Tuesday 15 April 2025
The Mighty Headlines
Economics: US tariffs may lead to pandemic-era trade drop
Business: Facebook faces potential breakup
Markets: US markets falter but end higher following tech tariffs news
Foreign Affairs: Russian attack on Sumy draws mixed opinion
Security and intelligence: Leftist group responsible for Athens bombing
Domestic politics: UK Government “demands explanation” from China over banned MP
The Mighty Stats
FTSE = 8,134.34 (up 2.14%)
S&P 500 = 5,405.97 (up 0.79%)
Nasdaq = 16,831.48 (up 0.64%)
CAC40 = 7,273.12 (up 2.37%)
£1 = $1.32 / €1.16
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The Mighty Detail
Economics: New data suggest that US tariffs could lead to a 2.3 per cent fall in global trade by 2028. The research from Oxford Economics suggests that the drop in trade could be close to the fall seen during the Covid-19 pandemic and the US recession in 1975.
Business: Facebook faces a potential breakup as an anti-trust lawsuit gets underway in the United States. The US’s competition regulator, the Federal Trade Commission, claims that Facebook bought Instagram and WhatsApp in 2012 and 2014 to eliminate competition and gain a monopoly in the social media market. Facebook could be forced to sell the companies if it loses.
Markets: US markets rose yesterday morning before trailing off and then recovering by market close. It comes as enthusiasm for President Trump’s exemption on tariffs for tech goods fades after the President suggested they were temporary.
Foreign Affairs: The death toll from Russia’s attack on Sumy in Ukraine on Sunday has risen to 35 people along with 117 people wounded. Russia claims that it was targeting a meeting of Ukrainian military leaders and “Western colleagues”. President Zelensky condemned the attack. President Trump called the strikes “horrible” but also said “I was told [the Russians] made a mistake”.
Security and intelligence: A new leftist group has claimed responsibility for the bombs that exploded in Athens last week and in February. The Revolutionary Class Self-Defence group claims that the attacks are an act of “opposition to the state” and are dedicated to the “Palestinian people and their heroic resistance”. The bombs went off outside the offices of Hellenic Train and near the Labour Ministry. There were no injuries.
Domestic politics: The British MP who was banned from entering Hong Kong last week has accused Beijing of holding a “blacklist” of banned politicians. Vera Hobhouse was travelling with her husband to visit her son and newborn grandson who live in Hong Kong. The British Government has said it has demanded an explanation from senior Chinese officials.
The Mighty Calendar
What’s happening today?
80th anniversary of the liberation of Bergen-Belsen
UK Foreign Secretary holds conference on Sudan
UK Parliament on recess
UK earnings data (March)
Eurozone industrial production data (March)
Canada CPI inflation data (March)
China GDP data (Q1 2025)
China industrial production data (March)
China retail sales data (March)
China unemployment data (March)
Company results from: Bank of America, Johnson & Johnson, Citigroup, Ericsson
Lookahead to tomorrow
UK Parliament on recess
WTO release trade growth forecast
China holds press conference on GDP
Canada interest rate decision
UK, Eurozone CPI inflation data (March)
US retail sales data (March)
US industrial and manufacturing production data (March)
Japan trade data (March)
Company results from: ASML, WHSmith, Heineken, United Airlines
The Mighty Finale
🌤️Weather today
Rain across England tomorrow. High of 17C and low of 8C. Dry in Belfast and light rain in Edinburgh.
✏️Life coaching quote of the day
“Your mind will take the shape of what you frequently hold in thought, for the human spirit is coloured by such impressions.” – Marcus Aurelius, Ancient Roman emperor and philosopher
Mighty takeaway: What you think about most often, becomes the reality you live every day.
That’s it for this morning. Thanks for reading and we’ll see you tomorrow.
Cheerio!
The Mighty Memo team