Watson's Daily

Tuesday 28/07/20

In MACROECONOMIC & COMMODITIES NEWS, the dollar falls on virus fears, Chinese manufacturers profit again, an extension on Help To Buy is on the cards and gold hits record highs. In LEISURE/TRAVEL NEWS, the whole industry gets a massive kicking.…

Monday 27/07/20

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, European infections cause travel chaos, junk food ads get canned and businesses consider their future. In RETAIL NEWS, Debenhams is up for sale again, Ben Sherman's owner plans store closures and Boohoo is to set up…

Friday 24/07/20

In CONSUMER & CONSUMER GOODS NEWS, UK spending stalls but some are trading and bidding at auctions. We also look at Unilever's triumph and BoJo's war on fast food. In TECH NEWS, the EU gets tough on Google/Fitbit, Intel's profits…

Thursday 23/07/20

In MACROECONOMIC NEWS, we see reaction to the EU bailout deal. In TECH NEWS, Microsoft's revenues rise but it's facing a lawsuit with Slack. US investors try to buy TikTok. In AUTOMOTIVE NEWS, Tesla announces its 4th consecutive quarter of…

Wednesday 22/07/20

In MACROECONOMIC & MARKETS NEWS, we take a look at how the European bailout plan will work, TfL looks at funding and markets rise on vaccine hopes and EU agreement. In SOCIAL MEDIA NEWS, Facebook looks at racial bias, LinkedIn…

Tuesday 21/07/20

In MACROECONOMIC & COMMODITIES NEWS, the EU has a breakthrough on the bailout package, Chevron buys Noble Energy, Halliburton cuts costs and some say gold could hit $2,000. In VACCINE NEWS, the UK buys shed loads while GSK and AstraZeneca…

Monday 20/07/20

In MACROECONOMIC NEWS, the EU summit proves to be tricky and Network Rail could be in the driving seat. In HIGH STREET AND CONSUMER GOODS NEWS, Ted Baker announces job cuts, Ask and Zizzi get sold and Levi Strauss warns…

Friday 17/07/20

In SOCIAL MEDIA NEWS, Europe rejects US data sharing and Twitter has a nightmare. In CORONAVIRUS "WINNERS" & LOSERS, we see how AstraZeneca, Morgan Stanley, Zoom and Netflix have benefited from and how Pizza Express, Genting and Hays have struggled…

Thursday 16/07/20

In MACROECONOMIC, MARKETS & OIL NEWS, Q2 China GDP grows, Europe has some dramas, UK inflation rises and markets perk up on vaccine hopes while Russia and Opec are set to end production cuts. In RETAIL/HIGH STREET NEWS, Walmart and…

Wednesday 15/07/20

In MACRO & POLITICAL NEWS, Macron promises more money for recovery, the UK's economic output rises and Johnson announces a Huawei ban. In CONSUMER TRENDS & RETAIL NEWS, the stamp duty holiday raises interest in the 'burbs, VAT cuts might…

Tuesday 14/07/20

In POLITICAL NEWS, Putin postpones his spending plan, Duda is re-elected as Polish president and HK-to-UK immigration numbers are expected to hit 200,000. In CONSUMER/RETAIL NEWS, Nationwide starts offering 90% mortgages again, UK retail sales edge higher while Boohoo and…

Monday 13/07/20

In NEWS ON OPENINGS & CLOSURES, offices open for work, Disney World reopens with masks, shoppers return to the UK high street and Halfords closes stores. In FINANCE NEWS, US banks are expected to report strong trading revenues and BDO…

Friday 10/07/20

In CONSUMER/HIGH STREET NEWS, UK consumer spending falls, Boots, John Lewis and Burger King announce cuts and Boohoo bounces back. In REAL ESTATE NEWS, City landlords worry about empty trains and first-time buyers get competition. In NEWS ON "WINNERS" &…

Thursday 09/07/20

In MACROECONOMIC NEWS, we see reactions to Sunak's announcement and Indian companies look to Chinese alternatives. In RETAIL & CONSUMER NEWS, Boohoo's woes persist, Brooks Brothers files for Chapter 11 and Klarna warns of overspend. In NEWS ON "WINNERS" &…

Wednesday 08/07/20

In MACROECONOMIC & MARKETS NEWS, Brussels cuts EU growth forecasts, Sunak is to unveil a £2bn scheme and the Hong Kong market benefits from home-comings. In RETAIL NEWS, Boohoo gets the cold shoulder, JD Sports grumbles and Halfords is a…

Tuesday 07/07/20

In MARKETS & MACROECONOMIC NEWS, bullish China chat lifts markets and the ONS makes a massive mistake. In ENERGY-RELATED NEWS, oil refiners suffer, Iberdrola outlines a clean energy push and Tesla supplies a Dorset plant. In RETAIL-RELATED NEWS, high street…

Monday 06/07/20

In "BIG PICTURE" NEWS, central banks have a savings problem, US Big Tech faces EU scrutiny and the UK plans a Huawei phase-out. In NEWS ON "WINNERS" & LOSERS, online car dealership Cazoo grows and the outbreak electrifies possibilities while…

Friday 03/07/20

In MACROECONOMIC NEWS, we look at the state of US, European and UK jobs, quarantine dismantling and Sunak managing expectations. In HIGH STREET NEWS & CONSUMER TRENDS, the Casual Dining Group goes into administration, Pret a Manger has a new…

Thursday 02/07/20

In MACROECONOMIC NEWS, Hong Kongers seek the exit and Putin gets closer to his goal. In MAIN STREET/HIGH STREET NEWS, Macy's reopens while Apple, McDonald's and Pizza Hut close. In the UK, there's more jobs carnage on the high street,…

Wednesday 01/07/20

In MACRO & OIL NEWS, Hong Kong takes its Chinese medicine, the UK's GDP craters but there's talk of a V-shaped recovery while BoJo talks relaunch and Shell cuts asset valuations. In TRAVEL INDUSTRY NEWS, Airbus and Easyjet announce cuts…

Tuesday 30/06/20

In MACRO & OIL NEWS, Beijing imposes a new security law on Hong Kong, India blocks Chinese apps, Merkel appeals to the "frugal four", Ireland gets a new PM and BP sells its petrochemicals to Ineos. In CONSUMER/RETAIL-RELATED NEWS, we…

Monday 29/06/20

In MACROECONOMIC & OIL NEWS, UK inflation may be higher than originally thought and shale producer Chesapeake Energy files for bankruptcy. In FINANCIALS NEWS, Wirecard continues to have repercussions and Lloyds Bank searches for new areas. In RETAIL-RELATED NEWS, Intu…

Friday 26/06/20

In MACROECONOMIC NEWS, the US puts pressure on the UK on Huawei and there's back-pedalling on the digital tax. In FINANCIALS NEWS, Wirecard files for insolvency, WhatsApp Pay has a Brazil shocker. In RETAIL-RELATED NEWS, the Albertson's IPO dents confidence,…

Thursday 25/06/20

In AIR TRAVEL NEWS, the Asia-Pacific region mulls international travel, Brussels clashes with US over Airbus, Qantas cuts jobs, Easyjet raises money and Swissport halves its UK workforce. In RETAILER/CONSUMER GOODS NEWS, UK shoppers return, pubs and restaurants push for…

Wednesday 24/06/20

In MARKETS & MACROECONOMIC NEWS, US indexes tell different stories, European and UK business activity downturn slows and BoJo announces an exit from hybernation. In REAL ESTATE NEWS, demand for high rise office space looks vulnerable, Intu's woes continue and…

Tuesday 23/06/20

In MACROECONOMIC NEWS, the ECB/German court kerfuffle nears an end, BoJo presses on with lockdown easing, the Bank of England cautions and Japan pushes for a UK trade deal. In TECH-RELATED NEWS, Apple announces big changes and digital ads are…

Monday 22/06/20

In MARKETS & MACROECONOMIC NEWS, we see that US markets aren't just rising on Big Tech, Sunak is on the cusp of cutting VAT and UK takeover rules look likely to change. In INSURANCE NEWS, Directors' and Officers' insurance prices…

Friday 19/06/20

In MACRO NEWS, US jobless figures aren't great, the Europeans bounce back on the digital tax and the Bank of England powers up. In RETAIL NEWS, the US retail recovery catches short-sellers out, Kroger has stronger sales and Chanel gets…

Thursday 18/06/20

In MACRO/POLITICAL NEWS, the Americans go off in a huff over digital tax and UK inflation falls off a cliff. In FINANCIALS NEWS, Mastercard and Visa run up a painful bill, Nationwide triples the minimum deposit and HSBC gets the…

Wednesday 17/06/20

In MACRO, MARKETS & OIL NEWS, a global rally fades, Jay Powell urges caution, Trump pushes infrastructure, UK and Oz talk trade and true oil price recovery looks a way off. In CONSUMER/RETAIL/LEISURE NEWS, we see strong US sales and…

Tuesday 16/06/20

In MACRO & OIL NEWS, Chinese manufacturing gathers pace but consumer spending doesn't, BP announces a massive coronavirus writedown and banks cut funding to shale producers. In RETAIL & LEISURE NEWS, UK shops see queuing as they open, H&M shines…

Monday 15/06/20

In MARKETS & MACRO NEWS, global stocks have a wobble, Macron lifts restrictions and economists paint a bleak picture of the UK. In LEISURE & RETAIL NEWS, tourism suffers while hotels do their best, shoppers and retailers prepare to re-engage…

Friday 12/06/20

In MARKETS & MACRO NEWS, global markets wobble on US second wave fears, the UK announces a major Brexit U-turn and we see the effect lockdown has had on spending. In CONSUMER GOODS AND RETAIL NEWS, Unilever puts its eggs…

Thursday 11/06/20

In MACRO AND M&A NEWS, the Fed says interest rates will be unchanged until 2022, Just Eat Takeaway combines with Grubhub, the PSA/Fiat merger faces close scrutiny and Simon Property tries to back out of the Taubman deal. In RETAIL-RELATED…

Wednesday 10/06/20

In RETAIL & CONSUMER NEWS, Sharma outlines plans for UK retail openings and although shoppers are anxious, property sales shoot up and employers try to ease fears. In INDUSTRY-BY-INDUSTRY NEWS, we see that US airlines face record losses, Cathay Pacific's…

Tuesday 09/06/20

In MARKETS & OIL NEWS, markets power up, Saudi Aramco puts up its prices and BP slashes jobs. In CONSUMER NEWS, we look at US and UK spending habits and the jobs slowdown. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Mulberry cuts jobs,…

Monday 08/06/20

In MACRO & OIL NEWS, Europe debates the recovery plan, Brazil faces tough times, UK pubs and restaurants are to open and US shalers start turning the taps on. In NEWS ON "WINNERS" AND LOSERS, local shops, mattress companies, Airbnb…

Friday 05/06/20

In MACRO NEWS, the ECB increases its bond-buying and we look at reactions to Germany's stimulus package. In NEWS ON WINNERS & LOSERS, winners include US airlines and Fever-Tree while losers include Aston Martin, Odeon and ASK/Zizzi. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY…

Thursday 04/06/20

In MACRO NEWS, Trump divides on troops, Germany unveils a stimulus, Australia flirts with recession and British banks back China's security law. In NEWS ON PLANES AND CARS, the US threatens a ban on Chinese airlines, Lufthansa takes the bailout,…

Wednesday 03/06/20

In MACRO, MARKETS & CONSUMER NEWS, Trump talks tough, the EU races to protect, markets rise on optimism and consumers pay back debt. In TRANSPORT-RELATED NEWS, Airlines chart a return, P&O says no cruises until October, Lyft sees an uplift…

Tuesday 02/06/20

In RETAIL NEWS, we look at the current challenges facing US retailing while in the UK Primark opens, Ted Baker has a shake-up, Monsoon gives an ultimatum and car dealers face the future. In NEWS ON "WINNERS" AND LOSERS, we…

Monday 01/06/20

In MACRO, MARKETS & CONSUMER NEWS, Sunak talks about another stimulus package, Chinese companies may leave US markets for London and we look at the state of mind of consumers. In RETAIL/HIGH STREET/MAIN STREET NEWS, Pret wants lower rents, restaurants…

Friday 29/05/20

In MACRO NEWS, we look at the latest reactions to the China/HK thing, hurdles to the EU bailout package and the coronavirus latest in France, Spain and the UK. In TECH NEWS, Big Tech gets bigger but Trump is about…

Thursday 28/05/20

In MACRO NEWS, the EU puts forward a coronavirus response package and things get more tense in/for Hong Kong. In CORONAVIRUS "WINNERS" AND LOSERS, we take a look at how airlines, retail-related companies and other industries are coping. In INDIVIDUAL…

Wednesday 27/05/20

In RETAIL NEWS, Amazon is in talks to buy Zoox, Macy's puts up properties for collateral, Boohoo gets a thorn in its side and we see mixed views on what'll happen once UK shops reopen. In CAR NEWS, President Macron…

Tuesday 26/05/20

In MACRO NEWS, Beijing gets serious with Hong Kong, German confidence improves and Sunak talks "last resort" bailout plans. In CAR-RELATED NEWS, Europe puts big money into EVs, VW loses in court, Nissan mulls more cuts, Hertz goes under and…

Friday 22/05/20

In MACRO NEWS, China scraps its GDP target, China moves to impose new security law on Hong Kong and the UK's economic downturn shows signs of relenting. In TECH NEWS, Big Tech gets more powerful, Zuckerberg points to a WFH…

Thursday 21/05/20

In MACRO NEWS, the Bank of England moots negative interest rates, Sunak looks to extend the mortgage holiday and economic indicators show some positives. In CONSUMER AND RETAIL NEWS, gamblers turn to stock markets, Americans buy TVs and bikes with…

Wednesday 20/05/20

In RETAIL NEWS, Walmart and Home Depot are on a run, US retailers phase out hazard pay and French Connection is in trouble. In SOCIAL MEDIA NEWS, Facebook takes on Amazon in online shopping, TikTok gets a Disney chief and…

Tuesday 19/05/20

In MARKETS & MACRO NEWS, markets rise on vaccine hopes, Germany and France propose a €500m rescue fund and the Bundesbank sees signs of recovery in Germany. In RETAIL/HIGH STREET NEWS, JC Penney announces store closures, Apple opens some of…

Monday 18/05/20

In MACRO NEWS, Jay Powell warns of a slow recovery, Japan's economy falls into recession and the Saudi sovereign wealth fund has a shopping spree. In SECTOR-BY-SECTOR NEWS, carmakers call for subsidies, travel opens up but the prospects are dim…

Friday 15/05/20

In NEWS ON WINNERS, Nissan Sunderland gets a lift, Norwegian Zoom rival goes moonbound on flotation, e-scooters come into their own, a covid-test supplier predicts ongoing sales and Apple buys into VR. In AIRLINES NEWS, a number of US airlines…

Thursday 14/05/20

In MACRO NEWS, THAT German judge digs his heels in. In SECTOR-BY-SECTOR NEWS, we take a look at the latest developments in banking, shipping, UK real estate, retail and meat/less. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, VW shuts down production again, Tui…

Wednesday 13/05/20

In MARKETS, MACRO & OIL NEWS, Asian markets weaken again, PM Modi unveils a stimulus package for India, Sunak extends furlough and Saudi Aramco suffers. In CONSUMER & RETAIL NEWS, UK consumer spending takes a hit, Landsec makes a painful…