Market Talks covering the impact of U.S. Politics and White House policies on companies and markets. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires throughout the day.

0442 ET - SMA Solar Technologies faces a highly favorable scenario if the U.S. and EU decide to implement a ban on Chinese large-scale inverters--electrical devices used in renewable-energy projects--and battery storage systems, Jefferies analysts say in a note. The solar energy equipment supplier's 2H pipeline remains solid due to strong battery energy storage systems demand, and a government ban would force Western developers to find non-Chinese alternatives. Jefferies' upside scenario assumes a more favorable regulatory environment, particularly in the U.S., which supports solid growth in utility scale orders and assumes a significant uptick in storage orders from Europe. "We also anticipate this to lead to a re-rating," the analysts say. Shares are up 10% at 64 euros.(anthony.orunagoriainoff@dowjones.com)

0357 ET - Oil prices are on track for a weekly gain of more than 10% as the U.S. and Iran step up attacks and raise fears of broader regional disruptions. "The renewed disruption has interrupted the recent recovery in regional supply, reviving concerns about tighter global markets," Saxo Bank analysts say. "The impact has been most acute in refined products, with diesel and gasoline prices surging, pushing U.S. refining margins to record highs and increasing the risk of higher fuel costs for consumers." On Thursday, the U.S. struck multiple bridges in Iran in an effort to cut off supply routes to a port city and naval base in the Strait of Hormuz that Iran uses to attack ships, The Wall Street Journal reported. Brent crude rises 0.4% to $84.57 a barrel, while WTI futures are up 0.8% to $79.58 a barrel. (giulia.petroni@wsj.com)Standard Chartered's Edward Lee said tariffs might continue to weigh on growth. "U.S.'s Brazil Tariff Move Spotlights Continued Trade Risk -- Market Talk," at 0439 GMT on July 16, misstated his first name.

0039 ET - The U.S.'s move to impose a 25% duty on some Brazilian goods shows that while the tariff threat has faded into the background, trade risks are from over. Tariffs moved out of focus in recent months as the Middle East conflict dominated headlines, but still lurk in the background and might continue to weigh on growth, Standard Chartered's Edwin Lee says. The U.S.'s Section 301 tariffs on 60 trade partners are likely to take effect over the coming weeks, as Section 122 tariffs are due to expire. The broader risk is that the U.S. may seek to rebuild its tariff structure using more legally durable measures, says Lee. The midterm elections are a key focal point, as they could drive a more hawkish trade stance from the Trump administration. (fabiana.negrinochoa@wsj.com)

0311 ET - The resumption of the Middle East war begs the question of what has been achieved, says Shane Oliver, chief economist at AMP. Iran is arguably now stronger having proved it can block the strait, its government is more hardline, there is no resolution to its nuclear ambitions and it still has missiles and drones, he adds. There are parallels with the Ukraine and Vietnam wars that showed a superior military power can be challenged, though they didn't threaten the global economy to the same degree, he adds. (james.glynn@wsj.com; X @JamesGlynnWSJ)

0137 ET - U.S. Treasury yields decline in Asian trade, while Brent oil prices rise, continuing to trade around the $85-per-barrel level amid ongoing hostilities between the U.S. and Iran. The two-year yield falls 2 bps to 4.136%; the 10-year yield is down 2 bps to 4.548%, and 30-year yield falls 1.4 bps to 5.083%, according to Tradeweb. (emese.bartha@wsj.com)

1330 ET - A fresh tariff of 25% on Brazilian goods being shipped to the U.S. could be supportive for the U.S. ethanol industry, says the Renewable Fuels Association in a press release. USTR Jamieson Greer confirmed the new tariffs Wednesday, which launched under authority of Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. Ethanol market access is a stated goal for the tariffs in the USTR's press release, garnering support from the RFA. "After Brazil rebuffed numerous attempts by the U.S. to negotiate a return to free and fair ethanol trade between our two nations, our leaders were left with no choice but to establish reciprocal treatment," says Geoff Cooper of the RFA in a note. (kirk.maltais@wsj.com)

1311 ET - U.S. farmers may see larger losses on planted crops in 2027 than they're already dealing with this year. According to data from the American Farm Bureau Federation, losses for planted corn acres are projected to increase from $131 per acre in 2026 to $167 per acre in 2027. Soybean losses are projected to increase from $80 per acre to $138 per acre, and wheat losses are seen from $114 per acre to $145 per acre. In response to these projections, the AFBF sent a letter to Congress calling for "sufficiently robust and broadly structured" relief more than the one-time payments offered by the Trump Administration this year. Aid payments are expected to make up roughly 30% of farm income this year. (kirk.maltais@wsj.com)

1059 ET - Bitcoin ETFs have posted net inflows for two straight days, according to data from CoinGlass. On Wednesday, a net inflow of $107.7 million was recorded, with $181.1 million the day before. It's an encouraging sign for bitcoin prices, but more is needed to fundamentally support a move higher, says Naeem Aslam of Zaye Capital Markets in a note. "Bitcoin still needs sustained spot demand and stronger institutional inflows to convert the breakout into a durable upward trend rather than a short-lived positioning move," says Aslam. He also notes that efforts to move the CLARITY Act through Congress are heating up, with success potentially reflected in the movement of bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies. (kirk.maltais@wsj.com)

0838 ET - The dollar could react negatively if the Federal Reserve shifted its focus to shrinking its balance sheet as a means of tightening monetary policy rather than raising interest rates, Deutsche Bank's George Saravelos says in a note. Lessons can be learned from Japan where the yen is at historical lows as the Bank of Japan has been slow to raise rates but withdrawing liquidity at record pace through quantitative tightening, he says. Moreover, balance-sheet tightening could create conflict with the Trump administration given the stated objective of keeping long-end yields low, he says. BOJ independence is a persistent source of concern, with Japan's Finance Minister Satsuki Minister discussing deploying domestic savings to defend Japanese bonds, he says. (renae.dyer@wsj.com)

0521 ET - U.S. Treasury yields and the dollar edge higher, reversing some of their previous falls. Yields and the dollar fell Wednesday after June U.S. producer price data echoed Tuesday's below-forecast CPI figures. "Together the two reports pulled yields and the dollar lower as inflation concerns abated to some extent," DHF Capital S.A's Bas Kooijman says in a note. Markets will monitor incoming data for confirmation of a sustained trend of slowing inflation. However, ongoing Middle East tensions threaten to push oil prices higher again, he says. The two-year Tresury yield rises 2.8 basis points to 4.155%, while the 10-year yield rises 2.4 basis points to 4.568%, according to Tradeweb. The DXY dollar index rises 0.1% to 100.537. (emese.bartha@wsj.com)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

July 17, 2026 04:43 ET (08:43 GMT)

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