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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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”…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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”…
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…
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…
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…
In MACRO NEWS, the US slows down and Germany falls into recession. In TECH NEWS, Nvidia booms, OpenAI warns Europe, Bertelsmann sees opportunities in AI, TikTok tests its own AI chatbot and the metaverse loses investors. In RETAIL & CONSUMER NEWS, luxury retail splutters, American retailers see sluggish sales, UK retailers feel a slowing momentum, Pets at Home wags its tail, Asos seeks help, UK lenders increase mortgage rates and energy bills look set to stay higher for longer. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, AJ Bell beats rivals, Fever-Tree increases market share and Cineworld is set for a comeback. AND FINALLY, I bring you the natural follow-up to Monday’s techno…
In TECH NEWS, Samsung faces its first ever strike, TikTok adapts, Meta begins its final round of layoffs, tablets get the upper hand and Embracer abosolutely tanks. In CAR-RELATED NEWS, the UK car industry calls for more slack on export rules, JLR is closer to choosing the UK for its battery factory and China takes risks to corner the lithium market. In RETAIL NEWS, M&S puts in a strong performance and Kingfisher suffers. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, inflation falls, house price growth steadies and London rents rise faster. AND FINALLY, I bring you a fake non-alcoholic Pimm’s and Cornish worm-charming…
In MACRO NEWS, the Bank of England faces criticism, the IMF eats humble pie and has a meddle while suggestions about crypto regulation are made by IOSCO. In TECH NEWS, Apple signs a massive deal with Broadcom, Meta sells Giphy, Anthropic raises money and China frets about Japan. In CONSUMER, RETAIL & LEISURE NEWS, UK food price inflation takes flak and SSP booms while Hilton and Marriott chase the same market. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Tesla considers England for a gigafactory, Netflix cracks down on password sharing and Cazoo tries to climb back up. AND FINALLY, I bring you a tricky puzzle…
In TECH NEWS, South Korea has a delicate chip situation, we look at reactions to Facebook’s fine and WhatsApp gets a new feature. In BANKS NEWS, global investment banks hit a China speed bump, JP Morgan talks about splashing out and the government sells more NatWest. In RETAIL & LEISURE NEWS, Prada considers a secondary listing, Macao casinos bounce back and Ryanair flies high. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, we look at A&O Shearman reactions, Chevron makes a big shale deal, Ford sources lithium and Big Yellow has a massive drop in profits. AND FINALLY, I show you an official list of where to have the best fish and chips…
In TECH NEWS, China boots Micron, Facebook eyes Magic Leap while getting fined for mishandling user info, speculation surrounds Apple and the metaverse and we see the battle between iMessage and Snapchat. In LEISURE NEWS, Ryanair has designs on Europe, workations boost leisure names and hospitality pay gets a boost. In REAL ESTATE NEWS, sellers perk up while buy-to-let suffers. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, NEWS, G7 disappoints, A&O engages in a massive merger and the vegan boom loses momentum. AND FINALLY, I show you how to write a techno song (no ChatGPT needed)…
In TECH & TELCOS NEWS, we look at chipmaking in Japan, the plan for semiconductors in the UK, TikTokers taking Montana to court, Apple restricting employee use of ChatGPT and BT’s job-cutting plans. In CONSUMER, RETAIL & LEISURE NEWS, consumer sentiment continues to improve, Walmart sees stronger sales, Asda plans headcount reduction, Burberry does well despite the VAT problem and EasyJet takes off. In CAR-RELATED NEWS, Geely takes a bigger slice of Aston Martin, Tata gets closer to building a UK gigafactory but we look at why this isn’t necessarily a good thing. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Eskom chief warns of blackouts, Revolut looks unlikely to get a banking licence and Royal Mail is in a pickle. AND FINALLY, I show you how drummers knock on doors…
In MACROECONOMIC NEWS, Japan exits recession, Europe softens towards the UK, the Bank of England acknowledges the wage-price spiral and South Africa could be heading for the naughty step. In RETAIL NEWS, Shein raises $2bn, Target earnings are squeezed, JD Sports heads for £1bn in profits and Watches of Switzerland does well on watch sales but not elsewhere. In TECH NEWS, Tencent revenues rise, TikTok faces a ban in Montana, Apple’s headset gets ever closes and Inmarsat has its strongest ever results. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, UBS/Credit Suisse has a reality check, British Land suffers and Purplebricks gets sold for £1. AND FINALLY, I bring you the different running styles of Hollywood actors…