Uncertainty

• South Korean stocks plummeted on Wednesday, with the benchmark KOSPI index closing at 5,663.24 after a sharp 5.98% drop of 360.42 points. • The sell-off was triggered by growing investor uncertainty regarding whether massive corporate spending on artificial intelligence will generate sufficient financial returns. • Market volatility was so severe that the KOSPI experienced a 20-minute trading halt after the index fell approximately 12% during afternoon trading.

Residents describe their fear as they were forced to leave their homes because of the ‘extremely intense’ blazeSitting in their suburban apartment in Mérignac on the outskirts of Bordeaux, Krishma, an interpreter, and her husband, Nassir, first felt a sense of dread when a strange black cloud turned the sky dark in the middle of the day. Then a bitter burning smell filled the air outside.“The sky changed colour. It seemed like a cloud but it was smoke covering the sun – it wasn’t a natural phenomenon. It didn’t seem real,” said Nassir, an English literature graduate from Kabul who has been living in France for seven years. “We couldn’t breathe easily, you could feel it in your lungs.” Continue reading...

• President Mohammed Shahabuddin has resigned from his position amid significant political instability in Bangladesh. • The resignation follows the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India after losing power. • This leadership vacuum occurs as speculation grows regarding Hasina's potential return and the future of the country's governance.

Explosive diarrhea infection spreads to 41 states with at least 72 sickened by new, as yet unknown source of parasiteConfusion abounds in the cyclospora outbreak that has sickened thousands in at least 41 states, as officials identify a new cluster of cases and more potential products come under scrutiny.The recall of products during this outbreak of explosive diarrhea has been an unusual one, complicated by poor communication, politicization and the delay of a new regulatory rule could have helped trace the cyclosporiasis outbreak faster. Continue reading...

• European lenders are preparing to report resilient Q2 earnings, driven by steady loan growth, elevated interest rates, and strong trading activity. • Profitability has been bolstered by disciplined cost management, though investors remain focused on credit quality and potential economic risks. • This performance is significant as the banking sector enters a new phase of earnings recovery despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainty.

• India's Act East Policy aims to strengthen strategic relationships, economic cooperation, and cultural ties with nations across the Indo-Pacific through bilateral and multilateral engagement. • The policy leverages India's historical trade and cultural linkages to East Asia to counter regional instability and China's increasing assertiveness. • Current geopolitical uncertainty is rising as the Trump administration appears to be distancing itself from the "Indo" component of the Indo-Pacific framework.

• Asian stock markets experienced a decline following new U.S. strikes against Iran and growing instability in the region. • Market volatility is being driven by uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, with ship tracking data indicating a significant decrease in maritime traffic. • The situation matters as disruptions to this critical shipping lane could severely impact global energy supplies and trade stability.

• US stock markets declined sharply, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling over 578 points alongside slides in the Nasdaq and S&P 500. • The downturn was driven by surging oil prices and renewed geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and Iran, creating a volatile trading environment. • Investors are exercising caution due to uncertainty surrounding upcoming Federal Reserve minutes and fluctuations in Treasury yields and inflation expectations.

Growth in charge points falls markedly despite surge in number of rapid-charging unitsBusiness live – latest updatesThe UK’s rollout of electric vehicle chargers has slowed amid challenging cost pressures and uncertainty over government sales targets.Charger companies installed 5,100 public charge points in the first half of 2026, pushing the total to 121,171, according to Zapmap, a data company. That was a 10% increase on the same point a year before – well below growth rates above 40% in 2024. Continue reading...

• Global investors are entering the second half of the year balancing strong market momentum and a constructive earnings backdrop against significant geopolitical and economic risks. • Key concerns currently weighing on market sentiment include uncertainties surrounding artificial intelligence, trade policy, and ongoing geopolitical tensions. • Markets have seen a boost in confidence due to a notable increase in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which has lowered immediate downside risks to the global economy.

Mangione, accused of killing health executive Brian Thompson, has pleaded not guilty in state and federal casesLuigi Mangione is scheduled to appear at Manhattan federal court on Monday morning in relation to the murder of UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson.Mangione stands accused of the 4 December 2024 killing of Thompson on a New York City street. He faces murder and weapons charges in his state-level case, and stalking counts in the federal proceedings. Continue reading...

• South Korean stocks opened lower on Monday, June 29, as investors reacted to renewed geopolitical instability. • Market sentiment was dampened by uncertainty surrounding the fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, which contributed to rising oil prices. • Investors are closely monitoring the situation alongside upcoming investment plans from major tech giants Samsung and SK hynix.

• Gold prices (XAU/USD) declined to approximately $4,060 during Asian trading hours on Monday. • The drop is driven by market uncertainty regarding US-Iran talks and expectations of a hawkish stance from the Federal Reserve. • This price movement reflects investor caution as geopolitical tensions and monetary policy shifts influence the precious metal's appeal.

• PwC reports that health services M&A activity remains active in 2026, with overall deal value increasing compared to the first half of 2025. • Despite higher values, deal volume is slowing as buyers become more selective due to reimbursement pressures and policy uncertainty. • Financial risks are rising for providers as Medicaid cuts from the “Big Beautiful Bill” and higher ACA exchange costs are expected to increase the number of uninsured patients.

• 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.

UK’s biggest retailer reports better figures than expected by City analysts and is cheered by strong online salesBusiness live – latest updatesTesco’s UK sales growth has more than halved as it said the conflict in the Middle East had created “ongoing uncertainty for many households”.The UK’s biggest retailer said comparable sales rose 1.8% in the three months to the end of May, well below the 4.2% reported in the previous quarter. Continue reading...

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that India remains on a steady growth trajectory despite prevailing global economic uncertainty. • The PM highlighted youth empowerment and women-led development as the primary cornerstones for achieving the vision of "Viksit Bharat" (Developed India). • This focus on inclusive growth is intended to ensure a prosperous future by leveraging the potential of India's diverse demographic.

• US-Iran war talks remain clouded by uncertainty as both Washington and Tehran issue conflicting messages regarding the status of negotiations. • In Lebanon, fighting persists between Israel and Hezbollah, indicating that the fragile ceasefire agreement is failing to hold. • Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Shlomi in northern Israel on Thursday, reaffirming his commitment to border security while emphasizing a diplomatic approach of flexibility and firmness.

Unexpected monthly drop of 0.1% in May leaves price of typical home at £298,806, says lender HalifaxBusiness live – latest updatesUK house prices fell unexpectedly in May as rising mortgage rates fuelled by the war in Iran affected affordability and homebuyer demand.The average price of a typical UK home fell by 0.1% in May to £298,806 compared with April, the third consecutive monthly drop recorded by the lender Halifax. Analysts had been expecting a return to growth, with a consensus of a 0.1% rise forecast for May. The monthly drop followed falls of 0.1% in April and 0.5% in March. Continue reading...

• Mamata Banerjee is leading a two-hour sit-in protest today from 2 pm to 4 pm at the Y-channel in central Kolkata. • The demonstration focuses on urban issues, specifically the demolition of illegal buildings and the eviction of hawkers encroaching on roads. • The event marks Banerjee's first public appearance since the Trinamool Congress suffered a landslide defeat in the recent Assembly elections.

• Indian benchmark indices, the Sensex and Nifty, declined on Monday with the Sensex dropping over 500 points and the Nifty falling 0.7%. • The downturn was driven by rising crude oil prices, geopolitical tensions in West Asia, and uncertainty surrounding Iran-US relations, despite strong performance from IT stocks like Infosys and TCS. • Market pressure is further compounded by sustained Foreign Portfolio Investor (FPI) selling, inflation worries, and potential risks associated with the monsoon.

• Stock markets remained rangebound as investors weighed uncertainty regarding Iran talks and a series of artificial intelligence developments. • Alphabet's Class A shares fell 2.2% following the announcement of a massive investment program, which includes $10 billion in backing from Berkshire Hathaway under CEO Greg Abel. • In a significant industry milestone, AI startup Anthropic, the developer of Claude, has confidentially filed for an IPO, beating rival OpenAI to the first step of going public.

• Global stock markets rallied driven by optimism surrounding artificial intelligence, specifically following an IPO filing by AI firm Anthropic. • Conversely, oil prices and bond yields declined due to instability in US-Iran talks and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East. • In South Korea, the benchmark KOSPI index experienced high volatility, swinging lower after reaching a record high as major tech stocks like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix fluctuated.

• Asia-Pacific stock markets mostly declined on Tuesday as investors reacted to renewed uncertainty surrounding peace negotiations between the U.S. and Iran. • Significant losses were seen in Japan, where the Nikkei 225 dropped 1.32% and the Topix fell 1.14%, while South Korea's Kospi plummeted 1.92% and the Kosdaq sank 3.13%. • Australia's S&P/ASX 200 also retreated by 0.71%, though Hong Kong's Hang Seng and mainland China's CSI 300 managed marginal gains of 0.13% and 0.1%, respectively.

Social Democratic leader secures third consecutive term as prime minister amid crisis in ties with Donald Trump over GreenlandDenmark’s Social Democratic leader Mette Frederiksen said on Monday she has agreed to form a centre-left coalition government, maintaining her grip on power amid a crisis in ties with Donald Trump over Greenland.The deal to form a minority cabinet gives Frederiksen a third consecutive term as prime minister, ending months of uncertainty after a March election in which 12 parties won seats in the Danish parliament. Continue reading...

Inflation can be tolerated above 2% target for now ‘given context of softness in real economy’, governor saysBusiness live – latest updatesThe Bank of England is in no rush to raise interest rates while the outcome of the Iran war remains uncertain and the UK’s growth rate stays weak, the governor, Andrew Bailey, said.In a signal that borrowing costs will remain at 3.75% at least during the summer, Bailey said it was tolerable for inflation to stay above the Bank’s 2% target during the current crisis. However, that would change if a more permanent increase in prices began to take effect. Continue reading...

• Somalia has entered a period of political uncertainty and disorder following the decision to extend the terms of the Presidency and the Somali Parliament. • Both the executive and legislative branches have extended their mandates by one year, delaying the scheduled transition of power. • This move is significant as it disrupts the established political timeline and creates a state of transition that may lead to further instability.

• Asian stock markets declined on Tuesday following new U.S. military strikes on Iran. • The strikes undermined previous optimism that a diplomatic agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz was close to being reached. • Crude oil prices showed divergent trends as investors reacted to the heightened geopolitical instability and potential supply disruptions.