Category: Protected – Watson’s Daily

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…

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In MACRO & COMMODITIES NEWS, US growth surprises, Germany sees inflation increase, China puts laws in place to combat sanctions, the UK blocks Russia from legal advice and we get our first lithium mine in Cornwall. In TECH NEWS, Microsoft and Activision chiefs keep fighting, Open AI gets sued, Inflection AI gets a ton of money and the strategy for Twitter 2.0 is unveiled. In CONSUMER, RETAIL & LEISURE NEWS, cash withdrawals hit new highs, package holidays get more expensive, Moonpig suffers, B&M booms and Merlin entertains. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, there’s more water chat, Serco gets a boost and Salesforce commits to the UK. AND FINALLY, I bring you the definitive answer to the ketchup question…

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In MACRO NEWS, central bank chiefs warn about interest rates, Bailey blames it on Covid and Hunt gets the regulators together. In WATER NEWS, Thames Water’s in a pickle and we consider the impact. In TECH NEWS, the US considers plugging advanced chip leakage to China, news publishers team up to face AI, the gaming industry tests AI and Apple edges closer to the $3tn mark. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, General Mills sees falling sales, Mulberry loses momentum and PwC warns on pay. AND FINALLY, I bring you info about flying ant day…

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In MACRO & OIL NEWS, it looks like the ECB will keep raising rates, Vitol and Gunvor facilitate Russian oil and the North Sea windfall tax is disappointing. In CONSUMER & RETAIL NEWS, property prices weaken, food price rises have peaked, Boots is set to shut down stores and Zalando questions the new EU rules. In AUTOMOTIVE NEWS, Ford slashes jobs, Lordstown Motors files for bankruptcy protection and Aston Martin has high hopes. In FINANCIALS NEWS, the City makes baby steps with the EU, UBS is set to cut Credit Suisse headcount, Wise booms and CAB Payments chases an £850m valuation. AND FINALLY, I bring you the right way to drink a pornstar martini…

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In MACRO NEWS, we look at the latest repercussions of the Wagner incident and Germany struggles. In CONSUMER, RETAIL & LEISURE NEWS, there’s more evidence of a slowdown in food price inflation, shops see falling sales, Primark’s owner is confident, Mike Ashley buys more Currys, Ocado gets more investor interest, Gucci buys Creed and Cineworld calls in the administrators. In CAR-RELATED NEWS, Aston Martin accelerates, NIO stalls and Cornish Lithium has to find £10m pronto. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, the New York office market gets a boost, Canary Wharf faces tough times, KPMG makes cuts and Hunt puts pressure on banks. AND FINALLY, I bring you Gordon Ramsay cheese/burger hack…

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In MACRO & COMMODITIES NEWS, we look at what happened in Russia over the weekend and how oil and gas companies are looking into lithium. In BUSINESS TRENDS NEWS, we look at corporate strategy for China, GLG reducing its China exposure, law firms heading to Saudi Arabia and HSBC moving house. In CONSUMER NEWS, car insurance renewals rise and mortgage impact looks likely to exceed the energy bills crisis. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Moscow gets more money from airlines and Britishvolt’s buyer is in a spot of bother. AND FINALLY, I bring you a $10m London apartment…

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In MACRO & OIL NEWS, the Bank of England raises the interest rate by 0.5% – and we ponder the consequences, Turkey makes a dramatic about-face on interest rates and the Church ditches oil. In CONSUMER, RETAIL & LEISURE NEWS, consumers stay positive, Ocado booms on bid rumours, Morrisons takes an inflation hit, John Lewis fails again, we look at Mike Ashley’s reasoning and Premier Inn sees sales surge. In CAR-RELATED NEWS, Ford braces for more layoffs but is set to get a government handout for battery plants. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Accenture warns of cooling IT spend, TikTok’s top US exec leaves and DS Smith sees rising pre-tax profits. AND FINALLY, I bring you rocketman pizza at Glasto…

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In MACRO NEWS, we look at the UK’s high inflation, the consequences and rather shocking debt. In REAL ESTATE NEWS, house prices rise, Berkeley says interest rate fears are hitting home, mortgage repossessions look unlikely and there’s more evidence of rising UK rents. In RETAIL NEWS, Amazon faces an FTC lawsuit and Halfords loses momentum. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, we consider TikTok’s power and its new project while Sky launches a TV smart camera and BlackRock could give Bitcoin a big boost. AND FINALLY, I bring you “Manhattanhenge”…

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In REAL ESTATE NEWS, we take a look at the current mortgage situation and its effects. In CONSUMER & RETAIL NEWS, we see why UK inflation is so bad, there’s more evidence that food price inflation is slowing, Alibaba has changes at the top, US apparel retailers offer a solution to returns and Frasers buys up a stake in Boohoo. In CAR-RELATED NEWS, Lookers gets bought, Tesla opens its Supercharger network to another maker and Ghosn goes after Nissan. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Rolls-Royce welcomes the rise in long-haul jet demand and Bild replaces editorial jobs with AI. AND FINALLY, I bring you some interesting ways to waste time…

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In MACRO NEWS, the Xi/Blinken meeting seemed to go quite well but Goldman Sachs downgraded its growth forecast for China. In CONSUMER/RETAIL-RELATED NEWS, mortgage rates hit a new high, we look at the arguments against intervention, food price inflation slows, Next does better, John Lewis cuts space and Frasers Group ploughs into AO World. In TECH NEWS, investors ponder a potential AI bubble while Intel invests big in Germany. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Airbus gets a humungous order, US homebuilders do well, BlackRock and JP Morgan help to set up a Ukraine reconstruction bank and Binance abandons its UK registration. AND FINALLY, I bring you a “fun” physical challenge…

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In MACRO, ENERGY & CURRENCY NEWS, Lula has trouble in Brazil, UK geothermal energy is switched on, Ørsted wants more wind support and Turkey’s lira falls. In TECH NEWS, Google praises UK’s take on AI regs, celebs get on the AI fun bus, US TikTok creators get nervous, Zuck takes on Twitter, Intel chooses Israel. In NEWS ON PLANES & CARS, LatAm airlines consolidate, air travel boosts manufacturing, Rolls-Royce electrifies aviation, GM brings more in-house and Aston Martin opens in New York. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, we look at online retailer trends, Morrisons’ price cuts, B&Q’s cost cutting, John Lewis’s latest failure, city fund managers as landlords, mortgage pain hitting sales and AstraZeneca’s big China move. AND FINALLY, I bring you an egg hack…

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In MACRO, BUSINESS TRENDS & OIL NEWS, the ECB raised interest rates, China unveiled disappointing numbers, Siemens invests in China and Informa bounces back while oilfield services consolidate. In FINANCIAL SECTOR NEWS, HSBC and Standard Chartered get pressure to take on crypto clients, Citigroup cuts jobs, Revolut gets a brutal valuation cut, Odey gets broken up and ESG guidance rates tobacco companies above Tesla. In REAL ESTATE-RELATED NEWS, more lenders raise mortgage rates and household finances get drained. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, battery powered planes run out of juice, Fuller’s toasts a rebound and Frasers buys more Asos. AND FINALLY, I bring you an amazing photo and how it was done…

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In BIG PICTURE NEWS, China ponders a stimulus, the US Fed leaves rates on hold, the UK economy grows but Hunt says interest rates will still go up as HSBC jacks up mortgage rates amid a mortgage crisis, Sweden blames Beyoncé for inflation, WE Soda pulls out of an LSE IPO, the Naira collapses and Shell walks back climate commitments. In TECH NEWS, Brussels clamps down on Google, AI regulations get closer, TSB appeals to Meta and music companies sue Twitter. In LEADING INDICATOR TRENDS, M&C Saatchi warns and Robert Walters falters. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Vodafone and CK Hutchison agree a UK mobile merger and Safestore muddles through. AND FINALLY, I bring you experiences on a diving board…

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In MACRO & MARKETS NEWS, China has a rate cut, US inflation slows, UK inflation proves stubborn and the Nikkei flies. In M&A NEWS, Goldman and Morgan Stanley reckon dealflow will turn around as we see big pharma deal-making, Bunge buying Viterra, Zensho buys Snowfox and the Microsoft/Activision Blizzard drama continues. In TECH NEWS, the UK government invests in AI, a French AI start-up attract ridiculous money, Insight Partners cuts its fund size and there’s an interesting revelation about Twitter in India. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, we look at wage growth in the UK, why the UK jobs market is hot, how the Big Four accountancies should pay juniors more, Nio cutting prices, Ashtead knocking it out of the park and Bellway getting pessimistic. AND FINALLY, I bring you a clever card trick…

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In TECH NEWS, the US eases its stance on chipmakers, Google ad-tech comes under fire, the US regulators side with the UK on Microsoft/Activision and Chinese tech companies suffer. In REAL ESTATE NEWS, unusual measures are employed to tempt Chinese buyers, more UK mortgages are pulled, buy-to-let gets pummelled and London offices adapt. In COMMODITIES & ENERGY NEWS, Glencore goes for coal and National Grid fires up coal plant to power aircons. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Nasdaq buys Adenza, consultants get less popular and Heathrow feels a boom. AND FINALLY, I bring you a simple – yet weirdly satisfying – video…

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In FINANCIALS NEWS, UBS sets parameters in the CS takeover, HSBC is to outline SVB plans, Odey makes changes and Andreessen aims for London. In CONSUMER & CONSUMER GOODS NEWS, London homeowners face painful mortgage hikes, Waitrose cuts prices, Nike woos retailers and Kim K’s Skims heads towards flotation. In M&A AND INVESTMENT NEWS, Chinese companies see Indian possibilities, we look at why the PGA Tour caved to LIV Golf and Travelodge is up for sale. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, BioNTech faces compensation claims and OpenAI appeals for China collaboration. AND FINALLY, I bring you a sunburn soothing trick…

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In MACRO, MARKETS & OIL NEWS, Europe falls into recession, the UK needs to watch out, CAB seeks out an IPO, CRH decides to quit London and Hunt is about to ease oil windfall tax parameters. In CONSUMER, RETAIL & PROPERTY NEWS, Signet suffers from poor engagement ring sales, overall retail sales fall as Frasers picks up more Asos, HSBC withdraws all mortgages, Crest Nicholson cautions and Gove’s rules hit planning applications. In NEWS ON CARS & TRANSPORT, GM gets Supercharger access, Barcelona loses out to ride hailers, Uber looks at different fares for greener rides, Carvana shares boom and Wizz Air takes off with summer bookings. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, UK’s involvement in AI gets an ego boost, WhatsApp offers a new thing, BlackRock buys into private credit and the FCA goes after Odey. AND FINALLY, I bring you some stupid ideas for what to do on a trampoline…

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In MACRO, COMMODITIES & CURRENCY NEWS, the OECD calls for fiscal tightening, China’s exports fall, the Eurozone looks vulnerable, oil traders profit from the energy crisis, greenwashing gets a bashing, El Niño forecasts cause concern, the Turkish lira falls and crypto ownership doubles In CONSUMER & RETAIL NEWS, UK house prices fall, wage growth rises while the jobs market cools, Inditex smashes it and Amazon looks at an ad tier. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Hyundai and Kia get sued by NYC, the UK is to hold the world’s first AI regulation summit and there may be good news in the offing re energy bills for SMEs. AND FINALLY, I bring you a brilliant interaction on the bus…

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In MACRO NEWS, we look at the Ukrainian dam breach and its consequences, the World Bank touts its views and Australia gets a shock interest rate rise. In CONSTRUCTION & REAL ESTATE RELATED NEWS, UK construction activity increases, we look at why the housing market rebound may not last, how Paragon shows that the buy-to-let market isn’t dead yet and why big companies want to downsize office space. In FINANCIALS NEWS, Sequoia splits out its China business, ESG funds see record outflows and a deal drought leads to consolidation among investment banks. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Microsoft/Activision seek a way forward, PGA caves to the Saudis in consolidation with LIV and Asos gets abandoned by suppliers while Frasers Group ploughs more in. AND FINALLY, I bring you the ten types of magic…

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In TECH NEWS, a Russian cyber attack hits the BBC, Boots and British Airways, we look at the latest discussions in AI, Apple reveals its expensive headset, Spotify sheds 200 and a former ByteDance exec admits state interference. In FINANCIALS/PROPERTY NEWS, US banks brace for commercial property exits, Axa buys a French film studio, India’s youth is expected to power the real estate market and UK banks continue to pull mortgages and fear remortgages. In CONSUMER-RELATED NEWS, grocery spending booms on higher prices, spending on cars lags pre-Covid levels and services get a boost from spending. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, the oil price rises but the Saudis look isolated, airlines take off and Binance faces charges. AND FINALLY, I bring you some cracking toast…

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In BIG PICTURE & BUSINESS TRENDS NEWS, OPEC decides on oil production cuts, Coinbase suffers, higher inflation is powering fast-food chains and AstraZeneca bets on China. In TECH NEWS, Apple’s set for a big announcement and we look at why mental health apps might not be that good for you. In PROPERTY-RELATED NEWS, longer mortgages surge in popularity and property investors look to Manchester and Bristol. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Freshfields brings in more trainees and lawyers warn against AI. AND FINALLY, I bring you a test of your attention to detail…

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In MACRO, MARKETS & ENERGY NEWS, the US avoids default, Eurozone inflation falls, UK deals dry up while some investors use AI to source suitable ones, renewables’ capacity looks set to ramp up and OPEC restricts guests. In RETAIL NEWS, Macy’s gets squeezed, Dollar General feels the pinch and Dr Martens warns on margins. In CAR-RELATED NEWS, Musk is welcomed in China while Tesla opens up its charging network. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Beijing pressures Arm, Meta releases a new headset and UK house prices weaken further. AND FINALLY, I bring you “The Wife Song”…

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In MACRO, ENERGY & CRYPTO NEWS, the US and UK see slowing growth, while France and Germany see falling inflation, Erdogan lifts Turkey, a new gas deal demonstrates the pulling power of the US and crypto could get a boost. In TECH NEWS, Foxconn surfs the AI wave, Sunak wants the UK to be at the forefront of AI legislation and UK workers want guidance. In RETAIL NEWS, IKEA invests in e-commerce, B&M booms, Iceland warns and WH Smith is looking good. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, there’s talk about EV charging, Portugal gets a lithium boost, WE Soda aims for a London listing, Franklin Templeton is to buy Putnam and British Land drops out of the FTSE. AND FINALLY, I bring you an incredible snooker shot…

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In MACRO NEWS, Turkey faces pressure, Spain’s inflation surprises but UK inflation looks set to stay higher. In TECH NEWS, AI pioneers sound warnings while Nvidia hits $1tn. In CONSUMER, RETAIL & LEISURE NEWS, US consumers have a wobble, UK consumers get mortgage deals pulled, Asda has a rejig, Hollywood Bowl’s revenues hit a record high and Neat Burger admits ambivalence. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Merc complains, France gets its first battery gigafactory and China takes on Boeing and Airbus. AND FINALLY, I bring you an annoying trick…

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In MACRO & POWER NEWS, China falters, Erdogan wins, Sánchez gambles and nukes need to hurry up. In TECH NEWS, AI chips get scarcer, WPP does an AI deal but there are power issues. In RETAIL & CONSUMER NEWS, Amazon takes on Evri while UK food prices calm a bit. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Cali increases electrification efforts, US high-schoolers increasingly forego college and UK house prices slip. AND FINALLY, I bring you tea and cheese…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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)…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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”…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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 🤣)…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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