In BIG PICTURE NEWS, China faces a critical year, the ECB holds off on rate cuts, Shell sells its Nigerian business and halts Red Sea shipments (with implications on interest rates) as insolvencies rise and City law firms fall down the pecking order. In FINANCIALS NEWS, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley have their lowest profits in four years while Panmure Gordon and Liberum decide to merge. In RETAIL & CONSUMER NEWS, Uniqlo sues Shein, M&S/Ocado get a nice boost, Hugo Boss sees revenue rise but profit shortfall and UK annual wage growth slows. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Apple edges Samsung, Vodafone signs an AI deal with Microsoft and Fujitsu says it will pony up. AND FINALLY, I bring you some tenpin bowling genius...