Watson's Daily

Wednesday 14/01/26

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, we consider Trump's options in Iran, how countries are de-risking from America and how central bankers rally to support Powell while China's trade surplus booms, Starmer gives up on mandatory digital IDs and the Northern Powerhouse…

Tuesday 13/01/26

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Trump's assault on the Fed causes a stir, his assault on credit card issuers causes panic and he makes threats to those "doing business" with Iran while gold hits record levels. In RETAIL NEWS, Abercrombie has…

Monday 12/01/26

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, we see what Trump's doing re Iran, Venezuela, his defence industry and on the domestic front whilst NATO allies fret about Greenland silence, how Russia could get through, the EU's demand for a "Farage clause" and…

Friday 09/01/26

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, we look at further Venezuela and Greenland developments and Trump orders a chunky mortgage bond-buying spree while the UK government moves to ring-fence the City and climbs down on pub taxes. In CONSUMER, RETAIL & LEISURE…

Thursday 08/01/26

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, we look at the latest on Venezuela and Greenland as well as Trump's calls for a massive increase in US defence spending, UK ministers consider concessions for pubs, Scotland squanders 75% of its wind energy and…

Wednesday 07/01/26

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, we look at the latest on Venezuela and Greenland while Giorgia Meloni seeks to boost her chances and Chevron moves to buy Lukoil assets. In TECH NEWS, China reviews Meta's purchase of Manus, xAI raises $20bn…

Tuesday 06/01/26

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, we look at the repercussions of the invasion of Venezuela. In CONSUMER, RETAIL & EMPLOYMENT NEWS, UK credit card borrowing booms, shop price inflation forces consumers to trade down (which is good news for Aldi), workers…

Monday 05/01/26

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, we look at what happened in Venezuela and it implications. In CAR-RELATED NEWS, EV sales look set to slow, Tesla and Toyota lose ground to China and London emerges as the battleground for robotaxis. In BUSINESS,…

Friday 19/12/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, the markets show doubts, Japan raises interest rates to highest point in 30 years, the EU agrees a Ukraine loan, the ECB leaves rates unchanged, the BoE cuts and UK construction plans look shaky. In M&A…

Thursday 18/12/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, UK inflation slows and interest rates look like they'll fall while BP's boss resigns abruptly. In TECH NEWS, AI stocks weaken, Amazon does an AI overhaul and Meta uses a new age-check system. In PROPERTY NEWS,…

Wednesday 17/12/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, both the US and UK see higher unemployment, Starmer looks vulnerable, the Erasmus programme looks like returning, risky crypto trading gets the go-ahead and oil prices hit a nine-month low. In M&A AND IPO NEWS, the…

Tuesday 16/12/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Trump goes off-piste, the UK and South Korea sign a new trade deal, entrepreneurs get blocked and we look at the state of the UK in visas, AI copyright and crypto. In CAR-RELATED NEWS, Brussels moves…

Monday 15/12/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Australia is to review gun laws after the Bondi tragedy, the UK economy contracts and we look at what's in store for UK interest rates and crypto. In CONSUMER-RELATED NEWS, job listings fall, the average mortgage…

Friday 12/12/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, the S&P hits a record high, the US trade deficit narrows, Trump rattles cages and Mexico slaps tariffs on Chinese imports. In TECH & MEDIA NEWS, we look at the impending IPO boom, Broadcom's shares weaken,…

Thursday 11/12/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, the Fed cuts rates, the US lengthens social media disclosure, the EU looks at more green walk-back and the UK government faces push-back against workers' rights legislation. In TECH & MEDIA NEWS, Google DeepMind unveils plans…

Wednesday 10/12/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Zelenskyy faces more pressure, Trump addresses concerns, US job openings improve, China's economy has issues, the French welfare budget passes, the Bank of England reckons the Budget will cut inflation and silver booms. In TECH &…

Tuesday 09/12/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Trump bails farmers out, Strategy's suffering continues and it seems that retail investors might be powering the stocks-and-gold bubble. In M&A AND IPO NEWS, Paramount spoilt the Netflix/WBD party and Magnum Ice Cream floats. In TECH…

Monday 08/12/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, the Fed's expected to cut rates, the US economic divide widens, China's trade surplus breaches $1tn, Thailand and Cambodia fight and the UK government faces difficult decisions over cars and energy. In M&A AND IPO NEWS,…

Friday 05/12/25

In CONSUMER & EMPLOYMENT NEWS, We look at the state of the American consumer and UK employment trends. In TECH NEWS, Meta plans metaverse spending cuts, Trustpilot gets accused of dodgy practices and we look at how AI could transform…

Thursday 04/12/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Trump throws his weight around, the EU looks at how to cut purchases from China, Trafigura predict low China oil demand, Sterling jumps, Indian equities underperform, Germany pours money into lithium and Glencore cuts 1,000 jobs.…

Wednesday 03/12/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Putin rejects the deal, Trump says he'll name the new Fed chief, Trump's sons' bitcoin venture suffers, UK pension funds ditch US stocks, the UK market shows signs of life, WPP looks set for demotion and…

Tuesday 02/12/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Costco joins companies suing the Trump administration, Starmer is accused of creating a new welfare trap, the OBR chair quits, the NHS agrees to pay more, BP ditches a hydrogen hub and Strategy's in a pickle.…

Monday 01/12/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, we look at the aftermath of the Budget and platinum's renaissance. In CONSUMER & EMPLOYMENT NEWS, we look at what's going on on both sides of the Atlantic and the latest trends in law firms. In…

Friday 28/11/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Carney makes an unpopular choice, we consider what happens next after the Budget, net migration falls and Labour caves on "day one" rights. In REAL ESTATE-RELATED NEWS, US banks announce UK expansion, Canary Wharf recovers, house…

Thursday 27/11/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, we take a look at yesterday's Budget, reactions and its impact while the S&P downgrades Tether's assets, crypto hoarders sell out and North Sea oil and gas groups get permission to drill. In TRUMP IMPACT NEWS,…

Wednesday 26/11/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, there's more progress on the peace plan, US retail sales data disappoints, Ozempic and Wegovy prices are cut, there are some pre-Budget tax changes and oil prices are expected to fall. In CONSUMER & EMPLOYMENT NEWS,…

Tuesday 25/11/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, there's a new peace plan, Russia pays more for war supplies, charges are dismissed against Comey and James, Trump and Xi have a chat, Trump and Takaichi have a chat, Reeves appeals to banks, the UK…

Monday 24/11/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, we consider the Ukraine "peace plan" options. In BUSINESS, CONSUMER & EMPLOYMENT TRENDS, we see what US corporates really think about Trump's tariffs, what US and UK consumers are facing, falling UK job vacancies, the plight…

Friday 21/11/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, the "peace" plan is presented to Ukraine, Brussels cuts the price of entry to the EU defence fund, Trump eases up on some Brazil tariffs, Takaichi announces a stimulus and US stocks slide again. In EMPLOYMENT…

Thursday 20/11/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, we see the latest on Ukraine, US interest rates, US-Saudi deals, the Epstein files and an easing in UK inflation. In TECH & MEDIA NEWS, Nvidia keeps showing up, Warner settles a lawsuit and Pinkfong has…

Wednesday 19/11/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, the Epstein files will be released, Trump receives MdS, the ONS continues to display its incompetence and markets tumble while Pinkfing pops and 80 countries back a COP30 road map. In RETAIL NEWS, Home Depot cuts…

Tuesday 18/11/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, China turns the screws on Japan and tourism stocks tank. In CONSUMER NEWS, the UK is to ban ticket resales and consumer protection increases. In M&A AND INVESTMENT NEWS, Ashurst gets with Perkins Coie, J&J buys…

Monday 17/11/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Trump relents on the Epstein files, the FAA reverses flight restrictions, foreign student numbers in the US fall, we look at whether the "crypto president has delivered, Spain's on track to beat Germany and fighter talk…

Friday 14/11/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, markets have a sell-off, the US announces new trade deals, the UK economy has a sluggish Q3, environmental initiatives go backwards and China buys gold. In EMPLOYMENT, CONSUMER & PIZZA NEWS, there's gloom about jobs, households…

Thursday 13/11/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Trump ends the shutdown and courts big cheeses but can't shake Epstein, Japan and China needle each other, Macron's pension reforms get suspended, Starmer has a 'mare, SSE wastes power and the IEA bets on rising…

Wednesday 12/11/25

In CONSUMER & EMPLOYMENT NEWS, investors pull cash from the stock market, UK grocery price inflation slows down and we look at what lies ahead for "Drastic Dave" and jewellers while considering employment on both sides of the Atlantic. In…

Tuesday 11/11/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, there' progress in the US shutdown, Reeves hints at breaking manifesto pledges, the Bank of England relaxes about digital money and Shell ditches wind projects. In TECH NEWS, Intel's top AI exec defects to OpenAI, CoreWeave…

Monday 10/11/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, there's movement on the US shutdown, Trump considers a payout and Spain is pushing back on migrants. In BUSINESS, CONSUMER & EMPLOYMENT TRENDS, US earnings are strong but tech has a tough week, Chinese automakers pull…

Friday 07/11/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, we take a look at Trump consequences, Merz backs protectionist measures, the Bank of England keeps rates on hold, UK construction activity slows, there's more Budget push-back, Gunvor gives up on Lukoil, Greece does a US…

Thursday 06/11/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Putin hints at testing nuclear weapons, Trump's going through a rough patch, Carney targets the public sector in Canada, there's more Reeves Budget chat, UK services show resilience, Citadel and Fortress take Ripple stakes and markets…

Wednesday 05/11/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, the US government heads towards its longest ever shutdown, Mamdani wins New York, stocks slide on AI fears and Canada moves to counter Trump's trade war. In TECH NEWS, AMD reports higher profits, Palantir's market value…

Tuesday 04/11/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, the US relents on chips to UAE, Starmer veers towards income tax rises, we review what Reeves could impose and Ørsted offloads. In M&A AND IPO NEWS, Kimberly-Clark strikes a $40bn deal, a $13bn oil and…

Monday 03/11/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, we see the emerging effects of Trump's policies, US markets boom, the Netherlands' swing to the centre is a positive for the EU, the UK's debt increases fast, Reeves airs various Budget possibilities, oil is to…

Friday 31/10/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Trump gets out-Trumped, China's factory activity contracts, the ECB keeps interest rates unchanged, Trump kills US oil, chocolate makers get optimistic, a crypto funds war breaks out and Coinbase sees volumes rise. In TECH & MEDIA…

Thursday 30/10/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, the US cuts interest rates, Trump leaves South Korea, the liberal D66 party wins in the Netherlands, Reeves looks at scrapping the oil and gas sector windfall tax, Goldman bets on a UK interest rate cut,…

Wednesday 29/10/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Israel strikes again, Trump moves on China and floats Bessent as a Fed chief, UK inflation gets some help, the US gets nuke commitment and Miliband wavers. In CONSUMER & EMPLOYMENT NEWS, US consumers spend, Amazon…

Tuesday 28/10/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, US debt keeps growing, Trump meets Japan's new PM, Reeves receives a gut punch from the OBR, gold eases, Lukoil moves to sell assets and we take a look at the world's best performing stock market…

Monday 27/10/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, a US-China trade deal nears, US interest rate cuts appear more likely, Trump raises tariffs on Canada, Milei scores big in Argentina and Putin faces a coup. In CONSUMER & EMPLOYMENT NEWS, supermarkets warn of higher…

Friday 24/10/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, EU leaders stall on Ukraine, Trump ends trade negotiations with Canada and pardons Binance's founder, sanctions on Russian oil hit and Aussie rare earth miners boom. In TECH NEWS, Anthropic and Google Cloud announce a major…

Thursday 23/10/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Russia launches more strikes, the US sanctions Rosneft and Lukoil, Reeves gets a bit of help, lawyers and accountants push back, the FCA sues HTX and BP ditches a US wind farm. In TECH NEWS, Trump…

Wednesday 22/10/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, the Budapest summit is cancelled, Japan gets is first ever female PM, Reeves bangs on, UK borrowing hits a five-year high, the Bank of England covers his behind, gold sees its biggest sell-off since 2020 and…

Tuesday 21/10/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Europeans support Zelenskyy, Trump backs the Aukus nuclear deal, Reeves looks to cut red tape, rare earths boom and Tesla dominates the UK mega battery market. In TECH NEWS, Amazon's outage could have repercussions, Apple's shares…

Monday 20/10/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Zelenskyy takes another beating from Trump, there are rumblings against Trump's policies, China slows but announces a 5-year plan, UK inflation hits a high and Budget jitters have repercussions while we take another look at rare…

Friday 17/10/25

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, we see different sides to Trump, Germany calls for a European stock exchange, Lecornu survives, the UK economy grows (very slightly) and Reeves takes aim at the affluent. In TECH NEWS,we look at the state of…