Latest market news
Independent UK financial coverage with full source attribution.
Bloomberg: $1.6bn Russian energy transshipped via Indonesia's Karimun Island
At least $1.6bn in Russian diesel, fuel oil, and petroleum products was transshipped through Karimun Island, Indonesia, to Asian buyers, per Bloomberg Markets on 9 July 2026. No regulatory response from Indonesian, Western, or international bodies was reported.
Severn Trent escapes Ofwat fine despite sewage breaches
Ofwat found Severn Trent Water in 'serious and unacceptable' breach of wastewater duties but declined to impose a financial penalty, citing the company's £98m proactive investment.
Bullard said Warsh may reduce Fed forward guidance, per Marketwatch
Former St. Louis Fed President James Bullard said on 8 July 2026 that incoming Fed Chair Kevin Warsh may reduce the central bank's use of forward guidance, according to Marketwatch TOP. No confirmed statement from Warsh or the Federal Reserve Board was included in the reporting.
Trump ends Iran ceasefire; WTI and Brent surge 8% amid Hormuz closure threat
WTI and Brent crude rose approximately 8% after Trump declared the Iran ceasefire over at the NATO Summit in Ankara and revoked Iranian oil sanctions waivers; U.S. equity futures in SPY and QQQ fell, bond yields spiked, and the VIX rose.
Meta launches Muse Image AI model across Instagram and WhatsApp
Meta Platforms debuted Muse Image on July 7, 2026, its first AI image-generation model from Superintelligence Labs, rolling out across the Meta AI app, Instagram, and WhatsApp. META shares closed 2.6% higher on the day.
US strikes on Iran; Brent crude surges, equities and dollar move
Brent crude rose ~$4 to settle above $76, reaching $80 intraday; WTI rose 6% to $74.90. The Dow fell 1.09%, S&P 500 posted minor losses, FTSE 100 and Nikkei fell, Treasury yields rose 5bp to 4.58%, and the DXY strengthened.
Microsoft signs 20-year nuclear deal; Amazon acquires $650m data centre
Microsoft entered a 20-year agreement to restart the Three Mile Island nuclear plant and Amazon completed a $650 million data centre acquisition, both reported by Oilprice on 8 July 2026 as responses to U.S. grid capacity constraints driven by AI power demand.
Bank of England proposes easing leverage ratio for UK banks
The BoE's FPC proposed softening the leverage ratio and enhancing capital buffer usability on 7 July, while its Financial Stability Report warned of rising risks from AI, geopolitical tensions and debt-fuelled equity investment.
UAE crude output exceeds 3.8 million bpd after OPEC+ exit
UAE crude production rose above 3.8 million barrels per day in June 2026 following its departure from OPEC+, with Bloomberg data showing exports at 3.94 million barrels per day — the highest since April 2020.
Saudi Arabia cuts August crude OSP to Asia by largest margin in 26 years
Saudi Arabia reduced its official selling price for crude to Asian customers for August loadings by the largest margin in at least 26 years, with other Gulf producers issuing competing discounts of up to $11 per barrel; Brent crude and WTI both declined as the pricing data emerged.
Macron visits Syria in first trip by an EU head of state since Assad fell
Emmanuel Macron arrived in Damascus on 6 July 2026 for a two-day state visit, accompanied by the CEOs of TotalEnergies and CMA CGM, with Syrian reconstruction among the key themes.
Samsung Q2 profit surges 19-fold to record 89.4trn won
Samsung Electronics posted a preliminary Q2 2026 operating profit of 89.4 trillion won ($58.4bn), a 19-fold year-on-year surge and a new all-time corporate record, driven by AI memory chip demand.
US Treasury-Commerce turf war delays Strategic Bitcoin Reserve implementation
An interdepartmental dispute between the US Treasury and Commerce departments over legal authority to administer the proposed Strategic Bitcoin Reserve remained unresolved as of 7 July 2026; Bitcoin rose on 6 July 2026 despite a sale of 3,588 BTC by Michael Saylor's firm.
SCHW Q1 2026: filings, holdings, and macro context
MicroStrategy sold 3,588 BTC for $216 million; bitcoin fell 4%
MicroStrategy (MSTR) sold 3,588 bitcoins between 29 June and 5 July 2026, raising approximately $216 million; bitcoin fell up to 4% following disclosure of the sale. The company's total bitcoin holdings were reduced to 843,775 BTC.
US June ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI at 54.0; employment sub-index contracts
The ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI for June 2026 came in at 54.0, down from 54.5 in May and in line with consensus. The employment sub-index fell to 47.9, moving into contraction, while the prices paid index declined to 71.3.
Microsoft cuts 4,800 jobs and divests four Xbox studios
Microsoft is eliminating approximately 4,800 roles, about 2.1% of its workforce, with Xbox bearing the heaviest burden as the gaming division plans to cut 3,200 jobs and divest four studios.
Trump spoke separately with Putin and Zelenskyy on 6 July 2026
US President Trump held separate calls with Russian President Putin and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on 6 July 2026, coinciding with Ukrainian strikes on Russian targets and a Russian barrage on Kyiv. A subsequent Trump-Zelenskyy meeting was announced for the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey.
Castlelake agrees £5.2bn takeover of EasyJet at £6.90 per share
Castlelake LP agreed in principle to acquire EasyJet at £6.90 per share in cash, valuing the UK low-cost carrier at £5.2 billion; EZJ shares carry a concrete reference price against the offer ahead of any completion.
ITV agrees £1.6bn sale of M&E arm to Sky Group
ITV Plc has agreed to sell its Media & Entertainment division, including ITVX and its free-to-air channels, to Comcast-owned Sky Group for up to £1.6 billion ($2.1 billion).