Wednesday 11 March 2026

The Mighty Headlines

 

Economics: OBR says UK inflation could rise to 3% because of Iran conflict

 

Business and markets: Toymaker Lego to invest significantly in the US

 

Foreign Affairs: N. Korea condemns US and S. Korea’s military exercises

 

Security and intelligence: Pentagon to use AI agents for unclassified work

 

Domestic politics: UK publishes news digital identity plans

 

The Mighty Stats

 

FTSE = 10,412.24 (up 1.59%)

S&P 500 = 6,781.48 (down 0.21%)

Nasdaq = 22,697.10 (up 0.0051%)

Stoxx 600 = 606.12 (up 1.88%)

 

£1 = $1.34 / €1.16

 

Lab / Con / Reform = 20 / 18 / 27 per cent (Focaldata, 6-10 March)

 

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The Mighty Detail

 

Economics: Professor David Miles from the UK OBR said yesterday that the impact of the Iran conflict on UK inflation would be limited if energy prices remain at their current level.

  • Miles said that the conflict could increase inflation by 1 percentage point from 2 per to 3 per cent by the end of 2026.

  • Brent crude oil was trading around $89 a barrel yesterday.

 

Business and markets: Toymaker Lego is to invest significantly in the US, citing growing consumer demand in the country. The Danish company is building a new factory in Virginia and has opened a new Americas head office in Boston.

  • Lego reported record revenue of $12.9 billion in 2025 – an increase of 12 per cent on 2024 – which is also double that of competitors Mattel and Hasbro.

 

Foreign Affairs: The US and South Korea started their annual “Freedom Shield” military exercises this week. The partners say that the exercises are defensive but North Korea views them as provocative.

Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un, said that they could "lead to terrible consequences that are unimaginable."

 

Security and intelligence: The Pentagon is to begin using AI agents for routine unclassified work. The AI agents (which independently perform tasks set by a user) will be designed and run through Google’s Gemini AI programme.

  • Under-Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, Emil Michael, indicated that the AI agents will likely be used on classified and top secret files in the future.

 

Domestic politics: The UK Government has published its revised plans for a digital identity system. The system will no longer be compulsory and it is now being promoted as a means of easing interactions between people and the Government.

 

The Mighty Calendar

 

What’s happening today?

 

  • 15th Anniversary of the Great Japan Earthquake

  • Prime Minister’s Questions in UK House of Commons

  • UK Chancellor appears before Treasury Select Committee

  • European Parliament debates the Iran conflict

  • US CPI inflation data (Feb) – set to increase from 2.4% to 2.5% (annualised)

  • Company results from: Balfour Beatty, L&G

 

Lookahead to tomorrow

 

  • UK-Republic of Ireland Summit

  • UK Chief of Air Staff addresses RUSI conference

  • EU Defence Ministers meet in Cyprus

  • Business and Trade Questions in UK House of Commons

  • Company results from: BMW, Daimler

 

The Mighty Finale

 

🌤️Weather today

 

Dry across most of England. Light rain possible in the west. High of 13C and low of 5C in London. Light rain in the morning in Belfast. Light rain in the afternoon in Edinburgh.

 

✏️Life coaching quote of the day

 

“You cannot consistently perform in a manner which is inconsistent with the way in which you see yourself.” – Zig Ziglar, motivational speaker

 

Mighty takeaway: Believe in yourself!

 

That’s it for this Wednesday morning. See you on Friday!

 

Cheerio!

The Mighty Memo team

 

*To read the Mighty Memo manifesto and learn about why we do this visit: https://www.mightymemo.co.uk/why*

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Monday 9 March 2026