The financial results announced by Barry Callebaut, Partners Group and Richemont prompted mixed reactions on stock markets.

The planned US tariffs on Brazilian goods are likely to push up the price of many popular food items.

Starting next week, the earnings of US stock market heavyweights are expected to set the tone on Wall Street. Communications and technology companies are once again expected to deliver strong results.

Global stock markets have experienced a volatile six months. Nevertheless, the SMI closes the first half-year on a positive note. 

The importance of women's elite sport is growing worldwide. This is reflected in fans' excitement for the Women's European Football Championship, which starts in Basel on 2 July. An increasing number of sponsors are recognising this potential and expanding their partnerships with female athletes.

Advances in artificial intelligence are driving demand for high-performance data centres. Suppliers such as ABB, Schneider Electric and Siemens could benefit from this trend.

In uncertain market phases, products offering capital protection are particularly sought after. The capital protection certificate on Alcon, Kühne + Nagel and Sika offers a minimum repayment of 96% at maturity. In addition, investors participate in the positive performance of the underlying.

Since Donald Trump's re-election as US President, the outlook for the global healthcare sector has deteriorated. In this environment, investment instruments that offer both a safety net and attractive yield opportunities are in demand. With the ZKB bonus certificate on five Swiss pharmaceutical stocks, investors participate in the potential of the underlying securities without being fully exposed to market fluctuations.

European insurers have outperformed the stock market year-to-date. Due to their stable business model, they are considered to be reliable dividend payers, making their shares an ideal underlying for yield enhancement products.

German mid caps are in demand. However, there are considerable performance differences among MDax members since the beginning of the year.