Escalating attacks on key energy facilities in Iran and Qatar have sent oil and gas prices soaring, prompting concerns about inflation and economic slowdowns globally, as various nations and industries grapple with supply disruptions and diplomatic repercussions.

• Trump praises Japan’s ‘tremendous support’ over Iran war — Financial Times -
• FirstFT: Donald Trump praises Japan’s ‘tremendous support’ over Iran war — Financial Times -
• Opinion | California’s Climate of Fuel Insecurity — Wall Street Journal -

• India’s central bank battles to protect rupee from Iran war fallout — Financial Times -
• Attacks on Oil and Natural Gas Facilities Could Lead to Much Higher Prices — The New York Times Business -
• Oil Gives Back Gains After Surging on Fears Over Energy Supplies — The New York Times Business -
• Energy Facilities Attacked in Iran and Qatar, Sending Prices Soaring — The New York Times Business -
• Oil drops as Netanyahu says Iran can no longer enrich uranium — Financial Times -
• This gas crisis is bad — but not as bad as the last one — Financial Times -
• The Effects of High Oil Prices — The New York Times Business -
• Europe needs to prepare now for an extended energy shock — Financial Times -
• Iran allows handful of favoured ships through Strait of Hormuz — Financial Times -
• In Dubai, the World’s Luxury Brands Face a Wartime Crisis — The New York Times Business -
• U.S. Encourages Flow of Iranian Oil While It Battles Iran — The New York Times Business -
• Stocks and bonds tumble as investors price in ‘protracted energy shock’ — Financial Times -
• Trump struggles to distance himself from Israel over strike on Iran gasfield — Financial Times -
• Trump administration says it is not considering oil export ban as prices surge — Financial Times -
• Mortgage Rates Highest in Three Months as War Weighs on Housing Market — The New York Times Business -
• Opinion | Higher Gas Prices Are Worth Preventing a Nuclear Iran — Wall Street Journal -
• Extended Mideast Conflict Would Slow Trade and Growth, W.T.O. Warns — The New York Times Business -
• Shell Says Production at Pearl GTL Plant in Qatar Halted After Iranian Attack — Wall Street Journal -
• ‘It’s a Nightmare’: Rapid Battlefield Shifts Leave Markets Trading Blind — Wall Street Journal -
• Dubai tourism reels from Iranian missiles — Financial Times -
• ‘Armageddon scenario’ for gas markets as Qatar hit by missiles — Financial Times -
• WTO warns European exports will shrink if energy prices stay high — Financial Times -
• For Satellite Startups, War Pays Better Than Climate Change — Wall Street Journal -
• Two men appear in court accused of spying on London Jewish communities on behalf of Iran — Financial Times -
• Cyprus leader calls for ‘frank’ conversation on future of UK military bases — Financial Times -
• ‘Demand destruction has begun’ — Financial Times -
• The dynamic globalisation machine will overcome the Iran shock — Financial Times -
• India Stocks Have Worst Day Since June 2024 as Risk Sentiment Sours — Wall Street Journal -
• Trump’s wars are made for TV — Financial Times -
• How (not) to help with high energy prices — Financial Times -
• FirstFT: Energy prices surge after Iran strikes Qatari LNG site — Financial Times -
• Iranian hospital in Dubai closed as UAE suffers third week of attacks — Financial Times -
• Oil Nears $120 as Key Gulf Energy Hubs Come Under Attack — Wall Street Journal -
• Economists Don’t See a Recession Unless Oil Hits $138—and Stays There for Weeks — Wall Street Journal -
• Gas Prices in Japan Hit Record High, Testing Leader’s Cost-of-Living Pledge — The New York Times Business -
• Iran inflicts ‘extensive damage’ on site of world’s largest LNG facility in Qatar — Financial Times -
• The Iran War’s Economic Threat to Europe and Asia — The New York Times Business -
• Middle East war gatecrashes EU leaders’ economy summit — Financial Times -
• Iran sets its price to end the war — Financial Times -
• Spain is a role model in weathering Iranian oil shocks — Financial Times -
• Has Trump finally united Europe? — Financial Times -
• Trump sails into battle with Lloyd’s of London — Financial Times -
• US exploring tying naval escorts in Strait of Hormuz to government insurance — Financial Times -
• European manufacturing misery? Some sectors have never had it so good — Financial Times -
• The heavy cost of the war on Iran — Financial Times -
• How the White House tries to sell war and death as a game — Financial Times -
• Kharg Island Is an Appealing Target for Trump, With High Risks — The New York Times Business -
• Indonesia faces fuel fears as half its population travels for Eid — Financial Times -
• Russia’s Shadow-Fleet Kingpin Is Back in Business — Wall Street Journal -

Central banks across Europe and Asia are holding interest rates steady while warning of inflation risks from the Middle East conflict, as global stock and bond markets react to energy price surges and uncertainty over future rate cuts.

• Gilts sell off after Bank of England warns of inflation risks — Financial Times -
• Stocks Decline and Brent Crude Pares Gains After Touching $119 — Wall Street Journal -
• Central Banks Brace for Inflation as Energy Prices Surge — The New York Times Business -

• Iran War Narrows Fed’s Path to Rate Cuts as Trump Demands Immediate Relief — The New York Times Business -
• Inflation and interest rates tracker: see how your country compares — Financial Times -
• In This Crisis, the Best Investors Can Expect From the Fed Is Nothing — The New York Times Business -
• ECB holds interest rates at 2% as energy prices soar — Financial Times -
• ECB holds rates steady and highlights raised uncertainty — Financial Times -
• Jay Powell warns Iran war is likely to drive up inflation — Financial Times -
• BoE holds rates but hints increases not off the table — Financial Times -
• The Markets Contend with Powell’s Long Goodbye at the Fed — The New York Times Business -
• UK unemployment rate held at post-pandemic high of 5.2% at start of the year — Financial Times -
• BoJ holds rates and signals risks to growth and inflation from Iran war — Financial Times -
• The Fed can only wait and wonder — Financial Times -
• Bank of Japan postpones rate rise after Middle East war erupts — Financial Times -

Major corporations are pursuing significant strategic shifts, including Unilever's potential food business separation, 3M's new safety venture, and various stock repurchases and IPO considerations, amid regulatory scrutiny over mergers and efforts to de-risk supply chains from geopolitical tensions.

• Unilever in Talks to Separate Food Business and Combine It With McCormick — Wall Street Journal -
• SEC urged to restrict Chinese companies’ access to US capital markets — Financial Times -
• China curbs ‘low-quality’ listings to cool Hong Kong IPO boom — Financial Times -

• Scholastic to Repurchase $200 Million in Stock Through Modified Dutch Auction — Wall Street Journal -
• Spanish defence group halts merger in blow to Daniel Loeb — Financial Times -
• IG Group considers New York listing in latest blow to London’s stock exchange — Financial Times -
• Ecolab Nears Deal for KKR’s Data-Center Cooling Company — Wall Street Journal -
• 3M, Bain Capital to Buy Madison Fire & Rescue, Form Safety Venture — Wall Street Journal -
• Eight States Sue to Block $6.2 Billion Nexstar-Tegna Merger — Wall Street Journal -
• Genco Rejects Revised Takeover Proposal From Diana Shipping — Wall Street Journal -
• Eni Increases Distribution Policy, Launches $1.72 Billion Buyback — Wall Street Journal -
• Inwit Shares Plunge After Swisscom, Telecom Italia Team Up in Tower Venture — Wall Street Journal -
• EQT-backed vet group IVC Evidensia readies IPO — Financial Times -
• Why Companies Are Chopping Up Big Bond Deals Into Smaller Pieces — Wall Street Journal -
• BP to Sell German Refinery as Streamlining Efforts Continue — Wall Street Journal -
• Apple supplier Murata starts US-China rare earths decoupling — Financial Times -
• Battersea Power Station in dispute with fired CEO over accounts — Financial Times -

The burgeoning AI economy is seeing new applications in travel and customer interaction, with companies like Alibaba and Accenture reporting AI-driven growth, while economists begin to integrate AI into their research methodologies and concerns emerge about the human element in AI interactions.

• Tokens may soon drive the AI economy — Financial Times -
• Being stranded abroad sold me on AI travel agents — Financial Times -
• Alibaba Earnings Disappoint, but AI Outlook Bright — Wall Street Journal -

• Accenture Revenue Rises as AI Adoption Boosts Bookings — Wall Street Journal -
• Sorry, Mom. You’re Chatting With an A.I. Agent, Not Your Son. — The New York Times Business -
• Economists have caught the AI bug — Financial Times -
• AI is moving from answering questions to taking action — Financial Times -

US banking regulators are preparing to ease capital rules, while Democrats demand transparency on Mideast business dealings and various UK policy debates emerge on aid cuts and pension investments, all against a backdrop of geopolitical shifts impacting trade deals and national security postures.

• Democrats Demand Answers on Jared Kushner’s Mideast Business Dealings — The New York Times Business -
• Banking Regulators Prepare to Loosen Post-Crisis Capital Rules — The New York Times Business -
• UK reveals cuts to aid for Africa and Middle East — Financial Times -

• US regulators slash Wall Street capital rules to boost bank lending — Financial Times -
• The UK must accept it is no longer a global power — Financial Times -
• Can Reeves overcome the sceptics on fiscal devolution? — Financial Times -
• Japan rebels over $6bn fee for SoftBank under US trade deal — Financial Times -
• Peers vote down UK ‘mandation’ powers on pension scheme investments — Financial Times -
• Opinion | What Rahm Emanuel Left Out for Democrats — Wall Street Journal -
• Denmark was ready to blow up Greenland runways if US invaded — Financial Times -
• Mandelson probe looking at euro bailout email, says Met Police chief — Financial Times -
• British right must not allow prejudice to be masked as principle — Financial Times -
• Trump Vowed to Crack Down on Fraudsters, but He’s Pardoned Dozens — The New York Times Business -
• Thai parliament backs first conservative PM this century — Financial Times -
• Dutch PM to European peers: ‘stop complaining’ and ‘maybe just do a better job’ — Financial Times -
• Calls for probe after ex-Army chief pressed minister to buy drones — Financial Times -
• UK considers FOI clampdown as requests soar — Financial Times -

Boston Scientific faces scrutiny over long-known pacemaker battery issues, while Eli Lilly announces promising trial results for a new weight-loss drug, and blockbuster medications like Ozempic are nearing generic availability in key international markets, contrasting with reports on the NHS's near-collapse during the pandemic.

• Boston Scientific Knew of Pacemaker Battery Problems for Years — The New York Times Business -
• Lilly’s Retatrutide Shows Significant Improvement In Weight Loss and Blood Sugar — Wall Street Journal -
• Pandemic brought NHS ‘close to collapse’, says UK Covid inquiry — Financial Times -

• Ozempic Is About to Go Generic in India, China and Canada — The New York Times Business -

Controversies are impacting reality TV franchises as ABC pulls 'The Bachelorette', while antitrust trials highlight concerns over ticket fees and Nielsen data reveals traditional TV's surprising resilience over streaming, with new creative ventures like a Labubu movie also making headlines.

• ABC Pulls ‘The Bachelorette’ After Video Showing Star’s Alleged Violent Behavior Toward Ex — Wall Street Journal -
• Live Nation CEO Grilled Over Ticket Fees at Antitrust Trial — Wall Street Journal -
• Pop Mart and Sony Announce Labubu Movie Directed by Paul King — The New York Times Business -

• Delayed Nielsen Data Will Show Traditional TV Back on Top (for Now) — Wall Street Journal -
• BBC secures World Service funding ahead of new director-general — Financial Times -
• How to dress like an emperor — according to a connoisseur of rare Chinese textiles — Financial Times -
• A bacaro crawl of Treviso, Venice’s elegant, under-the-radar neighbour — Financial Times -
• The Guinness Inspector Teaching America How to Pour the Perfect Pint — Wall Street Journal -

FedEx reported strong sales and a boosted outlook, while Uber is making significant investments in driverless taxis through a deal with Rivian, and Tesla faces an expanded US probe into its self-driving performance under adverse weather conditions.

• FedEx Posts Higher Third-Quarter Sales, Boosts Outlook — Wall Street Journal -
• Auto & Transport Roundup: Market Talk — Wall Street Journal -
• Uber to Buy Rivian Vehicles for Use as Driverless Taxis — The New York Times Business -

• Uber to Invest Up to $1.25 Billion in Rivian Robotaxis — Wall Street Journal -
• Tesla Faces Expanded U.S. Probe Over Self-Driving Performance in Poor Weather — Wall Street Journal -

Prediction markets are gaining traction with significant valuations and new partnerships with entities like MLB, while traditional banking faces leadership changes and criticisms, and discussions emerge around the future of payment methods and the challenges of being hailed the 'Next Warren Buffett'.

• Kalshi Cinches $22 Billion Valuation in Ongoing Round — Wall Street Journal -
• Major League Baseball Steps Into the Prediction Markets, Strikes Deal With Polymarket — Wall Street Journal -
• BofA apologises for bet against European private credit — Financial Times -

• Chair of India’s largest private bank quits over ‘ethical differences’ — Financial Times -
• Kirkland & Ellis, the gilded age — Financial Times -
• Why bank cards may be heading the way of the cheque book — Financial Times -
• Being ‘the Next Warren Buffett’ Sounds Like an Honor. It Is More of a Curse. — Wall Street Journal -

DHL is expanding logistics for data centers, and battery manufacturers are pivoting to grid-scale energy storage as the EV market cools, while Switzerland's watch sector shows export growth despite global turmoil, and the UK implements new tariffs to protect its steel industry.

• Energy & Utilities Roundup: Market Talk — Wall Street Journal -
• DHL Supply Chain Powers Up Warehouses to Supply Data Centers — Wall Street Journal -
• As EV Market Stalls, Battery Makers Shift to Grids and Data Centers — Wall Street Journal -

• Swiss Watch Sector Posts Uptick in Exports as Geopolitical Upheaval Mounts — Wall Street Journal -
• UK to protect steel industry with new import tariffs — Financial Times -

Concerns over wider consequences of conflict are noted in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region, while European leaders Macron and Merz strive to save a joint fighter-jet project, highlighting complex defense collaborations beyond immediate energy concerns.

• War between Afghanistan and Pakistan has much wider consequences — Financial Times -
• Macron and Merz make last-ditch push to rescue joint fighter-jet project — Financial Times -