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North America
Yahoo Finance

Dow, Nasdaq and S&P stock futures point higher as uneasy Iran truce holds

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists. Proactive news team spans the world’s key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth. We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors. The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies. Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter. Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows. Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation. US stock futures rose on Monday after reports that Washington and Tehran had agreed to halt the tit-for-tat attacks that broke out over the weekend, allowing peace talks to continue. Nasdaq 100 futures climbed 1.2%, while S&P 500 futures added 0.8%, following sharp losses for both indices last week. The proxy for the Dow Jones Industrial Average, less exposed to technology names, put on roughly 0.4%. Markets had entered the holiday-shortened week on edge after the US launched strikes on Iranian military targets, escalating tensions in the Middle East and reviving concerns over global energy supplies. Oil prices rose early on but pared their gains as investors weighed the risk of further disruption to crude supplies.

Dow, Nasdaq and S&P stock futures point higher as uneasy Iran truce holds
Europe
BBC Business

Bibles, Home Alone and perfume: Six takeaways from Trump's 2025 finances

Image source, Getty ImagesByDearbail Jordan and Emer Moreau, Business reportersPublished1 July 2026Nearly 1,000 pages detailing US President Donald Trump's financial information have been released, showing how much he made and what he invested in during his first year back in the White House. We've combed through it all, so you don't have to, and found six of the most interesting bits among the sea of numbers. Trump's annual financial disclosure report for 2025, released by the US Office of Government Ethics, runs to 927 pages. That's less than Tolstoy's War and Peace but more - much, much more - than Vice-President JD Vance's report which is a mere 17 pages. Both surpass Joe Biden's disclosure for 2024, his last year in office, which ran to just 11 pages. 2. Merch pays It pays to put your name on products, especially if your name happens to be Donald J Trump. The US president made several millions of dollars from adding his distinctive signature to a wide range of merchandise, including his coffee-table book, Save America, which generated $1.8m (£1.38m) last year. The Trump-embossed Bible made $208,000, while his branded trainers and fragrances - including the Victory 47 perfume for women, which retails for $249 a pop - brought in $67,000. Maga musicians added around $36,000 to Trump's coffers last year by buying the "American Eagle" limited edition guitar. America's First Lady Melania Trump made $10.7m from her eponymous documentary, which was produced by Amazon. She was credited as a producer on the film, as well as being its subject. Amazon spent $40m making the film which followed her in the run-up to Trump's second inauguration. It generated $7m at the box office according to the figures for 2025. Melania Trump also made $6m from the sale of a non-fungible tokens - a type of cryptocurrency - and $520,000 from her book, also entitled Melania.

Bibles, Home Alone and perfume: Six takeaways from Trump's 2025 finances
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

How integrated digital ecosystems are transforming India’s agricultural value chain

For years, the agricultural sector has been talking about digital transformation. Today, the conversation has evolved. The next phase of India’s agricultural growth will not be driven by another app, another marketplace, or another technology platform. It will be shaped by connected ecosystems that enable every stakeholder in the value chain to make faster, smarter, and more informed decisions. India is already laying the foundation for this future. Initiatives such as the Digital Agriculture Mission, Agri-Stack, and the Krishi Decision Support System are creating the country’s Digital Public Infrastructure for agriculture, bringing together farmer identities, crop data, geospatial intelligence, and AI-driven advisory into a unified framework. While these national initiatives are building the digital backbone, the real impact will come from how the private ecosystem builds on top of it. This is where agri-commerce is undergoing a fundamental shift from disconnected transactions to intelligent interactions. Every order placed by an agri-retailer has the potential to generate demand signals for manufacturers, optimise inventory planning, improve logistics efficiency, unlock working capital, and create richer market intelligence. Commerce is no longer just about selling products. It is becoming a source of intelligence that benefits the entire ecosystem. Agri-retailers are no longer operating as conventional input sellers. They are evolving into digitally enabled business partners who advise farmers, manage inventory more efficiently, access credit digitally, discover new products, and serve as the last-mile link between manufacturers and farming communities. This evolution is redefining the role of the retailer. The future retailer will not compete on proximity alone. They will compete on access to insights, product availability, service quality, and speed. Digital platforms are enabling retailers to make data-backed decisions on what to stock, when to replenish inventory, and how to better serve the cropping patterns of their local markets. For manufacturers, this creates an entirely new opportunity. Instead of relying solely on historical sales trends, they can understand emerging demand patterns in near real time, identify regional opportunities earlier, improve forecasting accuracy, and strengthen engagement with retailers through more targeted product availability and marketing initiatives. Artificial intelligence is accelerating this shift even further. Across agriculture, AI is increasingly being used to combine weather intelligence, crop information, transaction data, and market trends to generate recommendations that are specific to a farmer’s geography and cropping cycle. However, technology alone does not create value. Data becomes meaningful only when it flows across stakeholders. The real competitive advantage will belong to organisations that can connect manufacturers, retailers, logistics, finance, and advisory into one integrated experience rather than offering isolated digital solutions. That philosophy has shaped the journey of nurture.retail. Our objective has never been limited to creating an online ordering platform. We are building a digital ecosystem that simplifies business for agri-retailers while strengthening collaboration across the agricultural value chain. From providing access to a wide portfolio of trusted brands and exclusive products to enabling faster deliveries, digital credit, and marketing opportunities, every capability is designed to help retailers grow their business while ensuring farmers receive timely access to genuine agricultural inputs. As India’s agricultural ecosystem becomes increasingly data-driven, retailers will emerge as one of the most influential participants in this transformation. Positioned closest to the farmer while remaining deeply connected to manufacturers and supply chains, they are uniquely placed to convert digital intelligence into real-world impact. India’s next agricultural revolution will not be defined by who builds the biggest platform. It will be defined by who builds the strongest ecosystem.

How integrated digital ecosystems are transforming India’s agricultural value chain
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

England defeat Norway 2-1 as Jude Bellingham shines in World Cup quarterfinal

FIFA World Cup 2026 - Quarter-final - Norway v England - Miami Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, U.S. - July 11, 2026: England’s Jude Bellingham celebrates after scoring the extra-time winner against Norway. | Photo Credit: Mike Segar Jude Bellingham scored in the third minute of extra time to lift England past Norway 2-1 and into the World Cup semifinals for the first time since 2018. Bellingham’s goal was his second of the game — he also had an equaliser late in the first half. The Real Madrid star is now tied with England teammate Harry Kane with six goals in this tournament, behind the eight of France’s Kylian Mbappé and Argentina’s Lionel Messi. He scored twice in the round of 16 as England beat co-host Mexico. England, winner of the 1966 World Cup and facing pressure to return to the title match, is now one win away from getting there. The Three Lions will face either Argentina or Switzerland, who were set to play Saturday night in Kansas City, Missouri. Andreas Schjelderup scored in the 36th minute for Norway, a squad that reached its first quarterfinals and took the internet by storm with its “Viking row” and the charisma of 6-foot-5 striker Erling Haaland. Haaland — the Manchester City star who had seven goals in this tournament — was held without a goal for the first time in the World Cup. He was subbed out on Saturday for Jorgen Strand Larsen in the second half of extra time. Norway nearly went ahead 2-1 in the 56th minute when Torbjørn Heggem put a rebound past goalkeeper Jordan Pickford after a corner kick. Following a video review, the goal was disallowed because of a foul by Haaland in the box. Haaland was also denied by Pickford on a point-blank header in the first half. Schjelderup, making just his second start of the tournament, fired a shot that caromed off the right post and into the net to stun an England team that had dominated possession to that point. Bellingham’s equaliser from close range elicited a roar from that crowd that included Mick Jagger and England great David Beckham. Schjelderup, who set up both of Haaland’s goals in Norway’s round of 16 win over Brazil, celebrated by stretching his arms wide and looking at the crowd as his teammates lifted him onto their shoulders. Meanwhile, Kane sat near midfield, grabbing his leg and looking toward the officials. No foul was called. Moments before Bellingham evened the score, a Norway goal kick resulted in the ball appearing to make contact with an aerial camera cable before landing at the feet of England’s Elliot Anderson. The ball was eventually played to Bellingham, who beat Ørjan Nyland with a low shot to the far post. By rule, if the ball had been noticed hitting the cable, play would have stopped, and a drop ball would have been utilised to determine possession. There was a brief moment of silence before the match in honour of Jayden Adams, the 25-year-old midfielder for South Africa whose death was announced earlier Saturday. Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

England defeat Norway 2-1 as Jude Bellingham shines in World Cup quarterfinal
Europe
The Guardian

As auto costs rise, will the US miss the golden age of electric vehicles?

Slate, an EV startup, makes electric trucks and SUVs. Customers buy only the features they want. Photograph: Myung J Chun/Los Angeles Times/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenSlate, an EV startup, makes electric trucks and SUVs. Customers buy only the features they want. Photograph: Myung J Chun/Los Angeles Times/Getty ImagesUS newsAs auto costs rise, will the US miss the golden age of electric vehicles?Shifting demands and political ideology have left the industry vulnerable to global competition from cheap Chinese cars Earlier this month, an intriguing new Detroit-based electric vehicle startup hit the market – Slate Auto, a Jeff Bezos-backed venture offering something US buyers rarely see these days – a pick up truck billed as “affordable”. Its base price is $24,950, making it one of the lowest-cost autos in the US market and close to half the price of the average new vehicle. But as the US contends with sharply rising auto costs, even Slate may be getting left behind in the global electric vehicle (EV) transition. The global EV industry is entering a golden age powered by cheap Chinese cars that can be bought for as little as $10,000. About 20% of new cars sold in December in the UK were Chinese-made, as were 12% of vehicles sold throughout the last year. They also accounted for about 6.4% of European Union sales, despite a new tariff program. Chinese cars cannot be sold in the US. The US industry’s shift is complicated by changing political ideologies and consumer demand – American buyers have gravitated toward bigger cars with all the bells and whistles, so it makes sense for domestic automakers to produce those. But EV supporters say the US is ceding significant ground to China in this essential market. While Slate is a step in that direction, a failure to do more could have economic and national security fall out, said Dan Krassner, executive director of the American EVs Jobs Alliance, a non-profit that works to break down the political divide over electric vehicles. “We can’t hand the whole auto industry to Beijing,” Krassner said. “EVs are the big manufacturing prize of the century, and America has to get back in the race.” Slate began accepting preorders last week, and it could help fill a need in the domestic market. Fewer than 5% of new vehicles in the US sold for $25,000 or less last year, down from nearly 21% in 2019, according to an Edmunds analysis. During that same time frame, the average new vehicle transaction jumped about $11,000 to $48,402. The Slate truck is one of eight new US models available for under $25,000. Compare that with China, where more than 200 EVs and hybrids are available in the same price range, according to industry analyst DCar. The two-seat Slate truck at under $25,000 is no frills – it comes with hand-crank windows, no stereo, no speakers, no ambient lighting, a smartphone mount on the dashboard instead of a navigation system, and standard cruise control instead of adaptive. The Slate truck gets an estimated 205 miles of range, and it is small – think of Ford Rangers and other pick ups from the 1980s. At 14.5 ft, it is shorter than a Corolla. Moreover, the $24,950 is just the starting point for a Slate, and the company offers a range of 3D-printed accessories, a stereo, a fob and an add-on that converts it into a five-seat SUV. Customers can also pay extra for vinyl wraps instead of paint, which eliminates the need for the company’s plant to include a paint shop. But opting for those basic features quickly takes the price north. Jessica Caldwell, executive director of Insights with Edmunds, likened the Slate to a budget airline such as Rynair, which offers a cheap ticket to physically get on a plane, but the add ons that make the flight tolerable quickly add up. She is skeptical that this approach will take off with buyers in the US market.

As auto costs rise, will the US miss the golden age of electric vehicles?
Europe
The Guardian

Crypto and stock stakes: key takeaways from Trump’s financial disclosures

Trump made hundreds of millions from sales of souvenir-type coins stamped with his face, the documents reveal. Photograph: Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto/Rex/ShutterstockView image in fullscreenTrump made hundreds of millions from sales of souvenir-type coins stamped with his face, the documents reveal. Photograph: Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto/Rex/ShutterstockDonald TrumpCrypto and stock stakes: key takeaways from Trump’s financial disclosuresUS president raked in more than $1bn from crypto – an industry he has sought to deregulate – and a total of $2.2bn last year, files reveal Donald Trump’s money-making ventures enriched him by more than $2bn last year, according to newly released financial disclosures. The revenue was supercharged by the Trump family’s crypto projects, with the documents showing the US president made more than $1bn (£0.76bn) from crypto – an industry he has sought to deregulate. The US president now gets most of his income from digital assets that have benefited from his own policies. After returning to office, Trump reversed the Biden administration’s tough stance on the crypto industry with new rules, saying he wanted the US to be the “crypto capital of the world”. In short, he has been a serious player in a market where he is also a rule-maker. Trump took in nearly $1.2bn from his crypto businesses last year, the documents revealed, including hundreds of millions from sales of souvenir-type coins stamped with his face. Others who bought the Trump coins have seen significant losses as their value has plummeted after initial hyped sales. When accounting for everything – from investments to real estate to royalties to Trump own-brand cologne sales (yes, that is real) – the US president made at least $2.2bn in 2025. In comparison, in 2024 his enterprises pulled in $622m, before he returned to the presidency. Previous US presidents have made public efforts to show they would not personally profit from business during their time in office, including putting investments into blind trusts. For his second term, Trump has put his sons in charge of his business. There is no getting around it – Trump has a personal stake in hundreds of companies, from big tech in Silicon Valley to Papa John’s pizza, Netflix and Victoria’s Secret. One of the reasons Tuesday’s disclosure is so long, at 927 pages, is because the president has been actively buying stocks, and the US Office of Government Ethics names them all.

Crypto and stock stakes: key takeaways from Trump’s financial disclosures
Asia-Pacific
The Straits Times

Prabowo touts Batam as Indonesia’s next global maritime, investment gateway

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto (centre) emphasised that Batam should serve as a national model for downstream industrialisation, investment acceleration, regulatory reform and logistics efficiency. JAKARTA – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has placed the island of Batam at the centre of the next phase of Indonesia’s economic transformation, positioning the island as a future global maritime, logistics and investment hub. During a meeting with the Batam Development Authority (BP Batam) on July 7, the President emphasised that Batam should become a national model for downstream industrialisation, investment acceleration, regulatory reform and logistics efficiency, supported by world-class infrastructure and faster public services. A key priority is the modernisation of Batam’s port system, including the development of an international port integrated with industrial estates, advanced manufacturing, a hyperscale data centre and global shipping networks. The strategy aims to strengthen Batam’s role in regional supply chains by reducing logistics costs, improving export competitiveness and reinforcing its position as one of South-east Asia’s most strategic production and distribution hubs. BP Batam highlighted that the region’s investment ecosystem had strengthened following the implementation of a government regulation: Investment services have become faster and more predictable, while the digital Land Management System is improving transparency, accountability and ease of access for investors. Investment momentum has remained strong, with Batam recording 69.3 trillion rupiah (S$5 billion) in realised investment in 2025, followed by 17.48 trillion rupiah in the first quarter of 2026, a year-on-year increase of 102.85 per cent. Investment continues to concentrate in high-value sectors including electronics and machinery, digital infrastructure, energy and industrial estates. The meeting also reinforced Batam’s pilot role in the country’s investment reform agenda. By combining digital public services, risk-based regulation, integrated infrastructure and interministerial coordination, the government aims to transform Batam into a globally competitive gateway for manufacturing, maritime logistics and strategic investment.

Prabowo touts Batam as Indonesia’s next global maritime, investment gateway
Europe
BBC Business

What Sky buying ITV could mean for your favourite shows

One of the biggest takeovers in British media history is about to take place with the creation of a new British media company - albeit American owned. Sky is expected to buy ITV's TV and streaming channels with the announcement likely imminent, but if you don't read the business pages, you might have missed it. The pay-TV, broadband and mobile company, owned by the American company Comcast, has been in talks to buy ITV's media and entertainment business including ITVX since last year. For Sky, buying the broadcast arm of Britain's most watched commercial public service broadcaster makes sense. It will get access to millions of people, as well as scale and prominence on a free to air platform. It's believed to want to create a commercial streamer that will be a true rival to the likes of Netflix and Disney Plus in the UK. But what does it mean for you? Crucially, this takeover won't mean your favourite ITV shows are suddenly moved behind a paywall. Caroline Frost, TV and podcast editor at Radio Times, says ITV is required by law to provide a free-to-air service until at least 2034 due to the public service broadcasting licence. "Gradually, though, content which might debut on free/live-to-air ITV might end up on a subscription platform," Frost says. In the short to medium-term, the big shows - Coronation Street, Love Island, Emmerdale, I'm a Celebrity - won't look any different. You'll still find them on ITV and ITVX, and they'll still be made by ITV Studios - that's ITV's production arm, which owns more than 60 production companies in Britain and around the world. They also make programmes including Line of Duty for the BBC, Rivals for Disney Plus, and America's most streamed show, Love Island USA. ITV Studios isn't being bought by Sky. If the deal goes ahead, it will become a company in its own right (ITV Studios PLC), still owned by the current ITV shareholders. Part of the Sky takeover agreement is expected to be a "supply deal", in other words, that ITV Studios continues to make those ITV shows and that they remain on ITV. Of course, at some point Sky could decommission some ITV shows - or renegotiate their contracts. You don't take over another company without believing there are savings to be made (and some are pointing to synergies that could be made on the tech platform side, with ITVX and Sky's streaming services potentially merged in the future).

What Sky buying ITV could mean for your favourite shows
Europe
The Guardian

Oil prices fall as US-Iran talks continue; UK manufacturing activity cools in June – business live

Up to 150 former WH Smith high street stores are to close after the high court approved a swingeing restructure that could affect thousands of jobs. The retailer, which has 450 stores and employs about 5,000 staff, was bought last year by the private equity firm Modella Capital, which also owns Hobbycraft, and rebranded as TG Jones. It had warned it could have to call in administrators if the restructuring plan, which involves writing off debts to suppliers and cutting rent for many landlords, was not approved. View image in fullscreenWH Smith's bookstall at Waterloo Station, Lambeth, London, 1960. Photograph: Heritage Images/Getty ImagesOn Wednesday Alex Willson, the chief executive of TG Jones, said: “We welcome the court’s approval of our restructuring plan. This decision allows us to move ahead with our turnaround strategy. The plan protects the substantial core of the store estate and makes TG Jones a stronger, more sustainable business. We are incredibly grateful to all the colleagues, partners and stakeholders who engaged constructively throughout the process, and to Modella Capital for its continued financial commitment. The high court judge Mr Justice Hildyard approved the restructure, despite criticising the short amount of time given for the court to consider the matter.

Oil prices fall as US-Iran talks continue; UK manufacturing activity cools in June – business live