June

• Global markets experienced high volatility in June as traders feared that geopolitical conflicts and a potential Iranian closure of the Strait of Hormuz would spike oil prices and trigger global inflation. • Oil prices peaked between $75 and $78 per barrel before dropping below $65 following a ceasefire and OPEC+'s decision to increase production by 411,000 barrels per day starting in August. • Despite these tensions, slowing GDP growth, and persistent inflationary concerns, US stock indices have remained remarkably resilient.

• European stock markets, including the DAX, CAC, and FTSE 100, are on track for their strongest weekly performance since late June. • Major regional indices have reached fresh record highs, driven by a robust round of corporate earnings that has bolstered investor sentiment. • This positive momentum has allowed markets to offset renewed geopolitical concerns and volatility.

• Australia's trade balance shifted to a surplus in June, exceeding market forecasts due to a significant rebound in exports. • The growth was driven by increased iron ore shipments to China, Japan, and South Korea, as well as stronger coal exports to India, Japan, and China. • Solid gains in liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports further contributed to the rise in overall export earnings for the month.

• Orrön Energy has entered into an agreement to merge its Nordic platform, excluding Karskruv, with Cloudberry to establish a leading Nordic Independent Power Producer (IPP). • The strategic move is supported by a major shareholder and a management team with a proven track record of scaling successful businesses. • This combination aims to leverage significant financial capacity to fund future growth and acquisitions during the ongoing energy transition.

• India has condemned the recent elections in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), labeling the process a "complete farce" amid allegations of electoral manipulation. • The region has faced severe turmoil since June, driven by widespread protests against inflation and high electricity tariffs. • Indian officials report that Pakistani forces have killed 90 people in the region since June to suppress the unrest.

• The U.S. economy grew at a rate of 1.5% in the second quarter, falling short of expectations due to a decline in inventories and federal government spending. • Core inflation for June was reported at 3.3%, maintaining a primary focus for Federal Reserve policymakers as labor market indicators have stabilized. • Three regional Fed presidents cast dissenting votes, citing concerns over persistent high prices and a lack of progress toward the central bank's price stability mandate.

• Healthfab is establishing a vertically integrated manufacturing plant to produce over 4 lakh period care panties monthly, including reusable and disposable options. • The new facility will integrate production units, quality testing, warehousing, and R&D to streamline the company's product pipeline. • Medical tourism startup CureMeAbroad has expanded its global network by signing strategic MoUs with Mexico's Dr. and Thailand-based Asia Cosmetics.

• DeepSeek raised ¥50B and NEURA Robotics secured $1.4B in funding, highlighting the flow of capital into AI and robotics. • Ramp closed a $750M funding round, demonstrating the large scale of investments in key sectors like infrastructure. • Investors such as Accel, Coatue, and Y Combinator participated in significant funding rounds, indicating strong interest in startups like Flourish, which combines humans and AI for employee coaching and mental health support.

• The European Central Bank (ECB) reported monetary developments for the euro area as of June 2026. • Data shows a divergence in deposit growth, with household deposits slowing to a 2.6% annual growth rate from 2.8% in May. • Conversely, deposits from non-financial corporations saw an increase in their annual growth rate, rising to 5.3% in June from 4.2% in May.

• South Korean election authorities reportedly made 72 revisions to data figures following the local elections held on June 3. • The revisions were revealed in data released on Monday, sparking significant controversy and allegations of irregularities regarding the vote count. • This development matters as it fuels public distrust in the electoral process and raises questions about the accuracy of the official results.

Nathan Matthews, 43, died a month after deadly burnover enveloped his fire crew near the Colorado-Utah borderA fourth firefighter has died from burns after he and several colleagues were overcome by a fast-moving wildfire near the Colorado-Utah border last month, officials said on Saturday.Nathan Matthews, 43, died on Friday, the US interior department said in a release. He was from Lincoln, Nebraska. Continue reading...

• The Hungarian government has requested an extraordinary parliamentary session for next Monday and Tuesday, marking the seventh such session since June. • Lawmakers will debate and vote on eight legislative proposals, focusing on key areas including railway reform, energy policy, and asset recovery. • A significant point of the agenda includes the disclosure of state security records from the communist era to increase transparency.

• Menlo Park-based 8090 Solutions, an AI-native software development platform, has raised a total of $135M in funding. • Founded in 2024 by Chamath Palihapitiya and Sina Sojoodi, the company operates through its "Software Factory" platform. • The funding round includes backing from several high-profile investors, including Craft Ventures, Salesforce Ventures, LAUNCH, WndrCo, and S32.

Figures come as large parts of southern Europe endure another record-breaking period of extreme temperaturesFrance recorded more than 5,700 excess deaths during its June heatwave, authorities have said, as swathes of southern Europe continue to endure another record-breaking period of extreme temperatures.The French national health agency said on Wednesday that it had recorded 5,764 excess deaths ⁠between ​17 June and 2 July, an excess mortality rate of 36%. Continue reading...

EU set for worst crop harvest in decade after total grain yield estimated to be 9m tonnes smaller than expected, analysis findsThe heatwave that swept across Europe in June is estimated to have cost the continent’s grain farmers €2bn (£1.7bn) in lost revenue and destroyed 10m tonnes of crops, according to a new analysis, raising concern about the impact on food prices.The European harvest of crops including wheat, barley, maize and oats is now predicted to be 9m tonnes smaller than forecast before the June heatwave, according to Coceral, the European association which represents trade of cereals and oilseeds. Continue reading...

• South Korea's Kospi index surged 4%, led by a recovery in major chipmakers such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. • This jump follows a severe market downturn where the index crashed 31% from its peak recorded in June. • Despite the recent gain, the Kospi remains in a bear market, signaling ongoing investor caution and high volatility.

Guardian analysis shows officers arrested 43,138 people as quiet and steady operations ramp up across the countryThe Trump administration arrested a record number of immigrants last month, according to newly released government data that reveals how US immigration agents are quietly but steadily ramping up operations across the country.A Guardian analysis of the latest data published by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) found that federal immigration agents arrested 43,138 people in June – the highest number since Donald Trump took office in January last year and promised a campaign of mass immigrant deportations. Continue reading...

Figure of £16bn from ONS comes after new prime minister revealed plans to cut VAT on electricity billsBusiness live – latest updatesThe UK government borrowed less than expected in June, in a boost for Andy Burnham as he set out plans to cut VAT on household electricity bills and promised a new direction for the British economy.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said public sector net borrowing – the difference between government spending and income – was £16bn last month, £7.9bn less than in June 2025. Continue reading...

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsGood morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of business, the financial markets and the world economy.New prime minister Andy Burnham has announced this morning that VAT will be cut from household electricity bills, as part of his plan to help with the cost of living.Westminster has not been working for people for too long, with families struggling with the cost of living.That needs to change. I said I wanted to give people breathing space, and that’s what I’m announcing on my second day as prime minister.Fiscal control is the first duty of any chancellor. It is mine. And fiscal credibility is the bedrock for economic stability and for national security, and you heard the prime minister this afternoon say, in this more dangerous world, we will meet our commitments on defence to our international allies…7am BST: ONS Labour market figures and public financesToday: New PM Andy Burnham to announce cost of living measures Continue reading...

• A total of 256 companies are scheduled to announce their Q1 FY27 earnings for the April-June quarter this week. • High-profile firms reporting include Infosys, Bajaj Auto, Nestlé India, UltraTech Cement, Adani Power, Paytm, and TVS Motor. • Investors are focusing on these results and management commentary to gauge current business performance and emerging demand trends.

• Foreign investors injected a net $11.51 billion into the bond markets of South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and India in June. • This surge represents the strongest monthly inflow since November 2025, driven by falling oil prices and a booming global tech cycle. • The shift occurred as equity market volatility pushed investors toward the relative safety of sovereign debt and improved regional economic outlooks.

• Asian technology stocks experienced a significant decline, with Japan's Nikkei index hitting its lowest level since June. • In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index dropped over 2%, led by steep 6% losses for tech giants Meituan and Kuaishou. • Other major Chinese firms, including Tencent, Baidu, Alibaba, and Xiaomi, saw their shares retreat between 2% and 4%.

• Stock markets climbed following reports that June inflation cooled, signaling a potential slowdown in price increases. • JPMorgan Chase reported a record quarterly profit of $21.2 billion, driven by a surge in trading activity and corporate dealmaking. • These combined factors suggest a resilient financial sector and a possible shift in macroeconomic conditions that could benefit investors.

• Spain's EU-harmonised 12-month inflation rate remained steady at 3.6% in June 2024. • According to statistics from the National Statistics Institute (INE), the figure aligned with both previous data and market forecasts. • This stability provides a key indicator of price trends within the Eurozone, influencing broader economic assessments of the region.

• The S&P 500 rose 0.37% to 7,542.79 on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, driven by a cooler-than-expected June Consumer Price Index (CPI) report. • Market gains were supported by resilient second-quarter profits from major financial institutions, including JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, and Bank of America. • Gains were tempered by volatility stemming from escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and a shift in tech spending toward AI hardware.

Recent strikes have sent oil prices climbing again, with average gas price per gallon up by 70 cents on last yearInflation cooled to an annual rate of 3.5% in June as the brief US-Iran ceasefire, which has since ended, brought energy prices down, according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.The consumer price index (CPI), which measures a basket of goods and services, has been elevated since the start of the war, largely because of higher energy prices. After mostly staying under 3% since mid-2024, CPI reached a three-year high of 4.2% in May – up from 2.4% in February. Stripping out volatile energy and food prices, core inflation decreased slightly to 2.6%. Continue reading...

• Foreign investors continued to be net sellers of South Korean equities in June, marking the fifth consecutive month of outflows. • This trend persisted despite a significant tech-led rally within the local stock market during the same period. • Data released by the Bank of Korea on July 14 highlights a disconnect between rising stock prices and foreign investor sentiment.

• Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) invested over $1 billion in Indian equities last week, representing the largest weekly buying streak since June 2025. • Total inflows through July 9 reached $1.3 billion, supplemented by an additional $272 million in provisional purchases on Friday. • Goldman Sachs attributes this surge to a stable Indian rupee and a positive outlook for corporate earnings.