Monday 20 July 2026
The Mighty Headlines
Economics: EU publishes banking proposals
Business and markets: Kalshi adds 3 million users during World Cup
Foreign Affairs: US advises its citizens overseas to be extra vigilant
Security and intelligence: Pakistani military raids Taliban hideouts
Domestic politics: Andy Burnham becomes UK Prime Minister today
The Mighty Stats
FTSE = 10,600.37 (up 0.27%)
S&P 500 = 7,457.69 (down 1.01%)
Nasdaq = 25,520.24 (down 1.4%)
Stoxx 600 = 641.53 (down 0.34%)
£1 = $1.34 / €1.18
Lab / Con / Reform/ Green = 22 / 20 / 23 / 14 per cent (Opinium, 15-17 July)
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The Mighty Detail
Economics: The EU has published proposals to make the European banking sector more competitive and to encourage banks to increase lending. Measures include encouraging banking across national borders, simplifying regulatory oversight rules and reducing capital requirements.
Business and markets: The prediction markets platform, Kalshi, added 3 million users during the Football World Cup and around $1.2 billion was traded on contracts relating to the game.
Prediction markets have gained popularity in recent months and allow online users to bet on future events. Supporters compare them to futures markets. Opponents state that they are a form of online gambling.
An interesting article on prediction markets is available on the Stanford University website here: https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2026/04/prediction-markets-facts-gambling-regulation
Foreign Affairs: The US State Department has advised US citizens across the world to exercise additional caution to ensure their safety. It comes as Iran and the US continue to strike each other’s military installations. On Saturday, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, warned that there would be “unforgettable lessons” if the US kept attacking Iran.
Security and intelligence: Pakistan’s military says that it raided the hideouts of militants in the northwest of the country late last week. The raid killed 24 members of the Pakistani Taliban and the Baloch separatist group.
The military says that the raids followed a suicide bomb attack and an attack on a security convoy on Wednesday in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Domestic politics: Andy Burnham is to become the UK’s new Prime Minister today. He will be the seventh UK Prime Minister in 10 years. In a speech outside No.10 Downing Street, he is expected to set out his domestic priorities.
He has already set out plans to take control of Thames Water, increase oil and gas drilling and end plans for a digital ID scheme.
The Mighty Calendar
What’s happening today?
UK House of Commons in recess until the 1st September
Omagh Bombing Inquiry hearings
Farnborough Air Show begins (speakers include the Head of NASA and the CEO of British Airways)
Debate on the Social Housing Bill in UK House of Lords
Company results from: Ryanair
Lookahead to tomorrow
President Trump hosts the Lebanese President at the White House
UK House of Lords examine the Commercial Payments Bill
Company results from: GM, Halliburton, Capital One Financial, Compass Group, 3M, Mitie, Hasbro
The Mighty Finale
🌤️Weather today
Sunny across England. High of 24C and low of 13C in London. Light cloud in Belfast and sunny in Edinburgh.
✏️Life coaching quote of the day
“The advice shouldn't be to act your age. It should be to act your spirit. Your age may try to prohibit you from dancing like that, or starting over, or trying something new. But your spirit would never do such a thing.
If something feels aligned, your spirit wants you to go for it, whether you're 15 or 85. Acting your age makes you fit in more, while acting your spirit will indeed cause you to stand out – in a bad way to people who act their age, but in an inspiring way to those who act their spirit.
Try acting your spirit from time to time, and you can see for yourself which path makes you feel more alive.” – Light Watkins, meditation teacher and executive coach
Mighty takeaway: How can you behave in a way that maximises your happiness today?
That’s it for today. Thanks for reading!
Cheerio!
The Mighty Memo team
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