Watson's Daily

Friday 03/05/24

In MACRO, COMMODITIES & ENERGY NEWS, Turkey stops trade with Israel over Gaza, the OECD sticks the boot into the UK, Shell beats profit forecasts, Gazprom has its worst loss in decades, US cattle prices fall and Ørsted warns of…

Thursday 02/05/24

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, US interest rates look like they'll be higher for longer, Sunak faces a reckoning, councils suffer, UK manufacturing falters and UK universities face more course closures. In RETAIL, CONSUMER GOODS & LEISURE NEWS, Mulberry sales fall,…

Wednesday 01/05/24

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Biden looks to loosen marijuana rules, the EU exits recession and investigates greenwashing, food importers brace for cost increases, council funding looms large, a lithium miner eyes Durham and cocoa prices drop suddenly. In RETAIL, CONSUMER…

Tuesday 30/04/24

In MACRO, BUSINESS & CONSUMER TRENDS NEWS, China's factory activity increases, German inflation remains stubbornly high, Scotland's in a kerfuffle, ad jobs are hit by spending cuts, Getir goes back there and non-food shop prices fall. In TECH & MEDIA…

Monday 29/04/24

In AUTOMOTIVE NEWS, European makers embrace Chinese tech, Musk makes a pit stop in China, the EU ponders car tariffs on Chinese car imports, luxury cars succumb to a weakness and car insurance rises. In CONSUMER TRENDS NEWS, the cost-of-living…

Friday 26/04/24

In MACRO, MARKETS & MINING NEWS, Biden takes a hit, the Bank of Japan keeps interest rates unchanged, markets drop on US disappointment and we take a closer look at the BHP deal. In TECH NEWS, the US pushes for…

Thursday 25/04/24

In MACRO, MINING & ENERGY NEWS, Spain's PM considers resignation, Indonesia raises interest rates, BHP suggests a takeover of Anglo American and the UK generates a record low proportion of fossil fuel-generated electricity. In TECH NEWS, China searches for its…

Wednesday 24/04/24

In MACRO & COMMODITIES NEWS, the US Senate passes a $95bn aid bill, the Bank of England's chief economist sounds cautious, UK borrowing is higher than expectations, we look at UK election timing options, Ithaca buys Eni assets, De Beers'…

Tuesday 23/04/24

In MARKETS & M&A NEWS, the FTSE hits a record high, investors start pricing in a US rate increase, the FTC attempts to scupper a deal and City advisers rake in the Nationwide fees. In TECH NEWS, TikTok faces pressure…

Monday 22/04/24

In AUTOMOTIVE NEWS, we see that an EV glut could cause problems, Tesla has a tough time and Nissan cuts profit estimates. In AI NEWS, the US seeks an alliance with Abu Dhabi and commodities traders use AI to get…

Friday 19/04/24

In MACRO & COMMODITIES NEWS, Iran takes action, Sunak faces a big test and there's bad news for chocolate fans. In TECH & MEDIA NEWS, Google streamlines and Meta unveils a new model while Big Tech seeks AI monetisation, TSMC…

Thursday 18/04/24

In MACRO & BUSINESS TRENDS NEWS, the Israeli public is split on how to respond, the Vix soars, China relies on manufacturing as a saviour and Bailey banks on a "strong drop" next month. In TECH & MEDIA NEWS,ASML forecasts…

Wednesday 17/04/24

In MACRO & COMMODITIES NEWS, US inflation remains stubborn, the IMF sticks the boot into the UK again, Hunt it hopeful about tax cuts and Bailey is hopeful about interest rate cuts while wage growth slows and unemployment rises. We…

Tuesday 16/04/24

In MACRO, MARKETS & COMMODITIES NEWS, Iran forces action, US stocks have a wobble, China's GDP growth jumps, oil stays calm but metals prices rise. In TECH & MEDIA NEWS, Samsung boosts US chipmaking, we look at AI development, Apple…

Monday 15/04/24

In MACRO, OIL & MARKETS NEWS, Biden reacts to Iran dialling things up, the oil price implies that the situation isn't expected to escalate, Shell's latest threat could have major consequences and China's capital markets slow down. In BUSINESS &…

Friday 12/04/24

In MACRO & ENERGY NEWS, China's inflation weakens but strong inflation hits US and UK election prospects, the ECB sticks, Vietnam condemns a fraudster to death, UK energy imports are set for a new high, western countries facilitate Russian LNG…

Thursday 11/04/24

In MACRO & REGULATION NEWS, US inflation rises unexpectedly, China gets downgraded, the IMF warns about trade wars, the FCA proposed ditching MiFID rules and watered-down Basel III rules could be good news for US banks. In EMPLOYMENT & BUSINESS…

Wednesday 10/04/24

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, China and Russia get closer, the EU investigates Chinese wind turbines and BP gets downbeat but drilling is set to start at a big North Sea oil field. In CAR NEWS, Chinese vehicle sales rise but…

Tuesday 09/04/24

In MACRO & COMMODITIES NEWS, Jamie Dimon warns of global economic risks, German factory production expands, gold hits a record high, Shell threatens to head across The Pond and Vitol puts in another strong performance. In RETAIL & BEAUTY NEWS,…

Monday 08/04/24

In MACRO NEWS, Biden gets shirty with China, Aukus may get a new member and the UK looks like it's out of recession. In BUSINESS, EMPLOYMENT & CONSUMER TRENDS NEWS, recruitment and starting pay growth lose momentum, flexible working rules…

Friday 05/04/24

In TMT NEWS, LG is downbeat, Samsung is upbeat, a Chinese robot maker is determined, the music industry pushes back against AI, Google's move to charge for AI power could bring cheer for rivals, X dishes out the blue ticks,…

Thursday 04/04/24

In MACRO NEWS, US inflation stays high and might delay our interest rate cuts (which might dent Sunak's bid for re-election), Eurozone inflation falls and more Baltimore repercussions emerge. In MEDIA NEWS, Bob beats Nelson, Paramount enters exclusive talks with…

Wednesday 03/04/24

In MACRO, ENERGY & BUSINESS TRENDS NEWS, inflation in Germany falls, EU gas storage hits new highs, the Bank of England's forecasting gets an overhaul and UK manufacturing turns around. In CAR NEWS, Tesla disappoints, Xiaomi still has room, used…

Tuesday 02/04/24

In MACRO, ENERGY & COMMODITIES NEWS, another Trump/Biden race looks likely to create more uncertainty, Turkey's Erdogan takes a hit, solar panels get used as fences and coffee prices rise. In TECH & MEDIA NEWS, the US and UK agree…

Thursday 28/03/24

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, the yen hits a new low, more weakness is predicted for Germany and we look at the ongoing effects of the Baltimore bridge disaster. In M&A NEWS, we see that the number of big deals doubles…

Wednesday 27/03/24

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, US business in China stalls, the Bridge collapse sends shockwaves, Larry warns of a retirement crisis, the French budget deficit is worse than expected, the UK outlook improves and worries increase over China cornering the copper…

Tuesday 26/03/24

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Balkan leaders talk conscription, the US and UK accuse China of cyber attacks, British energy imports hit a new high, cocoa prices overtake those of copper and bitcoin's rise wakes VCs up. In RETAIL & LEISURE…

Monday 25/03/24

In MACRO NEWS, the US and Japan get very cosy and KPMG predicts 3% interest rates. In INVESTMENT-RELATED NEWS, US investment funds pull big money out of ESG funds, green investment trusts suffer, tech founders sell shares and bitcoin fund…

Friday 22/03/24

In MACRO NEWS, the Bank of England leaves interest rates unchanged, government borrowing is higher than expected, Turkey hikes rates and Milei gets his chainsaw out. In TMT NEWS, Apple faces an antitrust case, Reddit booms on its debut, Warner…

Thursday 21/03/24

In MACRO, BUSINESS & EMPLOYMENT TRENDS NEWS, the Fed sticks to its rate cut plans, Vietnam is in turmoil, the weight-loss drug trend could be big in China and Gen-Z rage-quitting rises. In TECH NEWS, Intel gets money from the…

Wednesday 20/03/24

In MACRO & MINING NEWS, the BoJ's decision provides a boost, UK inflation falls, Hunt hints at an October election, fund managers get bullish, Hong Kong gets a tougher security law and mining giant Vale faces a massive legal action.…

Tuesday 19/03/24

In MACRO & ENERGY-RELATED NEWS, the Bank of Japan goes crazy, China's industrial production rises, the Eurozone's trade surplus hits a record high and the world's biggest solar panel maker announces deep cuts. In REAL ESTATE NEWS, Evergrande faces accusations,…

Monday 18/03/24

In MACRO NEWS, Putin wins, Wilders is in a pickle and the Bank of England is likely to keep rates unchanged In BUSINESS TRENDS NEWS, recession fears recede, pubs and bars close and ITV announces more cuts. In CAR NEWS,…

Friday 15/03/24

In MEDIA & TECH NEWS, the TikTok drama continues, Reliance buys out Paramount and the government's AI ambitions look questionable. In RETAIL NEWS, John Lewis decides to focus on retail (finally!) while US retail bounces back. In PHARMACEUTICALS NEWS, Wegovy…

Thursday 14/03/24

In BUSINESS & EMPLOYMENT TRENDS, US solar players suffer Chinese competition and Japanese workers get a hefty pay rise. In RETAIL & CONSUMER GOODS NEWS, Dollar Tree shuts stores, Inditex invests and Adidas has its first loss in 30 years.…

Wednesday 13/03/24

In MACRO, ENERGY & OIL NEWS, US inflation surprises, the UK shows signs of puling out of recession, nuke fusion gets closer and OPEC raises 2024 economic forecasts. In CONSUMER, RETAIL & LEISURE-RELATED NEWS, household bills are set to rise,…

Tuesday 12/03/24

In MACRO, ENERGY & CRYPTO NEWS, Japan avoids recession, the UK's inflation basket changes, EQT creates an integrated gas group and the FCA lifts a ban on crypto-backed securities. In TECH & MEDIA NEWS, a Singapore chipmaking start-up opts for…

Monday 11/03/24

In MACRO, OIL & ENERGY NEWS, Biden's economic rating ebbs away, Saudi Aramco pays up despite oil price weakness, cheap power deals are on offer in the UK but the SMR decision has been postponed. In BUSINESS & EMPLOYMENT TRENDS…

Friday 08/03/24

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, the ECB looks at a June rate cut, Hunt takes £200m from councils, Chinese trade is boosted by Russia, Washington pushes for more China restrictions, Apple faces an EU probe, AI's predicted to suck energy and…

Thursday 07/03/24

In MACRO & ENERGY NEWS, we take a look at the Budget, what China's doing to spark the economy and the UK's record support for renewables. In TECH & MEDIA NEWS, Worldcoin meets resistance, OpenAI counterpunches Musk, Meta and Google…

Wednesday 06/03/24

In MACRO & CRYPTO NEWS, China announces an "ambitious" growth target and we take a look at six US swing states, prospects for Hunt's budget, the end of recession and crypto reaching new highs. In FINANCIALS NEWS, the IMF warns…

Tuesday 05/03/24

In MACRO, BUSINESS TRENDS & COMMODITIES NEWS, Trump gets momentum and US defence companies lag Europeans while iron ore and pork prices fall. In CAR-RELATED NEWS, the Chinese EVs are coming, Tata wants to split out its car business and…

Monday 04/03/24

In MACRO & OIL NEWS, Le Pen kicks off her European election campaign, Hunt has budget dilemmas, Addison Lee provides a barometer of the City and OPEC+ decides to prolong production cuts. In CAR-RELATED NEWS, Chinese EVs power ahead of…

Friday 01/03/24

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, US inflation rises and European inflation falls, Hunt ditches 99% mortgages and mortgage approvals rise. In RETAIL & LEISURE NEWS, tourists say they'll spend more if the tax is lifted, high street footfall drops, Sainsbury's cuts…

Thursday 29/02/24

In MACRO & CRYPTO NEWS, the global tax deal is looking precarious, wealthy Brits could be prolonging inflation, Hunt considers ditching "non-dom" status, 10% of English councils face bankruptcy and bitcoin breaches $60k. In TECH & MEDIA NEWS, Google gets…

Wednesday 28/02/24

In RETAIL NEWS, the UK tries to lure Shein, Currys snubs Elliott, Asda falls off the pace, Homebase reports heavy losses and Macy's shuts stores. In CAR-RELATED NEWS, Shenzhen plans to boost car exports, the UK prepares to investigate Chinese…

Tuesday 27/02/24

In BUSINESS, CONSUMER & EMPLOYMENT NEWS, Japanese robots are coming to Europe, we look at whether Toyota was right to stick to hybrids, UK consumers spend and see food price inflation slow down while junior lawyers at one firm could…

Monday 26/02/24

In ENERGY, OIL & MINING NEWS, we look at green u-turns, Britain being powered by the Sahara, Europe cutting reliance on Russian oil and Alcoa buying Alumina. In BUSINESS TRENDS & EMPLOYMENT NEWS, the Red Sea is still causing problems,…

Friday 23/02/24

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, markets boom, the Eurozone downturn eases, business activity rises but consumer confidence weakens while mortgage rates rise, Jezza considers 99% mortgages and petrol gets more expensive. In TECH & MEDIA NEWS, Nvidia smashes it, Google has…

Thursday 22/02/24

In MACRO, COMMODITIES & CRYPTO NEWS, we look at global debt, Fed jitters, Germany's mess, the UK's dilemma, consolidation in oil, disappointment in mining and thoughts on bitcoin. In TECH NEWS, Nvidia smashes it and Lenovo's revenues rebound. In EV…

Wednesday 21/02/24

In MACRO & BUSINESS TRENDS NEWS, there's chat about interest rates and we see countries and industries feeling increasingly threatened by China. In RETAIL & LEISURE NEWS, Walmart puts in a solid performance, the Body Shop continues its terminal decline,…

Tuesday 20/02/24

In MACRO & MINING NEWS, the EU election campaign kicks off, Germany looks like it's in recession, France tightens finances, the Bank of England gets a warning, Birmingham council has to take drastic action, Russia shows resilience, Polymetal secures an…

Monday 19/02/24

In MACRO, COMMODITIES & ENERGY NEWS, China has a good start, natural gas prices drop, hydrogen gets exciting and Great British Nuclear seeks out a site. In BUSINESS TRENDS NEWS, gaming slows down, Deloitte reacts to the lack of deals…

Friday 16/02/24

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Japan, Europe and the UK economies suffer, we look at business trends regarding China, Twitter and bargain retailers and consumer trends where Jet2 sees good demand and Ryanair makes progress. In CAR-RELATED NEWS, Stellantis warns of…