Economy

Tariff crisis  US-China relations
Sources: US considering “breathtaking” export ban

The White House is considering, according to sources to Reuters, introducing some form of export restrictions on software-based products to China. Such a trade restriction could cover a “breathtaking” wide group of goods, writes Reuters.

President Donald Trump has previously threatened to stop exports of “critical software” to the country. Since software itself is not physical products, it could involve limiting deliveries of goods that contain American software or that have been developed using such technology.

Reuters writes that the export barrier could cover everything from laptops to jet engines. The aim of the measure is to respond to China’s latest restrictions on the export of rare earth metals. 

Gold price
Gold continues to fall – approaching $4,000 again

The gold price continues to be pressured on Wednesday and falls around 2.5 percent. Yesterday, the decline was summed up to 6.1 percent, the biggest decline in a single trading day since April 2013, according to Infront.

This means that the precious metal is approaching $4,000 per ounce again, after having been up to $4,381. At its lowest during the day, gold traded for $4,004, after a surge of almost 55 percent this year.

Suki Cooper, head of commodities at Standard Chartered, tells Bloomberg that gold has been overbought since September. And Bloomberg's own analyst Ven Ram writes in a comment that the decline was an "accident in the making."

Sanctions
Engineering giant admits to violating sanctions with Russia

Engineering giant Alfa Laval's Danish branch risks historic fines after violating sanctions against trade with Russia, writes Berlingske Business. On Thursday, a court hearing will be held in Kolding, which the newspaper calls historic, where the company will admit to the violation.

According to the company's lawyer, it is a "human error". The fine is expected to amount to 100,000 Danish kroner.
Beyond Meat is on the rise - rushing 100 percent

The meat substitute company Beyond Meat continues its wild rush on Wall Street. After an 86 percent rise for the day, the stock market went into a tailspin and temporarily paused trading due to volatility.

Around 4:30 p.m., trading is back on and the stock is up more than 100 percent. The price has exploded in the past five days - the stock is up around 1,000 percent. 

LA Swede admits to economic crimes - could get ten years in prison

A 28-year-old Swedish man in Los Angeles risks up to ten years in prison after admitting to economic crimes in the United States, writes Expressen. The man is said, according to Swedish police, to have been a central figure in a network that earned around half a billion kronor from fraud and money laundering.

The activities took place from the beginning of 2020 until the arrest in November 2024. The Swedish criminal investigation continues.

“The same suspicions remain, and we are awaiting word from the US regarding extradition,” writes senior prosecutor Jenna Sourander in an email to the evening newspaper.