Category: Protected – Watson’s Daily

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, the US ups the ante on Iran, there's talk of a Syria pipeline, Trump does his thing, Burnham gets closer to the hot seat, the government nationalises British Steel and Zelenskyy's government is in turmoil. In IPO AND M&A NEWS, energy IPOs surge, we look at the Great British Sell-off, Uber buys Delivery Hero, ABB buys Rotork and Eli Lilly buys AtaiBeckley. In TECH & MEDIA NEWS, China pushes AI, Moonshot challenges Anthropic, TSMC invests big in US production and Netflix has a downbeat outlook. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, UK smaller companies aren't confident, Foxtons suffers and Ocado has a shocker. AND FINALLY, I bring you an unusual warm-up for a gym workout...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, US troops are to get testosterone treatment, oil traders warn on inventory levels, South Korea raises interest rates and we look at what could be in store for the new government. In TECH & MEDIA NEWS, Thinking Machines unveils a new AI model, ASML raises forecasts, Brussel braces for Google impact, the US gets selective on press freedoms, AI models on TikTok shop get pushback and SpaceX's share price goes underwater. In M&A AND IPO NEWS, Stripe and Advent bid for PayPal, CXMT aims for a big IPO and Utmost plans a London flotation. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Helsing's valuation prompts defence bubble concerns, Morgan Stanley gets a boost and Richemont beats sales expectations. AND FINALLY, I bring you an over-engineered sandwich...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Trump backtracks, US inflation cools, China reports weaker GDP growth and European defence groups get their heads together. In TECH & SOCIAL MEDIA NEWS, DeepSeek prepares to list, Hassabis calls for an AI watchdog, AI lawsuits highlights insurance gaps, New York state suspends data centre development, IBM shares crater and UK teenagers face a midnight social media curfew. In MARKETS AND M&A NEWS, Goldman Sachs rakes in the trading income, US small caps boom and Mike Ashley gets involved in the Harvey Nichols sale. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Lucid fields ideas, Watches of Switzerland bucks the luxury slowdown and the number of farms for sale hits a high. AND FINALLY, I bring you a toe-curlingly awkward mother-son chat...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, we see the latest on the Iran war, the boom in Chinese monthly car exports, De Beers halting production and the EU's purchase of Russian gas. In MONEY-RAISING NEWS, Wall Street advisory fees sky-rocket, Shell sells its Indian wind and solar business, data centre builders offload stakes, Morrisons tries to raise funds to take on Lidl and Moneybox turns to PISCES. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, VW confirms plans to cut more jobs, EV owners are going to be taxed for driving abroad, UK consumers splurge on beer and online shopping, China's grads face tough times and UK lawyers are looking into a potential power grid cover-up. AND FINALLY, I bring you some spinning latte art...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, the US launches more attacks on Iran, Burnham ponders an expanded autumn Budget, a "super" El Niño could push up global food prices and Britain's biggest community solar farm is forced to shut. In FINANCIALS NEWS, Apollo gazumps Castlelake and big PE firms take more cash. In TECH NEWS, Apple sues OpenAI and the social media ban causes concern about being too broad. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, we look at employment, the success of Airbnb at the World Cup, property trends and VW's ongoing quest to cut costs. AND FINALLY, I bring you Pot Noodle on a crumpet...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, we look at the SK Hynix share sale, ChatGPT's latest model, the ongoing impact of AI and Tencent in the deal to unwind Meta's Manus acquisition. In CONSUMER & EMPLOYMENT NEWS, Russian drivers suffer, Wegovy goes on sale in the UK and Reeves wants firms to retrain staff in AI. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Kraken becomes a unicorn, Netflix considers options and Eurostar prepares for 55 degree summers. AND FINALLY, I bring you some posh fried chicken...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, attacks on Iran and Russia increase, China's factory gate price jump, the KOSPI falls into bear market territory, Britain gets the biggest upgrade in the G7, Burnham has more of a plan, Farage faces Count Binface and Sizewell B gets an extension. In M&A NEWS, UniCredit gets a hefty slice of Commerzbank and Tesco considers a sale of the European business. In REAL ESTATE NEWS, the World Cup and heatwave deter homebuyers while Vistry's nightmare continues. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, we see that lawyers could get struck off for not using AI and the FCA charges a Goodwin Proctor lawyer with insider trading. AND FINALLY, I bring you some wholesome moments...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, we see strikes on Iran, more Trump threats, the White House pressuring US supermarkets, the Bank of England easing capital rules, Burnham's reality, Nigel Farage's stunt and US rare earth exports. In TECH NEWS, SpaceX gets nice recommendations from banks, data centre projects look set to face hurdles, Meta releases a new image model and tests "super sensing" AI glasses. In CONSUMER & EMPLOYMENT NEWS, house prices rise, employers hire part-timers and 75% of London jobs are at risk from AI. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, we see the M&A latest, the advent of electric trucks in the UK, John Lewis changes and M&S investing in fridges. AND FINALLY, I bring you a man who can play the guitar whilst executing a handstand...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, the tide turns in Ukraine, Trump's Venezuela strategy falls short, jet fuel prices fall and we see the latest in defence developments. In M&A NEWS, EasyJet agrees a takeover and ITV sells its media and entertainment business to Sky. In TECH NEWS, Microsoft cuts jobs in an Xbox reset, Samsung smashes another quarter and an AI guru bets on SK Hynix's US IPO. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Tesla rebounds, Walmart cuts prices, Ocado's founder is to step down and the Wegovy pill goes on sale in the UK high street. AND FINALLY, I bring you something you've probably not seen before...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Strait transits increase, oil prices fall but market fears rise, Currys' boss wants Burnham to ditch Reeves's job taxes and a Polish energy giant plans nuclear reactors across Britain. In TECH NEWS, Altman's proposal looks dangerous, Anthropic tries to close Claude loopholes, a massive Devon data centre sparks major concerns, Sony stops making physical games and Spotify acts to stop a Kalshi-powered surge. In CONSUMER & EMPLOYMENT NEWS, credit card defaults hit a new high, Manchester and Stansted airports report record passenger numbers, phone and laptop prices rise, South Korea's wealth divide gets worse and Germany demands sick notes. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, we see the latest in IPOs and M&A, Tesla improves, PwC wants Canary Wharf for its new HQ and Blue Owl has more redemption requests. AND FINALLY, I bring you an excellent impression of Erling Haaland...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, the US decides not to renew the trade deal with Mexico and Canada and Eurozone inflation falls. In M&A AND IPO NEWS, dealmaking booms, Bending Spoons has a great debut, KNDS ditches its IPO, Wayve chooses PISCES and Windrose Electric wants to do a SPAC-backed IPO. In TECH NEWS, economists get jittery over AI, the White House pushed plans for AI model standards, OpenAI looks at giving the government a 5% stake and battery start-ups looks to benefit from data centres. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, UBS wants wealthy Americans, the Halifax name will disappear, Google has to pay Klarna $2bn, Nike's gloom continues, the UK suffers the biggest fall in wealth, UK house prices rise and up to 150 WH Smith stores will close. AND FINALLY, I bring you some incredible skippers...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Trump's personal finances are revealed, the Supreme Court pushes back again and gold is on track for its worst quarter in over ten years. In TECH NEWS, the Magnificent Seven plunge, the Anthropic model ban is lifted and Claude Science is launched. In RETAIL & HOSPITALITY NEWS, Sainsbury's chief has mildly good news about grocery inflation, Asda cuts roles and pubs and restaurants continue to feel the heat. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, we take a look at some IPOs, investment in Brompton, Barclays buying its Canary Wharf HQ, AI and crypto flexing at Flexjet and the UK as a unicorn producer. AND FINALLY, I bring you a nice relaxing bike ride in the summer sunshine...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Trump takes a hit, Burnham makes promises, the yen hits a 40-year low, Strategy eats its own words and Europe could start winter with gas stocks at a 15-year low. In TECH & MEDIA NEWS, we look at the effect AI is having on power, ads, travel agents and Silicon Valley while Comcast spins off NBCUniversal and Sky. In BUSINESS & CONSUMER TRENDS, Maersk raises guidance, business confidence weakens, the World Cup boosts pubs and gambling, UK mortgage approvals weaken and BAT cuts 9,000 jobs. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, we see interesting developments in EV batteries, Nationwide cuts jobs, Atom Bank's sale looks iffy, the EU closes the "de minimis" loophole and WH Smith's fortunes continue to slide. AND FINALLY, I bring you some magic...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, we look at the latest in the wars, Venezuela, Starmer's dying days, Burnham's ambitions and Binance stopping its services to UK clients. In TECH NEWS, central bankers warn on AI, sovereign wealth funds power AI, DeepSeek plans a hiring surge, Trump relents slightly on Mythos, OpenAI selectively releases GPT-5.6, Apple wants memory chips, Musk plans a Starlink mobile push and we look at the success of Micron. In ROBOTAXI AND CAR NEWS, Shenzhen makes the robotaxi shift, Wayve makes waves and German carmakers are to impose more job cuts. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, consultants shift away from the billable hour, UK property is looking a bit iffy and TG Jones gets its restructuring approved. AND FINALLY, I bring you a tomato thing...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, there was an attack in the Strait of Hormuz, India orders weaponised drones, a key US inflation index hits 4.1% and electricity prices boom. In INVESTMENT NEWS, aircon stocks are hot, Ares Management's private credit fund is hit, there's more to biotech M&A than patent cliffs and EasyJet is still open to takeover. In TECH NEWS, the US government asks OpenAI to stagger the release of its new model, Meta looks to use AI for moderation, Micron shares boom, law firms chase AI gains and Apple announces big price increases. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, the US bans Polestar, Ferrari's marketing boss gets the boot, UK housebuilders warn, Bayer wins a key ruling, Magic Circle firms get overtaken and Ryanair revises its family seating policy. AND FINALLY, I bring you a brilliant parenting trick!

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Trump demands loyalty, Venezuela suffers two huge earthquakes, Burnham looks to move some operation to Manchester, NESO pays up for extra power, Rheinmetall suffers while KNDS moves towards listing, oil prices hit prewar levels and bitcoin hits a 20-month low. In TECH NEWS, SK Hynix seeks a US listing, Micron smashes forecasts, Qualcomm reveals Meta as a customer, Zuck wants to build a prediction markets app, Kalshi's looking to raise money and SpaceX stumbles. In M&A NEWS, Bain Capital buys into VW's marine engine unit, Qualcomm buys Modular and Segro rebuffs an offer from Prologis. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, UK job opportunities fall, the financial return for UK grads falls, UK car production rises and Zoox redesigns its robotaxis. AND FINALLY, I bring you a beer cocktail (and an unusual way to open a beer)...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, the Hormuz closure lingers, Putin gets pouty, Germany scraps warship plans, Starmer hands Burnham some tricky issues and Europe's heatwave boosts electricity prices. In TECH NEWS, the EU joins up with the US on AI supply chains, OpenAI pitches ChatGPT ads, Nvidia's banned chips double in price on China's black market and 21,000 jobs are cut at Oracle. In IPO AND M&A NEWS, China's set for a major IPO, Agility plans a SPAC-backed IPO, EG Group aims for a stateside flotation, Energy Fuels goes shopping and Walmart buys an ad tech firm. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Slate Auto is on track to build a no-frills electric pickup, Tesla booms in Europe, management consultants face challenges but not doom, Asda loses ground to rivals and the de minimis loophole won't close for ages yet. AND FINALLY, I bring you Huxley the dog...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Burnham looks set to take over and we look at why we've had so many PMs over the last ten years. In M&A AND IPO NEWS, Germany buys a big chunk of Europe's biggest tank maker, AbbVie buys Apogee, Castlelake makes a hostile bid for EasyJet and Lime aims for an IPO. In TECH NEWS, Alphabet loses two top researchers, ChatGPT gets access to Getty Images' archive, we see a landmark win for an AI law firm, Zuck gets in someone new to lead WhatsApp and SpaceX loses momentum. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, CATL is set to install battery stations in the UK, Lucid makes deep workforce cuts, Apollo's main private credit fund faces big redemptions, out-of-town retail parks are full and The Works looks to pick up the pieces of TG Jones. AND FINALLY, I bring you a lemon brûlée...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, peace talks are ongoing, Starmer quits, the ONS continues to be rubbish on jobs data and the Bank of England looks like it'll relax capital rules. In INVESTMENT, CONSUMER & EMPLOYMENT NEWS, VC cash diverts to defence tech, SpaceX gets the worst ESG rating, holiday bookings surge and shoppers splash out while weight-loss pills change spending patterns. In TECH & MEDIA NEWS, a young Brit works hard to build Trump-proof AI, NatWest train staff on AI risks and ministers push for better quality news on social media. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, David Lloyd considers a flotation, Ocado looks for a successor and UK telcos groups introduce a "kill switch". AND FINALLY, I bring you an amazing artist...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Iran wants Hormuz tolls, Hegseth announces a review, the Bank of England keeps rates unchanged and Burnham wins. In TECH NEWS, SpaceX looks for even more money and warns on EU satellite plans, JP Morgan Chase cuts off Anthropic access, we look at more AI impact and Apple raises gadget prices. In RETAIL NEWS, Tesco sees a sales slowdown and Aldi makes a push in America. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS,UK private sector wage growth slows, the UK government looks to overhaul the home-selling process and Castore buys an old shoe-maker. AND FINALLY, I bring you a support group that weans people off corporate jargon...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, the US and Iran sign a deal, the Fed keeps rates unchanged, UK inflation stays steady and Makerfield happens today. In TECH NEWS, Amodei urges G7 leaders to be united, SpaceX's Cursor acquisition could be a major boost, AI medical tools equal or surpass doctors, money keeps pouring in for data centres and Bezos backs a Cambridge AI start-up. In MEDIA NEWS, the social media ban could give digital advertising a £1.3bn hit and the new BBC boss announces job cuts while he's on holiday. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, JLR has America ambitions, Drastic Dave gets the axe out and Chinese universities climb the rankings. AND FINALLY, I bring you the ultimate gym bro...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Iran claims victory, oil goes below $80 and renewables get a boost. In TECH NEWS, the Anthropic debacle gets discussed, France's spy agency replaces Palantir, SpaceX is now bigger than Amazon and buys Cursor while Snap launches Specs. In CAR NEWS, the defence angle might not save the makers, BMW cuts guidance, JLR's in trouble again and Rivian lays of hundreds. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, PE bosses warn of AI threats, Rathbones bombs, Yum sells Pizza Hut, Kingsmill gets the OK for Big Bread. AND FINALLY, I bring you the King of Carbonara...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, an Iran/US deal is reached, markets expect US interest rate rises, Venezuelans go off Trump, the UK economy contracts, Starmer looks ready to backtrack on EV targets and announce an "Australia plus" ban on social media and we see the latest on energy. In TECH NEWS, SpaceX booms and Anthropic has a nightmare. In RETAIL NEWS, Cotswold Company sees record sales, retailers criticise the government and Sigma Healthcare pulls out of Boots acquisition talks. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, overseas buyers buy into the UK, Vistry's having a 'mare and the Item Club forecasts a prolonged housing market slowdown. AND FINALLY, I bring you a bit of music to start the week...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, an Iran/US deal is reached, markets expect US interest rate rises, Venezuelans go off Trump, the UK economy contracts, Starmer looks ready to backtrack on EV targets and announce an "Australia plus" ban on social media and we see the latest on energy. In TECH NEWS, SpaceX booms and Anthropic has a nightmare. In RETAIL NEWS, Cotswold Company sees record sales, retailers criticise the government and Sigma Healthcare pulls out of Boots acquisition talks. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, overseas buyers buy into the UK, Vistry's having a 'mare and the Item Club forecasts a prolonged housing market slowdown. AND FINALLY, I bring you a bit of music to start the week...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Trump claims to be close to a deal with Iran, Yellen warns over US debt, the ECB raises interest rates, Starmer faces more issues, gold hits a low and industrial metals prices stay strong. In TECH NEWS, some company called SpaceX has its massive IPO and Bezos predicts that AI will herald "golden ages". In LEISURE NEWS, ITV expects a World Cup advertising bonanza, prediction market footie flutters hit $2bn, the Emirates offers incentives to fly and Wizz Air makes UK threats. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, CLSA is to disappear and LIV events look tricky. AND FINALLY, I bring you a horse playing the drums in a bathtub...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, the US attacks Iran again, Trump says "I love the inflation" and threatens not to renew the trade deal with Canada and Mexico, China orders less oil and US tech stocks fall. In MANUFACTURING NEWS, Lockheed Martin can't make promises, Ukraine builds a cheap Patriot alternative, MHI has backlog problems, Mercedes-Benz partners up with Tytan, China's cleantech industry gets a Trump boost and BYD aims to become the world's biggest car firm. In TECH NEWS, Anthropic releases a "safe" version of Mythos, Oracle outlines a $70bn datacentre spend, tin gets hot and the Met warns over the Palantir rejection. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Fraser's offers to buy Hugo Boss, Neura raises $1.4bn, WH Smith's nightmare continues, estate agents get more positive, Fuller's hopes for a decent summer and supermarkets are left hungry by weight-loss jabs. AND FINALLY, I bring you a sassy waitress...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, the US launches strikes on Iran, the NASDAQ loses ground, China factory gate prices rise, Reeves moots the possibility of tax rises to fund defence spending and Starmer gets feisty. In M&A NEWS, GSK announces a big acquisition, VodafoneThree eyes TalkTalk and Boots might ditch the IPO and sell itself. In TECH NEWS, SpaceX edges closer, we see the more unusual beneficiaries of AI, Palantir sues Khan and Brussels tells Meta to open up WhatsApp. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Renault puts a cap on defence revenues, Wayve eyes London, GM makes moves in batteries and Airbus has a plan to rescue the fighter jet programme. AND FINALLY, I show you the proper way to open champagne - and the fun way...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Israel and Iran stop counterstrikes, Berlin ditches the Franco-German fighter jet project, Switzerland weighs up a Franco-Italian tie-up, the Pentagon put Alibaba, Baidu and BYD back on the blacklist, Trump's $100k visa fee is blocked and Reeves pushes companies to use AI. In CONSUMER & EMPLOYMENT TRENDS, China's silver economy booms, European drivers cut back on fuel use and Campbell's sales drop while Meta launches the "Workforce Academy" and Wix.com cuts 20% of its workforce. In IPO AND M&A NEWS, OpenAI decides to do an IPO, university endowments look set to do well from SpaceX, Tate & Lyle agrees to the Ingredion takeover, Intesa bids for Monte dei Paschi and software buyout deals collapse. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Apple unveils Siri AI, Apollo and Blackstone raise $35bn in chip financing, Brazil looks to break China's rare earth dominance and AstraZeneca has good news on an anti-obesity drug. AND FINALLY, I bring you a bit of unusual piano playing...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Israel attacks Iran and oil prices rise, Trump pressures Warsh and ministers are told to cut budgets to boost defence spending but the national debt is huge. In INVESTMENT & BUSINESS TRENDS, it looks like we could be at the beginning of an investment super-cycle, South Korea's index weakens on a tech sell-off, air fare rises are likely, British businesses hope for a World Cup boost and some discount retailer go off the boil. In TECH NEWS, SpaceX signs a deal to lease capacity to Google, OpenAI plans its biggest ChatGPT overhaul yet, EU attempts to resist US tech dominance could fall flat and we look at the UK's reliance on Palantir. In EMPLOYMENT & EDUCATION NEWS, Walmart tries to reassure its workers, UK employers are hiring more temps, employees are going freelance, a US law firm offers newly-quals £189k and uni fees for overseas students are sky-rocketing. AND FINALLY, I give you some treadmill ideas...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Hizbollah rejects the ceasefire, the US plans to cut commitment to NATO, we look at why the Gulf states and Ukraine need each other, Burnham confirms his intention to replace Starmer and Bitcoin drops. In RETAILER & CONSUMER TRENDS, Lululemon cuts its outlook, US apparel retailers suffer from the effects of weight loss drugs, UK car sales hit a high, weak beer sales boom and Amazon does ultra-fast deliveries in the UK. In TECH NEWS, the US NSA uses Mythos, Kirkland & Ellis works with Palantir and Goldman Sachs predicts massive revenue growth for SpaceX. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, China's clampdown hits UK banks, Blackstone caps withdrawals, the World Cup offers betting opportunities and private schools in England lose pupils. AND FINALLY, I bring you a bit of music to end the week...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Israel and Lebanon agree to a ceasefire, Putin relies on India, Bessent dismisses inflation as a blip, Trump tries tariffs again, the UK government puts money in the pot for Universal Studios, Gulf states talk oil pipelines and BP considers quitting the North Sea. In TECH NEWS, SpaceX aims for a $1.8tn valuation, everyone wonders what's going on with OpenAI, Google increases the size of its raise, Meta bets on AI agents, Broadcom craters and mobile gaming companies hit out at Brussels. In EMPLOYMENT & EDUCATION NEWS, the number of UK workless households hits a new high, online ads for UK starter jobs halve and it turns out that a number of UK unis almost ran out of cash last year. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, the Saudi wealth fund goes local and Nissan signs a deal with China's Chery. AND FINALLY, I show you what can happen when you say "yes"...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, tetchiness rages between the US and Iran, buoyant US markets mask what's underneath, gold becomes the world's top reserve asset, UK government borrowing is higher than expected and MPs don't want Palantir. In IPO NEWS, Chinese investors could be locked out of the SpaceX IPO, analysts question SpaceX's valuation and fears rise over a dotcom bubble 2.0. In TECH NEWS, Trump signs an AI vetting order, the US datacentre build-out falls behind schedule, Anthropic expands Mythos access, Microsoft releases more models and Google's equity raise adds to the tech money vacuum. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, the IT consulting share price collapse continues, buy-to-let lending drops, crypto tech could transform property buying and working from home proves to be another factor at play in youth unemployment. AND FINALLY, I bring you some kitchen entertainment...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, we see the latest Trump war negotiation claims, he drops his "anti-weaponization" fund, Frederiksen gets a third term and the new Hungarian PM does some spring cleaning. In BUSINESS & EMPLOYMENT TRENDS, the OECD concludes that Chinese firms benefit hugely from state subsidies, the M&S chairman makes observations regarding growth prospects, around 20% of young people are expected to be unemployed next year and confidence in degrees hits a record low. In TECH NEWS, Florida sues OpenAI and Altman, Alphabet sells stock to raise cash for AI, Anthropic files for an IPO and offers EU access to Mythos, Nvidia unveils a "superchip", young people are lukewarm about AI, estate agents using AI get in trouble and Tencent closes in on an AI agent. In M&A NEWS,Castlelake wants easyJet, People Inc offers to buy the rest of MGM Resorts and General Mills sells Häagen-Dazs ice cream outlets in China. AND FINALLY, I bring you a fun car journey...

In BUSINESS & EMPLOYMENT TRENDS, robotaxis continue to spread across the US, Accenture UK's boss says that most businesses haven't yet profited from AI, hospitality bosses blame higher taxes for the youth jobs crisis and Bain, BCG and Alvarez say they are actively hiring grads. In INVESTMENT NEWS, Wall Street bulls brush off bubble concerns, Berkshire Hathaway looks to buy home builder Taylor Morrison, investors manoeuvre ahead of SpaceX's IPO and a jamming-resistant radio maker seeks a buyer. In TECH NEWS, SoftBank overtakes Toyota and pledges to build Europe's biggest AI facility in France while Intel aims to take on Nvidia with a new AI chip. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, China provides a real boost for activewear and UK house prices are on track to fall. AND FINALLY, I bring you an Air Jordan burrito...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Netanyahu orders troops to take control of 70% of Gaza, Washington is supposedly nearing a ceasefire deal and Chevron's CEO warns of oil price rises to come. In TECH NEWS, we see how the AI boom has powered stock markets, Musk undermines his own deal, Anthropic's latest funding puts it ahead of OpenAI, Amazon ditches its AI leaderboard and Kirkland & Ellis decides to make its own AI tech. In M&A AND IPO NEWS, Fertitta buys Caesars, FN Browning buys Accuracy International and Oura launches Ring 5 ahead of an IPO. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, construction in London falls way short of target, buyers still like seaside locations, one in seven uni grads are NEETS and Temu gets a €200m fine. AND FINALLY, I bring you an amazing dance...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, the US strikes Iran, oil prices rise and a global recession is on the cards. In CONSUMER & RETAIL NEWS, UK consumers face higher prices, Lidl overtakes Morrisons, Waitrose steps up its game and Modella Capital buys Flying Tiger. In TECH NEWS, China overhauls its surveillance network, the EU pushes for tech sovereignty, Robinhood unleashes AI chatbots and employees go tokenmaxxing. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, consulting faces an AI reckoning, Canada does a German LNG deal and Newcleo goes public via the SPAC route. AND FINALLY, I bring you the cutest thing you'll see today...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, back-channel Iran talks continue, Trump wins again, the UK imposes sanctions on a crypto exchange and BP kicks out its chair. In EMPLOYMENT NEWS, Samsung workers negotiate a massive bonus, ByteDance does its best to stop its AI team from leaving, AI hiring tools are flawed, Manchester uni makes a promise and Next's boss warns about the major drop in entry-level jobs. In TECH NEWS, Spotify's boss defends AI music, Xiaomi's profit weakens and Pinsent Masons gets punished for an AI error. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, AI consultants want to eat the Big Four's lunch, Ferrari's new EV takes a lot of criticism, Eli Lilly buys vaccine developers and B&Q hopes for heatwave gains. AND FINALLY, I bring you an alien pool...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, we see the latest on the war, the ongoing energy shock and Reeves' appeal to "buy British". In UK EMPLOYMENT NEWS, long-term unemployment hits a ten-year high, workers hang on to jobs, UK universities reduce headcount while hauliers, hotels and farms are "in survival mode". In TECH NEWS, the AI IPO boom is coming, SpaceX launches the redesigned Starship, AI guardrails get compromised, Meta wants Apple to bear the age check burden and McKinsey is being forced to rethink pricing because of AI. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, geothermal power gets a boost, Ferrari launches its first EV, Uber considers a higher bid for Delievery Hero and bank lending to UK businesses hits an almost 30-year low. AND FINALLY, I bring you some Scottish songs...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Russia suffers, Erdoğan tightens his grip, Saudi Arabia reins in superfluous investment, the UK government gives and takes and Trump postpones an AI order. In BUSINESS & CONSUMER TRENDS, UK business activity drops, Investec makes a private bank push, Walmart spots a pattern and UK consumer confidence rises. In IPO AND M&A NEWS, Wall Street tech IPOs are about to suck in loads of money, SpaceX postpones a key launch and Estée Lauder ends merger talks with Puig. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Spotify targets superfans, Stellantis plans a slew of launches, Deckers benefits from Hoka demand, a Swiss battery developer uses UK tech and Khan blocks the Palantir deal with the Met. AND FINALLY, I show you what it's like to be Britney Spears' keyboard player...

In IN BIG PICTURE NEWS, the oil price falls, India's Modi has to let the Iran impact filter through, UK inflation slows, Reeves abandons supermarket price caps but promises free bus rides, Starmer ditches the fuel duty increase and eases Russian oil sanctions while confirming a Gulf deal. In TECH NEWS, Nvidia knocks it out of the park, SpaceX releases its IPO prospectus and OpenAI moves towards flotation while Meta and Intuit make big cuts. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Urban Outfitters and Target put in decent performances, M&S still has some convincing to do and UK midcaps look ripe for mergers. AND FINALLY, I bring you an interesting day with an MJ lookalike...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, the Xi-Putin summit kicks off, the Trumps get immunity and eliminate critics, the US cuts troop numbers in Europe, other countries get inspired by Iran, Reform chooses a candidate to fight Burnham and Shell urges Labour to reopen the North Sea. In CONSUMER & EMPLOYMENT NEWS, consumers continue to face rising costs, UK unemployment rises, the NHS looks to cut recruitment and use AI more while accountants are more interested in AI specialists than auditors. In CONSUMER GOODS NEWS, Chanel goes positive on China and Dr Martens stages a turnaround. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, SpaceX's IPO feeds the hype, Google announces the release of smart glasses and Monzo aims for European expansion. AND FINALLY, I bring you a contender sport for the Olympics...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, the US eases Russian oil sanctions, Xi prepares to meet Putin and the UK leadership debacle continues. In M&A NEWS, NextEra is to buy Dominion Energy in a whopping $67bn deal, Anglo American strikes a $3.9bn deal, Uber keeps its options open regarding Delivery Hero and Google teams up with Blackstone. In CONSUMER & EMPLOYMENT NEWS, Britons are most concerned about inflation, Reeves moves to cancel the planned fuel duty rise, youth unemployment levels fall to Covid era levels and Standard Chartered announces job cuts. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Anthropic is to brief the Financial Stability Board, Musk loses to Altman, Halifax's brand could disappear and Ryanair shares drop. AND FINALLY, I bring you another example of El Estepario Siberiano's genius...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, China's industrial production slows, Gulf freight rates rise, Xi and Trump make some progress, the UK nears a trade deal with Gulf states, the UK leadership battle hots up, a full-blown energy crisis approaches and Spain takes a turn. In BUSINESS TRENDS NEWS, UK firms stop investing and hiring while JLR and GM turn to military trucks. In PROPERTY NEWS, it turns out that we have the highest property taxes and amateur property investors are getting pushed out. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Chinese AI groups overtake US rivals, Publicis makes a $2.2bn deal and 90% of financial influencer posts offer "low quality" advice. AND FINALLY, I bring you some astute observations...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Washington hosts Lebanon/Israel talks, Warsh gets the Fed job, US markets remain impervious and Japan's markets benefit, China's fuel exports fail to rebound, the UK economy has an unexpected bounce and Starmer faces a Burnham-shaped leadership challenge. In LUXURY & RETAIL NEWS, LVMH sells off Marc Jacobs, Burberry returns to familiar territory, Landsec is bullish about occupancy levels and Boots gets a new boss. In AUTOMOTIVE NEWS,Ford surges and JLR's annual profits all but disappear. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, we see the latest from Klarna and Revolut, Hargreaves Lansdown has a trim and Anthropic looks at an impressive valuation. AND FINALLY, I bring you some important life hacks...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Starmer faces more challenges, the King's Speech set out the government's roadmap, Farage faces an enquiry and we await the outcome of the Xi/Trump summit. In CONSUMER & EMPLOYMENT-RELATED NEWS, restaurant businesses try to adapt to a GLP-1 world, StubHub hits Q1 profits, Tui prays for bad weather, Cisco announces AI-related job cuts and a Chinese court provides and interesting precedent. In CAR NEWS, Xpeng talks to VW about buying a factory in Europe and Nissan talks to rivals about sharing its space. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Citadel tells researchers to relocate, the FCA pushes private credit groups and UK estate agents get gloomy. AND FINALLY, I bring you the mystery of the missing hummus...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Iran expands the scope of the war, Russia buts growth forecasts, Starmer survives (for now) and US inflation jumps. In CAR-RELATED NEWS, Stellantis and Ford adapt, Panasonic's battery business gets a Tesla boost and Tesla invests in its German factory. In CONSUMER & PROPERTY NEWS, Britons change holiday plans, Greggs raises prices, UK homes stay on the market longer, new builds drop and Canary Wharf returns to profit. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, eBay rejects the takeover offer, private credit concerns impact Blue Owl, Walmart makes layoffs, Nike loses out in China and we see whether we've seen the last of the Manus wheeze. AND FINALLY, I bring you a Ninja Warrior kitchen set-up...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, there's nothing doing in the war, an FCC Commissioner identifies a witch hunt, Starmer tries to cling on, UK borrowing costs rise, Ramaphosa fights impeachment, coal shipments jump and Saudi Aramco warns about fuel stocks. In CAR NEWS, BYD does well abroad but its domestic woes continue, pure EV sales rise and Lotus throws a lifeline. In LEISURE & RETAIL NEWS, airlines cut prices, Heathrow passenger numbers fall, Asos shares rise and Shein fights Temu. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, the NHS looks like it'll give Palantir contractors "unlimited access", AI agent dangers increase, the chicken king raises prices and Eon offers to buy Ovo. AND FINALLY, I bring you a bit of unusual gym inspo...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Iran responds badly, Trump hands China a big opportunity, LNG could be Trump's next anti-Europe weapon, Starmer fights for his life and Saudi Aramco profits boom. In CONSUMER & EMPLOYMENT NEWS, consumers face tougher times, off-plan home sales languish, the UK is forecast to shed jobs and more Gen Zs become content creators. In MONEY RAISING NEWS, Lime files for an IPO while Anthropic and Helsing see higher valuations. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, European carmakers take a hit, Nintendo raises Switch 2 prices and Modella Capital has plans for WH Smith. AND FINALLY, I bring you some nifty finger dancing...

In IN BIG PICTURE NEWS, the war rumbles on, Trump's 10% global tariff is ruled illegal, Wall Street's rebound comes courtesy of a few major winners, Labour loses out big time, climate campaigners slam Shell and BP plans to further distance itself from the green agenda. In TECH NEWS, the sector rally powers hedge fund gains, the IMF warns about new AI models, Meta sues Ofcom, Toss expounds the benefits of FacePay, Ramp raises funds and Cloudflare says it'll cut jobs. In GAMBLING NEWS, Kalshi's valuation quadruples, Polymarket does more questionable stuff and Paddy Power's owner threatens to quit London. AND FINALLY, I bring you a great excuse for being late to work...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, déjà vu kicks in on the war and the consequences continue. In TECH & MEDIA NEWS, Samsung hits $1tn, Arm forecasts big sales, DeepSeek approach a $45bn valuation, SpaceX rents capacity to Anthropic and Disney sees revenue growth. In HIGH STREET & RETAIL NEWS, JD Wetherspoon has another profit warning, TSB is to disappear, WH Smith Stores face closure and Joybuy makes progress in the UK. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Airbus gets a big order, Morgan Stanley offers spot crypto trading, DoorDash grows its customer base, Novo Nordisk gets another bite and landlords suffer. AND FINALLY, I show you the downside of interrupting "cheese reflection" time in France...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, "Project Freedom" hits a bump, Modi returns to dominance, the UK's long-term borrowing costs reach a high, oil reserves plunge and Norway plans to reopen three gasfields. In AUTOMOTIVE NEWS, UK EV sales boom, Nissan moves to close a Sunderland production line and Toyota goes electric. In TECH NEWS, Google, xAI and Microsoft come to an agreement, AMD beats forecasts, Meta gets sued and plans an advanced "agentic" AI assistant while Apple reaches a $250m settlement. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, we look at the latest challenges for consumers, job seekers and travellers while LVMH plans to slim down, HSBC's profits fall, Vodafone takes control and Tinder recovers. AND FINALLY, Carter shows us how to make millionaire's shortbread...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, we consider the latest war developments and impact, China builds soft power, Putin tightens his security, Starmer remains defiant and the Trump crypto venture fights back. In BUSINESS & CONSUMER TRENDS, UK goods exports haven't recovered, Australia does trade deals, UK hospitality adapts, UK retail space shrinks, and pressures on UK consumers shift. In TECH NEWS, Palantir beats forecasts, Celonis bids to take Palantir on and Nintendo's disappointing run continues. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, GameStop bids for eBay, Rheinmettal disappoints, the accountancy gravy train experiences leaves on the line and Just Eat couriers launch a legal action. AND FINALLY, I show you how to level up your beans-on-toast game...

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, we see the latest war developments and consequences, US GDP bounces back and stocks hit record highs, Trump drops scotch tariffs, the ECB and BoE keep rates unchanged and oil companies are having another look at Venezuela. In TECH NEWS, Apple sees booming sales, Huawei sees surging chip sales, Sandisk and Western Digital see higher profits, Zuck justifies the gloom, calls to ban Palantir in Australia grow louder, Roblox cuts outlook and Synthesia's chief warns against "AI sloppification". In CAR NEWS, VW looks to cut production in Europe while Rivian boosts capacity. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Polymarket bets look dodgy, Eli Lilly's profits more than double, "Ozempic breath" fuels breath mint demand and Premier Inn closes Beefeater and Brewers Fayre. AND FINALLY, I bring you an unusual version of "Wrecking Ball"...