Wednesday 18 March 2026
The Mighty Headlines
Economics: US Federal Reserve expected to hold interest rates today
Business and markets: Qualcomm to start $20 billion share buyback
Foreign Affairs: Power restored in Cuba after third national outage
Security and intelligence: Iran’s de facto leader killed in airstrike
Domestic politics: UK and Ukraine agree new defence partnership
The Mighty Stats
FTSE = 10,403.60 (up 0.83%)
S&P 500 = S&P 500 (up 0.25%)
Nasdaq = 22,479.53 (up 0.47%)
Stoxx 600 = 602.45 (up 0.67%)
£1 = $1.34 / €1.16
Lab / Con / Reform = 17 / 17 / 25 per cent (YouGov, 15-16 March)
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The Mighty Detail
Economics: The US Federal Reserve is likely to hold interest rates today at 3.5 per cent to 3.75 per cent (the Fed always expresses the rate as a range). The Fed has to balance weaker-than-expected US jobs data in February with inflation risks from the oil price shock.
Fed Chairman Jerome Powell’s press conference starts at 6.30pm UK time (2.30pm ET) and will be available here.
Business and markets: Chipmaker Qualcomm is buying back $20 billion worth of its shares. The world’s largest manufacturer of processors for smartphones has forecast anaemic growth, stating that a global shortage of chips will lead some of its smartphone clients, especially in China, to make fewer phones.
Foreign Affairs: Power was partially restored in Cuba yesterday following a nationwide power blackout on Monday. It was the third such blackout in four months. The US has threatened tariffs on any country which supplies oil to Cuba in the hope of effecting regime change.
Cuba’s President said on Friday that the country had not received oil in three months.
Security and intelligence: Israel says it has killed the head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani. It was previously reported that Larijani had been appointed by Iran’s late Supreme Leader to run the country. Separately, the Director of the US National Counterterrorism Centre, Joe Kent, resigned yesterday over the US’s involvement in Iran. Kent said that the US started the conflict in Iran “due to pressure from Israel”.
Domestic politics: The UK and Ukraine have agreed a new defence partnership. According to the Joint Statement, the UK and Ukraine will deepen cooperation in military training, the exchange of defence-related information, and defence technology. This includes in the manufacture of Ukrainian-designed drones.
The Mighty Calendar
What’s happening today?
King Charles hosts State Banquet for Nigerian President Tinubu
US Federal Reserve interest rate decision
Prime Minister’s Questions in UK House of Commons
Company results from: Tencent Holdings, Macy’s
Lookahead to tomorrow
President Trump hosts Japanese PM Takaichi at the White House
Bank of England and European Central Bank interest rate decisions
European Council summit, Brussels, Belgium
World Happiness Report 2026 from Oxford University published
Environment Questions in UK House of Commons
Company results from: Alibaba, FedEx
The Mighty Finale
🌤️Weather today
Sunshine across England! High of 17C and low of 4C in London. Cloudy in Belfast and Edinburgh.
✏️Life coaching quote of the day
“Putting things off is the biggest waste of life: it snatches away each day as it comes, and denies us the present by promising the future. The greatest obstacle to living is expectancy, which hangs upon tomorrow, and loses today.” – Seneca, Ancient Roman philosopher
Mighty takeaway: Don’t live for tomorrow, live for today!
That’s it for this Wednesday morning. We’ll see you again on Friday!
Cheerio!
The Mighty Memo team
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