Breaking News Today- Monday 25 August 2025

Business & Tech News 

German Economic Growth Stalls in Q2

Europ’s largest economy, Germany, saw its economy deflate by 0.3% in the second quarter of 2025, compared with the previous quarter, official data showed a significantly worse performance than was initially reported as tensions with the U.S. over tariffs simmered. In a preliminary report at the end of July, the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) indicated that gross domestic product had contracted by 0.1% in the April-June period, compared with the previous three months. Full data showed output in manufacturing and the construction industry was worse than expected in June and household spending for the quarter also was revised downward, the FSO official said. The decline followed growth of 0.3% in the first quarter.

Spotify Plans Price Increases and New Services

Spotify is set to raise its subscription prices as it invests in new features and growing its subscriber base globally. The audio distribution Chanel is targeting 1 billion users, according to a report in the Financial Times on Sunday, citing the music streaming provider’s Co-President and Chief Business Officer Alex Norstrom. The planned increases would be accompanied by new services and features, the FT cited Norstrom as saying in an interview. Spotify reported a net loss of €86 million for the second quarter of 2025, which ended on June 30, 2025, missing analyst expectations for a profit. This followed a loss of €532 million in 2023 and €430 million in 2022, though the company did achieve its first-ever annual net profit of €1.14 billion in 2024.

Silver Gains on Fed Cut Consensus

Silver prices are holding steady around the $38.8 per ounce level this morning, close to their highest price in 14-years. The price hike is being driven by growing consensus of the US Federal Reserve policy easing. The metal rallied about 2% on Friday after Fed Chair, Jeremy Powell signalled that the central bank is likely to cut rates at its next meeting. Powell noted that while unemployment remains low, risks to the labor market are increasing and policy remains “restrictive,” suggesting that adjustments may be warranted. Markets are now pricing in an 87% probability of a 25 bps rate cut in September, up from about 75% last week. Silver breached the $39 dollar per ounce level briefly this morning.

Business, Tech & Market News Shorts: 

• China’s CSI 300 index increased to 4470.00 Index Points this morning, the highest since July 2022. Over the past 4 weeks, Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 Index gained 8.05%, and in the last 12 months, it increased 34.42%. The Shanghai Composite also surged 1.1% to above 3,860, while the Shenzhen Component climbed 1.8% to 12,384 
• xAI has announced that it has made its Grok2.5 model available to developers on the open source platform Hugging Face and specifically, provided the model weights used to shape Grok 2.5 “The @xAI Grok 2.5 model, which was our best model last year, is now open source,” Musk wrote on X. He added that Grok 3 “will be made open source in about 6 months.”
• The Indian rupee weakened to around 87.43 per dollar today, marking its third straight session of losses, as looming US tariffs continued to pressure the currency. Starting Wednesday, US tariffs on Indian goods will rise to as much as 50%, adding to the existing 25% duties, in response to India’s imports of Russian oil. 
• Oil prices edged higher this morning after Ukraine launched attacks on Russia, fanning concerns Russian oil supply could be disrupted, while expectations of a cut in U.S. interest rates improved the outlook for global growth and fuel demand.Brent crude futures rose as high as to $67.86 and has remained above $67.80

Markets by Numbers 

Currencies: 

Currency markets today indicate the US Dollar is currently trading stronger against the Euro at 1.17010 and against the Pound at 1.35090 The Yen is currently trading at 147.32 to the dollar. The rand (ZAR) is currently at R17.46 to the US dollar.

Commodities:

• Gold futures prices are currently trading downwards at around $3364.83 per ounce.  
• Copper prices are trading marginally higherer today, with prices currently at $4.4618
• Silver futures prices are edging lower after a spike earlier today, and currently at $38.823
• Platinum futures are trading slightly lower this morning, and are currently trading at $1347.60 While Palladium prices are a touch lower this morning and currently at $1111.50
• Brent crude oil prices are currently trading upwards, and currently at $67.75, with WTI trading at $63.70 
• Cocoa futures have spiked by almost 2% this morning, and are currently at $7582.00 per ton. 
• Coffee futures continue to trend higher today, and currently at $391.39

Crypto Currencies:

• Bitcoin prices are currently trading around -0,8% lower at $112457
• Ether prices are currently around-1,3% lower and trading at $4710.70 
• $Trumpcoin is currently over -2% lower today and trading around $8.58

(All prices quoted at approximately 07H35 Central African Time) 

Other Breaking News in Africa Today

Nigerian Air Attack – Hostages Freed

At least 76 hostages, including children, have been freed after Nigeria’s military targeted militants with precision airstrikes in the country’s northwest, local authorities said. The airstrikes were launched on targets around Pauwa Hill, located in the Kankara area of Katsina state, in the early hours of Saturday, Nasir Mu’azu, the state’s commissioner for internal security, said in a statement. The air assault was launched in a manhunt for a notorious kidnapper. The commissioner said the air assault is “part of a broader strategy to dismantle criminal hideouts, weaken their networks and put an end to the cycle of killings, kidnappings, and extortion that have plagued innocent citizens.”