live U.S. launches strikes on Iran over Hormuz commercial vessel attack
The UN's International Maritime Organization has paused escort operations through the Strait of Hormuz after a cargo ship was reportedly attacked near...
Barclays downgraded the U.S. autos and mobility sector to "negative" on Tuesday, warning that persistent tariffs under President Donald Trump’s trade policy could weigh heavily on automaker earnings and investment strategies.
Barclays on Tuesday downgraded its outlook on the U.S. autos and mobility sector from "neutral" to "negative," citing concerns that President Donald Trump's tariff policies could place significant pressure on automakers’ earnings and hinder future investments.
The assessment echoes similar warnings from Goldman Sachs, which last week lowered its 2024 forecast for U.S. auto sales by nearly one million units. While President Trump has paused certain levies and provided temporary exemptions for some Chinese products, tariffs on automobiles, steel, and aluminum remain in effect.
"In an increasingly difficult macroeconomic and regulatory environment, making a near-term investment case for the autos sector is becoming more challenging," Barclays analyst Dan Levy stated. "Auto tariffs appear to be persistent, and current valuations do not fully reflect the associated risks."
Stock Downgrades and Sector Impacts
Barclays downgraded General Motors (GM) from "overweight" to "equal weight," noting that nearly half of GM’s vehicles sold in the U.S. are assembled outside the country, including its entry-level electric vehicles (EVs) produced in Mexico. In contrast, Barclays expressed a "modest" preference for Ford (F), due to a larger share of its vehicles being manufactured domestically.
Several auto technology firms were also downgraded, with Barclays citing potential delays in the adoption of advanced technologies due to pricing pressures. Companies affected include Aptiv (APTV), Mobileye Global (MBLY), and Visteon Corp (VC).
In premarket trading, shares of GM, Aptiv, Mobileye, and Visteon declined between 1% and 3%, while Ford shares slipped 0.31%.
Revised Ratings and Price Targets
Barclays updated its ratings and price targets for several major firms in the sector:

Barclays' revised outlook reflects broader market unease over the durability of tariff policies and their long-term implications for the U.S. automotive industry.
An earthquake of magnitude 6.9 struck Japan's northeast coast on Thursday, but no tsunami warning was issued, no injuries were immediately reported and no irregularities were found at nuclear facilities, the authorities said.
As Western Europe battles a deadly heatwave that has shattered temperature records, disrupted transport and power supplies, and forced the closure of schools and cultural landmarks, attention is turning to whether El Niño is playing a role in the extreme conditions.
The U.S. Senate rejected a resolution on Wednesday that would have directed President Donald Trump to remove U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran unless Congress formally authorised military action.
The Kremlin has denied a Wall Street Journal report claiming Moscow is pressuring Belarus to support an expanded Russian military campaign in Ukraine.
Tens of thousands of people are still unaccounted for after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela. At least 589 people have been confirmed dead and hundreds are believed to be trapped under rubble, as emergency crews and international rescue teams race to respond.
The United Nations' top human rights official has called for independent investigations into deaths in U.S. immigration detention facilities, citing a rise in fatalities among people held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
An aircraft roughly the size of a car crashed into Beijing's tallest skyscraper on Friday evening, triggering a major emergency response and a heavy police presence as authorities sealed off the area and gave no immediate explanation for the incident.
Montenegrin police, working alongside the United States' Federal Bureau of Investigation, have arrested an Iranian national accused of carrying out a series of cyberattacks that allegedly caused an estimated $3.4 billion in damage to U.S. infrastructure.
South Korea is set to dramatically expand its unmanned warfare capabilities, with plans to integrate drones across all branches of its military as tensions with North Korea continue to shape the country's defence strategy.
Fertiliser shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have begun to recover following an interim U.S.–Iran agreement aimed at stabilising the waterway after months of disruption during conflict, industry data shows.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment