Amid Middle

• South Korea’s Kospi led an Asian market upturn, soaring 5.68% to 7,131.43, driven primarily by a rally in technology stocks. • Other regional markets saw mixed results, with Japan’s Nikkei rising 1.71% to 67,364.56 and China's SSEC advancing 0.24%, while Hong Kong’s HSI dipped 0.40% to 25,032.24. • The growth was supported by a surge in Japanese exports, though investors remain cautious while monitoring ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

Central Command says US aircraft fired missiles into oil tanker’s smokestack in strait of Hormuz as US strikes Iran for fourth consecutive dayTrump again threatens to strike Iran’s power plants amid impasse over strait of HormuzFor a second day in a row, US strikes targeted Iran’s southern port city of Bushehr, home to the country’s only civilian nuclear plant, according to the state news agency IRNA quoting a local official.“In continuation of the brutality of the American enemy, three points in the city of Bushehr were attacked today,” Mohammad Mozaffari, the governor of Bushehr, was quoted as saying.In the recent attacks on the southern part of the country, more than 30 civilians lost their lives. While expressing our condolences and sympathy to the bereaved families, we honour the memory of the fallen. The government will stand by the people with all its might. The south of Iran is the beating heart of this land. The south of Iran, the soul of Iran.” Continue reading...

• The FTSE 100 remained largely flat on Monday, closing up just 1.00 point at 10,498.29, while the FTSE 250 rose 0.1% to 23,396.58. • Oil prices increased as a result of escalating Middle East tensions and renewed friction between the US and Iran. • Market stability is currently being tested by geopolitical instability, impacting energy costs and investor sentiment.

• The FTSE 100 index closed nearly flat at 10,498.29 points on Monday, July 13, 2026, marking a marginal increase of 1.00 point (0.01%). • The index remained steady despite volatile trading conditions driven by an overnight escalation of tensions in the Middle East. • London's benchmark showed greater resilience than Asian markets, such as Japan's Nikkei 225 and mainland Chinese indices, which suffered notable losses.

Holiday operator says market in good shape, with strong recent recovery in bookings across all destinations as customers take the plungeBusiness live – latest updatesSummer holiday bookings have bounced back recently after the fragile ceasefire in the Middle East, the package holiday operator Jet2 has said.The company, which flies about 20 million people every year, said its summer bookings are up by 7.1% compared with this time last year and the average load factor – which measures its available seating capacity filled with paying passengers – is up 1.2 percentage points. Continue reading...

• European stock markets mostly declined as investors reacted to escalating tensions in the Middle East and a corresponding rise in oil prices. • Market volatility is being driven by geopolitical instability, which has pushed energy costs higher and pressured equity valuations. • Investors are now awaiting the release of June economic sentiment indicators, specifically focusing on consumer confidence and business conditions.

Prime minister flags an announcement following deliberations of cabinet’s expenditure review committeeAnthony Albanese has signalled the federal government is open to extending the temporary cut to the fuel excise to help cushion motorists from a months-long tail to the Middle East conflict.The prime minister also welcomed the announcement of a peace deal between the US and Iran to end the war and reopen the strait of Hormuz. Continue reading...