Decline

• Soft-left Tribune-groep lanceert nauwelijks verhulde aanval op Keir Starmer en pleit voor gedurfde vernieuwing van het beleid • Business live – laatste updates • UK politics live – laatste updates

Chief Secretary Darren Jones zegt dat de premier ‘luistert naar collega's’, maar zelf beslissingen zal nemen over de weg vooruit

• Amerikaanse aandelenindex-futures daalden maandagochtend; de Dow Jones futures stonden 0,30% lager op 49.540, Nasdaq 100 futures daalden 0,03% naar 29.324 en S&P 500 futures verloren 0,4% door toenemende geopolitieke risico's. • President Donald Trump noemde de laatste reactie van Iran op het Amerikaanse voorstel om de oorlog te beëindigen 'totaal onaanvaardbaar', wat leidde tot een stijging van de olieprijzen nu markten zich voorbereiden op escalatie. • De reactie vergroot de druk na recente sterke NFP-gegevens van +312K banen tegenover de verwachte +185K, waarbij 2-jarige Treasury-rendementen boven de 5% in de gaten worden gehouden voor verdere neerwaartse druk op aandelen.

• Reporters Without Borders heeft de eerste significante en langdurige achteruitgang van de persvrijheid in de Verenigde Staten in de moderne geschiedenis gedocumenteerd, waarbij de verslechtering direct wordt toegeschreven aan Trumps terugkeer in het ambt. • De organisatie meldt dat Trump heeft geprobeerd druk uit te oefenen op mediabedrijven om de berichtgeving te verzachten en leiders die geallieerd zijn met de regering op sleutelposities te installeren. • Deze zorgwekkende trend keert een eeuw van geleidelijke uitbreiding van de persvrijheid om, wat een kritiek moment markeert voor de onafhankelijkheid van de media en democratische instellingen.

• De Straits Times Index (STI) van Singapore daalde met 20,06 punten of 0,4% om op 8 mei 2026 te sluiten op 4.921,90, te midden van een bredere regionale terugtrekking. • Hongkong Land was de slechtst presterende waarde onder de STI-componenten en kelderde met 5,2% of US$0,45 naar US$8,25. • OCBC doorbrak de trend en steeg met 0,2% naar S$21,92 nadat de bank een kwartaalstijging van de nettowinst met 5% naar S$1,97 miljard rapporteerde voor het eerste kwartaal dat eindigde op 31 maart.

• The S&P 500 fell 0.4% or 28.01 points to 7,337.11 on Thursday, retreating from its all-time high, while the Dow dropped 313.62 points or 0.6% to 49,596.97 and Nasdaq slipped 0.1% or 32.75 points to 25,806.20. • Oil prices yo-yoed due to Wall Street's waiting on hopes for a deal to end the Iran war, with earlier sharp swings from dashed expectations of reopening the Strait of Hormuz; Iran created a government agency to vet and tax vessels passing through, potentially raising fuel costs. • Standouts included Axon Enterprise rallying 10.6% after raising its revenue forecast due to counter-drone product growth, and Albemarle rising 3% on better-than-expected results, while Shake Shack tumbled 28.3% and Whirlpool fell 11.9% on weak earnings.

Nobel laureate says he previously considered himself a supporter of Israel, but ‘the campaign of annihilation in Gaza has changed all that’Nobel laureate JM Coetzee has declined to attend an upcoming literature festival in Israel, writing a excoriating letter to organisers citing the country’s “genocidal campaign” in Gaza, stating: “It will take many years for Israel to clear its name”.The 86-year-old author, who was born in apartheid South Africa and lives in Australia, wrote to organisers of the Jerusalem international writers festival in November. Continue reading...

• Oil prices jumped above $100 per barrel and broke through $115 as Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz, with Brent crude rising 6% amid U.S. efforts to free up shipping lanes. • The S&P 500 fell with all 11 sectors declining except energy (+0.9%); Dow Jones dropped approximately 1%, while Asia ex-Japan surged 2.8% led by KOSPI's 5% gain to new highs. • U.S. Treasury yields climbed across the curve by 7-10 basis points, with the 30-year Treasury clearing 5.0% as inflation pressures mount and the USD index moved higher above 98.

• Benchmark Nifty 50 index fell 180.10 points or 0.74% to close at 23,997.55, while Sensex dropped 582.86 points to 76,913.50. • Nifty Bank index declined 0.98% to 54,863.35, dragged by profit booking after early gains on Q4 earnings. • Sectors like metals, PSU banks, and realty saw sharp declines amid surging oil prices and foreign outflows.

• U.S. stock futures fell late Sunday with Dow Jones Industrial Average futures down 130 points or 0.3%, S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq-100 futures also declining after record highs on Friday. • West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 2% above $96 per barrel following collapsed U.S.-Iran talks announced Saturday. • The Federal Reserve's interest-rate committee meets Tuesday-Wednesday, with Chair Jerome Powell's likely final press conference anticipated amid market highs.

• The CDC reported six more US children died from influenza last week, bringing the season's pediatric flu deaths to 149 as respiratory virus activity slows nationwide. • About 85% of deceased children with known vaccination status were unvaccinated, with flu positivity in labs dropping to 4.7% and hospitalizations falling to 1.3 per 100,000 people. • Influenza B now predominates after surpassing A viruses, with high wastewater levels of RSV, influenza B, rotavirus, and norovirus signaling ongoing risks.

Six women who stayed in flats in capital have since accused disgraced financier of sexually abusing them, says BBCJeffrey Epstein housed some of his alleged abuse victims in flats in London after police in the UK decided against investigating him, according to reports.The BBC said it had uncovered evidence of four flats in Kensington and Chelsea in receipts, emails and bank records contained within the Epstein files. Six women who stayed in the properties have since accused the late financier of sexually abusing them, the broadcaster said. Continue reading...

• A comprehensive analysis from the National Center for Atmospheric Research shows US carbon dioxide emissions fell 8.2% year-over-year in Q1 2026, driven primarily by renewable energy sources now supplying 34% of national electricity generation. • Solar and wind capacity additions reached record levels with 42 gigawatts of new renewable infrastructure installed in 2025, according to data released by the Department of Energy and independent research institutions. • Climate scientists attribute the acceleration partly to state-level climate policies and federal incentives from the 2024 Clean Energy Investment Act, though transportation and industrial sectors still require significant emission reductions.

• U.S. stock futures fell 0.46% Monday morning as Iran declined to engage in peace talks with the Trump administration, escalating geopolitical tensions. • Oil prices climbed to $95 per barrel, up from $86 three days prior, reflecting market concerns over potential supply disruptions from the Iran conflict. • Despite the geopolitical headwinds, markets have shown resilience with strong corporate earnings growth at 17% annually offsetting valuation pressures.

Report says lack of provision is harmful to health and damaging for high streetsThe number of public toilets in England has fallen by 14% in a decade, harming public health and creating vast swathes of lavatory “deserts” and unpleasant environments, a report says.The analysis by the Royal Society for Public Health found a “significant shortfall” in provision, with 15,481 people for each public toilet in England. That contrasts sharply with Scotland, where there are 8,500 people for each toilet, and Wales, with 6,748. Continue reading...

• Oil prices dropped significantly, providing tailwinds for technology companies as lower energy costs reduce operational expenses and improve profit margins across the sector. • Constellation Research founder R 'Ray' Wang discussed the direct relationship between Big Tech performance and oil and gas pricing, highlighting how the energy market collapse supports tech stock rebounds. • The decline in energy costs removes a key headwind for capital-intensive tech operations and data centers, contributing to the broader market rally.

• Anthropic announced a new frontier AI model on April 16, 2026, capable of advanced performance that sent shockwaves through the tech industry. • Investors reacted negatively, resuming an AI-driven slump in software stocks as the model's capabilities raised concerns over market dynamics. • The release highlights ongoing US AI breakthroughs and their immediate impact on Wall Street valuations.

Warmer weather has benefited some species in Britain, but others that rely on specific plants or habitats have struggled“Insectageddon” has not occurred, but there has been a loss of butterfly diversity over the past half a century, according to the world’s largest insect monitoring scheme.More than 44m butterfly sightings scientifically collected in Britain since 1976 show that of the 58 native species recorded, 33 species have declined and 25 have increased in number. Continue reading...

• CDC data reveals sexually transmitted disease rates fell among US adults last year, but congenital syphilis in newborns kept increasing. • This trend highlights persistent challenges in prenatal screening and treatment access for at-risk pregnant women. • Rising newborn syphilis threatens infant health outcomes, prompting calls for enhanced public health interventions.

• The average interest rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate conforming mortgage declined to 6.289%, down 7 basis points from the previous day, according to Optimal Blue mortgage data. • The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 5.653%, down 5 basis points, while jumbo 30-year rates fell 10 basis points to 6.502% and VA loans dropped 11 basis points to 5.889%. • Mortgage applications declined 0.8% for the week ending April 3, with the Mortgage Bankers Association citing higher rates and economic uncertainty as headwinds.

• S&P 500, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, and Russell 2000 futures turned lower on Sunday evening ahead of the US market reopening on April 6, 2026, post-Easter weekend. • The downturn follows a holiday break, with trading heavily impacted by recent geopolitical developments and economic data releases. • Investors are monitoring ceasefire reports and Trump-related escalation threats for potential volatility at the open.

Weak demand and global trade pressures hit ouput, with energy price rises expected to bring further dropBusiness live – latest updatesFewer cars rolled off UK production lines in February in what the industry called an “extremely worrying” slump even before the impact of the Iran war was felt.Vehicle production was 17% lower last month on the same period in 2025, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, as exports dropped sharply. Continue reading...

• Major US stock indexes fell on March 25 with the S&P 500 dropping 24.63 points (0.4%) to 6,556.37, the Dow Jones declining 84.41 points (0.2%) to 46,124.06, and the Nasdaq sinking 184.87 points (0.8%) to 21,761.89. • Oil prices rose as investors remain uncertain about the duration and impact of the Iran conflict on Persian Gulf energy supplies, with the two-year Treasury yield climbing to 3.92% from 3.83% on concerns about inflation. • The market pullback reflected renewed caution after rallies the previous day, as traders have nearly eliminated bets for Federal Reserve rate cuts this year due to elevated inflation risks from surging oil prices.

• Three historical factors that preceded double-digit stock-market declines are present simultaneously in 2026, according to DataTrek co-founder Nicholas Colas, signaling heightened risk for U.S. equity investors. • The S&P 500 has dropped 4.7% in March alone and is down 4.2% year-to-date, on track for its worst monthly performance since March 2025 and first quarterly loss since Q1 2025. • Despite warning signs, Colas maintains a cautiously optimistic outlook, stating there is still time to avoid a double-digit loss if Middle East tensions de-escalate swiftly and crude-oil prices decline.

• U.S. equities declined on March 24, 2026, following a stock recovery on Monday, as the Middle East conflict reignited investor concerns and weighed on market sentiment. • The selloff occurred after initial optimism earlier in the week, with mounting concerns about geopolitical risks affecting trading activity throughout the session. • The market downturn reflects broader volatility as investors grapple with the implications of escalating tensions in the region and their potential impact on oil prices and corporate earnings.

• S&P 500 dropped 0.80%, Dow Jones fell 0.83%, and Nasdaq 100 declined 0.98% in early trading on March 24, 2026, amid Middle East tensions. • Crude oil surged over 4% to $91.80, up $3.67, as Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf denied US negotiations, contradicting President Trump's claims of productive talks. • Citi analysts warn prolonged conflict could push oil to $200 per barrel, heightening inflation fears and pressuring equities.

• The US long winter COVID-19 wave is ending with all major metrics showing declines or plateaus in SARS-CoV-2 spread nationwide as of mid-March 2026. • COVID-19 test positivity dropped to 2.5% for the week ending March 14, the lowest since 2022, while emergency department visits for COVID reached just 0.4%. • Cases are declining or likely declining in 45 states per CDC forecasts as of March 17, with flu-like illness visits down 12% to 3.3% and RSV levels also falling.

Woodcocks and pochard, pintail and goldeneye ducks among threatened species protected by proposalsHunters will be banned from shooting a rare and beautiful duck under new proposals to halt the decline of six British wild birds.The new rules would restrict the shooting of species including the distinctive woodcock, and the striking pintail, goldeneye and pochard ducks, all of which are classed as under threat and have seen their populations fall sharply in recent years. Continue reading...