Watson's Daily

Tuesday 17/05/22

In MACRO, COMMODITIES & CRYPTO NEWS, Finland and Sweden move forward with NATO and Putin's OK with it, China and the EU lose ground, the BoE loses control of inflation, wheat prices rocket and Nomura goes crypto. In AUTOMOTIVE NEWS,…

Monday 16/05/22

In MACRO, OIL & CRYPTO NEWS, Sweden and Finland apply to join NATO, Saudi Aramco reports jump in profits and crypto assets get some good news. In CARS & BATTERY NEWS, used car prices in US calm down and Ford…

Friday 13/05/22

In OIL, GAS & CRYPTO NEWS, BP still faces windfall tax calls, Shell sells Russian petrol stations, European gas prices rise and there's panic in the crypto market. In MANUFACTURING-RELATED NEWS, Foxconn beats rivals, Rolls-Royce is hopeful, Jaguar has chip…

Thursday 12/05/22

In MACROECONOMIC NEWS, US and China inflation rides high, the ECB edges towards a possible interest rate rise - and counts the potential cost of the Ukraine war - while BoJo offers security to Sweden and Finland and Sunak puts…

Wednesday 11/05/22

In TECH & GAMING NEWS, Twitter looks like relenting on Trump, Grindr aims for flotation, Bored Ape ups the ante in the metaverse, EA departs from Fifa, Nintendo does a stock split and Sony banks on more PS5 sales. In…

Tuesday 10/05/22

In MARKETS, MACRO & OIL NEWS, global markets weaken, China has issues, Russia is suffering, crypto market value drops and we see how oil companies made their money. In M&A AND IPO NEWS, Philip Morris pursues Swedish Match, Morrisons buys…

Monday 09/05/22

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, US imposes more Russia sanctions, Trafigura invests in UK lithium, US refiners reap the benefit of high pump prices and the US faces electricity shortages. In CONSUMER & RETAIL NEWS, households continue to face major challenges,…

Friday 06/05/22

In MARKETS, MACRO & INDUSTRY TRENDS NEWS, US markets plunge, the Bank of England raises the interest rate, UK businesses have a tough time, German and French manufacturing suffers while Finland and Sweden face a tricky NATO problem. In LOCKDOWN…

Thursday 05/05/22

In MACRO & SANCTIONS NEWS, the US raises interest rates, the BoE is thinking about it, Hungary holds out on EU's proposed embargo, a further SWIFT ban is considered and Truss cuts off pro services to Russia. In CONSUMER &…

Wednesday 04/05/22

In MACRO & OIL NEWS, Australia raises its interest rate, UK factory gate prices rocket, Eurozone unemployment falls, China refiners buy cheap Russian oil and BP's bumper earnings prompt renewed calls for a windfall tax. In CONSUMER-RELATED & RETAIL NEWS,…

Tuesday 03/05/22

In MACRO, OIL & ENERGY NEWS, Beijing edges closer to lockdown, Rome distances itself from Moscow, the EU gets closer to a Russian oil embargo and we look at developments in natural gas supply, wind, nuclear and fusion. In TECH…

Friday 29/04/22

In MACRO & CURRENCY NEWS, Biden aims for more Ukraine aid, the US economy contracts, the ECB admits its useless forecasting, Germany and Austria keep paying Russia and the dollar reaches a new high. In TECH NEWS, Apple has record…

Thursday 28/04/22

In MARKETS & SANCTIONS NEWS, China wants to spend on infrastructure, Europe faces recession, the ECB opens the door to higher interest rates, European gas prices spike, coal-powered plants get a stay of execution and Sunak reconsiders a windfall tax.…

Wednesday 27/04/22

In MARKETS & SANCTIONS NEWS, Wall Street falls while Poland and Bulgaria get cut off. In AUTOMOTIVE NEWS, Tesla tanks, Ford rushes out the Lightning and Volvo buys into Carwow. In CONSUMER/RETAIL NEWS, household bills look set to rise by…

Tuesday 26/04/22

In MARKETS, MACRO & CRYPTO NEWS, global stocks tumble on China Covid concerns, EU-UK trading relationships change and crypto goes meh. In CONSUMER/RETAIL NEWS, Coca-Cola fizzes, palm oil products get more expensive and Asda gets involved in price cuts. In…

Monday 25/04/22

In MACROECONOMIC NEWS, Macron wins, Putin abandons Ukraine deal and Britain's Russia sanctions cost. In CONSUMER, LEISURE & RETAIL-RELATED NEWS, we look at employment trends, leisure trends and retail trends. In INVESTMENT NEWS, Blackstone goes for it in real estate,…

Friday 22/04/22

In TECH & STREAMING NEWS, an imminent new law is about to hit Big Tech, Musk ups the stakes for Twitter, Netflix ponders its future and CNN+ gets cancelled. In CONSUMER NEWS, UK consumer confidence drops and investment loses momentum…

Thursday 21/04/22

In MACRO, ENERGY & EMPLOYMENT NEWS, Germany's producer prices soar, we look at why Germany can't just turn its nukes back on and the UK faces the prospects of strikes on the railways - and at GSK. In CONSUMER TRENDS…

Wednesday 20/04/22

In MACRO, OIL & ENERGY NEWS, the IMF gets downbeat, China unveils support measures, Gunvor celebrates and Rolls-Royce is hopeful. In SANCTIONS & CONSEQUENCES, Putin orders delisting, Stellantis winds down Russian operations and fertiliser costs hit harvests. In CONSUMER &…

Tuesday 19/04/22

In MACROECONOMIC NEWS, China feels the effect of lockdowns and the UK heads towards recession. In M&A NEWS, Twitter gets interesting, Asda's buyers make a ton and SPACs hit legal challenges. In CONSUMER & RETAIL-RELATED NEWS, potential surge pricing could…

Thursday 14/04/22

In MACRO, GAS & SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS, Finland considers NATO membership, US factory gate prices rise, Canada and New Zealand raise interest rates, the UK sees another inflation hike, Germany has gas issues and Shanghai continues to cause problems. In…

Wednesday 13/04/22

In MACRO, SHANGHAI & ENERGY NEWS, the WTO downgrades world growth forecasts, US inflation hits a 40-year high, Shanghai repercussions continue, the knives are out for Scottie, wind turbine energy and hydrogen get boosts while SMRs look expensive. In EMPLOYMENT…

Tuesday 12/04/22

In MACRO & SANCTIONS NEWS, Shanghai challenges continue, the UK economy stalls as consumer confidence falls while SocGen and Ericsson move to exit Russia. In TECH NEWS, China approves online games, TikTok smashes it on ads, Epic Games gets $2bn…

Monday 11/04/22

In MACRO, SANCTIONS & CONSEQUENCES NEWS, it's Macron vs Le Pen, an Aussie election is announced and Ukraine appeals to oil traders while Russian consumers suffer, US bank deals dry up and a cardboard crisis looms. In CONSUMER & RETAIL…

Friday 08/04/22

In OIL, ENERGY & TRADING NEWS, Shell counts the Russia cost, Cambo gets the go-ahead, the UK tries to help with EU gas, BoJo's green drive has a mixed reception, Shanghai's backlog hits supply chains and UK businesses. In EMPLOYMENT…

Thursday 07/04/22

In SANCTIONS, CONSEQUENCES & COVID NEWS, the US imposes "severe" sanctions, Russia retaliates, global trade continues to suffer the effects of war and VTB UK is on the verge of administration while Shanghai's Covid problems could have global repercussions. In…

Wednesday 06/04/22

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, we see an "inflationary era", Russia's biz activity slump, the possibility of US recession, an agreement on hypersonic weapons, the consequences of China's ailing agriculture, difficulties facing British agriculture and the spectre of Le Pen. In…

Tuesday 05/04/22

In MACRO, ENERGY & CRYPTO NEWS, Turkey's inflation goes crazy, deeper sanctions against Russia are called for while Germany and supermarkets make adjustments, Oxford makes a nuclear fusion breakthrough and there are UK crypto developments. In CONSUMER, LEISURE & RETAIL…

Monday 04/04/22

In SANCTIONS & CONSEQUENCES, the EU considers more sanctions, Lithuania ends Russian gas imports, Europeans reconsider neutrality and farmers face big pressure. In CONSUMER & EMPLOYMENT NEWS, household finances continue to get squeezed by energy and milk while consumer confidence…

Friday 01/04/22

In MACRO, ENERGY & COMMODITIES NEWS, Putin gets feisty about gas payments, the US releases oil reserves, Cuadrilla gets the go-ahead, Australia makes a lithium breakthrough and Macron loses his edge. In CONSUMER & RETAIL TRENDS, more UK firms aim…

Thursday 31/03/22

In MACRO & ENERGY NEWS, Beijing cosies up with Moscow, inflation in Germany hits a 40-year high, Germany and Austria talk gas rationing, Shell gets a Cambo extension and BoJo blows colder on wind power. In CONSUMER & RETAIL NEWS,…

Wednesday 30/03/22

In MACRO & ENERGY NEWS, we look at developments in China, Taiwan, Australia and Spain while the EU wrestles with gas problems, SSE makes money and the government continues to push for solar. In CONSUMER & RETAIL NEWS, US pay…

Tuesday 29/03/22

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, China's having Covid problems, the US gets an early warning of recession, the UK faces energy choices and LNG supply may face delays. In CONSUMER & RETAIL NEWS, the Bank of England warns of hits to…

Monday 28/03/22

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, trouble looms in the Pacific and Biden ruffles feathers while BoJo's energy plans hit resistance, Macquarie buys into the UK gas network and solar/wind costs rise. In EMPLOYMENT NEWS, Grant Shapps agitates for P&O change, Amazon…

Friday 25/03/22

In MACRO, MARKETS & CRYPTO NEWS, the US agrees to supply more LNG, a tussle emerges between Sunak and BoJo, Moex reopens and the Bank of England talks tough on crypto. In SANCTIONS & CONSEQUENCES NEWS, the UK puts more…

Thursday 24/03/22

In MACRO, ENERGY & MARKETS NEWS, we take a look at the Spring Statement, Biden's bid to unite Europe, Scholz's tricky position, BoJo on windfarms, Russia's market opening again and how Ukraine will affect thinking on China and Japan's relations…

Wednesday 23/03/22

In MACRO & OIL NEWS, Biden cuts Trump tariffs, Sunak gears up for his Spring Statement, Russia chokes off oil and we look at the consequences. In AUTOMOTIVE NEWS, Musk opens his German gigafactory, auto loans face more challenges and…

Tuesday 22/03/22

In MACRO, OIL & ENERGY NEWS, Jay Powell signals more aggressive interest rate moves, the oil price rises again and the UK makes energy moves while the cost of street-charging an EV reaches a new high. In NEWS ON SANCTION…

Monday 21/03/22

In OIL & ENERGY NEWS, Saudi Aramco plans to increase oil production, Germany secures alternative gas supplies, BoJo goes nuclear and looks to the North Sea while pubs and M&S suffer with higher utility bills. In CONSUMER-RELATED NEWS, Brazil embraces…

Friday 18/03/22

In MACRO & COMMODITIES NEWS, the Bank of England raises the interest rate, BoJo faces energy conundrums, nickel weakens and Russia appears to settle is bond payments. In CONSUMER/TRENDS/RETAIL NEWS, Russians face difficulties, Japanese wages rise, Deliveroo wavers and Trainline…

Thursday 17/03/22

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, we look at the latest developments in Ukraine/Russia, Russia's approach to default, Putin's promises, China's intervention, the US interest rate rise and nightmare in commodities. In RETAIL/HIGH STREET NEWS, US retail sales rise, Walmart wants more…

Wednesday 16/03/22

In ACTIONS & CONSEQUENCES, we consider more actions, sanctions and their consequences on Tesla, energy and agriculture. In TECH NEWS, Intel goes large in Europe, Indonesia's GoTo aims to raise $1.3bn and Arm is to shed employees. In CONSUMER/RETAIL NEWS,…

Tuesday 15/03/22

In MACRO, MARKETS & ENERGY NEWS, we look at US/China/Russia thoughts, the effect on markets and how energy policies are having to adapt. In ACTIONS & CONSEQUENCES, Bayer considers cutting off crop supplies to Russia and Germany orders US fighter…

Monday 14/03/22

In MACRO, MARKETS & CRYPTO NEWS, the US is to hold talks with China about Ukraine, the Bank of England edges towards a rate rise, Chinese stocks fall on lockdown, Moscow's exchange stays shut, El Salvador prepares Bitcoin bond launch…

Friday 11/03/22

In ACTIONS & CONSEQUENCES, the exodus continues and Abramovich gets caught up but Putin strikes back with more threats while Russia faces debt default and a nightmare for Aeroflot. In CONSUMER & RETAIL NEWS, food inflation continues, Netflix raises subscription…

Thursday 10/03/22

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Russia bombs a hospital, markets rally, nickel faces further suspension, fracking is back on the table and crypto gets a boost. In ACTIONS & CONSEQUENCES, we see who's pulled out and who's still in and consequences…

Wednesday 09/03/22

In MACRO & COMMODITIES NEWS, we look at whether Taiwan could be the next Ukraine, the US and UK bans oil from Russia, Shell stops buying Russian oil and we consider what may ensue while talks start with Maduro, nickel…

Tuesday 08/03/22

In MARKETS & COMMODITIES NEWS, the Rouble's collapse continues, markets baulk at a Russian oil ban while everyone looks for alternatives and gold gets squeezed higher. In ACTIONS & CONSEQUENCES, more big firms abandon Russia and the consequences of sanctions…

Monday 07/03/22

In MACRO & OIL NEWS, China aims low on growth, appeals are made for China as mediator, crude oil goes higher as the US talks to Venezuela and Total sticks with its Russian assets. In ACTIONS & CONSEQUENCES, UK lawyers,…

Friday 04/03/22

In CURRENT ACTIONS, we look at Putin's latest move, all of the companies abandoning Russia and Lukoil breaking ranks. In POSSIBLE ACTIONS, we look at how a potential ban on Russian oil and gas might look and Bitcoin's role in…

Thursday 03/03/22

In MACRO & OIL NEWS, US interest rates still look like they'll go up, Eurozone inflation hits a record high, the Russian economy faces difficulties and oil hits record highs. In NEWS ON ACTIONS & CONSEQUENCES, we see actions being…

Wednesday 02/03/22

In MACRO NEWS, China decides to get involved and Italy's economy rebounds. In ACTIONS, SANCTIONS & CONSEQUENCES NEWS, we look at ACTIONS where oil reserves have been released and Moscow bans investor exits, SANCTIONS, where shippers block Russian cargo, Apple…

Tuesday 01/03/22

In NEWS ON MARKETS, SANCTIONS & CONSEQUENCES, markets had a rollercoaster ride, more sanctions were imposed and consequences ensued. In CONSUMER-RELATED NEWS, UK train fares rise from today, petrol prices hit new highs, ABF says more food price increases are…

Monday 28/02/22

In MACRO NEWS, Putin puts nukes on high alert, China continues with pro-Russia neutrality stance and the prospect of global recovery fades. In NEWS ON SANCTIONS, CONSEQUENCES & RESPONSE, Russian interests in the air, sea and land face challenges while…