Falls

• U.S. stock markets declined Tuesday with the S&P 500 falling 0.9% from record highs as technology stocks weakened and oil prices continued rising amid uncertainty over the Iran conflict. • Benchmark U.S. crude jumped $3.43 to $101.50 per barrel, while Brent crude climbed $3.62 to $107.83 per barrel, as President Trump said the U.S.-Iran ceasefire was on "life support" after rejecting Iran's latest peace proposal. • Brent crude has surged 50% from pre-war levels around $70, contributing to inflation pressures globally and straining U.S. households through higher gasoline and goods prices tied to new tariffs.

• Singapore's Straits Times Index (STI) dropped 20.06 points or 0.4% to close at 4,921.90 on May 8, 2026, amid a broader regional retreat. • Hongkong Land was the worst performer among STI constituents, plunging 5.2% or US$0.45 to US$8.25. • OCBC bucked the trend, rising 0.2% to S$21.92 after reporting a 5% quarterly net profit increase to S$1.97 billion for Q1 ended March 31.

Sarah Schloegl stranded in Alicante after 11-month-old was found to have invalid documentation under new rulesA British woman from Aberdeen and her 11-month-old baby have been stranded abroad because of new rules regarding dual nationals introduced by Labour.Sarah Schloegl was refused board on a Ryanair flight from Alicante last week after she went to Spain for a short break with her Austrian husband, Philipp, their three-year-old daughter and 11-month-old baby. Continue reading...

• The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index declined to 98.3 in April 2026, down 4.2 points from March, marking the steepest monthly drop since July 2025 as Americans express renewed concern about inflation and job security. • Consumers' expectations for future economic conditions weakened notably, with the forward-looking component falling 6.8 points as respondents cited concerns about rising prices for groceries, gasoline, and housing costs. • The decline suggests potential headwinds for Q2 consumer spending and retail sales, pressuring guidance from discretionary retailers and restaurant operators ahead of earnings season.

The king faces possibly his most important ever speech and a thin-skinned president, in the shadow of the Sussexes and the Epstein scandal. What could go wrong?On his high-stakes four-day state visit to the US, King Charles will have to walk a diplomatic tightrope as the guest of an erratic Donald Trump against the backdrop of Iran and security concerns after Saturday night’s shooting at the White House correspondents’ dinner.Many challenges lie ahead as he takes up his UK government-decreed task to “reaffirm and renew” bilateral ties amid a worsening “special relationship” on the 250th anniversary of American independence. Continue reading...

Several shots – including flu and Covid – lost their CDC recommendations under overhauls from the White HouseSeveral shots lost their recommendation from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) after a judge’s stay against changes wrought by the Trump administration – which may affect access to the shots in some states. And no new vaccine recommendations may be made as long as the vaccines committee is halted.Access to existing vaccines – and the future development of new vaccines – has been increasingly called into question under the second Trump administration, as the now-halted Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) made controversial recommendations and health officials made unilateral changes to routine vaccines, with long-term and global implications. Continue reading...

• The average interest rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate conforming mortgage declined to 6.289%, down 7 basis points from the previous day, according to Optimal Blue mortgage data. • The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 5.653%, down 5 basis points, while jumbo 30-year rates fell 10 basis points to 6.502% and VA loans dropped 11 basis points to 5.889%. • Mortgage applications declined 0.8% for the week ending April 3, with the Mortgage Bankers Association citing higher rates and economic uncertainty as headwinds.

• The U.S. Chamber of Commerce released its Q1 2026 Small Business Index on April 7, 2026, showing the index declined to 67.0 from 68.4 in the previous quarter, though it remains above the 62.3 score from a year ago. • Inflation reclaimed the top concern among small business owners at 53%, up from 45% last quarter, marking 17 consecutive quarters as the dominant worry; hiring and investment plans are cooling as economic confidence softens. • Cash flow comfort among small business owners has declined, with only 20% reporting being "very comfortable" compared to 31% in Q3 2025, though 72% overall maintain comfort levels; manufacturing firms lead at 81% comfort while retail and professional services lag at 69-70%.

Exclusive: Trips on Sydney’s key thoroughfares have fallen by thousands per day, according to government dataGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastRoad traffic is falling on Australia’s east coast as fuel prices bite, with most key Sydney highways recording 20% fewer weekend trips.The number of trips recorded on Sydney’s key thoroughfares has fallen by thousands of trips a day, according to New South Wales government data shared exclusively with Guardian Australia. Continue reading...

• The United States men's national soccer team lost 2-0 to Portugal in a friendly match on Tuesday at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium. • Francisco Trincão scored in the 37th minute past goalkeeper Matt Freese, followed by João Félix's long-range goal in the 59th minute for Portugal. • Christian Pulisic received a 3/10 player rating amid the USMNT's failure to convert attacking chances despite early pressure.

US president’s claim that conflict is nearing end prompts 15% drop in Brent crude and stock market climb in AsiaBusiness live – latest updatesOil prices tumbled and stock markets rallied across the world on Wednesday after Donald Trump said the war in Iran would end in “two to three weeks”.Brent crude, the international benchmark for oil, dropped to $99.78 a barrel, down more than 15% compared with its price on Tuesday – its lowest level in a week. Continue reading...

Weak demand and global trade pressures hit ouput, with energy price rises expected to bring further dropBusiness live – latest updatesFewer cars rolled off UK production lines in February in what the industry called an “extremely worrying” slump even before the impact of the Iran war was felt.Vehicle production was 17% lower last month on the same period in 2025, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, as exports dropped sharply. Continue reading...

• The US Composite PMI dropped to 51.4 in March 2026, marking its lowest level since April 2025 and indicating slowing economic growth across the board. • Business activity hit an 11-month low driven by softened orders and price surges, with the services sector leading the slowdown while manufacturing remained more resilient. • Employment fell for the first time in over a year amid weakening confidence, while sharp input cost rises pushed selling prices higher across the economy.

• The 98th Oscars averaged 17.86 million viewers, down 9% from 19.69 million last year, marking the lowest since 2022 per Nielsen. • Grammys drew 14.41 million viewers, down 6% from 15.4 million, while Golden Globes had 8.66 million, also down 6% from 9.27 million. • ABC promotions during the show generated $24.2 million in media value, heavily featuring Disney+ with 12 airings worth $14 million.

PwC called in as administrators after company runs out of cash, leaving it unable to pay landlords and creditorsNational Car Parks, the UK’s biggest car park operator, has fallen into administration, putting nearly 700 jobs at risk.NCP’s board of directors called in PwC as administrators after it ran out of cash, leaving it unable to pay its landlords and creditors, with significant rent payments falling due at the end of March. Continue reading...

Met police says woman, 43, was detained after newborn girl in Westminster taken to hospital and pronounced deadA woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder after an 18-day-old baby girl fell from a property in central London.The Metropolitan police said officers attended Horseferry Road in Westminster after reports on Saturday morning that a baby had fallen from a residential property. Continue reading...

United Rentals shares dropped to around $733 on March 13, 2026, offering significant upside to a $950 price target but prompting managers to wait for a bottom. The decline reflects broader equipment rental sector pressures amid economic caution, though fundamentals remain strong. Portfolio strategies emphasize buying after bad news is priced in to maximize risk-reward. Analysts see potential rebound with construction demand recovery.

Clemson defeated Georgia Tech 8-5 in ACC college baseball action at 8 p.m. ET on ACCN, with Tigers' pitcher striking out 12. Georgia Tech rallied late but stranded runners in scoring position. This win boosts Clemson's record to 15-3. Regional implications rise with NCAA regionals approaching in late May.

Meta delayed rollout of its new AI model code-named Avocado after internal tests showed it lagging competitors in reasoning, coding, and writing, reported on March 13, 2026. The New York Times detailed the model's underperformance against benchmarks. This setback comes amid intense AI competition and highlights challenges in model development. Meta must refine the model to catch up in the race for advanced capabilities.

Meta delayed its new AI model, code-named Avocado, after internal tests showed it lagging competitors in reasoning, coding, and writing, reported on March 13, 2026. The setback impacts Meta's AI ambitions amid intense industry competition. Engineers are iterating to close performance gaps before public release. This highlights challenges in achieving frontier AI capabilities quickly.

Meta delayed the rollout of its Avocado AI model after internal tests revealed it underperformed competitors in reasoning, coding, and writing, reported on March 13, 2026. The New York Times cited concerns over the model's benchmarks against rivals. This setback impacts Meta's AI ambitions amid intensifying competition. Analysts expect revisions before any public release.