Swiss private bank Julius Baer expects the Fed is unlikely to hike rates, the dollar may weaken, and gold could reclaim lost ground.

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has urgently allocated 50 mln yuan of central-budget investment to support emergency post-disaster recovery in Hubei after heavy rain, hail, and storms since July 6, including local tornadoes. The national disaster committee activated a level-4 emergency response on July 7. Funds will be used to rapidly restore damaged infrastructure—primarily roads—and public-service facilities such as schools, based on the national disaster relief plan and Hubei’s damage assessment, to expedite resumption of production and daily life.

Cambridge University researchers say applying a steady physical pressure of about 12.5 bar can roughly double lithium‑ion cell life in lab tests; pressure above that promotes lithium plating on the anode, while too little pressure causes cathode cracking, both accelerating degradation. Authors say the method could extend EV battery service life, reduce battery scrappage and recycling strain, and lower demand for critical minerals such as nickel and cobalt — implications for mining supply, EV residual values and used‑car market dynamics.