Watson's Daily

Monday 28/10/24

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Japan's election result poses more questions, Aim listings hit a new low, a steak chain considers a listing and oil prices weaken. In BUSINESS & CONSUMER TRENDS, lawyers deal with Budget inquiries as company founders look…

Friday 25/10/24

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, the IMF says Europe will lag the US, UK consumer and business confidence wobbles, English councils are gloomy, we look at what Reeves needs to do and Indonesia wants to join Brics. In RETAIL-RELATED NEWS, luxury…

Thursday 24/10/24

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, I bring you a ton of stuff on the US election, the Bank of England's reaction to slowing inflation, Reeves' imminent rule change, investor trends and war developments. In REAL ESTATE NEWS, we consider whether the…

Wednesday 23/10/24

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, the US economy's on a roll, Britain gets an upgrade, councils face further turmoil and the London living wage is set to rise. In RETAIL & LEISURE NEWS, Halfords warns of uncertainty, Holiday Inn sees growth,…

Tuesday 22/10/24

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Trump closes the gap on Harris, China stimulates, Goldman predicts more interest rate falls, gold hits a record high, Maersk boosts guidance and UK worker reforms are going to cost. In CONSUMER TRENDS, alcohol demand drops,…

Monday 21/10/24

In MACRO NEWS, we look at global confidence, the race to "unretire" and another review of HS2. In TECH NEWS, Chinese AI groups drive down costs, personality comes to chatbots and investors look to data centres. In BUSINESS & CONSUMER…

Friday 18/10/24

In MACRO & COMMODITIES NEWS, the Middle East war takes a turn, China's growth slows, the ECB cuts rates again and gold hits a new high. In FINANCIALS NEWS, BNPL heads towards FCA oversight, plans are afoot to loosen bonus…

Thursday 17/10/24

In MACRO & COMMODITIES NEWS, China expands lending and ups the ante with Taiwan, UK inflation drops unexpectedly and Rio Tinto's iron shipments stay steady. In RETAIL & LEISURE NEWS, luxury's having a bad patch, M&S looks strong, Ryanair gets…

Wednesday 16/10/24

In MACRO & OIL NEWS, we look at the latest developments in the US election, the IMF questions Reeves, the chancellor identifies a bigger funding gap and oil prices slide. In EMPLOYMENT & CONSUMER TRENDS NEWS, UK wages slow, the…

Tuesday 15/10/24

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, we see why the West is worried about China, US markets rise, Reeves gives hints and oil prices weaken. In AUTOMOTIVE NEWS, Chinese carmakers deny and Stellantis sounds warnings. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Google orders SMRs, we…

Monday 14/10/24

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, we look at the impact of limited dealflow, who pays most income tax, why bankers might return and how Britain might grow. In AUTOMOTIVE NEWS, European car makers plan cheaper models, used EVs continue to go…

Friday 11/10/24

In BIG PICTURE NEWS,US inflation cools, Barnier shocks France, Chinese retail investors add danger, UK execs dump shares, used chip fat is on the verge of being traded and Miliband eases the path of giant dams. In CAR NEWS, Stellantis…

Thursday 10/10/24

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, we see that the Fed was split on big rate cuts, Chinese stocks have a terrible day, mega trials boost lawyers and Continental's fortunes could give hope to the automotive industry. In EMPLOYMENT NEWS, Portugal tries…

Wednesday 09/10/24

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, China lashes out at brandy, pension funds push for a UK fiscal rule change, businesses want more clarity on UK worker rights and oil prices fall. In TECH NEWS, a Google break-up is considered, Foxconn goes…

Tuesday 08/10/24

In MACRO & COMMODITIES NEWS, China markets roar, oil prices rise, Equinor buys into Orsted and BP decides against production cuts. In TECH NEWS, Google is ordered to open Android, LG Electronics and Samsung are looking at a slowdown, the…

Monday 07/10/24

In MACRO & COMMODITIES NEWS, Reeves faces calls from all sides and Rio Tinto considers Arcadium Lithium. In EMPLOYMENT & INVESTMENT NEWS, JCB cuts jobs, businesses hold back on recruitment, battery storage funds go quiet, tech unicorns struggle and pension…

Friday 04/10/24

In MACRO NEWS, the US dockworkers decide to suspend their strike, sterling falls, private sector growth slows, Reeves raises hopes of investment, the oil price rises and olive oil starts to flow. In CAR NEWS, manufacturers call for assistance and…

Thursday 03/10/24

In MACRO NEWS, the UK and EU begin the reset, the Bank of England warns of a correction and we look at what's going on with oil. In RETAIL & CONSUMER NEWS, Amazon makes ad adjustments, AO World agrees to…

Wednesday 02/10/24

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, oil prices rise, Trump gets a boost, Eurozone inflation falls below target, France announces tax rises, the UK jobs market calms down and we consider reasons to be cheerful. In TECH NEWS, there's an AI kerfuffle,…

Tuesday 01/10/24

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Jay Powell signals a quarter-point cut, China's stimulus boosts Shanghai, Japan calls an election, Austrians join the populist march, fossil fuel projects face a higher bar and there's some good news for energy bills. In RETAIL…

Monday 30/09/24

In MACRO NEWS, Israel gets emboldened, the ECB looks primed, the Austrian far-right wins, Starmer readies for a reset and the winter fuel allowance debate continues. In BUSINESS & EMPLOYMENT NEWS, business confidence drops and we look at the prospects…

Friday 27/09/24

THE TIME HAS COME! Watson's Daily will be relaunching next week with a brand new website - so this will be the last time you'll see it in this format 🥲! Watson's Daily 2.0 comin' atcha!!! NB - there will…

Thursday 26/09/24

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, we look at the latest on conflict, Harris's pro-business campaign speech, whether China's done enough to get out of its rut, how the OECD is optimistic about the UK and reaction to the Labour conference. In…

Wednesday 25/09/24

In MACRO NEWS, Germany stagnates, France considers tax rises, Starmer wants to re-engage, the UK's economy looks good, Reeves is warned and Australian inflation hits its lowest level in three years. In BUSINESS & CONSUMER TRENDS, Geely tries Vietnam, nuclear…

Tuesday 24/09/24

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, an Israeli strike kills almost 500 in Lebanon, the PBoC announced some major updates and we look at the implications and reaction to Reeve's speech yesterday while economists paint a pessimistic picture of Germany. In TECH…

Monday 23/09/24

In MACRO NEWS, traders bet on another big Fed cut and the UK government feels the pressure. In BUSINESS TRENDS, European steelmakers beg for help and Western nations unite to stand up to China while the future for non-alcoholic beverages…

Friday 20/09/24

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, the S&P reacts to the Fed's deep cut, we look at whether celeb endorsements for politicians are worth it, the Bank of Japan and Bank of England remained unmoved, UK consumer confidence dives and UK employers…

Thursday 19/09/24

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, we look at the pager attacks, China's growing military activity, the Fed's decision to cut interest rates and what the Bank of England might do. In GREEN POWER NEWS, Rolls-Royce wins an SMR deal, a European…

Wednesday 18/09/24

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Trump launches a crypto company, traders bet on the BoE, there's uncertainty about BP's focus, there's another explanation for rising coffee prices, Amazon's RTO sparks debate and UK bosses are confident of full RTO within three…

Tuesday 17/09/24

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Wall Street wavers on the potential size of the Fed's expected rate cut, the yen strengthens, Brexit hits trade, coffee prices are set to rise and BP sells its US onshore wind energy business. In EMPLOYMENT…

Monday 16/09/24

In MACRO & COMMODITIES NEWS, Donald Trump survives another attack, power shortages hit Labour's data centre plans, the government reins in its 2030 promise, manufacturers get more confident and BHP warns on copper. In CONSUMER & RETAIL NEWS, Italy continues…

Friday 13/09/24

In MACRO & OIL NEWS, Trump chickens out, the ECB cuts rates, UK debt prompts difficult choices and oil demand is slowing. In EV-RELATED NEWS, Northvolt's woes highlight a crossroads and Stellantis suspends production of its electric Fiat 500. In…

Thursday 12/09/24

In MACRO & OIL NEWS, US inflation falls, the UK economy flatlines and oil weakens. In TECH NEWS, OpenAI aims high, the Data Protection Commission investigates Google, UK data centres get a new designation and Huawei brings out a trifold…

Wednesday 11/09/24

In MACRO NEWS, we consider the latest noise coming from the States. In TECH & MEDIA NEWS, Apple loses against the EU, Reeves announces a chunky AWS investment, Australia gets dramatic on social media and Paul Marshall buys The Spectator.…

Tuesday 10/09/24

In BUSINESS, INVESTMENT & EMPLOYMENT TRENDS, PwC addresses its China business, Northvolt takes drastic action, hedge funds suffer outflows, gold keeps going up, Big Four accountants crack down on staff and UK wage growth loses momentum. In TECH & MEDIA…

Monday 09/09/24

In RETAIL, CONSUMER & LEISURE NEWS, American dollar stores suffer, Aldi posts record sales growth, we look at the prospects for the golden quarter and Greece's excessive tourism. In EMPLOYMENT NEWS, Deloitte brings back face-to-face interviewing, HSBC announces a hiring…

Thursday 05/09/24

*** THERE WILL BE NO WATSON'S DAILY PUBLISHED TOMORROW (FRIDAY 6TH) AS I WILL BE AWAY. I SHALL RETURN ON MONDAY 9TH) *** In MACRO NEWS, Biden sticks the boot in, global stocks slide, US job openings drop, the BCC…

Wednesday 04/09/24

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Reeves is to lay out a "tax road map", coal-fired power is set to end, nine new offshore windfarms are secured, North Sea oil and gas producers aren't bluffing and Goldman cuts its copper forecasts. In…

Tuesday 03/09/24

In MACRO & OIL NEWS,Kamala Harris says no to Nippon Steel, Scholz reacts to the AfD victory and oil company taxes hit the North Sea. In AUTOMOTIVE NEWS, China EV sales rise, VW considers German plant closures and petrol cars…

Monday 02/09/24

In MACRO NEWS, we see that the far-right wins in Germany and that the UK services sector gathers momentum. In MEDIA & TECH NEWS, Brazil's ban on X and the Telegram CEO arrest cause a stir, AI get hit by…

Friday 30/08/24

In MACRO & OIL NEWS, the US economy had a good Q2, Starmer gets a warning, the UK government steps aside and Shell cuts oil jobs. In BUSINESS & INVESTMENT TRENDS, UK business confidence holds steady, Chinese offices look empty…

Thursday 29/08/24

In MACRO & MARKETS NEWS, Joe Biden and Xi Jinping set up a phone call, Starmer attempts to reset Europe relations and fears of rising taxes have repercussions while investors pull out of India. In TECH & MEDIA NEWS, PNvidia…

Wednesday 28/08/24

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, sterling hits a new high and we look at how supply chains have evolved, how GM is delaying its Indiana battery factory, why Saudi Arabia is pressuring City law firms to hire more locals and why…

Tuesday 27/08/24

In MACRO & COMMODITY NEWS, China weighs up the US presidential prospects, immigration tops the agenda in Germany, Macron resists having a left wing government and BHP highlights an "uneven recovery" in China. In BUSINESS & CONSUMER TRENDS, Unilever's rethink…

Friday 23/08/24

In MACRO NEWS, we see that the Paris Olympics had a positive impact, Germany's in strife and the UK isn't. In BUSINESS, CONSUMER & EMPLOYMENT TRENDS, AI-powered coding pulls in the investment, Gatwick numbers rise, Hays's nightmare continues and junior…

Thursday 22/08/24

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, the Fed looks increasingly likely to cut interest rates, France announces a spending freeze, UK borrowing and income tax receipts boom while Reeves is under pressure and gold storms ahead. In BUSINESS & INVESTMENT TRENDS, PwC…

Wednesday 21/08/24

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, we look at Reeves's plans, the prospects for copper , Vietnam's push for tech and UK insolvencies. In RETAIL & LEISURE NEWS, we see why Walmart is different and how McDonald's aims to expand in the…

Tuesday 20/08/24

In BIG PICTURE NEWS, we look at Kamala Harris's economic plans, the Fed looks ready to start cutting rates, markets make a full recovery, investment in North Sea oil falters and there's consolidation in crypto. In BUSINESS AND CONSUMER TRENDS,…

Monday 19/08/24

In MACRO & COMMODITY NEWS, Kamala Harris's economic policy plans get a lukewarm reception, Singapore embodies regional difficulties in walking the US-China tightrope and collapsing iron ore prices hit mining companies hard. In BUSINESS, EMPLOYMENT & CONSUMER TRENDS, China is…

Friday 16/08/24

In MACRO, MARKETS & RENEWABLES NEWS, the UK economy continues to recover from recession (but Reeves warns of tax rises anyway), global markets relax, the government tries to get Revolut to list in London and Ørsted has more problems. In…

Thursday 15/08/24

In MACRO NEWS, US inflation drops, Trump promises an economic boom, China's industrial production weakens and we look at what's next for UK interest rates. In TECH NEWS, the US considers a break-up of Google, Apple opens up tap-to-pay tech…

Wednesday 14/08/24

In MACRO NEWS, we hear that Japan's PM has stepped down and that New Zealand cut interest rates. In CONSUMER, RETAIL & LEISURE NEWS, we look at the latest in wages, food price inflation, holiday insurance and then deals for…

Tuesday 13/08/24

In MACRO NEWS, investors pull $15bn from China and the Rouble takes a hit after Ukraine attacks Russia. In INFRASTRUCTURE & REAL ESTATE NEWS, Reeves looks at a PFI style deal, English councils are going to find it easier to…

Monday 12/08/24

In MARKETS, MACRO & BUSINESSS TRENDS NEWS, markets go back to where they started, Kamala Harris overtakes Trump on the economy, UK inflation looks likely to rise again and companies get nervous about China. In TECH NEWS, the UK considers…