The end of a momentous half: World market themes for the week ahead

A momentous first half of 2025 comes to an end with trade, Federal Reserve independence and geopolitics staying high on the market watch list for the second half. And there's plenty to chew over: U.S. jobs data, a European Central Bank conference and Chinese business activity numbers. Here's all you need to know about the week ahead in global markets: H2 OH! The year crosses the halfway line and while U.S. President Donald Trump's return to power in January was always going to ruffle markets, even the most grizzled of traders have been shocked by the rodeo ride. Some describe…