We’ve seen the Mercedes-Benz C 350 e plug-in hybrid in standard form as well as with AMG Line interior, but a top-of-the-range example with the sportier exterior has remained elusive. Now, the full ensemble has become available for us to check out. Outside, the C 350 e is differentiated from its petrol-powered siblings through blue highlights around the LED Intelligent Light System headlight projectors, as well as blue front brake callipers and blue “Plug-in Hybrid” badging on the front fenders. Inside, the only identifiers that this is a plug-in hybrid are C 350 e-specific screens on the COMAND centre display and the instrument cluster’s multi-info display. Other than that, it’s the standard-fare C-Class interior, with the AMG Line models adding an AMG flat-bottomed steering wheel, metallic highlights and an analogue centre clock. Standard features on the C 350 e include keyless entry, push-button start, a sunroof, Thermotronic three-zone climate control, a reverse camera and a 13-speaker, Audio 20 infotainment system and 7.0-inch screen and a 590-watt Burmester sound system. Opting for either of the two AMG Line models throws in a panoramic sunroof and a 360-degree camera. Juicing the electric motor is a 6.38 kWh lithium-ion battery that sits under the boot floor, resulting in a stepped luggage bay and reduced space from 475 litres to 335 litres. Charging time is around one hour and 45 minutes via the RM 7,500 wallbox, or two and a half hours through the standard household 230 V outlet; the charging port is located under the right tail light.
The U.S. appears to be inching towards war with Iran and unnamed US military officials have accused Iran of using explosives to blow holes in US-bound Saudi oil tankers in alleged sabotage attacks by Iran. Asian shares extended losses today, following sharply lower U.S. Wall Street overnight after China announced retaliatory tariff-hike to counter Trump’s aggressive tariffs. European shares have eked out small gains this morning despite the heightened trade, economic and geopolitical risks. We believe that given the deteriorating trade, economic and geopolitical outlook, we may be in for a period of market volatility and risk aversion. Gold will again act as an excellent hedge for investors and is likely to eke out further gains in the coming months. 1,300 for highest finish in a month, as U.S. Gold eyes best day in 3-months as China hits back over U.S. Is US-China trade war eroding U.S. — The economist John Exter’s pyramidic chart of global liquidity, in which gold is superior.
— JPMorganChase’s surprising finding that gold has been the second best-performing asset class of the last 20 years. — Increasing gold purchases by central banks. — And a collection of brief recent comments by market analysts. This is deadly as James Turk claims that counter party risk (credit default swaps) are rising fast and that should be good for gold. Counterparty risk in the financial markets is rising fast, GoldMoney founder James Turk tells King World News today, and likely will cause a breakout in the monetary metals. “Money is exiting the financial system so investors can preserve their wealth from bank and bond defaults,” Turk says. The U.S. is prepared to hit China with new tariffs even as President Trump says he’ll meet his Chinese counterpart at next month’s G-20 summit, an encounter that could prove pivotal in a deepening clash over trade. Prime Minister Theresa May will meet with her cabinet Tuesday as she comes under increasing pressure to pull out of Brexit talks with the opposition Labour Party and set a date for her departure.
A gauge of Australian employment slumped to the lowest level in more than three years, according to a closely watched survey of businesses sentiment, in a possible harbinger of interest-rate cuts ahead. In principle Japan will work toward making it easier to raise the sales tax, rather than delaying it, Finance Minister Taro Aso says. Data in the U.K. 29 billion into French bonds in the space of a month, almost as much as they spent on the debt for the rest of the year. Asian equity markets were mostly lower as global risk sentiment remained pressured by the escalating US-China trade tensions, which resulted to substantial losses on Wall St. and the worst performance of the S&P 500 in more than 4 months. Asia-Pac session. Sectors are mostly in the green with defensive sectors underperforming, in-fitting with the “less risk off” tone in the markets. 0.3%) marginally underperforms its peers as heavyweight Bayer (-2.7%) stumbled after the Co. lost a third trial related to claims its Roundup weed killer causes cancer and the jury awarded USD 2bln in punitive damages.
Elsewhere, Renault (-2.5%) shares took a hit after its alliance partner Nissan cut operating profit forecasts whilst also slashing dividend. Sticking with autos, Volkswagen (-1.4%) shares were buoyed amid reports that the company decided to IPO Traton before the Summer break this year. Finally, as the European Q1 earnings season approaches its end, HSBC notes that from the 85% of EU companies that have reported, 55% topped estimates and the results are off the lows seen in Q4 2018 (49% beat). “Though the re-emergence of US-China trade tension remains a concern, we see limited downside to European earnings from here” says HSBC, whilst citing continuing improvement in earning revisions. Furthermore, The bank’s top-down model points to 2019 EPS growth of around 5.3%, marginally above expectations. EPS growth estimates for the US (7%) and global equities (8%)”, the bank concludes. In FX, It’s too early to talk in terms of a turnaround Tuesday, but the risk pendulum has changed direction to the benefit of high beta currencies that were hit hard yesterday and to the detriment of safe-havens.
