITDA of $1.42 billion, up from $1.32 billion a year ago. Despite a 3.4% rise in operating income to $1.24 billion, the company's operating margin fell by 100 basis points to 18%. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.65 outperformed the consensus estimate of $2.62. View more earnings on MAR At the end of the quarter, Marriott's global system totaled nearly 9,600 properties, with approximately 1,736,000 rooms. As of June 30, Marriott held $700 million in cash and equivalents. In the quarter, Marriott repurchased 2.8 million shares of common stock for $700 million. Through July 30, the company has returned over $2.1 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. CEO Anthony Capuano reported that Marriott delivered a strong second quarter, posting solid financial results and robust net rooms growth despite ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty, with luxury strength offset by weaker select service demand due to reduced government and business transient travel. Capuano noted that development activity remained strong, with nearly 32,000 rooms signed, over 70% in international markets, and a record pipeline of more than 590,000 rooms at quarter-end. Conversions accounted for about 30% of signings and openings in the first half of the year, and Marriott still expects full-year net rooms growth to approach 5%. He highlighted the launch of Series by Marriott, a new regional brand targeting the midscale and upscale segments, and its founding deal with India's Fern portfolio. Capuano also pointed to the acquisition of lifestyle brand citizenM as a key expansion, positioning Marriott better to serve guests, Bonvoy members, and owners globally. 'Our results in the second quarter underscore the resiliency of our cash-generating, asset-light business model and the strength of our brands,' he said. Outlook Marriott revised its 2025 adjusted EPS outlook to $9.85-$10.08 (prior $9.82-$10.19) versus the $10.06 analyst consensus estimate and gross fee revenue of $5.365 billion-$5.420 billion (prior $5.365 billion-$5.475 billion). The company expects third-quarter adjusted EPS of $2.31-$2.39 against an analyst consensus estimate of $2.48 and gross fee revenue of $1.310 billion-$1.325 billion. Marriott stock declined 8% year-to-date amid macroeconomic uncertainties like labor costs and travel demand fluctuations. Price Action: Marriott shares traded lower by 0.68% to $257.37 at last check Tuesday. Photo via Shutterstock UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL (MAR): Free Stock Analysis Report This article Marriott CEO Highlights Luxury Spend Offset By Economic Uncertainty, Reduced Government And Business Travel originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Sign in to access your portfolio