Monday 15 December 2025
The Mighty Headlines
Economics: Crunch vote in EU-South America trade deal
Business and markets: New direction at Buffett's Berkshire
Foreign Affairs: Gunmen kill over a dozen in Bondi Beach attack
Security and intelligence: Ukraine drops NATO membership demand
Domestic politics: UK’s largest trade union votes in leadership ballot
The Mighty Stats
FTSE = 9,649.03 (down 0.56%)
S&P 500 = 6,827.41 (down 1.07%)
Nasdaq = 23,195.17 (down 1.69%)
CAC40 = 8,068.62 (down 0.21%)
£1 = $1.34 / €1.14
Lab / Con / Reform = 20 / 18 / 31 per cent (Opinium, 10-12 Dec)
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The Mighty Detail
Economics: The EU will vote on a landmark trade deal with South America this week. The Mercosur deal will be the EU’s largest ever trade deal and has taken 25 years to negotiate. Poland opposes the deal, however, and France is concerned about the deal’s effect on farmers and consumers.
Business and markets: As Greg Abel takes over as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, a number of leadership changes have been announced. New layers of management are being created and one of the company’s two portfolio managers is leaving for JP Morgan.
Berkshire Hathaway is famous for its unusual, decentralised corporate structure and employs only a handful of people at HQ. The changes could upset some investors. Current CEO, 94-year-old Warren Buffett, steps down in three weeks.
Foreign Affairs: Two gunmen in Australia killed and injured over a dozen people yesterday after attacking a Hanukkah event on Bondi Beach. The Australian police say that the gunmen were father and son, aged 50 and 24. Further updates on this developing story are available here.
Security and intelligence: President Zelensky said on Sunday that he would be ready to drop his country’s demand to be part of NATO. In return, however, he said that he expected Western security guarantees for Ukraine similar to those offered under NATO membership.
Domestic politics: The UK’s largest trade union, Unison, will announce results of a leadership ballot on Wednesday. Current General Secretary, Christina McAnea (a key Keir Starmer supporter), is facing a left-wing challenge from Andrea Egan.
An Egan victory could create political challenges for the Government, particularly around pay disputes.
The Mighty Calendar
What’s happening today?
Hong Kong – verdict in Jimmy Lai’s national security trial
UK PM Sir Keir Starmer appears before Commons Liaison Committee
Former UK PM Rishi Sunak gives evidence to the Covid-19 inquiry
UK Chief of Defence Staff gives annual lecture
Defence Questions in UK Parliament
China industrial production (November) – set to rise by 5.4%
Lookahead to tomorrow
South Africa public holiday (Day of Reconciliation)
250th anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen
Justice Questions in UK Parliament
UK Foreign Secretary appears at Commons Foreign Affairs Committee
UK Justice Secretary appears at Commons Justice Committee
UK unemployment rate (October) – set to rise from 5% to 5.1%
The Mighty Finale
🌤️Weather today
Cloudy with light rain possible in the east of England. Heavy rain in the west. High of 12C and low of 9C in London. Sunny spells in Belfast. Cloudy in Edinburgh.
✏️Life coaching quote of the day
“Do not merely think that you are going to become great; think that you are great now. Do not think that you will begin to act in a great way at some future time; begin now. Do not think that you will act in a great way when you reach a different environment; act in a great way where you are now. Do not think that you will begin to act in a great way when you begin to deal with great things; begin to deal in a great way with small things.” – Wallace Wattles, writer (h/t James Clear)
Mighty takeaway: Act now and then see the results. Don’t expect to see the results before you take action!
That’s it for this Monday morning. Thanks for reading!
Bye!
The Mighty Memo team
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