Falls

• Asian stock markets opened with mixed results on Monday, June 29, as investors reacted to renewed geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran. • South Korea's Kospi index saw a significant decline, dropping 2.29% at the open, while the small-cap Kosdaq rose by 0.97%. • Other regional indices showed resilience, with Australia's benchmark S&P/ASX 200 increasing by 0.41% and Japan's Nikkei also experiencing a fall.

• Only two AFC teams have advanced to the knockout rounds of the current World Cup, highlighting a significant performance gap between Asia's elite and the rest of the region. • Major contenders including South Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and champions Qatar were eliminated in the group stages, with South Korea's exit leading to coach Hong Myung-bo's resignation on Sunday. • This result marks a decline from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where three Asian nations—Australia, Japan, and South Korea—successfully reached the first knockout round.

Reports claim replacement being lined up for co-founder amid concern over high pay and company’s struggling share priceThe boss of Ocado has collected nearly £100m since the online grocery company floated on the stock market in 2010, despite its share price now languishing below its flotation level, analysis has shown.Tim Steiner, a former Goldman Sachs trader who co-founded the British technology company in 2000, is thought to be in discussions over his future after it emerged Ocado had approached at least one potential replacement. Continue reading...

• The FTSE 100 closed down 21.87 points (0.2%) at 10,508.02, following reports of delays at OpenAI that negatively impacted the tech sector. • Asian markets saw sharper declines, with South Korea’s Kospi falling 5.8% and Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 dropping 4.2%. • Major tech players were hit hard, including SK hynix, which saw its share price shed 8.4%, and SoftBank, which plunged 13%.

• The U.S. Men's National Team suffered a narrow 3-2 loss to Turkey on Thursday after conceding a goal in the final seconds of the match. • Despite the defeat, the U.S. successfully advanced to the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup. • Other notable group stage results included Ecuador upsetting Germany 2-1, the Netherlands defeating Tunisia 3-1, and a 0-0 draw between Paraguay and Australia.

• Major Asian stock indices declined on Friday as a renewed selloff in technology stocks erased gains from the previous session. • Significant losses were seen in Japan's Nikkei 225, which dropped 3.91%, and South Korea's Kospi, which tumbled 5.65%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 1.87%. • The downturn was further influenced by lower oil prices, reflecting a shift in investor sentiment regarding global supply concerns.

Fears of long-lasting energy crunch ‘slinking away’ as vessel traffic doubled in 24 hours to highest level since late FebruaryBusiness live – latest updatesOil prices have fallen below levels seen before the Iran war started in late February as more oil tankers exited the strait of Hormuz.Brent crude, the global benchmark, fell to a low of $72.24 a barrel on Thursday, slightly lower than the day before the US and Israel launched missile attacks on Tehran on 28 February. Prices have fallen more than 20% this month. Continue reading...

• The Nasdaq Composite dropped 4.18% and South Korea's KOSPI plunged nearly 10% following a sharp sell-off in technology stocks. • The market volatility was triggered by disappointing AI-related guidance from Broadcom, which fueled investor concerns regarding a potential AI bubble burst. • This downturn highlights a growing sensitivity in global markets to the actual financial returns and growth projections of artificial intelligence investments.

• South Korea's KOSPI benchmark crashed over 8%, triggering a regional domino effect that saw Japan's Nikkei fall 3% and Taiwan's markets retreat. • The sell-off was driven by an "AI trade unwind," as investors rotated out of major technology stocks due to concerns over stretched valuations and rising AI spending. • Other regional markets were impacted, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index slipping 0.4% to 23,678 and India's Nifty 50 remaining flat as foreign institutional investors paused emerging market allocations.

• The British Pound fell to 1.32 against the US Dollar, marking a 1.65% decline over five days following the resignation of Prime Minister Keir Starmer. • Starmer's departure follows intensifying internal dissent and policy reversals, exacerbated by Andy Burnham's recent parliamentary seat win, which may trigger a formal leadership challenge. • This political turmoil, combined with a strengthening US Dollar, has significantly pressured the GBP and shaken public confidence in the government.

• A new report from UCLA’s Entertainment and Media Research Initiative reveals that representation for women and minority groups in streaming films dropped significantly in 2025. • The findings indicate a sharp reversal of recent gains in diversity and inclusion within the streaming sector of the entertainment industry. • This decline is critical as it highlights a regression in Hollywood's efforts to ensure equitable visibility for underrepresented demographics on screen.

Officers find man unconscious and unresponsive with injuries indicating a fall from an ‘elevated position’A 51-year-old man fell to his death during a concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Saturday night, police said.Officers responding to a 911 emergency call around 9.51pm found the man unconscious and unresponsive with injuries indicating a fall from an “elevated position”, New York City Police said in a statement. Continue reading...

• FactSet stock price dropped 3.07% to reach $221.29 during the most recent trading session. • The decline is attributed to a broad-based market sell-off and a weak technical outlook for the company. • This price movement reflects current investor sentiment and technical pressure affecting the stock's short-term performance.

• Portugal and DR Congo played to a draw in their Group K World Cup opener held at NRG Stadium in Houston. • Cristiano Ronaldo struggled to impact the match, continuing a trend of poor form at major tournaments despite his prolific scoring for Al Nassr and in qualification. • The result is historic for DR Congo, marking a significant milestone for the team in their World Cup campaign.

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show migration growth is above pre-pandemic levels but tracking steadily downGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastNet overseas migration added 301,000 people to Australia’s population last year, the lowest increase since mid-2022 but still above the pre-pandemic pace.The new figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics come amid an increasingly fraught political debate around immigration, following Pauline Hanson’s declaration that our society should be “monocultural”. Continue reading...

Drop will put pressure on Bank of England to raise interest rates despite peace deal in Iran warBusiness live – latest updatesUnemployment fell and wages increased in April, official figures showed, putting pressure on the Bank of England to raise interest rates despite a peace deal in the Middle East.The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed unemployment slipped to 4.9% in the three months to April from 5% in the three months to March. Continue reading...

• President Lee Jae Myung issued a public apology on Wednesday after a recent poll revealed his approval rating plummeted by nearly 10%. • The sharp decline in public support follows the results of recent local elections, signaling significant voter dissatisfaction. • This drop in popularity puts pressure on the administration to address governance failures and improve its relationship with the electorate.

• A phase II trial published in Nature Medicine found that combining the drug apitegromab with tirzepatide (Zepbound) effectively preserves lean muscle mass, potentially mitigating the muscle loss known as "Ozempic butt." • Massachusetts General Hospital has established a novel vascular clinic specifically designed to provide critical care to homeless individuals to prevent amputations caused by peripheral artery disease. • KFF Health News is exploring the role of overlooked social connections as a potential preventative measure against suicide.

• Major Asian stock markets experienced a severe crash, with South Korea's KOSPI index suffering the most significant decline. • Trading on the KOSPI was officially halted after a 9% drop triggered a circuit breaker, while Japan's Nikkei 225 fell by 4%. • Other regional indices, including Hong Kong's Hang Seng, China's Shanghai Composite, Taiwan's TAIEX, and Australia's ASX/200, also saw steep plunges.

• The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna saw a significant viewership drop, with 131 million TV viewers compared to 166 million in 2025. • This decline of 35 million viewers follows the withdrawal of five countries—Spain, Slovenia, Ireland, Iceland, and the Netherlands—who boycotted the event over Israel's participation. • Bulgaria's DARA won the competition with the song "Bangaranga," despite the political tensions surrounding the contest.

• Asian markets experienced a significant downturn on Friday, highlighted by South Korea’s Kospi index tumbling 5.7% and Japan's Nikkei 225 slipping 1.1%. • The slump was driven by a cooling AI-led rally, with major tech stocks like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix falling approximately 6% and 8%, respectively. • Other regional indices were also affected, including a 2.41% drop in the Kosdaq and a 0.2% decline in Australia’s S&P/ASX 200.

• IndusInd Bank's shares fell 3% following a new whistleblower complaint sent to the PMO, RBI, and other regulators. • The complaint alleges significant governance failures, insider trading, and deficiencies in the bank's forensic and audit reviews. • This scrutiny follows a previous March 2025 disclosure regarding a ₹2,000 crore discrepancy in derivatives accounting.

• Indian stock markets plummeted on Tuesday, with the Sensex falling over 400 points and the Nifty dropping below 23,250. • The downturn was driven by escalating US-Iran tensions and persistent selling by foreign institutional investors (FIIs), causing declines of over 1% in the Auto, Realty, and Consumer Durables sectors. • Despite the broader crash, Nifty IT gained nearly 2%, while 1,650 stocks on the NSE declined compared to 887 that advanced.

• The Dow Jones index declined on Monday following reports that Iran has halted ceasefire negotiations with the United States. • Market volatility was mixed, with Nvidia seeing a price increase while other sectors reacted to the geopolitical tension. • Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway contributed to market movement by boosting its position in an undisclosed stock.

Premier Group Recruitment went into administration with debts of £2.9m – including £647,000 owed to HMRCA recruitment executive – who was allowed to buy back the assets of his bust company in instalments despite it accumulating almost £3m of debt – has fallen behind on promised payments after pledging to send staff on an all-expenses paid trip to Las Vegas.The development is the latest case to raise questions about the practice of “phoenixism”, accounting’s controversial art of liquidating companies to allow directors to rise from the ashes with a new entity, free of debts. Continue reading...

• Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen was eliminated from the Singapore Open after losing a grueling quarterfinal match to Koki Watanabe, failing to secure a victory in the deciding game. • Sen's exit follows the earlier departure of PV Sindhu, marking a disappointing run for India's singles campaign in the tournament. • In a positive turn, mixed doubles pair Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto advanced to the next round after reigning World champions Chen Ten Jie and Toh Ee Wei retired mid-game.

• Asian stock markets surged, with exchanges in Tokyo, Seoul, and Taipei rising by more than 2% following hopes of a US-Iran ceasefire deal. • Crude oil prices declined, with the West Texas Intermediate benchmark falling below $88 a barrel. • The market optimism follows a positive trend on Wall Street, despite reports of lower first-quarter economic growth and April inflation reaching its highest level since 2023.

• Wall Street stocks remained relatively flat on Wednesday, holding near record highs as investors maintained a cautious stance. • Crude oil prices declined as market participants reacted to potential progress in peace negotiations between the United States and Iran. • The shift in oil prices reflects a decrease in geopolitical risk premiums, with markets currently pricing in a 38.1% likelihood of a diplomatic breakthrough.