Economy news

• FirstFT: Scott Bessent shrugs off ‘systemic’ AI risks at private event with investors

  21-10-2026 23:42 via Global Economy
  Also in today’s newsletter: Elon Musk’s $3.6tn gamble and China’s battery makers race to invest abroad
  
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• EU set to delay push for cheaper UK university fees for bloc’s students

  21-10-2026 20:58 via Global Economy
  Concession could help the two sides finalise a ‘reset’ deal at a summit next month
  
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• Ghana in talks with European nations for reparations, president says

  21-10-2026 19:43 via Global Economy
  John Mahama says efforts are focused on securing the return of artefacts stolen during the centuries of the slave trade and colonialism
  
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• Italy’s buffalo mozzarella production grinds to a halt in truckers’ strike

  21-10-2026 19:37 via Global Economy
  Highway blockades lead to major disruptions in country’s south
  
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• Andy Burnham plans to cut standing charges from household gas bills

  21-10-2026 15:34 via Global Economy
  Experts say providers would probably recover loss of daily fixed fee via the unit rate
  
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• Middle East oil exports climb back to prewar levels

  21-10-2026 14:01 via Global Economy
  Daily shipments from Gulf producers average 24.6mn, above 23.3mn before conflict, as ships use alternative routes
  
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• Faisal Islam: Inflation and borrowing figures illustrate chancellor's Budget challenge

  21-10-2026 12:20 via BBC News
  
  The economic figures released on Wednesday show the constraints for John Healey as he puts the finishing touches to his Budget.
  
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• Inflation and government borrowing highest for a year ahead of next week's Budget

  21-10-2026 12:16 via BBC News
  
  Inflation accelerated to 3.5% from 3.1% in the year to September, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
  
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• UK inflation and borrowing top forecasts in blow to Healey ahead of Budget

  21-10-2026 09:18 via Global Economy
  Inflation figure will also cement expectations of Bank of England rate rise in November 
  
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• UK inflation and borrowing top forecasts in blow to Healey

  21-10-2026 09:18 via Global Economy
  Inflation figure will also cement expectations of Bank of England rate rise in November 
  
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• UK September inflation fuels expectations of imminent BoE rate rise

  21-10-2026 09:03 via Global Economy
  Headline and core inflation accelerates ahead of November meeting
  
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• UK government borrowing rises to £24.5bn ahead of Budget

  21-10-2026 08:10 via Global Economy
  Higher-than-expected figures for September are final snapshot of public finances before October 28 Budget
  
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• FirstFT: SpaceX and Tesla explore merger

  21-10-2026 06:31 via Global Economy
  Also in today’s newsletter: Iran war and UK visas for wealthy
  
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• Irish ex-EU commissioner seeks Trump’s help to restore grain corridor

  21-10-2026 06:00 via Global Economy
  Phil Hogan is bidding to lead UN food agency and increase its involvement in talks with Russia and Ukraine about securing Black Sea shipping
  
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• Can the commodities ‘supercycle’ protect your portfolio?

  21-10-2026 06:00 via Latest from MoneyWeek
  
  In times of rising inflation and interest rates, commodities can provide essential protection for investors’ portfolios.“If you’re listening to the bond market today, it’s telling you ‘diversify,’” Evy Hambro, global head of thematic and sector investing at asset manager BlackRock, tells MoneyWeek Talks, which is available on all podcast platforms and YouTube.Bond yields have soared over recent weeks, a classic sign that all is not well. Government defic
  
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• China’s nightmare: becoming the next Japan

  21-10-2026 05:00 via Global Economy
  Tokyo lost decades when a property bust led to an economic slump. Could the same phenomenon undo Xi Jinping’s ambitions?
  
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• China’s battery makers race to invest abroad to avoid western barriers

  21-10-2026 04:06 via Global Economy
  CATL and its rivals are creating new global supply chains as protectionist pressures rise
  
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• How China is breaking down the west’s battery walls

  21-10-2026 03:23 via Global Economy
  Chinese groups are racing to build a global supply chain as protectionist barriers rise
  
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