Jump

• The US Federal Reserve raised the federal funds rate to 3.75%-4.00% overnight, marking its first rate hike in three years. • Wall Street responded with caution as the Dow fell 631 points, or 1.21%, while Brent crude eased by about 1% to $104.48 a barrel. • Higher US interest rates and supply risks around the Strait of Hormuz create volatility for global markets and increase potential import costs for India.

Financial markets predict one-in-five chance of quarter-point rise in interest rates when Bank of England decides on ThursdayBusiness live – latest updatesUK inflation has returned above 3% as soaring fuel and transport prices triggered by the Iran war heap renewed pressure on British households.Figures from the Office for National Statistics show inflation as measured by the consumer prices index rose from 2.9% in July to 3.1% in August. The increase, which matched City forecasts, was driven by motor fuel prices rising by almost a quarter. Continue reading...

• EL.En. reported a jump in profit for the first half of 2026, contributing to a 7% increase in its stock price. • Executives expect the second half of the year to be extremely strong due to medical division growth, industrial performance, and a recovery in Italy. • The company plans to close the divestiture, or sale, of its laser cutting business by the end of 2026, likely between October and December.

• European oil stocks rose recently as escalating tensions in the Middle East pushed crude oil prices toward $100 per barrel. • Market data indicates that crude oil is approaching the $100 price threshold due to the regional instability. • Higher crude prices typically increase the profit margins and stock valuations for energy companies operating in the European market.

• Blockchain funding in Southeast Asia rose 113% to $680 million in 2026, with Crypto.com leading the surge and Singapore serving as the primary investment hub. • Tracxn reported that tokenization platforms received $114 million in investments, while decentralized application development platforms secured $77 million. • Current funding levels remain well below the 2022 peak when regional start-ups raised $2.2 billion across 206 funding rounds.

• U.S. employers added 162,000 jobs in August while the unemployment rate remained steady at 4.1 percent. • Federal Reserve official Mr. Barr stated that the government should act decisively to raise interest rates if inflation does not moderate sufficiently. • Stagnant wage growth relative to rising inflation reduces the actual purchasing power of workers despite the increase in available jobs.

Five jailed after targeting victim and subjecting him to ordeal linked to past relationship breakdownDramatic footage shows a kidnapped man jumping from a first floor window into a tree before running into the street and, by chance, coming across a police car.Lincolnshire police said the ordeal of the unnamed man had been “horrifying” and the presence of a marked police vehicle “may have saved his life”. Continue reading...

Swap rates rise to three-year high as increase in oil prices leads to fears of higher inflationBusiness live – latest updatesHomeowners in the UK are braced for a jump in mortgage rates, driven by higher inflation and interest rate increase expectations amid turmoil in the global bond markets.UK swap rates, which lenders use to price mortgages, have risen to a three-year high, as this week’s global bond market sell-off ripples through the economy. Continue reading...

• Over 20,000 ballots were rejected in Washington’s recent primary election because they arrived after the legal deadline. • This figure represents a significant increase in rejected votes compared to the 2024 totals, sparking concerns over systemic failures. • The surge in late arrivals has intensified fears regarding United States Postal Service (USPS) delays affecting voter accessibility.

• GIFT Nifty has jumped 105 points, signaling a positive opening for the Indian stock market (Dalal Street) despite recent weakness in domestic equities. • Global sentiment remains bullish, with major Asian indices trading higher, including South Korea's KOSPI (+1.33%), Hong Kong's Hang Seng (+0.5%), and Japan's Nikkei 225 (+0.18%). • Investors are currently balancing competing signals, weighing firmer global cues and continued strength in foreign markets against local volatility.

Budget carrier says airlines could go bust as it cuts passenger targets to reduce exposure to ‘unhedged winter oil’Business live – latest updatesRyanair has warned that air fares in Europe will jump next year if the oil price remains high and that some airlines could go bust.The Irish budget carrier has cut its passenger target for the year to 31 March, down from 216 million customers to 214 million, to help reduce its exposure to “unhedged winter oil” during the unprofitable off season, with jet fuel currently trading at $140 (£104) a barrel. Continue reading...

• Global interest rates are surging, with the U.S. 10-year Treasury note climbing to nearly 4.8 percent. • Significant shifts are occurring internationally, including the Japanese 10-year bond exceeding 3 percent for the first time since 1996 and the German 10-year bund hitting 3.33 percent, a peak not seen since 2011. • These increases are critical because government bond yields directly influence the cost of consumer borrowing, including mortgages, auto loans, and student loans.

• Eurozone inflation rose sharply to 3.3% in August, driven primarily by a surge in energy prices which climbed more than 14% year-on-year. • National rates varied across the region, with Spain recording the highest inflation at 4.5%, followed by Italy at 3.2%. • Germany and France remained below the headline average at 2.9% and 2.7% respectively, though France saw an increase from its previous 2.4% rate.

• Global equity futures tumbled as long-term bond yields reached multi-year highs, driven by persistent inflation pressures. • Oil prices surged following an escalation in tensions involving Iran, adding further volatility to global energy markets. • Analysts highlight the hawkish stance taken by Kevin Warsh during last week's Jackson Hole symposium as a primary catalyst for expected yield increases.

Sales of beans, lentils and soya bean derivatives on rise while Britons buy less real and fake meatBritish shoppers are munching more beans, lentils, tofu and tempeh – while cutting back on both real and plant-based fake meat – to save money and improve their diet.The amount of beans, pulses and soya bean derivatives sold in the UK increased by 7.3% in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year, led by a surge in cheap dried lentils, an analysis has found. Continue reading...

• Asian stocks rose on Thursday, driven by boosted confidence in the AI rally following a strong sales forecast from Nvidia. • South Korea's Kospi led regional gains with a 2.22% jump, while Japan's Nikkei 225 and Topix indices rose 0.41% and 0.32% respectively. • The rally occurred despite growing market bets that the Federal Reserve may implement further interest rate hikes.

• South Korea's Kospi index surged 6%, leading a broader rally across Asian markets following a positive trend in bonds. • Other key indices also rose, including the Hang Seng by 1.1%, the Nikkei 225 futures by 1%, and the Topix by 0.9%. • The MSCI Asia Pacific index climbed 1.7%, effectively snapping a two-day losing streak for the region.

• Asian stock markets rose on Thursday, following a rebound on Wall Street that ended a three-session losing streak. • South Korea's Kospi led the regional gains with a significant 4.41% surge, while Japan's Nikkei 225 and Australia's ASX 200 climbed 1.21% and 0.29%, respectively. • The rally was driven by a pullback in US Treasury yields from multi-year highs, which helped restore investor risk appetite.

• South Korea's Kospi index surged 4%, leading a broader rally across Asian markets following a positive trend in bond yields. • The MSCI Asia Pacific index rose by 1%, effectively ending a two-day losing streak for the region. • This jump reflects investor optimism and a shift in sentiment triggered by the recent bond market rally.

• Indian stock markets opened strongly on August 20, 2026, with the Sensex jumping over 500 points and the Nifty 50 climbing above 24,200. • The rally was driven by improved global risk appetite, as US indices (Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq) gained up to 0.22% and the VIX fell by 6%. • Positive momentum extended across Asia, highlighted by a significant 5.63% rally in South Korea alongside gains in Japan, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.

• AIA Group reported a 10% increase in its new business value for the first half of the year, with positive growth across all reportable segments except Thailand. • The insurer maintains a broad operational footprint across 18 Asian markets, including mainland China, Singapore, and South Korea, as well as Australia and New Zealand. • The growth comes amid market pressure following reports that Chinese tax authorities may levy a 20% personal income tax on returns from Hong Kong insurance policies.

• Asian stock markets experienced a sharp decline following a pullback from Wall Street's all-time highs, driven largely by a resumed slump in artificial-intelligence stocks. • South Korea's Kospi index saw a significant drop of 5.2%, with Tokyo's Nikkei 225 also facing downward pressure. • The market volatility coincides with a jump in oil prices, adding further economic uncertainty to the region's financial landscape.

• Indonesia's composite index (IHSG) rose by 1.26% on Monday, driven by strong net buying from foreign investors. • Key stocks attracting foreign capital included Bank Central Asia (BBCA), Aneka Tambang (ANTM), and Bumi Resources (BUMI). • The broad interest across banking, mining, and resource sectors signals widespread foreign confidence in the fundamentals of the Indonesian economy.

Brent crude rises above $90 a barrel for the first time since 30 July after US president tells Tehran to surrenderBusiness live – latest updatesOil prices have risen again after the two-month window to negotiate a peace deal in the US-Israel war on Iran expired on Monday with no end to the conflict in sight.Iran said on Monday that it would take a more aggressive stance if talks with the US failed, while Donald Trump demanded Tehran “put up the white flag of surrender” in an interview with Fox News. Continue reading...

• Sunny Deol's film "Batwara 1947" experienced a sharp increase in box office collections on its second day of release, August 15, 2026. • The movie is currently performing strongly and is aiming to reach a significant revenue milestone of ₹30 crore. • This surge in earnings highlights the film's initial commercial success and strong audience draw during its opening weekend.

• Most major European stock indices closed lower on Friday, ending the trading week on a soft note. • Germany's DAX bucked the general downward trend, finishing the session with a gain of 0.51%. • The market decline was driven by a sharp increase in global bond yields, which typically puts downward pressure on equity valuations.

• AI infrastructure stocks surged on Wall Street on August 13, led by CoreWeave, which jumped 19.5% following reports of a $104 billion backlog. • Other AI cloud providers, including Nebius and ERock, also rallied amid a wave of mega AI contracts and M&A activity supported by Goldman Sachs and Bank of America. • The broader market session was characterized by a dense calendar of corporate earnings, high-profile IPOs, and strategic financial sector consolidations.

• The S&P 500 reached a new all-time high and the Nasdaq Composite surged following the release of July Producer Price Index (PPI) data. • Wholesale prices remained unchanged month-over-month, defying economist expectations of a 0.2% increase and following a 0.3% decrease in June. • The rally is driven by investor confidence that the Federal Reserve will maintain current interest rates during its upcoming meeting next month.