In MACRO & COMMODITIES NEWS, Germany struggles, the oil price won’t get a shale reprieve and olive oil stocks are running out. In M&A AND BUSINESS TRENDS NEWS, TAP goes up for sale, Arcelik/Whirlpool faces scrutiny, dealmaking hits a decade low and UK business confidence takes a blow. In TECH NEWS, OpenAI, Jony Ive and SoftBank are cooking something up, Zuck gambles on AI, Apple’s new phones get hot and Fortnite’s maker cuts 16% of its workforce. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Evergrande’s shares are suspended, the average UK fixed rate mortgage dips below 6%, new housing starts boom, John Lewis does the sale/leaseback thang, Northvolt goes to Canada and Sunak keeps EV sales percentages in place. AND FINALLY, I bring you the impressive sport of pole vaulting…
In CURRENCY & OIL NEWS, we look at why sterling is weakening and the consequences of China nearing “peak oil”. In FINANCIALS NEWS, private valuations come under scrutiny, Binance withdraws from Russia and space insurance becomes increasingly necessary. In REAL ESTATE NEWS, Evergrande faces another clampdown, UK commercial real estate landlords take a hit, Zoopla confirms the house price trend and mortgage payers make tough choices. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Meta launches AI chatbots, McKinsey makes another opioid payout, Ford and GM come to a major crossroads, Lululemon and Peloton play nice and H&M sees profits rise. AND FINALLY, I bring you something quite pointless but impressive…
In MACRO & BUSINESS TRENDS NEWS, the pound has a torrid time, the business environment in China deteriorates and Meta pays big money to break its London office lease. In CONSUMER & RETAIL TRENDS, US consumer confidence falters, UK first-time buyers dwindle rapidly and Asos cuts profits forecasts. In TECH NEWS, the FTC goes after Amazon and OpenAI chases a $90bn valuation. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Tesla could come under the scope of the EU investigation, the EU is in talks with Moderna and Smiths Group reports. AND FINALLY, I bring you some very impressive basketball training moves…
In BUSINESS & CONSUMER TRENDS NEWS, global trade slows, western companies adapt to the China situation, China property woes risk contagion, UK manufacturing responds to Sunak’s retreat, London offices plummet in value, the outlook for retail sales improves, Aldi moves up in the pecking order and Entain bemoans the lack of online gambling. In TECH NEWS, Amazon invests in Anthropic and Huawei impresses with new gadgetry. In CARS & TRANSPORT NEWS, Ford holds back on a controversial battery plant, Nissan commits to all-electric and HS2 faces a reckoning. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, the Germany economy remains stuck in a rut, DWS pays the price for greenwashing and staff absences rise. AND FINALLY, I bring you a wild pull-up variation…
In MACRO & COMMODITY NEWS, the UK economy looks set to slow, Russians dodge oil sanctions while Greek shipping magnates benefit and healthy gas stocks bode well for the winter. In AUTOMOTIVE NEWS, carmakers call for an EU tariff delay while Ford makes progress in Canada. In EMPLOYMENT NEWS, there’s progress in Hollywood and we look at AI-proof futures. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, there’s bad news about Lego’s eco-bricks. AND FINALLY, I bring you the ultimate cheese toastie…
In BIG PICTURE NEWS, the Bank of England left interest rates unchanged, Sunak enjoys an interesting week, a VC firm splits out its China business and Russia imposes a diesel export ban. In CONSUMER, RETAIL & LEISURE NEWS, UK consumer confidence rises, UK retail gets a lift, Next booms, JD Sports braces itself, Ocado has a downgrade, DFS sees its profits halve, SSP has a bounce and the City Pub Group toasts a decent performance. In IPO AND M&A NEWS, Kokusai Electric gears up to be Japan’s biggest IPO in five years, Arm falters, Cisco buys Splunk for $28bn in cash and Toshiba is to be taken private. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Rupert Murdoch steps down, Deezer ups prices and Warner Bros invests in Leavesden. AND FINALLY, I bring you some epic pit stops…
In MACROECONOMIC NEWS, the Fed held rates, Sunak reins in climate commitments and inflation could hit 5% by year end. In REAL ESTATE NEWS, US warehouses hold up, Dubai property prices spike on Russian buyers, UK property price inflation drops, house sizes get smaller and lenders cut mortgage rates while rents surge. In CAR-RELATED NEWS, BYD targets Japan while Cazoo fails miserably. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, WhatsApp launches in-app payments in India, Huawei makes a breakthrough, Disney needs to do more, FedEx’s earnings rise and tenpin bowling stays popular. AND FINALLY, I bring you the world’s deepest pool…
In BIG PICTURE NEWS, we see how EVs could hit the US election, the OECD is down on the UK, UK inflation weakens, Sunak is about to backpedal whilst also facing an oil headache and EU companies continue to rail against China. In CONSUMER, RETAIL & LEISURE NEWS, homelessness is on the rise as rents get exorbitant, mortgage bills for many look set to rise, Instacart’s IPO goes well, H&M charges for returns, B&Q’s owner takes a hit, Ocado’s venture with M&S rebounds, Naked Wines looks iffy and Tui extends the holiday season. In REAL ESTATE & FINANCIALS NEWS, British Land bucks the gloom, Revolut gets more time and Hargreaves Lansdown benefits from rising rates. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Disney moves forwards, YouTube rises above, Google DeepMind helps drugmakers and Philip Morris thinks about a reshuffle in its pharma business. AND FINALLY, I bring you a Terry’s Chocolate Orange faux pas…
In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Hungary drags its feet on Sweden’s NATO bid, we look at how far interest rates could fall, the WEF predicts AI’s impact on jobs, S4 Capital takes a hammering, UK businesses see a fall in orders and shoppers get deeper into debt. In TECH NEWS, Apple gets higher sales and SoftBank buys into AI while Instacart and Klaviyo test investor appetite for IPOs. In CAR-RELATED NEWS, Tesla scouts out Saudi Arabia, UK carmakers want concessions and Pendragon looks to sell to Lithia. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, HS2 appears to be slipping away and Shein takes a look at Missguided. AND FINALLY, AND FINALLY, I bring you an amazing surfing challenge…
In MACRO & OIL NEWS,China has issues, the Fed could defy investors, the Bank of England is expected to raise interest rates, UK manufacturing hunkers down and oil prices head to $100 a barrel. In TECH NEWS, the China/Apple thing could be a warning, Arm’s advisors get big fees, SoftBank plans a deal spree with the flotation proceeds and another UK chip designer heads stateside. In REAL ESTATE NEWS, the supply of UK homes looks like it’ll get worse, sellers cut prices and renters pay more. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, China Evergrande has more problems and worries about Zhongrong deepen. AND FINALLY, AND FINALLY, I bring you ways to fail successfully…
In BIG PICTURE NEWS, the ECB hikes rates, higher fuel prices bite, Maersk dabbles with green methanol and China attacks the EU’s move on EVs. In CONSUMER, RETAIL & LEISURE NEWS, US consumer prices rise, the wage differential between London and the rest of the UK widens, Carrefour gets punchy on shrinkflation, Lidl suffers, John Lewis delays turnaround, THG’s shares tank and Chick-fil-A ponders a return to the UK. In TECH NEWS, Apple’s problems in France could spread and Arm has a strong debut. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, we look at gathering momentum in IPOs, Spire benefits from NHS strife and Hipgnosis sells assets. AND FINALLY, AND FINALLY, I bring you an amusing dog trick…
In BIG PICTURE NEWS, US inflation rises, the UK economy contracts, the Saudis and Russians pump up the oil price, the EU pushes back against China’s EVs and the EU backs new air pollution limits. In SERVICES & EMPLOYMENT NEWS, Citigroup is set for a major overhaul, Deloitte announces layoffs, EY announces record revenues, WFH boosts women in employment and we look at the effect of relationships in the workplace in the light of Looney’s resignation. In TECH NEWS, there’s good and bad for Apple, Big Tech decides not to charge a premium for AI, TikTok rocks Europe and Arm’s price is set. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, cash use increases, energy bills look set to rise, Zara’s owner commits to big stores, H&M is to sell used clothing, UK estate agents get very downbeat and Redrow warns of a dive in profits. AND FINALLY, I bring you a very challenging game…
In BUSINESS TRENDS NEWS, we look at China’s business sentiment, China’s car makers being on the verge of overtaking Japan, the clamour for arms, German gloom, the UK’s resurgence and developments in law. In CONSUMER/RETAIL NEWS, pay rises exceed inflation, food price increases lose momentum, mortgage rates are cut (but mortgage arrears rise), dynamic beer pricing faces a backlash, Aldi and Lidl lose ground, more Wilko stores are picked up, Wickes gets a WFH boost and ABF predicts higher profits. In IPO NEWS, TKO floats while Birkenstock and Lime make preparations. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Google faces a tricky time, Oracle gets cautious and BP’s CEO resigns. AND FINALLY, I bring you some amazing pizza tossing…
In TECH NEWS, the US does chunky chip and AI deals in Vietnam, Qualcomm gets a new Apple contract, Arm sees decent demand, Instacart tests investor appetite and AI could control the skies in future. In RETAIL & LEISURE NEWS, supermarket prices tumble, Wilko shuts down, supermarkets might profit from user data and Wagamama’s owners ditch loss-making brands. In REAL ESTATE NEWS, Vistry decides to focus on social housing while AI data centres see more investment. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, the EU downgrades its own forecasts, Sweden is to spend big on defence, the FDA approves new Covid boosters, Oxford’s Mini plant gets a £600m boost, Tesla sees value in AI and CMS is the latest law firm to make big cuts. AND FINALLY, I bring you some impressive kids…
In BUSINESS TRENDS NEWS, Beko warns of the China threat, PwC tries to cut conflict of interest and UK firms look vulnerable. In CONSUMER & RETAILER NEWS, consumers face rents that could rise four times as fast as buying, Waitrose makes price cuts and we look at the potential for discounters. In TECH NEWS, the iPhone15 launch approaches and news publishers look set to be transformed by AI. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, we look at the future of China and how a rubbish dump transformed into the UK’s third biggest solar farm. AND FINALLY, I bring you a fun-looking game…
In MACRO & ENERGY NEWS, the Bank of England reckons we’ve reached peak rates, Erdogan officially changes tack and governments pour money into fusion. In RETAIL & LEISURE NEWS, Waitrose jobs are vulnerable, Ocado cuts prices, Sainsbury’s evolves its fashion offering, Halfords benefits from its cars business, WH Smith’s travel business is looking good and Wagamama’s owner defies defies casual dining gloom. In REAL ESTATE-RELATED NEWS, WeWork renegotiates, Barratt reckons recovery will take two years and prefab specialists benefit from the Raac debacle. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Big Tech faces Brussels, Beijing bans iPhones, Universal does a deal with Deezer, Roku cuts staff, we look at the disaster of local councils and car makers expound the benefits of e-fuels. AND FINALLY, I bring you some amazing stunts…
In MACRO, OIL & ENERGY NEWS, Chinese and European services sectors wobble, opinions on the UK contrast, Turkey has a bumpy road, oil prices hit $90 while North Sea oil production falls and the onshore windfarm ban gets lifted. In CONSUMER, LEISURE & RETAIL NEWS, US consumers flex the plastic, UK consumers rein in car buying, John Lewis hires a turnaround specialist, Lidl plans to open a mega-warehouse, vultures pick over Wilko’s remains, European tourism defies logic and CloudKitchens suffers from falling demand. In MEDIA NEWS, Meta ditches its news funding scheme, TikTok tries to satisfy and Warner Bros cuts profit forecasts. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, London renting gets ridiculous, holiday lets face closure and Birmingham goes bankrupt. AND FINALLY, I bring you the eternal struggle between youth and age…
In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Country Garden gets a reprieve, Chinese banks sail close to the wind, we look at why inflation in Europe is higher than the US and how Germany sees falling exports. In CAR-RELATED NEWS, BMW warns about China, China’s share of the European market grows and we look at the need for EV battery recycling and Toyota’s advances with hydrogen. In CONSUMER & RETAIL NEWS, consumer spending rises as wages increase, Superdry looks super-troubled and there’s finger-pointing going on re the Wilko debacle. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, China makes a major chip breakthrough, Novo Nordisk becomes Europe’s most valuable company, GSK pioneers a new vaccine and Nestlé offloads its peanut allergy business. AND FINALLY, I bring you a bracing way of waking up in the morning…
In MACRO NEWS, US interest rates could have peaked, China’s slowdown causes ripples in Asia and Hunt expects an inflation blip. In CONSUMER, RETAIL & LEISURE NEWS, consumers get hit by fuel price rises, M&S keeps improving, Aldi expands in the US and Bill’s is looking good. In REAL ESTATE NEWS, 50,000 households fall into negative equity, student housing shortages reflect wider problems, divorcees get new home loans and developers fear a slump. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Chinese banks support Russian comrades, Chinese battery factories move forward and Arm backpedals on its valuation. AND FINALLY, I bring you some impressive push-ups…
In FINANCIALS NEWS, Beijing orders defence of the yuan, Zhongzhi causes panic, Adyen has a nightmare, UK banks have to provide and EY warns staff. In TECH NEWS, Google DeepMind tests a personal life coach AI, Tui launches an AI tour guide and Twitch provides new blocking capability. In RETAIL & FASHION NEWS, Walmart gets more confident, Zara uses its slick process, H&M is to phase out Myanmar suppliers and Tapestry gets the stitch. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, BAE Systems buys a NASA supplier, battery materials groups expect faster advances in solid state and plant-based plastics gain favour. AND FINALLY, I bring you a great surfing coach…
In RETAIL, LEISURE & CONSUMER NEWS, Target faces a backlash, Home Depot makes ground, M&S’s revival continues, Aldi aims to add more jobs, Jamie Oliver goes upscale and UK consumers face the steepest rent rise in seven years. In FINANCIALS & SERVICES-RELATED NEWS, Aviva benefits from NHS issues, Admiral does admirably, PayPal moves to stop crypto buying and EY rejects TPG’s plan for a break-up. In TECH & GAMING NEWS, the UK’s AI summit is set for November, China rejects Intel’s deal, Tencent gets squeezed and games consoles try to adapt. In CAR & BATTERY NEWS, VinFast gets a huge valuation, Tesla cuts prices in China and battery technologies compete. AND FINALLY, I bring you a good Tube prank…
In MACRO NEWS, China cuts a bank rate and stops reporting youth unemployment numbers while Japan surges, Russia hikes its interest rates and gas prices rise on the threat of Aussie strikes. In CONSUMER & RETAIL NEWS, US consumers buy online, the gym office concept gains traction, UK lenders cut mortgage rates, UK food prices continue to fall, M&S is looking good and Harrods rebounds. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, China develops its own anti-obesity drug, Tesla offers cheaper models, TPG approaches EY and Carlsberg raises its forecasts. AND FINALLY, I bring you some rather silly games…
In MACRO NEWS, Russia has rouble problems and America feels the effects of China’s slowing economy. In TECH NEWS, Saudi Arabia and UAE make a chip grab, AI jobs earn top dollar and Foxconn stays China-centric. In REAL ESTATE NEWS, Country Garden looks like it could be the next Evergrande and UK landlords keep selling. In CONSUMER & RETAIL NEWS, high food prices now force tricky decisions – but they could get worse in future – while Wilko continues its search for a buyer. AND FINALLY, I bring you my favourite drummer (again!)…
In BUSINESS, EMPLOYMENT & INVESTMENT TRENDS, we see more windfall taxes, Posco satisfying the Americans, private equity betting on the NHS healthcare crisis, the current state of wages, Saudi investment in sport and what happened to Hindenburg’s recent shorts. In CONSUMER & RETAIL NEWS, UK consumer confidence weakens, pawnbroking demand rises, John Lewis wants to do its own BNPL and the tourist tax hits retail spending. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Russia exploits a massive loophole, Credit Suisse investors go to court, Eli Lilly’s on the up and Nikola announces a recall. AND FINALLY, I bring you a weird yet compelling thing to do with a balloon…
In RETAIL & LUXURY GOODS NEWS, Amazon cuts house brands, Alibaba outperforms forecasts, Aldi cuts prices, Wilco fails, Ralph Lauren falters, Tapestry buys Capri Holdings and Watches of Switzerland blames the tourist tax. In TECH NEWS, the US wants allies to blank China tech investment, India passes a data protection bill and X goes for more functionality. In REAL ESTATE NEWS, Persimmon sheds jobs, Savills profits drop and rising mortgage costs hit households but NatWest and Virgin money cut mortgage rates. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, US inflation rises, Sony does a big media deal in India, Novo Nordisk ups sales forecasts and Deliveroo gets upbeat. AND FINALLY, I bring you a brilliant photo and a tasty-looking recipe…
In MACRO & COMMODITIES NEWS, China slips into deflation and Meloni’s credibility takes a hit while fruit prices and rice prices increase. In CONSUMER GOODS, RETAIL & LEISURE NEWS, Sony’s in a storm, Birds Eye’s owner benefits from higher prices, Wilko suspends home deliveries and Tui predicts the future of holidays. In TECH NEWS, China’s tech companies order $5bn-worth of Nvidia chips, Arm courts Amazon, Roblox switches focus to profitability and Amazon removes books generated by AI. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, we look at Japanese carmakers’ China strategy, the latest on Lotus, Rivian upping production, Disney developments and WeWork in dire straits. AND FINALLY, I bring you an unusual PowerPoint trick…
In MACRO & COMMODITIES NEWS, Chinese exports fall, Italy imposes a surprise tax on banks, Glencore suffers the commodity price blues and Cornish Lithium gets some money. In TECH NEWS, Google and Universal do an AI deal, SoftBank makes investment gains while Arm loses ground and TSMC announces plans for a factory in Germany. In BUSINESS TRENDS, IWG reports record revenues, Dentons separates its China business and the Scottish jobs market weakens because of oil industry woes. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk get some very good news, Beyond Meat tanks and Disney has a tough time. AND FINALLY, I bring you some normal-looking people doing some impressive (yet pointless) things…
In MACRO, OIL & ENERGY NEWS, Germany suffers, Saudi Aramco pays out, sceptics diss the fusion illusion but then Siemens warns, wind is in crisis and France exports energy to the UK. In CONSUMER, BUSINESS & EMPLOYMENT TRENDS, UK spending falls, the harvest looks iffy, UK house prices fall, AI data centres are hot, Clarkson plays the game, Zoom wants its staff in the office and PageGroup identifies shifting trends. In INVESTMENT-RELATED NEWS, private equity tries to attract new money, KKR does more deals, UK defence companies suffer, Tilray buys some booze and Mike Ashley takes another nibble of Asos. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, BioNTech suffers, the NHS crisis presents “business opportunities” and Tyson Foods makes more closures. AND FINALLY, I bring you a $54m apartment in New York…
In MACRO, ENERGY & COMMODITIES NEWS, Chinese economists are told to be more positive, US scientists make a fusion breakthrough, Asian energy groups flock to London and Rio Tinto has copper plans.
In BUSINESS, EMPLOYMENT & CONSUMER TRENDS, US companies have a poor earnings season, European companies count the cost of Russia, gloomy employers slow hiring and PwC goes in-person for its interns while US consumers have to deal with higher petrol prices and UK consumers have to deal with London house prices, BNPL medical bills and car financing. In TECH NEWS, Apple makes moves in AI while Slack’s new chief warns that AI chip price rises will hit usage. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Pfizer’s post-Covid hangover hits and the Barbie movie breaches $1bn at the box office. AND FINALLY, I bring you some crazy gymnast exercises…
In MACRO & OIL NEWS, the Bank of England raises interest rates, the UK services sector weakens, Turkey’s inflation rate jumps and oil prices rise on Saudi threats. In TECH & GAMING NEWS, Apple beats expectations, Altman’s Worldcoin runs into trouble and Nintendo booms. In RETAIL & CONSUMER GOODS NEWS, Amazon smashes it, Next forecasts bigger profits and Pets at Home does well while Wilko is at risk and it’s Yeezy does it for Adidas. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Apollo’s chief warns, KKR closes in on a big purchase, ethical funds see massive outflows, the LSE works with Microsoft, Rolls-Royce has great numbers, Wizz Air lags and the NHS does something dramatic. AND FINALLY, I bring you some cool Japanese tech…
In MACRO, MARKETS & COMMODITIES NEWS, the US downgrade prompts anger, European IPOs dwindle and wheat prices rise. In REAL ESTATE-RELATED NEWS, house price discounts increase, rental home numbers are likely to fall further, home-buyers take on longer mortgages and Taylor Wimpey sees weaker demand. In BUSINESS/CONSUMER TRENDS NEWS, BAE Systems benefits from war, Virgin Money is the latest to prepare for the worst, blockbuster weight-loss drugs face a reckoning, TV watching habits continue to evolve, high street sales weaken but Ferrari sales don’t. In TECH NEWS, China wants more limits on tech use for kids, Meta fights human rights groups, Qualcomm takes a hit, Arm aims high and most of Hopin gets sold. AND FINALLY, I bring you a stir-fry hack…
In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Saudi finances get tricky, UK industry gets gloomy and UK house prices drop dramatically while more lenders cut mortgage rates. In FOOD & DRINK NEWS, Greggs wants to expand, Starbucks does well in China, Diageo puts in a decent performance and Molson Coors reports record sales. In TECH NEWS, Meta wants to give us AI personas and more targeted ads while Panasonic bids farewell to LCD screens. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Uber gets out of the red, BP’s profits fall, BMW gets dinged, Pfizer shifts towards cost cuts and Man Group has a shocker. AND FINALLY, I show you how to speak Yorkshire, bah goom…
In MACRO, OIL & CURRENCY NEWS, El Niño’s set to take its toll and the Eurozone economy returns to growth while stocks, oil and sterling rebounded over the month. In CONSUMER & BUSINESS TRENDS NEWS, mortgage approvals and consumer credit boom, UK shop prices ease (but the Ukraine war could keep them elevated), Bank of Ireland confirms bank strength, law firms falter and business confidence is dented. In TECH-RELATED NEWS, Microsoft/Activision faces more scrutiny, China tech suffers from sanctions and Pearson embraces AI. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Jeep aims high, Aston Martin wants even more help with its debt pile and Heineken goes flat. AND FINALLY, I bring you an amazing salmon ladder performance…
In MACRO & OIL NEWS, the Bank of England is expected to raise interest rates this week and oil majors face more scrutiny. In TECH NEWS, Apple’s due this week, we look at X’s ambitions, SK Hynix and Samsung benefit from AI while we look at who controls AI and the debate about whether workers in this field need to be licenced. In REAL ESTATE NEWS, Blackstone pushes into AI data centres, office space demand rises above pre-Covid levels and mortgage rates are expected to fall. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, hospitality food costs are rising faster than prices in supermarkets and Rolls-Royce is looking good. AND FINALLY, I bring you some “impossible” body tricks…
In MACRO & COMMODITIES NEWS, US economic growth picks up, the ECB raises interest rates, Shell and Total see profits fall, British Gas sees profits boom and Anglo American is hit by a sluggish China. In TMT NEWS, the EU launches an antitrust inquiry into Microsoft, Intel benefits from a PC rebound, Netflix rejigs and ITV warns of an ad recession. In CONSUMER GOODS, RETAIL & LEISURE NEWS, Kering buys into Valentino, L’Oréal’s on the lookout, Nestle indicates price rise slowdown, the BRC warns on shop closures, Frasers booms and McDonald’s satisfies. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, more UK lenders cut mortgage rates, Foxtons benefits from higher rents and Canary Wharf sees another big company leave while VW cuts forecasts, Bentley sputters, Ford raises forecasts and Lookers’ buyer increases its offer. AND FINALLY, I bring you Gordon Ramsay’s massive steak sandwich…
In MACRO & COMMODITIES NEWS, the Fed hikes US interest rates again, Spain’s power vacuum has consequences and Rio Tinto reports falling demand. In TECH NEWS, Meta surges, Threads loses steam and tech companies get together to sort AI. In MANUFACTURING SECTOR NEWS, Rolls-Royce recovers, VW invests in Xpeng, Stellantis makes more cost cuts and Aston Martin promises profits to come. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Lloyds warns of customer struggles, Reckitt Benckiser sees sales volumes fall, Coke puts up prices anyway, Heathrow halves losses, Amazon makes concessions and stricken City AM gets a random buyer. AND FINALLY, I bring you some Greggs secrets and some trick questions…
In MACRO NEWS, the IMF gets more upbeat, UK businesses get more confident on hiring and Brussels has a grain plan. In TECH NEWS, Sam Altman’s world expands, Microsoft benefits from AI, Google’s sales jump, X cuts ad prices, Snap’s revenues fall, TikTok wants to sell to Americans, Facebook changes hit The Mirror, Spotify counts the cost of podcasts and Apple’s in bother. In CAR-RELATED NEWS, GM U-turns on the Bolt, JLR’s profits rebound, Toyota has a China crisis and CATL announces record profits. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Unilever’s profits boom, LVMH sees a slowdown, HSBC cuts mortgage rates and uni students seek compensation. AND FINALLY, I bring you a great superhero video…
In MACRO, ENERGY & CURRENCY NEWS, China promises to boost the economy, Spain’s at an impasse, a UK battery storage plant gets the OK and the pound has a bad run. In TMT NEWS, we look at the latest in AI, Twitter’s name change, Spotify increasing prices, S4 Capital in trouble, Virgin Media job cuts and Vodafone’s growth. In BUSINESS, CONSUMER & EMPLOYMENT TRENDS, UK economic activity slows, wages power inflation, top earners earn more and faster while Linklaters follows the downbeat trend in law firms. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Tui cancels flights, airlines suffer while Ryanair sees a massive profits increase, Credit Suisse gets a fine, Julius Baer benefits from inflows and Adidas benefits from Yeezy sales. AND FINALLY, I bring you a very bendy man…
In UK MACRO & MARKETS NEWS, the UK faces economic stagnation but UK stocks rally after last week’s inflation news. In BUSINESS TRENDS NEWS, UK exports to the EU rise, consultant work dries up in China and City lawyers brace for pay and job cuts. In TECH NEWS, Eggy Party boosts NetEase, Twitter changes its logo and we take a look at Elon Musk’s AI ambitions. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, a US battery start-up bets on Germany, “Barbenheimer” boosts Vue, travel operators face pressure in the current Greek tragedy and UK banks lead the way. AND FINALLY, I bring you a very good iPhone hack…
In CONSUMER, RETAIL & LEISURE NEWS, UK consumer confidence drops but Premier Foods thinks price rises have peaked while the CMA looks into it. We look at house prices, mortgages and rents, M&S gets rebuffed while consumers’ desire for holidays powers EasyJet, AMC ditches higher premium prices and Fuller’s satisfies. In BUSINESS & EMPLOYMENT TRENDS, America’s IRA attracts foreign firms, grain price rises look set to boost input costs, UK businesses still struggle to recruit and Legal & General positions for a recession while, in the US, jobless claims drop. In M&A NEWS, Blackstone sees an end to the deal drought but an investor throws a spanner in the Lookers/Alpha deal. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, we look at what’s next for Netflix and a British renewables blow. AND FINALLY, I bring you a cheesy (yes, you read that correctly!) espresso martini…
In MACRO NEWS, the UK’s inflation slowdown prompts hope and Thailand’s in a pickle. In TECH & MEDIA NEWS, ASML has a healthy backlog, Microsoft/Activision extend the deadline and Netflix moves forwards. In CONSUMER, RETAIL & LEISURE NEWS, the UK housing market gets a reprieve (but rentals don’t), Hargreaves Lansdown gets a nice boost, Temu fights Shein and Wagamama’s owner posts sales growth. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Tesla’s profits jump, Tata’s gigafactory revives British EV aspirations, Goldman Sachs disappoints and Clifford Chance quashes merger chat. AND FINALLY, I bring you what could be the ultimate team game…
In TECH NEWS, Microsoft makes moves in AI and stays committed to Activision Blizzard while more writers join the AI lawsuit, Asian superapps falter and Darktrace feels relieved. In CONSUMER, RETAIL & LEISURE NEWS, US retail sales boost confidence but in the UK we see rising credit card debt and rising car insurance premiums but falling food price inflation, Lidl and Aldi continue to take market share, Ocado wants more, Pret recovers and Zegna poaches an LVMH exec. In BUSINESS & EMPLOYMENT TRENDS, UK profit warnings rise and we are the champions of home working. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, NEWS, Evergrande is still in trouble, Morgan Stanley sees trading slow and Tata Motors is close to announcing a UK battery factory. AND FINALLY, I bring you another annoying maths problem…
In MACRO, ENERGY & COMMODITIES NEWS, China’s slowdown has repercussions, Rolls-Royce edges closer to making its SMRs, wheat prices rise on the lapse of the Black Sea deal and olive oil is is in crisis. In CONSUMER & RETAIL TRENDS, US pay catches up with inflation, a thinktank reckons double-digit public sector pay rises are possible, first-time buyer power diminishes, food prices ease, luxury fashion has a wobble and DFS does badly. In TECH NEWS, NEWS, Microsoft faces a probe on bundling, AI regulation needs to learn from social media, ARK writes Twitter down, Robinhood wants to come to the UK and finfluencers. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Tesla wants German expansion, German car makers suffer, Ford cuts prices, Lotus has supply problems and Eli Lilly makes a huge breakthrough with a drug that slows Alzheimer’s. AND FINALLY, I bring you a hilarious “magic trick”…
In TECH & MEDIA NEWS, Microsoft/Activision advances, Twitter’s cashflow still falls short, Hollywood’s strike looks like it could have a major impact and Netflix gets more subscribers. In BUSINESS & CONSUMER TRENDS, Multinationals shift in China, UK companies collapse and face Brexit 2.0, Ozempic prompts a gold rush and Allbirds hits a tricky patch while consumers face a massive hit on household wealth, retired home renter numbers rise and house prices fall. In FINANCIALS NEWS, UBS hands EY a massive audit contract and the FCA gets inspected itself. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, the UK joins the CPTPP, Turkey triples petrol taxes, the Cybertruck finally goes into production and South Korea’s “ant traders” take on the hedge funds. AND FINALLY, I bring you some brilliant ultimate frisbee moments…
In MACRO & ENERGY NEWS, China’s exports fall, its slowing economy hits oil and we look at why it’s approaching deflation while the ECB looks to continue increasing interest rates, Europe decides to resume Japanese food imports, the UK’s GDP contracts, debt levels look nightmarish, Sunak makes a “final” offer (but strike legislation is quashed) and we see a contrast in BP and Shell in renewables. In TECH & MEDIA NEWS, the FTC takes on OpenAI, Zuck and Musk introduce new AI models, the Microsoft deal ain’t finished yet, Twitter offers ad revenues to attract creators, Threads aims to build on momentum, Iger causes a stir and Hollywood goes on strike. In CONSUMER & RETAIL NEWS, consumers spend on Rolex, Apple and Dr Martens while Uniqlo’s parent raises annual forecasts. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, the first OTC birth control pill gets approval, GSK’s spin-off braces for headcount reduction, City lawyers take a pay cut while A&O falters, Barratt has a nightmare and Hays takes flak. AND FINALLY, I bring you an incredible tennis rally…
In MACRO, MARKETS & ENERGY NEWS, US inflation slows – putting more pressure on Bailey – BP invests big in offshore wind power and the Hornsea Four wind farm gets the OK. In RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY-RELATED NEWS, would-be homebuyers get nervous, renting is a nightmare and Winkworth has a profit warning. In TECH NEWS, we look at “what now” with Microsoft/Activision, Nvidia wants to be an anchor investor in Arm, impressive chatbot Claude 2 is launched and AI junk floods the internet. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, UK banks pass the test but they’re told to cough up for savers, Sunak seems to be pushing for a public sector pay rise, Wetherspoons prospers and Superdrug sees higher profits. AND FINALLY, I bring you a very annoying puzzle…
In TECH NEWS, Microsoft/Activision Blizzard gets closer to approval, Amazon takes on the EU’s digital rules, China draws up AI rules, the FCA warns about AI, Reuters reckons AI will write news, KPMG invests $2bn in AI and Cloud services and Foxconn remains committed to India. In CONSUMER NEWS, record UK pay growth fuels the inflation fire, Hunt orders minions to find £2bn for public sector workers, the OECD says British companies are guilty of greedflation and UK mortgage rates hit a new high. In CAR-RELATED NEWS, big car makers get together to source battery materials and Toyota steps up its hydrogen fuel cell push. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, BluSmart takes on Uber in India, Musk aims to launch a UK home energy provider and the LSE’s share of global trading continues to shrink. AND FINALLY, I bring you a quick trip around the world and how to make crispy seaweed…
In MACRO, MARKETS & CRYPTO NEWS, China heads towards deflation, Mark Rutte quits, Hunt announces reforms, UK stocks look cheap and Bitcoin may head to $100k. In CONSUMER & RETAIL NEWS, Bailey & Hunt ask for wage restraint, home sales weaken but there’s a rush on remortgaging, landlords face losses, consumer spending keeps going up as credit cards get more usage, Disney parks get quieter and Waitrose signs up to Uber Eats. In TECH NEWS, chiplets look like the way forward, Foxconn ditches its Indian chip venture and Threads dents Twitter. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Rheinmettall and BAE systems get chunky orders, QIA buys into basketball and law firm DWF goes private. AND FINALLY, I bring you engagement Crocs and banana hacks…
In BUSINESS, CONSUMER & EMPLOYMENT TRENDS, we look at Saudi Arabia’s moves into sport, how fewer people are getting married and what’s going on in hiring. In RETAIL NEWS, Shein takes on Amazon while M&S gets annoyed with Ocado. In TELECOMS NEWS, BT is in the sights of Deutsche Telekom while Vodafone has a hissy. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Snap tempts creators, Fisker starts to deliver, Revolut has another problem and the US gets lukewarm on Ukraine’s membership of NATO. AND FINALLY, I bring you country’s best places for a night out…
In TECH NEWS, Threads creates a splash, AI chips aren’t breaking the chip slump and NYC regulates AI in hiring. In FINANCIALS NEWS, the FCA prods banks, Man Group moves into private credit, CAB Payments falls on debut and Hunt manoeuvres to repeal European legislation. In REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION NEWS, Dubai tops the lux list, UK office trends evolve and the building sector contracts. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Sainsbury’s defends itself, Currys has a nightmare, Gatwick submits runway plans and markets price in more interest rate hikes. AND FINALLY, I bring you something to do in the office on a Friday…
In MACRO, OIL & BUSINESS TRENDS NEWS, the US reiterates that rate rises will return, Xi takes credit for Putin, Eurozone producer prices fall, UK interest rates could rocket, services sector momentum slows, UK borrowing costs rise and we battle against the US’s IRA while Russian oil revenues fall, Saudi Arabia takes over sports and Moderna does a deal in China. In TECH NEWS, India aims for chip production in 18 months, Threads launches and authors take on AI. In REAL ESTATE AND AUTOMOTIVE NEWS, UK house prices fall more than others, cash buyer activity increases and things look bleak for Canary Wharf while US new vehicle sales rise, China corners nickel, Nikola delivers, Europe refuses to relent on UK EV imports, we look more closely at solid-state and EV repair bills are likely to rise. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Legal & General sees a jump in premiums and AO World does nicely. AND FINALLY, I bring you a couple of dad jokes…
In MACRO & CRYPTO NEWS, UK inflation continues to rise, we look at why rising interest rates aren’t working, Sunak drops the UK’s climate pledge, the UAE aims to triple renewables and Binance has a tricky time in Europe. In TECH NEWS, the US looks at more China restrictions – this time for cloud computing – as the chip sector panics about China’s export curbs, India is pushing back on labour law changes and Meta’s Facebook faces a setback regarding personal data usage. In CONSUMER, RETAIL & LEISURE-RELATED NEWS, the average rate on a five-year fixed breaches 6%, Sainsbury’s says food price inflation is slowing, Naked Wines delays, Accor looks decent, Center Parcs loses a bidder and airlines continue to soar. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Toyota makes a massive breakthrough in solid-state and equity fund withdrawals hit record highs. AND FINALLY, I bring you something you never knew about SPAM…
In TECH, MEDIA & TELCO NEWS, China retaliates on chips, Japan ups the stakes on chips, Apple Vision Pro has production issues and Threads nears launch while Netflix overhauls its advertising strategy and Ambani launches a $12 phone in India. In CONSUMER-RELATED NEWS, banks face scrutiny for ripping off customers, fuel retailers face scrutiny for ripping off customers, low alco is the way to go City diner numbers dwindle, office space hits new highs and office-related industries suffer WFH blues. In AUTOMOTIVE NEWS, BMW backs hydrogen, Tesla battles on and Rivian shares get a boost. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, factories feel the pain, the Grid talks to factories about power and AstraZeneca disappoints. AND FINALLY, I bring you an epic music mash-up…
In TECH NEWS, Google’s made a quantum leap, crypto miners repurpose and Twitter puts in limits. In CONSUMER-RELATED NEWS, we see what the consumer is up to in the US and the UK, why UK mortgage relief may have repercussions and how house prices are behaving. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Russian employment is getting trickier, Tesla delivers record number of cars, an accountant does a deal with private equity and Thames Water gets backing. AND FINALLY, I bring you a cheap fly trap…