Friday 20 March 2026
The Mighty Headlines
Economics: US, UK and Eurozone central banks all hold interest rates
Business and markets: Capital requirements for US banks to be relaxed
Foreign Affairs: Belarus releases 250 prisoners in deal with the US
Security and intelligence: Japan’s Prime Minister Takaichi meets Trump
Domestic politics: UK increases steel tariffs to 50 per cent
The Mighty Stats
FTSE = 10,063.50 (down 2.35%)
S&P 500 = 6,606.49 (down 0.27%)
Nasdaq = 22,090.69 (down 0.28%)
Stoxx 600 = 583.64 (down 2.49%)
£1 = $1.34 / €1.16
Lab / Con / Reform = 16 / 17 / 25 per cent (Find Out Now, 18 March)
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The Mighty Detail
Economics: The Bank of England held interest rates at 3.75 per cent yesterday. The European Central Bank and the US Federal Reserve also held interest rates steady this week. Bond traders are no longer expecting any cut to interest rates in the US this year.
Business and markets: Capital requirements for US banks are set to be relaxed following proposals from the Federal Reserve. Requirements will be reduced by 4.8 per cent for major banks and by 7.8 per cent for banks with less than $100 billion in assets. Wall Street banks have long sought to have regulations, which were imposed after the 2008 financial crisis, eased.
Foreign Affairs: Belarus released over 250 political prisoners yesterday in exchange for the US lifting sanctions on two state banks, the Finance Ministry, and the country’s biggest potash producers.
Belarus’s authoritarian leader, Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled the country since 1994, is reportedly seeking to curry favour with the West.
Security and intelligence: Japan’s Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, met President Trump in Washington DC yesterday. The pair discussed the security situation in the Middle East, from where Japan receives 95 per cent of its oil.
Despite being asked by President Trump, Japan’s pacifist post-war constitution would make it politically difficult for the country to get involved in the Iran conflict.
Domestic politics: The UK Government is increasing tariffs on steel from 25 per cent to 50 per cent and reducing quotas by 60 per cent. It said that it was taking the decision to protect the UK industry from “artificially low prices”. The Government took control of British Steel last year to prevent it from collapse.
The Mighty Calendar
What’s happening today?
BBC Comic Relief “Red Nose” Day
Assisted dying bill debate continues in the UK House of Lords
Company results from: Wetherspoons, Smiths Group
Lookahead to the weekend
Saturday
Margaret Thatcher Freedom Festival begins, University of Buckingham
The London Festival of Railway Modelling 2026, Alexandra Palace
“The Herbs of Hamnet” event, Chelsea Physic Garden, Chelsea
Sunday
Carabao Cup final: Manchester City vs Arsenal, Wembley Stadium
Second Round of French municipal elections
Parliamentary elections in Slovenia
The Mighty Finale
🌤️Weather today
Bright sunshine in the southwest of England. Mixture of sun and cloud elsewhere. High of 15C and low of 2C in London. Bright sunshine in Belfast and Edinburgh.
✏️Life coaching quote of the day
“Stop thinking and end your problems.” ― Lao Tzu, Ancient Chinese philosopher
Mighty takeaway: Try not to overthink. Trust your instinct!
That’s it for this Friday morning and for this week. We hope that you enjoy the weekend.
Adios!
The Mighty Memo team
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