Monday 1 September 2025
The Mighty Headlines
Economics: China’s manufacturing slows for fifth straight month
Business and markets: Royal Mail set to return to profit
Foreign Affairs: Indonesia’s President cancels China visit amid protests
Security and intelligence: Lithuania installs “dragon’s teeth” land defences
Domestic politics: UK Government to review ECHR
The Mighty Stats
FTSE = 9,187.34 (down 0.32%)
S&P 500 = 6,460.26 (down 0.64%)
Nasdaq = 21,455.55 (down 1.15%)
CAC40 = 7,703.90 (down 0.76%)
£1 = $1.35 / €1.16
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The Mighty Detail
Economics: China’s manufacturing activity has fallen again for the fifth consecutive month.
It comes in the face of weakening domestic demand and difficulties with US tariffs.
China’s manufacturing PMI was 49.4 in August. Any number below 50 indicates contraction.
Business and markets: Royal Mail is set to announce a return to profit as it publishes its latest results today. Royal Mail was bought by Czech billionaire, Daniel Kretinsky, for £3.6 billion in June. Its business has been boosted by parcel deliveries.
Foreign Affairs: The Indonesian President has cancelled a visit to China amid serious anti-government protests in his country. The protests, which have included the looting of the Finance Minister’s house and setting a regional Parliament building on fire, are in response to lawmakers’ allowances and police brutality.
Security and intelligence: Lithuania has installed “dragon’s teeth” tank defences on its border with Kaliningrad – the Russian territory situated between Poland and Lithuania on the Baltic. It has also been reported that training centres in Lithuania will start teaching adults and children how to build and operate drones.
Domestic politics: The UK Government has said that it will review the European Convention on Human Rights as it seeks to address concerns about illegal migration into the UK.
This includes Article 8 of the ECHR which protects the right to privacy and family life and which has been used by some migrants to appeal deportation.
The Mighty Calendar
What’s happening today?
United States and Canada public holiday (Labor Day)
UK Parliament returns
UK house prices data (August)
EU unemployment data (July)
Lookahead to tomorrow
President Xi hosts President Putin in Beijing
UK Green Party leadership election results
EU CPI inflation data (August)
US manufacturing growth data (August)
The Mighty Finale
🌤️Weather today
Thundery showers in the west. Light rain in the east. High of 20C and low of 11C in London. Thundery showers in Belfast and light rain in Edinburgh.
✏️Life coaching quote of the day
“To bear trials with a calm mind robs misfortune of its strength and burden.” – Seneca, ancient Roman philosopher
Mighty takeaway: The importance you give to an event determines how you feel about it. How could you think differently about a bad situation to make yourself feel better about it?
That’s it for this morning. Thanks for reading and we hope you have a good start to the week.
Bye!
The Mighty Memo team