Positive

• The UK stock market opened with gains, with the FTSE 100 edging up 0.07% to 10,485.84 points, while the FTSE 250 and FTSE All-Share also traded in positive territory. • Market growth was primarily driven by strong performance in banking and mining stocks, alongside increased corporate merger and acquisition activity. • Investors are currently balancing these gains against economic headwinds, including the Bank of England's 3.75% interest rate stance and fluctuating commodity prices.

• Federal Reserve official Kevin Warsh has held interest rates steady at 3.5%-3.75%, signaling a period of stability for the financial markets. • Warsh's personal investments in cryptocurrency suggest a shift toward a more favorable Federal Reserve stance regarding Bitcoin and other digital assets. • While the Fed does not directly regulate crypto exchanges, its leadership heavily influences the risk tolerance of bank regulators, the Treasury, and Congress.

• Iranian negotiators have departed Doha, pausing diplomatic talks in Qatar following reports of "positive progress" in negotiations. • The diplomatic hiatus comes as Iran prepares for a multi-day funeral for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in late February. • Khamenei's death resulted from targeted strikes ordered by the United States and Israel, escalating regional tensions.

• AbbVie announced positive topline results from the Phase 3 EPCORE DLBCL-4 trial testing the combination of epcoritamab and lenalidomide. • The study focused on adults with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who had failed two or more previous treatments. • This development is significant as it evaluates a new combination therapy for high-grade B-cell lymphomas that are typically difficult to treat.

• Apple unveiled a new artificial intelligence strategy at its 2026 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), marking a significant pivot from previously criticized approaches. • Analysts at Bank of America Securities suggest this "material positive reset" is designed to strengthen Apple's software ecosystem. • The strategic shift is expected to drive future hardware upgrades as users seek devices capable of supporting the new AI features.

• Swiss startup Sun-Ways successfully installed solar panels along a 100-metre stretch of railway in Buttes, Neuchâtel canton, last April. • Founded by Joseph Scuderi, the project utilized previously wasted space between tracks to generate 18.2 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity. • The initiative demonstrates a viable way to integrate renewable energy infrastructure into existing transport networks despite significant regulatory and technical obstacles.

• GIFT Nifty rose on Wednesday morning, signaling a positive opening for the Indian benchmark indices, the Sensex and Nifty. • The upward trend persists despite a global sell-off in technology stocks and market concerns regarding a potentially hawkish stance from the US Federal Reserve. • Lower crude oil prices are acting as a key support factor, helping to offset the negative influence of Wall Street's volatility.

• Amazon has decided to drop "Artificial," a film directed by Luca Guadagnino centered on OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. • The decision comes as a surprise to the industry because the movie reportedly received positive feedback during test screenings. • This move highlights the volatility of high-profile biographical projects and the challenges of distributing controversial tech-centric narratives.

• Recent global reports highlight positive trends, including a decrease in drug, alcohol, and suicide-related deaths within the United States. • In a significant legal victory for human rights, Colombia has officially outlawed female genital mutilation (FGM). • Environmental successes include the comeback of a bird species in Asia and the development of the Santana and Ilhéu das Rolas protected areas.

• The BSE Sensex and Nifty50 are expected to open higher on Monday following news of a preliminary peace deal between the US and Iran. • This geopolitical development has caused global crude oil prices to plunge, leading to a rally in Asian equities and hopes for reduced global inflationary pressures. • Market analysts from Bajaj Broking Research note that the Nifty50 previously closed the week up 1.1%, ending above the 23,600 level.

• Actor Raghava Lawrence has hinted at a potential entry into politics following significant public support and requests from individuals to join his movement. • While he did not explicitly confirm electoral plans during media interactions, Lawrence stated that a major announcement regarding his decision will be made soon. • He expressed his intention to move forward with the blessings of superstar Rajinikanth and noted his readiness to face political attacks and criticism.

• This week's positive news highlights several global breakthroughs, including the rediscovery of a "lost species" of bird and the restoration of free-flowing rivers across Europe. • In medical science, researchers are celebrating the development of a new pill designed to treat pancreatic cancer, offering hope for a notoriously difficult-to-treat disease. • Conservationists, including Dwi Agustina from Konservasi Kakatua Indonesia, are calling for collective stakeholder action to protect the remaining habitats of endangered avian species.

The economy was slowing even before the Middle East conflict and interest rate hikes started to bite, while the boom in datacentres was a rare bright spotGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe economy slowed sharply in early 2026 and Australians’ living standards are once again going backwards.At the risk of upsetting the treasurer by “talking down the economy”, as he put it, there wasn’t all that much to love in the latest national accounts. Continue reading...

• A Pew Research Center survey of 13,575 people across 11 European countries reveals that favorability toward the EU has risen since the 2016 Brexit vote. • The organization now holds a median favorability rating of 62% across the surveyed nations, including France, Germany, Italy, and the U.K. • This shift indicates a growing positive perception of the EU's role and influence within Europe compared to the period surrounding the UK's exit.

Secretary of state says US made clear America’s position on Taiwan, as Trump-Xi talks continue for second dayXi warns Trump of ‘clashes and even conflicts’ with US over TaiwanAnalysis: For anxious Taiwan, Trump’s silence after Xi talks is best possible outcomeDonald Trump and Xi Jinping are set to meet on Friday to wrap up a high-stakes two-day state visit that has featured pomp and business deals but also a stark warning from Xi that mishandling the Taiwan issue could push US-China relations to “a very dangerous place”.Trump is on the first visit by a US president to China since 2017 and has been hoping for tangible results that might improve his sagging approval ratings ahead of the crucial midterm elections.Trump told Fox News that China had agreed to order 200 Boeing jets – its first purchase of US-made commercial jets in nearly a decade. But markets were expecting a much higher number, with earlier news reports suggesting 500 or more could be involved, and Boeing shares fell more than 4% after the comments.Xi’s remarks on Taiwan, the democratically governed island Beijing claims, represented a sharp warning during a pomp-filled summit that otherwise appeared friendly and relaxed. They came in a closed-door meeting that ran for more than two hours, Beijing said.US secretary of state Marco Rubio told NBC News that Taiwan was discussed, saying the Chinese “always raise it ... we always make clear our position and we move on to the other topics”. Rubio is among a large contingent of US officials and business leaders who travelled with Trump to China.At a lavish state banquet on Wednesday, Xi called the China-US relationship the most important in the world and added: “We must make it work and never mess it up.” Trump earlier told Xi their two countries were “going to have a fantastic future together”.The summit has been aimed at maintaining a fragile trade truce struck when the leaders last met in October and Trump suspended triple-digit tariffs on Chinese goods and Xi backed away from choking global supplies of vital rare earths.With news agencies Continue reading...

French woman taken to Paris in serious condition while American flown to Nebraska is asymptomatic, say officialsEurope live – latest updatesA French woman and an American national evacuated from the cruise ship at the centre of a deadly hantavirus outbreak have tested positive for the virus, as the complex operation to repatriate those on board continued on Monday.The French woman was one of five French passengers who disembarked from the ship in Tenerife on Sunday before being flown to a hospital in Paris. Continue reading...

• Lakers secured a 2-0 series lead against the Houston Rockets in NBA playoffs, receiving more good news on team health amid the victory. • Updates on Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves emerged ahead of Game 2, boosting LA's momentum in the Western Conference matchup. • This strengthens Lakers' position as they aim to advance deeper in the postseason.

• Faraday Future's 2025 annual financial report revealed stockholders' equity shifted from negative to positive. • The company's EAI robotics business posted a positive gross margin in its first delivery quarter this year. • Faraday Future targets over 1,000 unit shipments for its EAI robotics by end of 2026, signaling expansion plans.

• The S&P 500 declined 0.84% to 6,551.67 in afternoon trading on Friday with 139 equities advancing and 364 declining across the index, indicating broad-based weakness. • Market rotation continued with only the utilities sector trading in positive territory while all other sectors posted losses amid elevated geopolitical tensions and rising borrowing costs. • Market volatility remains high as investors grapple with competing concerns about inflation stemming from the Iran conflict and the potential impact on Federal Reserve policy decisions.