Europe
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EU business registrations rose 4.6% in Q2 2025, signalling recovery. Transport, IT and finance lead registration growth across the market. However, bankruptcies climbed 1.7%, driven by IT and construction, underscoring both resilience and fragility in Europe’s economic recovery.
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Oil and gold prices edged higher before high-level Washington talks. Market moves reflect geopolitical caution, easing supply concerns and shifting rate expectations, as investors weigh signals from President Trump’s summit with President Zelenskyy alongside the Federal Reserve’s Jackson Hole symposium later this week.
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AI-enabled European stocks fell sharply after major model launches. Market anxiety rose amid valuation concerns as investors questioned whether these companies can maintain their edge.
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US tariffs on gold bars drive futures to record high. Gold futures surged as the US imposed steep tariffs on one-kilo gold imports, impacting Switzerland’s bullion trade. The tariffs are part of a broader trade policy affecting global markets.
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More than 10,000 hotels are suing Booking.com over “abusive practices”. The class action alleges years of restrictive pricing terms that eroded hotels’ margins and autonomy — an escalating battle over platform power and marketplace fairness.
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US diplomats mount formal campaign against the EU’s digital law. A confidential directive from Washington has instructed American diplomats in Europe to push for changes to the Digital Services Act, arguing the rules burden US tech companies and threaten free speech. European authorities are standing firm as regulatory tensions grow.
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Analysts expect modest recovery in this week’s Eurozone retail data. But behind the numbers lies a deeper transformation in consumer priorities. As trust, transparency, and value redefinition take centre stage, Europe’s B2C leaders are rethinking how to compete — and what it means to stay relevant.
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Europe’s AI Act is now entering a pivotal new phase. General-purpose AI system providers must comply with sweeping transparency, risk and documentation requirements, facing fines up to €35 million for non-compliance.
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A major UK probe has flagged serious concerns over cloud competition. Microsoft and Amazon’s dominance may now trigger tougher regulation and reshape the UK cloud market for years.
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Britain’s steelmakers regain EU tariff-free access for Category 17. From 1 August, UK producers can export up to 27,000 tonnes of structural steel to Europe each quarter, restoring trade volumes and offering vital certainty for the sector after years of Brexit-linked restrictions.