Large Japanese manufacturers hit a 4-year optimism high of 17, defying the shadow of the Iran war.
OpenAI achieved a $852B valuation after closing a record $122B funding round, backed by Nvidia and SoftBank.
Bill Yuen, a manager at the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London, denied running a shadow spy network during his UK national security trial.
Trump announced a US withdrawal from Iran within 2 to 3 weeks, declaring nuclear goals achieved despite Pentagon warnings of remaining missile threats.
Mastercard launched its first agentic transaction in Hong Kong. An AI agent successfully booked and paid for an airport ride via hoppa, partnering with HSBC and DBS.
Beyond Meat missed Q4 sales with down 20% and a $69M EBITDA loss. High prices and low demand continue to hurt the brand, which also delayed its annual report due to accounting weaknesses.
Oracle is cutting thousands of jobs for a $2.1B AI shift. Washington loses 491 roles. Shares rose 5% on the cost reset.
Nvidia invests $2B in Marvell for custom AI chips & networking. Marvell shares jumped 9% as Nvidia secures its lead in Big Tech's $630B AI build-out.
Italy delays coal exit to 2038 due to Iran war energy risks. Enel's plants stay active despite G7 pledges.
Filling a 55L car hits £100 for the first time since 2022. The Iran war hiked diesel to 182.8p, costing UK drivers £500m+ extra so far.
Australia's $240B Australian Retirement Trust boosts Japan, Europe stocks and UK bonds, betting on volatility gains amid Iran war.
Unilever is in talks to merge its food unit with McCormick for $15.7B in cash. The tax-efficient deal leaves Unilever shareholders with a 65% stake in the entity.
BlackRock is considering HSBC's 45-story Canary Wharf tower for its new London HQ. The firm seeks 600,000 sq ft as the district sees a post-pandemic rebound.
US gas prices topped $4/gallon as the Israel-Iran war disrupts energy supplies.
Microsoft adds GPT + Claude teamwork in Copilot, improving accuracy, reducing errors, and speeding workflows with new "Critique" and model comparison tools.
ICE is investing another $600M in Polymarket, doubling its bet to $1.6B as prediction markets surge in popularity despite rising regulatory concerns.
Treasury demands the FT retract claims that Sec. Bessent wants more Fed oversight. Bessent calls the story fake, but the FT stands by its reporting.
UK retailers warn new guaranteed hours laws could hit 50% of sector roles, risking flexible jobs for youth. Unions hail the move as a vital end to exploitation.
Nike marks six quarters of decline in China as local rivals Anta and Li Ning win over shoppers. Q3 results on Tuesday are expected to show tighter margins.
Nasdaq adds "fast entry" rules, letting big IPOs join the Nasdaq-100 within weeks instead of months, boosting appeal for firms like SpaceX and OpenAI.
Guess will shut all mainland China stores by March 31, 2026, following a majority stake sale to ABG. The brand plans a strategy rethink due to weak localization.
SoftBank has secured a $40 billion loan to boost investments in OpenAI, marking a significant move in its AI strategy, with support from major banks.
BASF launches a $10B green-powered complex in Zhanjiang, its largest overseas investment, signaling deep confidence in China's market despite global shifts.
Kenya secures zero-tariff exports and SGR rail funding from China, balancing growth against rising debt and US pressure.