The US Senate failed to advance the CLARITY Act after a 49-50 procedural vote, falling 11 short of the 60 needed. The bill sought to establish a federal framework for regulating cryptocurrencies, and its setback undermines prospects for passing market-structure legislation this year. Bitcoin fell nearly 4% to below $76,000, while Hyperliquid’s token HYPE also slipped about 4%.

From July 1, the EU began charging a flat €3 customs duty per product category on imported parcels valued at €150 or less, driving a 30% to 40% drop in small-parcel inflows from China. Between June and July, sales volumes fell 50% on Temu and 37% on AliExpress, while Shein declined 15% as it plans to open a warehouse in Poland by end-2025 to ease the tax burden. The EU imported 5.9 billion low-value items in 2025, and more than 60% of inspected goods failed to meet EU requirements or safety standards. The measure is designed to support a broader EU customs reform planned for 2028, with additional parcel-handling fees also under consideration from November.

Bitcoin has climbed more than 25% since Monday, briefly hitting an intraday high of $79,500 after spending six weeks range-bound between $62,000 and $66,000. A US digital-asset regulation bill has cleared the House but still needs 60 votes in the Senate to overcome a procedural hurdle. The legislation would split oversight responsibilities between the SEC and the CFTC.

Samsung Electronics reported its results for the second quarter of 2024, with operating profit reaching ₩89.5 trillion (about €5.4 billion), up 1,814% year on year. Operating profit from its semiconductor business came in at ₩89.2 trillion, 223 times the level a year earlier. Revenue rose to a record ₩171.5 trillion. Executives said the gap between chip supply and demand is expected to keep widening through 2028.

Air France-KLM and Lufthansa have submitted legally binding offers to Portugal’s state shareholding agency Parpública to buy a 44.5% stake in TAP Air Portugal. The bids are part of the third stage of the government-mandated sale process, under a decree law adopted a year ago that allows up to 49.9% of the airline to be sold while the state keeps majority control. The proposals specify the price for the stake and include an industrial and strategic plan aimed at ensuring the company’s sustainability and future.

Porsche AG said first-half 2026 operating profit rose 34% year on year to 1.35 billion euros, beating the 1.26 billion euros market expectation. Revenue fell 5.1% to 17.23 billion euros, while operating return on sales improved to 7.8% from 5.5%. The performance was supported by stronger sales of high-margin 911 variants and sharply lower costs tied to the company’s strategic realignment.

Mercedes-Benz reported a 22% rise in second-quarter operating profit to €1.55 billion, while revenue fell 3% to €32.1 billion. The carmaker cut its full-year vehicle sales forecast to a 2%–7.5% year-on-year decline, citing a 30% drop in sales in China. It said Europe and its battery-electric line were stronger, with BEV sales up 51% and BEV order intake in Europe more than doubling. Shares rose more than 5% on the day.

German battery maker Varta AG has applied to the Stuttgart Local Court to open insolvency proceedings under self-administration, citing a structural funding gap expected from 2027 and a deterioration in market conditions. The company said weaker demand, adverse exchange-rate moves and the termination of a partnership by a key customer have weighed on operations. Reuters and German media reported that the customer is Apple, which is said to be shifting AirPods battery sourcing to China. Varta said its household battery business is legally separate and excluded, while several operating subsidiaries are covered by separate applications.

The EU generated 45.5% of its electricity from renewable sources in the first quarter of 2026, but the region remains structurally dependent on fossil fuels. Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz shipping route in response to the U.S.-Israel offensive disrupted a key crude oil transit corridor and pushed oil and gas prices to record highs. Europe’s June heatwave added to the strain by lifting power demand and forcing France, Germany and others to rely again on gas-fired generation. The shock represents a geopolitics-driven, real-world energy supply-chain disruption that feeds directly into prices across traditional assets.