In MACRO NEWS, the US slows down and Germany falls into recession. In TECH NEWS, Nvidia booms, OpenAI warns Europe, Bertelsmann sees opportunities in AI, TikTok tests its own AI chatbot and the metaverse loses investors. In RETAIL & CONSUMER NEWS, luxury retail splutters, American retailers see sluggish sales, UK retailers feel a slowing momentum, Pets at Home wags its tail, Asos seeks help, UK lenders increase mortgage rates and energy bills look set to stay higher for longer. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, AJ Bell beats rivals, Fever-Tree increases market share and Cineworld is set for a comeback. AND FINALLY, I bring you the natural follow-up to Monday’s techno…
In TECH NEWS, Samsung faces its first ever strike, TikTok adapts, Meta begins its final round of layoffs, tablets get the upper hand and Embracer abosolutely tanks. In CAR-RELATED NEWS, the UK car industry calls for more slack on export rules, JLR is closer to choosing the UK for its battery factory and China takes risks to corner the lithium market. In RETAIL NEWS, M&S puts in a strong performance and Kingfisher suffers. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, inflation falls, house price growth steadies and London rents rise faster. AND FINALLY, I bring you a fake non-alcoholic Pimm’s and Cornish worm-charming…
In MACRO NEWS, the Bank of England faces criticism, the IMF eats humble pie and has a meddle while suggestions about crypto regulation are made by IOSCO. In TECH NEWS, Apple signs a massive deal with Broadcom, Meta sells Giphy, Anthropic raises money and China frets about Japan. In CONSUMER, RETAIL & LEISURE NEWS, UK food price inflation takes flak and SSP booms while Hilton and Marriott chase the same market. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Tesla considers England for a gigafactory, Netflix cracks down on password sharing and Cazoo tries to climb back up. AND FINALLY, I bring you a tricky puzzle…
In TECH NEWS, South Korea has a delicate chip situation, we look at reactions to Facebook’s fine and WhatsApp gets a new feature. In BANKS NEWS, global investment banks hit a China speed bump, JP Morgan talks about splashing out and the government sells more NatWest. In RETAIL & LEISURE NEWS, Prada considers a secondary listing, Macao casinos bounce back and Ryanair flies high. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, we look at A&O Shearman reactions, Chevron makes a big shale deal, Ford sources lithium and Big Yellow has a massive drop in profits. AND FINALLY, I show you an official list of where to have the best fish and chips…
In TECH NEWS, China boots Micron, Facebook eyes Magic Leap while getting fined for mishandling user info, speculation surrounds Apple and the metaverse and we see the battle between iMessage and Snapchat. In LEISURE NEWS, Ryanair has designs on Europe, workations boost leisure names and hospitality pay gets a boost. In REAL ESTATE NEWS, sellers perk up while buy-to-let suffers. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, NEWS, G7 disappoints, A&O engages in a massive merger and the vegan boom loses momentum. AND FINALLY, I show you how to write a techno song (no ChatGPT needed)…
In TECH & TELCOS NEWS, we look at chipmaking in Japan, the plan for semiconductors in the UK, TikTokers taking Montana to court, Apple restricting employee use of ChatGPT and BT’s job-cutting plans. In CONSUMER, RETAIL & LEISURE NEWS, consumer sentiment continues to improve, Walmart sees stronger sales, Asda plans headcount reduction, Burberry does well despite the VAT problem and EasyJet takes off. In CAR-RELATED NEWS, Geely takes a bigger slice of Aston Martin, Tata gets closer to building a UK gigafactory but we look at why this isn’t necessarily a good thing. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Eskom chief warns of blackouts, Revolut looks unlikely to get a banking licence and Royal Mail is in a pickle. AND FINALLY, I show you how drummers knock on doors…
In MACROECONOMIC NEWS, Japan exits recession, Europe softens towards the UK, the Bank of England acknowledges the wage-price spiral and South Africa could be heading for the naughty step. In RETAIL NEWS, Shein raises $2bn, Target earnings are squeezed, JD Sports heads for £1bn in profits and Watches of Switzerland does well on watch sales but not elsewhere. In TECH NEWS, Tencent revenues rise, TikTok faces a ban in Montana, Apple’s headset gets ever closes and Inmarsat has its strongest ever results. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, UBS/Credit Suisse has a reality check, British Land suffers and Purplebricks gets sold for £1. AND FINALLY, I bring you the different running styles of Hollywood actors…
In MACRO, OIL & CRYPTO NEWS, Thailand’s election result stirs things up, Putin continues to rake in the oil revenues and MPs call for crypto to be treated as gambling. In CONSUMER, RETAIL & LEISURE NEWS, US consumer spending rebounds while Home Depot suffers, Boohoo.com hits a loss, Marston’s toasts WFH and Greggs gets late-night opening. In TECH NEWS, OpenAI’s chief calls for rules and Facebook charges for verification. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Ford looks to scale back in China, the FTC warns of pharma consolidation, Disney’s ex-boss faces serious accusations, Land Securities’ portfolio takes a hit and Vodafone has a clear out. AND FINALLY, I bring you a great teacher…
In MACRO & COMMODITIES NEWS, the EU gets more positive, Italy scrambles to change its spending plans, Erdogan nears another victory and Newmont seals a $19bn deal with Newcrest. In CONSUMER, RETAIL & LEISURE NEWS, UK petrol prices are criticised, retailers jack up prices of own labels, Currys sees better sales, John Lewis hires a different ad agency, Center Parcs is put up for sale and Travelodge benefits from staycations. In FINANCIALS NEWS, HSBC doubles down on Asia and Nationwide launches a 0% green loan. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, the EU approves the Microsoft/Activision Blizzard takeover, BAT sees drama at the top and Vice Media files for bankruptcy. AND FINALLY, I bring you a tricky problem to solve…
In MACRO NEWS, the G7 and EU rule on Russian gas pipelines while Argentina faces tough choices. In FINANCIALS NEWS, the Bank of England aims to dilute rules for lenders, the EY Item Club reckons lending will increase and ‘sustainable’ funds are warned about greenwashing. In RETAIL NEWS, Amazon overhauls its delivery network and Morrisons cuts prices. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, public sector pay rises, grad salaries fall in real terms, AI voice synthesising poses dilemmas and fake meat continues to slide. AND FINALLY, I bring you the best bits of Darth Vader…
In MACRO NEWS, the Bank of England raised the interest rate and it looks like the ECB will continue to do the same. In TECH & MEDIA NEWS, the EU tightens up on AI and we look at whether AI could save Meta, how law firms are using it and how Sorrell reckons it’ll replace call centres while ITV sees a drop in ad revenues and Disney loses out in India but losses narrow. In FINANCIALS NEWS, PacWest takes another hit, SoftBank announces a massive loss and Revolut has issues. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Foxconn’s profits take a big hit, Adidas decides to sell Yeezy trainers and we look at some UK real estate developments. AND FINALLY, I show you how to make a pizza pop tart…
In BIG PICTURE & LAW NEWS, US inflation eases, Binance targets the UK, Microsoft invests in fusion, the UK keeps most EU laws, Ryanair beats the EU and Gen Z falls out with Big Law. In TECH NEWS, Google announces a new AI-powered search engine, Wendy’s experiments amid continued concerns over AI, TikTok holds back in the US and Uber bids for a travel super-app. In RETAIL & LEISURE NEWS, John Lewis keeps its chair, Asos blames returns for poor performance, Tesco cuts prices and Wetherspoon’s posts record sales. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Allkem does a lithium merger deal, Toyota commits more to EVs, Compass heads in the right direction and Icahn’s fund takes another pasting. AND FINALLY, I bring you a banana hack…
In BIG PICTURE & OIL NEWS, China investment in Europe drops, Erdogan dishes out pay rises, firms hire temps, confidence in the UK property market has a wobble and Saudi Aramco sees profits fall. In CONSUMER & RETAIL NEWS, bills look set to stay big, supermarkets face scrutiny over prices and John Lewis’s chair faces a vote. In TRAVEL NEWS, holidaymakers spend, Ryanair goes shopping and Airbnb has a mixed outlook. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Glencore plans a battery recycling plant, LinkedIn shuts down in China and Direct Line has a tough time. AND FINALLY, I bring you little-known facts about crisps and why pubs have weird names…
In MACRO NEWS, Germany edges closer to recession and Goldman reckons UK interest rates will hit 5%. In CONSUMER, EMPLOYMENT & BUSINESS TRENDS NEWS, 100% mortgages return, UK shoppers rein it in, WFH loses its lustre and bosses get optimistic. In TECH NEWS, investors pour money into AI, Big Tech could get even bigger as a result and WhatsApp might disappear. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, two Alzheimer drugs offer hope and Tyson Foods slides. AND FINALLY, I bring you a vision in a martini…
In MACRO, MARKETS & OIL NEWS, the ECB raises rates, the CMA vies for global impact and Shell unveils record profits!. In TECH NEWS, the big AI meeting happened and we look at why everyone is scared, how lawyers are using it as well as new pressures on Meta, Apple’s results and Shopify’s woes. In BUSINESS & CONSUMER TRENDS NEWS, it falls apart for Maersk, UK tourism boosts the services sector and Pinduoduo moves to Ireland, Chinese buy local carmakers and boost domestic tourism while consumers spend on houses, booze, trains, clothes and Peloton. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, European carmakers pour money into China, Thailand sees investment as well, Porsche and Aston Martin benefit from luxury spending, Lloyds profits boom, Icahn fights back (kind of) and Eli Lilly is close to another breakthrough!. AND FINALLY, US banks continues to suffer and Ferrari opens up sales again for its Purosangue
In MACRO, MARKETS, OIL & GAS NEWS, the Fed raises interest rates, LSE listing rule changes cause debate, oil majors rake in the trading revenues and France is left behind on gas. In TECH NEWS, AI faces a UK review, Microsoft warns of AI harm, Meta faces a ban, Qualcomm gets gloomy, refurbished iPhones in India are a hit and TikTok launches an ad product. In CONSUMER-RELATED NEWS, Eurozone jobless numbers fall, food price rises prove to be chunky, Heck gives up on vegan, Ryanair has a storming April, Airbnb goes back to basics and Flutter sees success. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, European carmakers pour money into China, Thailand sees investment as well, Porsche and Aston Martin benefit from luxury spending, Lloyds profits boom, Icahn fights back (kind of) and Eli Lilly is close to another breakthrough!. AND FINALLY, I bring you a very annoying illusion…
In MARKETS, MACRO & OIL NEWS, UK listing rules get a revamp, UK manufacturing is in a rut and BP unveils “heinous” profits. In TECH/AI NEWS, an AI pioneer departs with a warning, education companies take an AI hit, Amnesty uses AI and Bluesky emerges as a Twitter rival. In FINANCIALS NEWS, First Republic’s rescue fails to calm, HSBC unveils strong results and Icahn gets a huge kicking. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Ford posts profits, Lordstown is in a pickle, UK property prices rise and shops get a pre-coronation boost. AND FINALLY, I bring you a cake-off…
In BANKS NEWS, First Republic gets picked up by JP Morgan. In BUSINESS, CONSUMER & EMPLOYMENT NEWS, defence spending broadens, UK SMEs feel more confident, European shoppers push back, staycations herald good news, NDAs face scrutiny and grads have difficulties with teamwork. In TECH NEWS, Google and Musk step up their respective AI games, Twitter rolls out a paywall, Apple targets your dashboard and the UK government tries to get all tecchie. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Astellas goes shopping, Getir ponders buying a rival and Adidas faces a Yeezy-related lawsuit. AND FINALLY, I bring you a bottomless crisp buffet…
In MACRO, OIL & BUSINESS TRENDS NEWS, the US economy slows, the UK keeps the majority of European laws, Argentina’s interest rates head to eye-watering levels, BP resists pressure, China focuses on foreign businesses and the UK gets its mojo back. In TECH NEWS, Meta surprises, Intel disappoints, Snap’s sales fall, Dropbox cuts headcount and Microsoft reflects. In RETAIL & CONSUMER-RELATED NEWS, Amazon shares jump, Primark has hopes for the high street, food inflation nears its peak, Unilever is in denial and we look at gambling developments. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Deutsche does OK, Barclays’ profits hit a high and we look at EV safety, car charging and e-fuel as Eli Lilly has some gut-busting news. AND FINALLY, I bring you a very weird café…
In TECH NEWS, the Microsoft/Activision Blizzard deal gets booted by the CMA, Meta ends its slump and Tencent continues to search overseas. In FINANCIALS NEWS, First Republic can’t shake off contagion worries and Standard Chartered rides high. In CONSUMER & REAL ESTATE NEWS, Bank of Mum and Dad continues to save the day, UK gambling faces an overhaul and Persimmon builds fewer homes. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Kering lags, Heathrow disappoints, GSK does well and PwC embraces AI. AND FINALLY, I bring you an unusual “job”…
What’s the story?, What’s all the fuss about Web 3.0? Why is it interesting?, It could be the biggest shake-up of the internet since its creation!. So what?, Web 3.0 is coming but we don’t know quite how or when yet!
In TECH NEWS, European tech laws loom large, Twitter looks unprepared, Microsoft and Alphabet outperform expectations and Microsoft promises to unbundle Teams. In CONSUMER, RETAIL & LEISURE NEWS, UK grocery price inflation stays high (probably due in part to consumer goods groups shoving price rises through!), Primark’s sales climb, Ocado closes a big warehouse, McDonald’s has appetite, Pret ups subscription price and Premier Inn rebounds. In FINANCIALS NEWS, First Republic causes another kerfuffle, UBS is looking pretty good but Santander suffers windfall buffeting. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, GM ups its forecasts, Xpeng predicts massive consolidation, Spotify embraces AI and Netflix puts money into South Korea. AND FINALLY, I bring you an unusual sighting…
In MACROECONOMIC NEWS, US plays Pacific wargames, Australia overhauls its defence strategy, across-the-board export sanctions on China are rejected, India’s population overtakes China’s and the ECB looks likely to keep raising rates. In TECH NEWS, Apple wins its Epic Games appeal, we look at AI as a force for the good and online review farms face a reckoning. In RETAIL-RELATED NEWS, LVMH hits a $500m market cap, Adidas focuses on China, Gymshark gets a second wind and Morrisons rations peppers. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Credit Suisse lays bare its outflows, First Republic joins the living dead, Hambro Perks winds down, Disney makes more cuts and Prezzo shuts restaurants. AND FINALLY, I bring you something I guarantee you’ve never noticed…
In MACRO, MARKETS & COMMODITIES NEWS, UK inflation speculation continues, Wall Street comes up with a new fear gauge, BP is going to feel the pressure and central banks buy gold. In TECH NEWS, the US increases chip pressures re China, Big Tech reports this week as owners invest in fusion, Twitter gives blue ticks to dead people and the UK is close to creating a new tech regulator. In UK REAL ESTATE NEWS, landlords abandon London and first-time buyer homes hit new highs. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Bed Bath & Beyond files for bankruptcy, PepsiCo tries to be clever, carmakers get a taste of China’s progress and lab-grown meat continues to face an uphill struggle. AND FINALLY, I bring you news of a new “alternative” job and and unusual leaving cake…
In TECH NEWS, Insta retreats, Meta and the metaverse look tricky, Google plans to use AI for ads, Twitter cuts legacy check marks and China’s drone supremacy causes concern. In RETAIL & CONSUMER NEWS, Whole Foods talks cuts, Ikea announces a massive US investment, Mulberry gets a China boost, WH Smith travels well, consumer confidence rises – and they might get more money from the bank. In AUTOMOTIVE NEWS, we look at the role of EVs in net zero, Renault whinges about Tesla, Ford takes its electric pick-up to Norway and GKN’s automotive business has a massive IPO downer. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, BuzzFeed closes down news, Deliveroo delivers and Rentokil cleans up.AND FINALLY, I bring you a tale of how one woman made money from snoring…
In MACRO & CRYPTO NEWS, the Fed warns of mild recession, Bailey lays the ground for more interest rate rises and we look at why crypto needs to change. In FINANCIALS NEWS, the ECB and BoE talk about strengthening banks, JP Morgan pushes for more return-to-office, EY’s next nightmare begins and Warren Buffett is big in Japan. In TECH NEWS, Intel opens its Arm, SoftBank sells the family silver, streaming sites urged not to allow AI to scrape copyrighted music and there are rumblings at Twitter. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, the US pushes for EV take-up, Volvo AB posts strong Q1 profits, there’s mixed news for the UK housing market, Tesco cuts milk prices and Germany is set to legalise cannabis.AND FINALLY, I bring you an idea for left-over chocolate (a foreign concept in the Watson household 🤣)…
In MACRO, GAS & CRYPTO NEWS, UK inflation is expected to dip, EU gas storage levels are high but Putin makes more threats and Coinbase sets its sights on the UK. In BUSINESS & CONSUMER TRENDS NEWS, VW commits to China, Dell looks to distance itself from China, UK company collapses rise, house prices fall but EasyJet does well. In FINANCIALS NEWS, Goldman Sachs lags rivals and Bank of America announces job cuts. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Netflix adds subs, Lockheed Martin wants more, Entain looks good, THG faces reality, Meta opens up, WhatsApp and Signal object to online safety bill and J&J hits higher sales.AND FINALLY, I bring you ‘spoons hacks and a useful knot…
In MACRO & COMMODITIES NEWS, China’s economy expands, Lagarde warns of US-China consequences, China retaliates while some of its companies relocate and lithium prices weaken. In FINANCIALS NEWS, Apple makes a splash, US banks see withdrawals, EY makes cuts and McKinsey delays starts. In TECH NEWS, Discord looks solid and AI continues to court concern. In IPO & M&A NEWS, China’s Anta raises $1.5bn, Sega Sammy bids for Rovio, we look at the reasons for Merck’s acquisition and takeover fever his the UK – including THG.AND FINALLY, I bring you some very poor dad jokes…
In MACRO NEWS, we look at the effect of strikes on the UK economy, BT’s war games simulating a Taiwan invasion, G7 minister promises on fossil fuels and the vulnerability of US LNG projects. In FINANCIALS NEWS, the Bank of England looks at an overhaul of the deposit guarantee scheme and we see why this is important. In TECH NEWS, Musk is planning on a ChatGPT competitor, the European parliament takes a closer look at AI, Monzo warns against candidates using ChatGPT in applications, smart cars reveal all and Roblox makes progress. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Merck buys Prometheus Biosciences and GM ditches Apple CarPlay.AND FINALLY, I bring you a family dance…
In MACRO NEWS, China shows restraint, the UK flatlines, BP commits to Gulf of Mexico and Teck rejects Glencore again. In FINANCIALS NEWS, the LSE is to clear crypto trades, Twitter does a tie-up with e-Toro, Hunt looks at raising banking guarantees and UK lenders see a rise in defaults. In CAR NEWS, Hyundai and Kia get sued, China targets the European market and Ford launches a hands-free car. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Amazon does AI a bit differently, Germany wants Intel to spend more, EY tells staff to expect cuts, Crocs looks good, Tesco’s profits slide, Sainsbury’s cuts prices and the UK job market slows.AND FINALLY, I bring you a new type of roll…
In MACRO & CRYPTO NEWS, the Fed warns of mild recession, Bailey lays the ground for more interest rate rises and we look at why crypto needs to change. In FINANCIALS NEWS, the ECB and BoE talk about strengthening banks, JP Morgan pushes for more return-to-office, EY’s next nightmare begins and Warren Buffett is big in Japan. In TECH NEWS, Intel opens its Arm, SoftBank sells the family silver, streaming sites urged not to allow AI to scrape copyrighted music and there are rumblings at Twitter. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, the US pushes for EV take-up, Volvo AB posts strong Q1 profits, there’s mixed news for the UK housing market, Tesco cuts milk prices and Germany is set to legalise cannabis.AND FINALLY, I bring you an idea for left-over chocolate (a foreign concept in the Watson household 🤣)…
In MACRO, COMMODITIES & BITCOIN NEWS, we see a gloomy IMF, Glencore upping the ante and Bitcoin breaking $30k. In TECH NEWS, Biden considers AI rules, China proposes new AI rules and SoftBank commits to a stateside IPO. In FINANCIALS NEWS, HSBC hires SVB bankers in the US, KKR buys a chunk of FGS Global and EY rejects a split. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Tesla eyes Milton Keynes, BMW electrifies, Arrival is running out of gas and Sainsbury’s tries to appeal to customers.AND FINALLY, I bring you a test of Britishness…
In MACRO NEWS, China ups the ante with Taiwan and we look at the positives of the CPTPP. In BUSINESS & CONSUMER NEWS, US companies see a massive fall in profits, Europe’s biggest SPAC closes, the first batch of China IPOs under new rules launch, corporate activism hits new highs and supply chain recovery boosts optimism while UK consumer spending rises, first-time buyers focus on smaller homes and Norway sees billionaires depart. In TECH NEWS, Apple has hopes for India, Beijing targets tech, ByteDance posts record profits, AI data breaches cause concern and OneWeb/Eutelsat valuations hit reality. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Tesla increases China investment, Chinese EVs hit the UK, Teck rejects Glencore’s unsolicited bid and European commercial real estate creaks.AND FINALLY, I bring you some travel advice…
In MACRO NEWS, the IMF predicts gloom, China uses its grip on rare earth materials, Binance gets an Ozzie push-back and UK regulators turn their attention on finfluencers. In TECH NEWS, brands increase TikTok spending, Google cracks down on loan apps and includes Chat AI in search while a mayor threatens to sue ChatGPT and Samsung forecasts a dire outlook. In PROPERTY NEWS, BlackRock ends its block of property fund withdrawals, UK house prices surprise with a rise and builders show signs of recovery. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, UK firms offer “early finish Fridays”, Robert Walters has a disappointing Q1, retailers hope for a big spending weekend, Sainsbury’s defends vacuum packs, Tui reports strong demand and JCB’s chief pushes for hydrogen power.AND FINALLY, I bring you an illusion…
In FINANCIALS NEWS, the Swiss government cuts CS bonuses, hedge funds rake it in on bank turmoil, BlackRock gets called in to manage asset disposals, a new European defence ETF launches, Vanguard looks to exit China and VC funding for start-ups halves. In TECH NEWS, Microsoft and Amazon face a cloud probe, European AI start-ups rush to improve chatbot language skills, the UK launches a national emergency alert network, Savvy Games buys Scopely and an online marketplace of stolen identities is cracked. In CAR NEWS, record car sales highlight charger shortfalls, UBS reckons there’ll be a car price war and Ram’s new electric pick-up aims for a 500 mile range. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, US jobs data implies a slow-down, UK services’ PMI looks promising, Inditex nears a sale of its Russia business, Co-Op sets a new target, Franco Manca’s owner is bought by a Japanese group and Kirkland & Ellis hits $6.5bn in revenues.AND FINALLY, I bring you a weird Easter egg and how to make the perfect poached egg with no vinegar…
In MACRO NEWS, sterling rises, BoE economists debate the next interest rate move, China continues to retaliate and Shell is set to get $1.2bn. In FINANCIALS NEWS, Wall Street suffers Citrix impact, Dimon blames regulators, Credit Suisse investors vent and Rathbones buys Investec. In EMPLOYMENT NEWS, US job openings fall, Kirkland & Ellis gets brutal, McKinsey winds down and GM says it’ll shed 5,000 workers. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Tesla, Stellantis and BMW talk batteries, TikTok gets fined, L’Oréal buys Aesop, Saga suffers and asking prices fall.AND FINALLY, I bring you some egg warnings…
In OIL NEWS, the price jumps on OPEC’s production cut, we look at the reasons behind the cut and how it helps US shale while Putin pushes exports to a new high. In TECH NEWS, we compare GPT-4 and Bard, universities express unease with AI detection, TikTok continues to be under pressure and WANdisco execs take flak. In FINANCIALS NEWS, investors flee on the Swiss bank merger investigation, HSBC faces pressure from Hong Kong shareholders and NatWest limps on while Numis and Peel Hunt are gloomy about deal making. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, CATL faces EV scrutiny, Glencore wants more copper, car sales rebound, Cineworld pauses and Smythson posts a loss.AND FINALLY, I bring you a fact about tea you didn’t know and some coronation merch…
In MACRO & OIL NEWS, China retaliates, Finland’s PM loses election and oil prices surge. In FINANCIALS NEWS, the Credit Suisse takeover gets investigated, financial regulators ponder the future, UK vetting rules in finance get relaxed and thousands of City jobs are at risk. In AUTOMOTIVE NEWS, Tesla deliveries boom, a lux Chinese car brand aims for Britain, lithium shortages cause concern and JCB’s chief wants a rethink on net zero. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, WWE nears a body slam, Allied Universal shelves its IPO, Italy rejects lab-grown meat, consumers rein in spending, Parisians vote overwhelmingly to ban rental e-scooters and Sainsbury’s pursue Blumenthal lovers.AND FINALLY, I bring you a review of April Fool’s Day pranks…
In MACRO & ECONOMIC INDICATOR NEWS, the UK joins the CPTPP, Finland is cleared to join NATO, inflation falls in Spain and Germany while deal-making falls but UK business confidence rises. In BANKING NEWS, we reflect on the current crisis but Shawbrook comes up smelling of roses. In TECH NEWS, we see more reaction to AI, monetising Twitter Blue riles celebs and Meta pulls back on some ads. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, the UK minimum wage is to rise, the rise in UK pension age is officially postponed, Moonpig booms, Shein is on the launchpad, Morrisons sees a rise in revenues, Ford gambles on a nickel plant and Starbucks faces challenges from here.AND FINALLY, I bring you an amusing kid and an inspirational grandad..
In MACRO NEWS, Britain progresses towards the CPTPP, Shapps reiterates commitment to 2030, Spain tries to address pension shortfall and Erdogan tries to curry favour with lower energy bills. In FINANCIALS NEWS, UBS goes backwards to go forwards and Binance faces more allegations. In TECH NEWS, AI continues to ruffle feathers, we look at what the TikTok fight is really about and what might come after Alibaba’s split, increasing exasperation with the meh-taverse and EA’s plans to cut 6% of its staff. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Asda profits slide, Next sees rising profits, GameStop shrinks to grow and S4 Capital sees losses treble.AND FINALLY, I challenge your knowledge and show you how to train like John Wick…
In MEDIA & LEISURE NEWS, UK broadcasting rules get a massive overhaul, Disney ditches the metaverse and William Hill gets a big fine. In TECH NEWS, Apple launches BNPL in the US, Twitter changes the rules, chipmakers face a dilemma and we look at which jobs are most exposed to AI. In RETAIL NEWS, Alibaba is to split into six, Ocado surprises on the upside, UK supermarkets face squeezed margins and Next buys Cath Kidston. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, French banks get raided, the BoE talks about banks holding more cash, FTX’s SBF is charge with bribery, Brussels’ dithering puts UK’s 2030 deadline in doubt, EV start-up Lucid cuts 18% of the workforce and Lyft judders. AND FINALLY, I bring you an official list of the best pizza toppings…
In MACRO NEWS, Russia and China retaliate against the West, Hungary gets behind Finland’s NATO application, Netanyahu delays judicial reforms, Binance is threatened with a trading ban and the Treasury shelves plans for an NFT. In TECH NEWS, the US edges closer to a TikTok ban, Twitter looks optimistic and we look deeper into the impact of AI while Google’s answer to ChatGPT disappoints. In BANKING NEWS, First Citizens buys most of SVB while money gets pulled from European banks – fast. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, UK retailers get more optimistic, consumers face higher food prices, wages in Japan look up, Iger outlines a plan for cuts and Air India puts in a massive order for planes.AND FINALLY, I bring you a cat with a “Scouse” accent…
In MACRO NEWS, Putin plans nukes in Belarus and Russia adopts China’s renminbi. In BANKING NEWS, we look at the ongoing impact of the current banking crisis. In TECH NEWS, we look at the practicalities of banning TikTok in the US and why Chinese apps are so popular while Twitter has a source code leak and Musk offers stock options. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Northvolt aims to become Europe’s biggest battery maker, Britain’s battery plans look tricky, experts give their views on John Lewis and foreign buyers evaporate after a crackdown on “Londongrad”.AND FINALLY, I bring you something to while away a bit of time…
In MACRO NEWS, the Bank of England raises interest rates. In TECH NEWS, TikTok continues to fight, Beijing gets involved and Allen & Overy plugs AI. In FINANCIALS NEWS, Block gets hammered, Cenkos and FinnCap get together and Amigo Loans is a goner. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, UK consumer confidence improves, Ford expects electric losses, Evergrande strikes a deal, Accenture cuts tons of jobs, Wickes is positive and the London stock market loses ground.AND FINALLY, I bring you a salad hack and another illusion…
In MACRO NEWS, the US raises rates, UK inflation rises, Macron digs in and oil heads for $90. In FINANCIALS NEWS, Yellen’s remarks temper relief, the Credit Suisse/UBS story rolls on, PacWest gets cash and Coinbase gets a warning. In TECH NEWS, TikTok battles away, publishers wrestle with AI and Google’s Bard does it again. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Starbucks faces a China price war, Zurich legalises cannabis, Superdry does a South Korea deal, Ryanair’s chief warns of price rises, south west house prices take a hit, Fever-Tree fizzes and Indeed cuts 15% of its workforce.AND FINALLY, I bring you a new pasta sauce and how to make your phone go cold…
In MACRO, ENERGY & BITCOIN NEWS, we see the upshot of the Xi-Putin summit, Ukraine bagging a $15.6bn IMF loan, Rolls-Royce turning the screw as energy prices fall and bitcoin’s boom during banking’s bust. In BANKING NEWS, Yellen wades in on World Bank reform and First Bank support while UBS/Credit Suisse repercussions hit home and Jezza presses on with “Big Bang 2.0”. In AUTOMOTIVE NEWS, Brussels tries to appease on e-fuels, Ford launches a new EV, used EV prices drop and Maserati aims to emulate Porsche/Ferrari. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Google launches Bard, Just Eat lays off staff, GameStop booms, Nike’s sales jump, Netflix bets big, Kingfisher reflects a DIY decline and FTSE100 companies make more money in the US. AND FINALLY, I bring you the key to selling anything…
In MACRO & ENERGY NEWS, Xi Jinping meets Putin, Macron survives and a US firm offers mini-reactors. In BANKS NEWS, First Republic’s deal fails to satisfy and Credit Suisse repercussions echo. In CONSUMER & CONSUMER GOODS NEWS, UK house prices stay strong, Unilever does a bit of shrinkflation and Foot Locker paints a downbeat outlook. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Amazon ditches more staff, China pushes domestic chipmakers, VW has Russia issues, Starbucks new CEO makes a start and India opens to law firms. AND FINALLY, I bring you a well-executed wedding theme…
In MACRO & ENERGY NEWS, Xi Jinping visits Putin, Putin visits Mariupol, Macron faces big protests and Nucleo raises money to build small nuclear reactors in the UK. In BANKS NEWS, UBS rescues Credit Suisse, First Republic limps on and we look at the impact on central banks and small businesses. In TECH NEWS, there are appeals for more guidance on AI, TikTok continues to face an uphill struggle although its parent has CapCut in its back pocket and Twitter ads change. In RETAIL NEWS, John Lewis considers scrapping its partnership structure and M&S moves to lure John Lewis customers. AND FINALLY, I bring you an illusion and a very useful life hack…
In MACRO & COMMODITIES NEWS, the ECB raises rates, Macron aims to force through pension reforms, criticisms of Hunt’s Budget come through, Argentina looks forward and the palm oil dispute highlights differences. In FINANCIALS NEWS, First Republic gets rescued, Credit Suisse faces a tricky future and payments providers get scrutinised. In TECH NEWS, Microsoft mixes AI into its software suite, we look at ChatGPT-4 and how it would help the NHS, China’s AI bot fails to impress, TikTok continues to feel the pressure and is banned from government mobiles while Google Glass recedes again. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Deliveroo aims for profit, Rentokil booms and John Lewis scraps the bonus. AND FINALLY, I bring you an intriguing way of making money with AI…
In MACRO NEWS, we take a look at the budget and its winners and losers. In FINANCIALS NEWS, Credit Suisse causes a massive panic, Stripe raises money and Charles Schwab limps on. In TECH NEWS, the metaverse hits actual reality, the US threatens to ban TikTok, the UK invests in a “BritGPT”, Brussels looks to restrict imports of Chinese green tech and Zipline launches a short range delivery service. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Trainline finds a way, Inditex beats H&M and John Lewis gets a new CEO. AND FINALLY, I bring you the most ridiculous (yet practical) fascinator.
In MACRO NEWS, we look at who benefits from Aukus, US inflation slows, Argentina’s breaks 100% (!), Hunt is set to unveil the Budget and the UK is about to remove Malaysian palm oil import tariffs . In BUSINESS, EMPLOYMENT & CONSUMER TRENDS, we look at who’s hit the most by the cost-of-living crisis, company insolvencies, what’s happening with wages and mortgage approvals. In TECH NEWS, Zuckerberg lays off another 10,000, OpenAI unveils the upgraded ChatGPT, candidates use AI in applications and TikTok faces accusations. In FINANCIALS NEWS, US banks get downgraded as SVB repercussions persist, Credit Suisse’s woes continue, NatWest limits crypto payments and Binance suspends sterling transfers. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Saudi Arabia splashes out on Boeing jets, VW pours in the money to see off rivals and Celadon wins the right to sell medical cannabis in Britain. AND FINALLY, I bring you a warning and some things you didn’t know about Monopoly…
In SVB NEWS, we take another look at what happened over the weekend and the potential impact. In AUTOMOTIVE-RELATED NEWS, VW chooses Canada for its battery plant, Porsche gets a boost, Amazon and Rivian look to end exclusivity and Direct Line gets hit by car insurance claims. In TECH NEWS, the UK commits £2.5bn to quantum computing and Sunak hints at a TikTok ban. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, insurers face a “mega trial” over planes stuck in Russia, Pfizer announces a huge deal, Chick-fil-A wants to expand into Asia and Europe, John Lewis experiments and EY’s boss struggles with the vote. AND FINALLY, I bring you a kids’ toy and another optical illusion…
In MACRO NEWS, Xi Jinping and Rishi Sunak commit to military spending and Saudi Aramco posts record profits. In SCANDAL NEWS, we look at what went wrong with SVB and the subsequent impact. In TECH NEWS, Tim Cook has high hopes for Apple’s mixed-reality headset, metaverse applications have their ups and downs and Silver Lake goes for a massive takeover. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, China’s BYD avoids the UK, China moves to corner cobalt supply, UK business confidence rises and Fever-tree mixes it up. AND FINALLY, I bring you a very surprising optical illusion…
In MACRO NEWS, Biden talks big tax rises, US-Europe friction continues and the US imposes sanctions on Chinese companies. In TECH NEWS, Apple and Foxconn move closer to more India production, ASML’s ban hits Chinese companies and WANdisco falters. In CAR-RELATED NEWS, BMW pays out and China’s CATL reinforces its leading position in batteries. In BANKS NEWS, US investors dump bank shares and Credit Suisse’s nightmare continues. In RETAIL NEWS, Gap struggles to survive and Morrisons suffers while Asda and Morrisons relax buying limits. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, MGM China leads a Macau gambling recovery, Informa picks up, Page Group has another strong year and Domino’s benefits from the World Cup. AND FINALLY, I bring you an impressive Lego creation…