Public Markets 3 Hours

Last updated: August 11, 2026, 2:41 AM ET

Equities

FTSE 100 futures held steady as attention turned to the oil rally, while the Stoxx 600 has risen 12% this year on Europe’s investment revival. TSMC could see central processing units become a new growth driver as agentic AI takes off, according to Bernstein analysts. Nvidia is assembling a $500bn funding package for AI infrastructure with Wall Street groups.

Commodities

Aluminum advanced to a seven-week high as fading prospects for a Hormuz deal fueled supply concerns. Copper shipments from Indonesia are delayed after a boiler leak halted the Gresik smelter that processes ore from the Grasberg mine. German truckers are taking the load as drought hits Rhine shipping, with states lifting the Sunday lorry ban amid warnings of a GDP hit.

Currencies

The yuan may resume its march against the dollar next month as seasonal factors and strong exports lift the Chinese currency, analysts say.

Deals & Corporate

A potential $400bn tie-up between AstraZeneca and Bristol Myers Squibb unravelled after an FT report; a merger would have marked a return to pharma megadeals. Hanwha Aerospace has made a $1.2bn bid for Austal’s US unit, which sells ships to the navy and coastguard, in a South Korean defence push. Nick Blair, son of former UK PM Tony Blair, is seeking funding for defence tech start-up Pyra. UK lawmakers warned that banks’ refusal to take on crypto firms risks stunting the industry’s growth.

Economy & Policy

EU border checks have doubled waiting times at major airports, with peak times hitting two hours in Frankfurt and Amsterdam. A carbon tax will hit EU budget airlines where it hurts, while long-haul carriers may benefit. The Bank of England needs more parliamentary attention, as further scrutiny would strengthen independence. Spain’s migrant crisis exposes serious challenges for young Moroccans as the country’s failure to translate growth into better living standards drives migration attempts. The AI threat to India’s IT jobs machine is growing, as disruption looms for the country’s tech‑services bet. A 30-person start-up in London, Cosine, has UK government backing to build a “sovereign AI” model.

Politics & Geopolitics

Trump secretly used a military jet to leave Turkey amid threats, hiding in an airport catering container after a NATO summit. Farage faced a protester with a trash can on his head, illustrating modern election tactics. Jimmy Kimmel wondered if Trump got a wig, with guest host Anthony Anderson joking about weaves. The FirstFT also covers Spain’s migrant amnesty and a Turkish law on Kurdish militants, while a former M&A reporter confesses to malice and aspirations at the billion‑dollar rumour mill.

Travel & Tourism

Hotel prices in Europe are surging ahead of a historic eclipse, with tourists rushing to Iceland and Spain. Meanwhile, Italians set up a curling rink near the Colosseum despite a heat wave, hoping to capitalize on the Winter Olympics phenomenon.

Energy & Environment

Activists are battling solar panel cowboy installers as complaints about faults and fakes surge alongside renewable‑energy adoption.

Notable Deaths

Jake Whisenant, who raced up Yosemite’s El Capitan at record speed in under three hours in 2024, died in a climbing accident, authorities said.