Thursday 15 May 2025
The Mighty Headlines
Economics: China issues warning to UK over US trade deal
Business: Boeing receives $96 billion order from Qatar Airways
Markets: Burberry shares increase by 17 per cent
Foreign Affairs: EU issues news sanctions against Russia
Security and intelligence: US sanctions Iran over ballistic missiles
Domestic politics: New UK-EU deal derailed by fish and youth mobility scheme
The Mighty Stats
FTSE = 8,585.01 (down 0.21%)
S&P 500 = 5,892.58 (up 0.1%)
Nasdaq = 19,146.81 (up 0.72%)
CAC40 = 7,836.79 (down 0.47%)
£1 = $1.33 / €1.19
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The Mighty Detail
Economics: China has issued a warning to the UK over its trade deal with the United States. In return for tariff relief, the US trade deal requires the UK to comply with US security requirements. These could be detrimental to Chinese companies. On Tuesday, the US Government said that companies using AI chips from Huawei (a Chinese company) without a license would be violating US export rules.
Business: Boeing has received an order from Qatar Airways worth $96 billion for up to 210 aircraft. President Trump called the deal “the largest in Boeing’s history” and the White House said that it would support 154,000 jobs in the US. The deal was announced during President Trump’s visit to Qatar yesterday. Boeing has not made a profit since 2018.
Markets: Shares in the fashion company Burberry increased by 17 per cent yesterday. It follows news that the company could be cutting around 1,700 jobs and cutting real estate costs. After cost cutting measures previously announced in November, these changes could save the company £100 million.
Foreign Affairs: The EU has agreed a new set of sanctions against Russia, with the threat of more to come if Russia continues to refuse a 30-day ceasefire. It comes as Ukrainian and Russian negotiators are expected to meet for peace talks in Istanbul today. President Zelensky has previously said he would be ready to meet President Putin in Turkey but President Putin has now refused.
Security and intelligence: The US has issued sanctions against Iran in response to what it said were the Iranian Government’s attempts to develop components for ballistic missiles. This week, President Trump called Iran the “most destructive force” in the Middle East. In response, the Iranian President said Iran would not “bow to any bully”.
Domestic politics: There are reports that negotiations on a new defence and security pact between the UK and EU have stalled. It comes after some EU countries have sought to tie the deal to other issues such access to fishing rights in UK waters. Plans for a youth mobility scheme have also blocked progress.
The Mighty Calendar
What’s happening today?
EU Trade Ministers meet in Belgium
US Supreme Court hears birthright citizenship case
Transport Questions in UK Parliament
US PGA Championship begins
UK, Japan, EU GDP data (Q1 2025)
UK, EU industrial production data (March)
US industrial production data (April)
EU employment data (Q1 2025)
US jobless claims (weekly)
US retail sales (April)
Company results from: Walmart, Alibaba, National Grid, ThyssenKrupp, RWE, Siemens
Lookahead to tomorrow
Debate of Assisted Dying Bill in UK House of Commons
European Political Community Summit, Albania
Lennart Meri Security Conference, Estonia
France unemployment rate (Q1 2025)
US housing starts (April)
London Gatwick Airport strike
Company results from: Swiss Re
The Mighty Finale
🌤️Weather today
A mixture of sunshine and cloud in the southeast and northeast of England. Bright sunshine in the southwest and northwest of England. Sunshine in Belfast and Edinburgh too. High of 20C and low of 7C in London.
✏️Life coaching quote of the day
“Some people want everything to be perfect before they're willing to commit... But commitment always precedes achievement.” – John C. Maxwell, writer and leadership trainer
Mighty takeaway: You have to commit before you get the results.
That’s it for this Thursday morning. See you tomorrow.
Bye!
The Mighty Memo team