💰 Luxe but losing

What’s going on here?

China’s accelerating pace in the electric vehicle (EV) world has triggered a little road rage from the EU.

What does this mean?

China’s been looking to growth in EVs and green tech to offset its wobbly property sector. And so far, it’s working out. Just peek at Europe: Chinese EV brands are zipping through the market, and look set to claim 15% of Europe’s EV pie in a mere two years. But not everyone’s happy about that. The EU, for one, is crying foul, complaining that these affordable Chinese rides are only kept so cheap by hefty state subsidies. But China’s not one to be backseat-driven, and it responded to the bloc’s investigation pretty predictably: by claiming that its lead is down to nothing but innovation and efficiency. So watch this space – the EU’s probe could lead to tariffs on Chinese EVs, much like those already in force stateside.

Why should I care?

For markets: Good news for everyone else.

Chinese EV giants like BYD and Nio, eager to conquer Europe, didn’t anticipate this kind of speed bump – and this sudden disruption to their expansion plans saw their stocks take a dip. For lagging European automakers, that could provide a welcome chance to catch their breath. And as for the market leader, Tesla – well, the firm’s probably relishing the reduced threat of clashing bumpers with its arch nemesis BYD on European turf.

The bigger picture: Equal and opposite reaction.

This EU-China tiff is the latest episode in the global trade drama. But it’s a risky game. Higher EV prices could slow adoption and slam the brakes on Europe’s green transition. And if China hits back, then Europe’s car giants could feel the pinch – especially since China holds the keys to the EV battery kingdom. Plus, less competition might also mean less innovation in the longer run, and that’s a road no one wants to take.

What’s going on here?

John Lewis, the British retail darling, seems to have developed a taste for the red, reporting more losses for the first half of this year.

What does this mean?

For over 150 years, John Lewis has been the go-to for the UK’s middle class, offering everything from posh pots and pans to plush pillows. But lately, even its ritzy regulars are tightening their Gucci belts. Big-ticket buys, like furniture and electrical goods, are on the decline – and the firm’s upmarket grocery chain, Waitrose, isn’t faring much better. After all, it seems the company missed the memo on price cuts, watching sales volumes dip in the first half of the year. So while John Lewis has managed to trim its losses from the same time last year, falling sales and ballooning costs mean it’s still not back in the black.

Why should I care?

For markets: A losing game.

John Lewis is in the middle of a turnaround plan designed to make the company a simpler, more efficient machine – along with some (questionable) offshoots into real estate and financial services. But these results have come as a reality check with a capital “R”. And sure, Christmas could sprinkle some magic: historically, it's been the firm’s time to shine. But hold the mistletoe. John Lewis hinted that its difficulties could last a while yet, delaying the completion of its turnaround plan by two years, till 2028.

The bigger picture: Cash is king.

The plight of John Lewis suggests that British consumers are feeling the pinch – and folks’ recent surprising return to cash backs that up. Despite years of digital banking growth, there was a noticeable uptick in physical money usage last year, for the first time in a decade. And that wasn’t just nostalgia kicking in. Much like during the 2008 financial crisis, uncertain times drive people back to the tangible reassurance (and hard-to-fudge budgeting) of cold, hard cash.