This week will see the Fed ease rates, stocks will rally on happy retail buying any dip, and everyone will go into the holidays joyful… Except they won’t. There is so much still bubbling under the hood of the US economy that can go “bang”. Don’t watch the USA – watch China for clues.

Yesterday tremblors rocked global markets again after Israel bombed Qatar and Trump demanded Europe enact 100% tariffs on China and India. As America lashes out, It feels the world is tumbling towards chronic trade conflict and disruption – yet, yesterday the US stock market made yet another record high.

“The Atlantic is no longer a pond, but has become an ocean once more.”

There are deals and there are deals. Some are good. Some are bad. Some are necessary – but will ultimately change everything. The US/Europe trade deal – much like the deals struck with the UK and Japan – is better than the alternative of no-deal, but at heart it’s a bad deal. There will be consequences.

Global Trade is not just about governments and tariffs. Its about what individuals want to buy and how businesses set about selling their products. How these micro components of the global economy are responding to the “challenges” of Trump v.2 will determine the future.

Markets are struggling with just how much Trump’s tariffs might derail global trade and growth. In normal times the solution would be patient negotiation to avoid destructive trade wars. These are not normal times – we are dealing with America First MAGA zealots.

When future economic historians try to figure out the pivotal moment in the Decline and Fail of the American Century, its likely last week will figure in their thinking. Trump’s actions will have profound implications for bond and tech markets – and the time to start building these consequences into portfolios is NOW!

How sustainable is the Trump effect? The world is reeling from his demands and threats to trade. Trump’s power is to shock. Yet, we become inured to shocks, and work our way around them. How long before Trump’s backers and supporters realise that? And he hasn’t even started on China!

The recent Third Plenum, the economic plan for the Chinese economy, hints China seeks to compete with the West, build its own tech ecosystem, and reform the economy under increased state control. Historically, that didn’t work for the USSR. Could it work for China?

Today the markets will be focused entirely on Tech earnings and future income expectations. Smart money watches Supply Chains more carefully – and critical to global supply chains is China. While the West is focused on Demand, Asia is thinking about the security of supply.

There has been much noise about the potential impact on global supply chains due to the shipping attacks in the Red Sea. There are imposing significant costs and delays – but are not as critical as many fear. Financing global trade is one of the oldest businesses in markets – and produces dull, boring predictable returns. What’s not to like…