European stock markets opened higher on Wednesday, attempting to extend a recent winning streak as investors navigated another significant wave of corporate earnings reports and awaited key economic growth data for the Eurozone.

The underlying market sentiment remained cautiously optimistic, despite persistent uncertainties surrounding global trade and tariffs.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 index advanced 0.44% shortly after the open (around 8:08 a.m. London time), marking its sixth consecutive positive session after a strong performance Tuesday.

This extended the index’s longest winning run since January.

Meanwhile, the UK’s FTSE 100, which closed higher for a twelfth straight session Tuesday – its best run since 2017 – continued to show resilience.

The positive momentum was partly supported by a softening in the US auto tariff stance, with President Donald Trump signing an executive order that, while maintaining a 25% vehicle import rate, reduced the cumulative impact by lessening how duties on components like steel and aluminum stacked up.

This helped the autos sector rise nearly 1% at the open, despite weak earnings news from within the industry.

Corporate results: a mixed bag highlighting uncertainty

Unsurprisingly, the impact of US tariffs emerged as a recurring theme in early corporate results, alongside broader economic uncertainty.

• Banking Beats: Swiss banking giant UBS provided a bright spot, reporting a better-than-expected net profit of $1.692 billion for the first quarter, offering reassurance from the financial sector. Similarly, British bank Barclays reported first-quarter pre-tax profit (£2.7 billion / $3.6 billion) and revenue (£7.7 billion) that slightly exceeded analyst expectations, boosted by strong investment banking performance. However, CEO C.S. Venkatakrishnan acknowledged the challenging environment, telling CNBC he expected “fairly high market volatility” going forward due to uncertainties, including US tariffs, and confirmed the bank was bracing for a potential “slowdown in economic activity” in its key UK and US markets.
• Energy Pressures: French oil major TotalEnergies reflected the impact of weaker commodity prices and refining margins, posting an 18% year-on-year drop in first-quarter adjusted net income to $4.19 billion. This result fell short of the $4.33 billion anticipated by analysts (LSEG consensus) and continued the trend of Big Oil profits receding from the record highs seen in 2022 amidst demand fears and volatile energy markets.
• Automotive Headwinds: The auto sector clearly felt the strain. Global automaker Stellantis (owner of Jeep, Fiat, Peugeot etc.) took the significant step of withdrawing its full-year financial guidance, citing uncertainties related to President Trump’s trade policies. This followed a reported 14% drop in first-quarter net revenues to 35.8 billion euros, primarily due to lower shipment volumes and price normalization. German counterpart Volkswagen also reported a substantial 37% fall in first-quarter operating profit to 2.9 billion euros ($3.3 billion), navigating the disruptive impact of US tariffs on the global auto industry, although its sales revenue saw a modest increase driven by markets outside China.

Beyond earnings, investors keenly awaited the preliminary reading of first-quarter GDP growth for the Eurozone, due later Wednesday morning (10 a.m. London).

Economists polled by Reuters anticipated modest growth of 0.2% for the period, following economic stagnation at the end of 2024.

Meanwhile, commentary from European Central Bank officials continued to shape interest rate expectations. Gediminas Šimkus, Chair of the Bank of Lithuania and an ECB Governing Council member, told CNBC Wednesday that he supports a 25-basis-point rate cut at the ECB’s upcoming June meeting.

He cited multiple disinflationary forces, including falling energy prices and an appreciating euro, and noted it was “basically general knowledge” that US tariffs would likely be disinflationary for the Eurozone in the short term.

However, Šimkus emphasized that ECB policy should be driven by Eurozone conditions, not US trade policy.

“I think we base our decision on what’s happening in the euro area and not what the trade policy is of the US,” he affirmed, stating a June cut seemed “appropriate.”

As the trading session progresses, the interplay between corporate earnings revelations, key economic data, and ongoing assessments of global trade risks will likely dictate market direction.

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Global automakers are dialling back profit forecasts and suspending guidance as tariff tensions, weakening margins from electric vehicles, and mounting global competition cast a shadow over the industry’s near-term prospects.

From Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz to Stellantis and Aston Martin, companies are warning that US trade policy under President Donald Trump, combined with rising production costs and shifting consumer demand, is making it increasingly difficult to chart a clear financial path forward.

Volkswagen cuts profit forecast as EV shift and trade turmoil hit margins

Germany’s Volkswagen said on Wednesday it expects annual operating profit at the bottom end of its previous forecast.

The world’s second-largest automaker now expects full-year operating return on sales closer to 5.5%, down from earlier projections.

Net cash flow is also anticipated at the lower end of its €2 billion to €5 billion range, with net liquidity forecast to hover around €34 billion ($38.7 billion).

Volkswagen’s first-quarter earnings dropped by 40%, as margins were squeezed by an ongoing transition to battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), whose production remains significantly less profitable than combustion engine cars.

“Battery-electric vehicle sales more than doubled in Europe during the first quarter, but this came at the cost of reduced margins,” the company said.

Chief Financial Officer Arno Antlitz acknowledged the challenges, saying: “We need to ensure a competitive cost structure alongside our strong offering of vehicles to stay successful in a rapidly changing world.”

Mercedes-Benz withdraws full-year guidance

Volkswagen’s caution was echoed by rival Mercedes-Benz, which pulled its earnings guidance for the year, citing “current volatility” stemming from US President Donald Trump’s renewed tariffs on imported vehicles.

The German luxury carmaker reported a 41% drop in group earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) to €2.3 billion in the first quarter.

Car and van sales fell 7%, including a 10% slump in Europe and China. Only the US market showed resilience, with a 1% sales rise.

Profit margin for its cars division dropped to 7.3% from 9% a year earlier.

“The current volatility with regard to tariff policies, mitigation measures and potential direct and indirect effects on customer behavior is too high to reliably assess the business development for the remainder of the year,” Mercedes said in a statement.

Assuming tariffs remain in place, the company warned its profits would be “negatively impacted.”

At the end of March, the carmaker told analysts it had been stockpiling inventory in the US to cushion against potential tariff shocks.

Mercedes CFO added that any additional tariff impact in 2025 could reduce car margins by up to 300 basis points.

Stellantis suspends recovery guidance after sharp profit drop

Stellantis, maker of Jeep and Peugeot vehicles, on Wednesday suspended its outlook for a moderate recovery this year after suffering a 64% drop in adjusted operating profit in 2024.

First-quarter revenues declined 14% year-on-year to €35.8 billion ($40.7 billion), broadly in line with market expectations.

The carmaker said evolving US tariff policies created too much uncertainty to maintain its previous forecast.

Stellantis also reported burning over €6 billion in cash last year, deepening concerns about its financial resilience in a prolonged trade dispute.

Volvo Cars withdraws forecast, Aston Martin to limit exports to US

Volvo Cars on Tuesday withdrew its earnings forecast for the next two years, also citing the unpredictable impact of the US tariff regime.

Meanwhile, British luxury carmaker Aston Martin reported a narrower-than-expected loss in the first quarter and said it would limit vehicle exports to the US to mitigate the effects of the new 25% tariffs on imported cars and parts.

The company posted an adjusted pretax loss of £79.8 million ($106.8 million) for the three months ended March 31, better than analysts’ expectations and significantly lower than the £110.5 million loss it posted a year ago.

While the luxury segment has some pricing power, Aston Martin acknowledged that tariff-related disruption remains a significant headwind.

Trump eases auto tariffs in bid to support domestic manufacturing

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed executive orders easing some of his previously imposed 25% tariffs on automobiles and auto parts.

“We just wanted to help them during this little transition, short term,” Trump told reporters, emphasizing that the administration did not intend to penalize manufacturers.

The move, according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, is designed to enable carmakers to accelerate domestic production.

“President Trump has had meetings with both domestic and foreign auto producers, and he’s committed to bringing back auto production to the US,” Bessent said during a White House briefing.

So we want to give the automakers a path to do that, quickly, efficiently and create as many jobs as possible.

One of the executive orders amends the 25% auto tariffs to provide limited relief for US-assembled vehicles that incorporate foreign parts.

Under the new policy, eligible vehicles will receive a one-year rebate worth 3.75% of the vehicle’s sales price, reflecting the estimated tariff burden on foreign-made parts making up 15% of that cost.

In the second year, the rebate will shrink to 2.5%, aligned with a reduced share of imported components.

A senior Commerce Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said carmakers had lobbied the administration for more time to adjust supply chains and build new facilities.

The official said manufacturers are expected to announce new hiring, shift expansions, and additional factory plans in the coming weeks, AP reported.

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PepeX is an AI-driven token launchpad combining meme coin culture with practical DeFi utility, aimed at democratising token creation.

Its design enforces a fixed 95/5 token distribution cap, meaning creators retain at most 5% of supply while 95% is for the community.

In a total supply of roughly 5,000 million PEPX, 2.25 billion (45%) is allocated to the 90-day presale.

Other allocations include 10% for development, 10% liquidity, 15% marketing, 15% staking rewards and 5% treasury.

These tokenomics, together with anti-rug protections, lock liquidity and redistribution of failed-launch funds, support a fair, data-backed ecosystem.

The project’s structured presale (three-day stages with 5% price increases) has already raised over $2,480,192, indicating strong early demand.

Token supply and allocation

PepeX’s economics centre on transparency and community stake.

With a total supply around 5 billion PEPX, 45% is set aside for the presale.

The remaining tokens fund ecosystem development: 10% in development, 10% liquidity on launch, 15% marketing, 15% staking rewards, and 5% in treasury.

Crucially, founders are limited to 5% of tokens, and if a launch fails their locked share reverts to the community.

This ensures decentralised ownership; for example, the smart contract enforces 5% founder allocation and 95% community sale.

All token operations occur on audited, standardised contracts with permanent liquidity locks to prevent rugs, a level of transparency underscored by on-chain ownership mapping.

Launchpad features

PepeX delivers real utility through a no-code, AI-enhanced launch platform.

The site states users can create a token in minutes and tokenise ideas with ease.

The launchpad (currently on Solana) lets anyone deploy a meme token without coding, using an AI Growth Engine for naming, branding and marketing.

The roadmap outlines an AI-driven launchpad with a three-minute SLA and automatic AI-generated logos and memes.

Built-in features include anti-sniping bot protection and automated audits to ensure fair distribution.

Community tools such as automated social media bots and analytics are planned to boost visibility and engagement.

The platform is multi-chain by design, meaning it can expand beyond Solana to other networks.

Staking and rewards

A key attraction is fee-sharing and staking incentives. PepeX token holders earn a portion of all platform fees.

Specifically, 15% of PEPX supply is allocated for staking rewards.

By staking PEPX, users passively accrue launchpad transaction fees and gain early access to new project launches.

This aligns incentives: loyal holders share in growth when projects succeed.

The revenue-sharing model will redistribute platform fees to PEPX stakers.

Thus, beyond presale gains, investors benefit from ongoing utility: staking rewards and buy-back mechanisms are meant to gradually reduce circulating supply.

Roadmap and launch

PepeX’s roadmap is detailed and time-bound. In the first 3 months, the team will deploy core infrastructure: immutable token contracts, automated liquidity locks and fair distribution tools.

Next, it plans to add AI marketing and community bots plus the fee-sharing mechanism for holders.

In the following 6 to 12 months, the focus shifts to scaling and expansion: partnerships with major Solana DEXs and liquidity enhancements, plus advanced AI analytics and DAO governance tools.

The final stage aims for broad adoption, including viral marketing campaigns and influencer partnerships to compete with existing launch platforms.

The presale runs for 90 days through June, with a public platform launch targeted for Q3 2025 following a token listing in late Q2.

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Italy’s central bank has raised concerns about potential financial instability as the global cryptocurrency market cap surged past $2.75 trillion in March 2025, led by Bitcoin’s dominance and fresh political momentum from President Donald Trump.

The warning comes amid a sharp revival in digital asset valuations following Trump’s return to office and his administration’s perceived support for the crypto industry.

Bitcoin alone now makes up more than 60% of the entire market, with prices nearing their all-time high.

The renewed rally has been accompanied by a surge in stablecoin adoption, especially USDT and USDC, which are widely used as trading pairs on crypto exchanges.

Italian regulators fear this stablecoin growth could strain the global financial system, especially during times of market stress.

Trump fuels crypto resurgence with policy and media moves

The current bull run in crypto markets is closely tied to political developments in the United States.

Since re-entering office in January 2025, President Trump has promoted a more accommodative stance on digital assets.

The Trump Media & Technology Group, a company affiliated with the president, announced the upcoming launch of a utility token and integrated digital wallet to support its Truth+ streaming platform.

This announcement followed months of speculation about a Trump-linked token initiative, and coincided with the broader rally in digital assets.

Analysts suggest that the perception of a crypto-friendly administration is helping to attract institutional and retail capital back into the market.

At the same time, Trump’s appointment of pro-crypto regulators and the disbandment of a Department of Justice task force on crypto fraud have raised questions about the level of oversight in the world’s largest economy.

These developments are fuelling optimism among investors, while also drawing criticism from watchdogs and financial regulators globally.

Italy and the EU fear stablecoin spillover effects

Italy’s central bank has highlighted the growing risk that dollar-pegged stablecoins pose to international financial stability.

These digital tokens are largely backed by US.

Treasury securities, and officials warn that any mass redemption or sudden liquidity crisis could create ripple effects across sovereign bond markets.

A recent statement from the Italian authorities noted that stablecoins, while useful for liquidity and payments, represent a “channel of contagion” that could link crypto markets directly to the traditional financial system.

In particular, concerns are growing that the euro could lose relevance if stablecoin use continues to expand in Europe.

Despite the EU introducing the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), which aims to harmonise digital asset rules across member states, some policymakers feel that the current legal framework lacks the scope to address fast-moving developments in decentralised finance and cross-border token flows.

ECB President Christine Lagarde has previously stressed the need for coordinated global regulation, warning that “fragmented oversight” will not be sufficient to contain the systemic risks posed by digital currencies and private stablecoin issuers.

US regulation under Trump faces criticism

The US regulatory environment is also shifting under Trump’s leadership.

The president’s recent decisions, including removing certain crypto enforcement initiatives and backing a more lenient approach to stablecoins, have sparked controversy within the financial community.

A new legislative effort, the GENIUS Act, is also under review in Congress.

The bill proposes to create a national framework for stablecoin issuance and circulation but has been criticised by some lawmakers and economists for reducing the ability of federal agencies to respond to emerging risks.

Meanwhile, members of the Trump family have expressed public support for a new stablecoin venture.

This move has intensified scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest, as well as concerns over how closely politics and digital assets are becoming intertwined in the United States.

As crypto markets gain traction once again, European regulators are urging global coordination to prevent another potential crisis.

With digital assets now embedded in both political strategies and financial products, the call for robust international oversight is growing louder.

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SoFi Technologies Inc (NASDAQ: SOFI) chief executive Anthony Noto says the neobank is fully committed to “re-entering the crypto category” in 2025.  

Speaking with CNBC this week, Noto said SoFi will likely resume crypto-related services within the next six months as the regulatory environment continues to evolve under Trump 2.0.

Noto’s remarks arrive shortly after the fintech reported better-than-expected financial results for its first quarter. Since April 8^th, SoFi shares have gained a total of about 40%.

SoFi has big plans for crypto in 2025

CEO Anthoy Noto also confirmed during the CNBC interview that SoFi Technologies wants to “enter crypto and blockchain activities in a much broader and significant way” over the next couple of years.

Ultimately, the financial services company aims at integrating crypto and blockchain related products into all of its business units. 

Note that SoFi previously decided in favour of discontinuing its crypto services due to increased scrutiny from banking authorities like the Federal Reserve and the FDIC.

At the time, it enabled existing users to either migrate their accounts to Blockchain.com or have their accounts liquidated.

Despite massive surge in recent weeks, SoFi stock is currently down more than 25% versus its year-to-date high in late January.

SoFi added a record number of customers in Q1

On “Squawk Box”, the company’s chief executive took a positive stance on crypto at large.

He sees cryptocurrencies as alternative means for “easier, low-cost, faster” payments – a massive opportunity that SoFi wants to capture by “providing infrastructure services to third-parties via our tech platform.”

Earlier this week, the neobank said a record addition of 800,000 new customers helped its adjusted net revenue jump 33% on a year-over-year basis to an all-time high of $771 million in its recently concluded quarter.

On a per-share basis, the financial technology company earned 6 cents in Q1, beating estimates by a whopping 100%. It’s worth mentioning, however, that SoFi shares do not currently pay a dividend.

Is it too late to buy SoFi shares in 2025?

SoFi stock is being hailed this morning also because the San Franciso-headquartered firm raised its full-year outlook this week.

According to Mizuho analyst, Dan Dolev, raising the guidance amidst macro uncertainty that’s keeping others from even maintaining their views for 2025 makes SoFi stock a “beacon of stability in turbulent times.”

Mizuho currently has an “outperform” rating on the Nasdaq listed firm. Its $20 price target on SOFI indicates potential for an exciting 50% upside from current levels.

That said, not everyone on Wall Street is as bullish on SoFi Technologies Inc as Mizuho’s Dolev.

Consensus rating on the fintech stock is currently pegged at “hold” with the average price target of $13.37 indicating analysts believe much of the good news is already factored into SOFI shares. 

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