Summary: Retail sales in July experienced a significant decline of 1.2%, worse than the anticipated 0.5% contraction. The Office for National Statistics attributes the decline to the exceptionally wet weather, marking July 2023 as the wettest July since 2009. Department stores, clothing shops, and supermarkets were among the hardest-hit sectors, with supermarkets showing the most pronounced decline in sales. Online shopping defied the trend, posting a 4.4% year-on-year increase and accounting for 27.4% of total retail sales, the highest proportion in months. ...

Summary: Bitcoin 's value decline has negatively impacted Coinbase , causing substantial losses for the exchange. Elon Musk 's SpaceX venture reported a significant write-down of Bitcoin holdings and participated in a selloff, contributing to the cryptocurrency's decline. Elon Musk 's influence on the cryptocurrency market has made him a central figure for digital asset traders and investors. Bitcoin 's recent price chart reflects a worrisome trend, with potential for further declines indicated by the current red candle. The possibility of a complete retracement raises concerns, with Bitcoin 's price pot...

Summary: Cardi B responds to a fan throwing a drink at her during a live performance by throwing a mic back at the fan . The incident sparks debates about artists' responses to disruptive fan s, with some defending Cardi B 's actions as others criticize them. The act of throwing objects at performers has become a concerning trend in the music industry. Cardi B 's approach to dealing with the disruptive fan sets her apart from other artists who have faced similar situations. ...

Summary: Chinese Yuan falls as economic indicators reveal further slowdown. Industrial output growth slower than June and below expectations. Mobile sales also underperform expectations. Unemployment rate rises to 5.3%, posing challenges for Chinese economy. People's Bank of China cuts one year loan rate and considers stamp duty reduction. US dollar strengthens against offshore Chinese yuan. Technical analysis suggests potential trends in the foreign exchange market . ...

Summary: FTSE 100 is down despite the announcement of new North Sea oil and gas licenses. Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has undergone an overhaul for fair treatment of consumers. UK's largest banks are planning a £5 million advertising campaign to support customers with repayments. BT Group 's shares slipped after the announcement of Alison Kirkley as the new chief executive. Marshall 's share price plummeted following the news of 250 job cuts . Walmart acquires TigerGlobal 's investment in Flipkart for $1.4 billion, increasing its stake to over 80%. ScanCell 's share price rises as the company expa...

Summary: Global trend towards cashless society is accelerating. US experiences surge in card payments during pandemic. India's UPI fosters financial inclusion and data-driven services. China's AliPay and WeChat Pay dominate digital payments market. Distinct models of digital payments shape financial landscapes worldwide. ...

Summary: Cardi B is facing legal trouble after allegedly throwing her microphone at a concert-goer who attacked her with a drink during her Las Vegas concert. A woman at the concert has filed a battery report, claiming she was struck by the thrown microphone. Incidents of violence at music concerts have been a recurring issue, with other artists like BB Rexler and Harry Styles also experiencing similar incidents. Security measures and safety precautions at concerts are being questioned in light of such incidents. ...

Summary: UK housing prices experienced the sharpest decline in 14 years, falling by 3.8% in July. Rising mortgage rates and high interest rates are affecting potential buyers' affordability. Estate agents are witnessing an increase in sellers needing to sell for financial reasons. The Bank of England is expected to raise interest rates for the 14th consecutive time in the near future. House prices are likely to continue falling, presenting an opportunity for first-time buyers. ...

Summary: Twitter, now known as X, is discontinuing its web-based Tweetdeck service , raising concerns about its future. Elon Musk aims to make X financially self-sustaining and had previously mentioned potential payment models . The decision to end the free Tweetdeck version forces users to choose between the paid service and alternatives. Potential Threads , introduced as a threat to X, faces decreasing adoption rates. Speculation abounds that Musk might introduce a premium X model catering to high-value online sectors . Musk's success with Tesla inspires expectations for X's transformative journey. ...

Summary: Spotify announces a price increase for premium plans in various countries, including the UK, US, and Canada. A report predicts a significant rise in major illnesses among the English population by 2040. Apple faces a 785 million pounds lawsuit from UK app developers over alleged excessive charges. Analysis suggests that a recent SpaceX rocket launch may have impacted Earth's ionosphere. TikTok introduces text-only posts and continues its expansion into various tech markets. A study shows that most plant-based milk alternatives lack the nutritional content of cow's milk. Xbox surprises fans with a pizza-scented co...

Summary: Buy-to-let mortgages entering arrears witness a significant increase, raising concerns for renters and the overall housing market . Rental costs are projected to rise in the coming months, further burdening tenants who already allocate a substantial portion of their earnings toward housing. Insufficient housing supply amid escalating demand emphasizes the urgency of addressing the housing crisis and promoting affordable solutions. The state of the housing market is compounded by decades of inadequate investment in social housing , leading to a deteriorating situation for renters and the homeless. Government interventi...

Summary: FTSE 100 rises on a day of earnings announcements , driven by Cendrica 's exceptional performance with a tenfold increase in net cash and 55% jump in adjusted profit . Shell 's $5.5 billion buyback scheme and dividend hike fail to impress investors , leading to a decline in shares. Barclays faces challenges as increasing quarterly pre-tax profits are overshadowed by mounting bad debt provisions . Drax Group 's positive half-year pre-tax earnings do not prevent a slip in shares. BT opens higher on the back of quarterly revenue rise , while Ocado 's shares are impacted by the upcoming retirement of th...

Summary: Investors await the US inflation data for July as a significant market driver. After a notable drop in June, expectations rise for an acceleration in July's inflation figures. The Fed eral Reserve's stance on interest rates is poised to be influenced by the inflation trend. Core inflation remains a key concern and could impact the Fed 's decision on rate hikes. US dollar strength and Euro 's performance hold implications for trading dynamics. Crude oil's price surge contributes to inflation, adding to the cautious market sentiment. ...

Summary: FTSE 100 reaches four-week highs after consumer prices rise 7.9% in June, according to ONS data. Tata Motors announces £4 billion investment for the UK's first large-scale EV battery plant. National Grid sells 20% of the UK's gas network in a £700 million deal. Hargreaves Lansdowne reports a 6% jump in net new business during the quarter. Thacker Pass Lithium project gets approval from the US Court of Appeal, boosting Trident Royalty shares. London's FTSE...

Summary: China's economy experiences deflation as consumer prices decline in July, a rare occurrence in over two years. Deflation refers to a sustained drop in prices, indicating weak demand and economic challenges. China's consumer price index showed an annual decrease of minus 0.3%, partially attributed to stabilized pork prices. China's economic authorities are under pressure to take active measures to stimulate the economy and boost domestic demand . The global impact of China's deflation includes potentially cheaper Chinese products abroad, but also limited access to the Chinese market due to weak demand . ...

Summary: Craig Burley believes Kylian Mbappe 's move to Real Madrid should have happened earlier and that it is the right move for both Mbappe and PSG . Burley suggests that Mbappe needs to work on toning down his ego and focus on performing at the highest level with Real Madrid . The pundit thinks PSG needs a fresh direction under a new manager and that Mbappe's departure could be beneficial for the club. Burley acknowledges the financial incentives for players moving to the Saudi Pro League and highlights that players have the freedom to choose their career paths. The question of how to prevent players from joining lu...

Summary: UK sees record number of heat pump and solar panel installations, averaging over 20,000 per month. Government offers up to £5,000 in incentives for renewable energy installations. Investment of £6.6 billion has upgraded 2.5 million homes, with 47% rated C or above. Goal of 600,000 heat pump installations per year by 2028. Debate continues over adequacy of government funding for reaching net zero targets by 2050. ...

Summary: GCSE results data for this year indicates a return to pre-pandemic pass rate levels. Pass rates in England have reached their lowest point since 2007 due to stricter grading . Wales maintains pass rates similar to 2018, while Northern Ireland achieves significantly higher pass rates . Pass rates for English and maths have improved across all nations compared to 2019. Balancing the shift towards pre-pandemic grading with student well-being remains a challenge. ...

Summary: New data analysis by Sky News reveals that renters are more vulnerable to interest rate rises than mortgage holders in the UK. Renters now represent the largest home occupancy group at 37 per cent, while mortgage holders account for only 30 per cent. The cost of buying homes has made renting more attractive, leading to a significant increase in the number of renters. Renters spend about 33 per cent of their income on housing costs, making them more susceptible to increasing expenses compared to homeowners. Legislation and protection for renters have not kept pace with the shift in home occupancy, leaving renters exposed to...