East Amid

• 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...

• Japan's Nikkei index reached a record high as Asia-Pacific markets generally opened higher, despite ongoing volatility in oil prices and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. • Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.36% following a report that GDP grew 2.5% year-on-year for the first quarter, slightly missing the 2.6% forecast by economists. • Australian growth was hindered by reduced household and government spending, alongside severe weather disruptions that impacted the mining sector.

• The Nikkei stock index closed above the 65,000 mark for the first time on Monday, reaching a historic milestone. • This surge was primarily driven by investor optimism that the United States and Iran are nearing an agreement to end their ongoing conflict. • The rally highlights how geopolitical stability in the Middle East can significantly boost investor confidence in Japanese equity markets.