Markets brace for volatile week as leaders weigh up retaliation to Trump’s tariffs

SummaryPro-EU candidate Rafał Trzaskowski is leading in Poland’s presidential run-off vote, according to an Ipsos exit poll, with 50.3% of the votes compared to 49.7% for his rightwing opponent, Karol Nawrocki. If confirmed, this victory would enable Prime Minister Donald Tusk to advance his reform agenda and represent a setback for Donald Trump’s MAGA movement, following similar defeats for rightwing politicians in other countries. The electoral commission anticipates that final results will be available by...

Over the past two decades, corporate sustainability has progressed, but the emphasis on climate action has been overly narrow, neglecting significant nature loss risks. Business leaders are increasingly incorporating biodiversity into their sustainability strategies, with initiatives such as the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures gaining traction. Three developments driving this shift include heightened awareness of nature's economic foundations, public institutions enhancing visibility of nature's contributions, and the emergence of market-based investment mechanisms that incentivize biodiversity...

European leaders have adopted the term "coalition of the willing" while convening to support Ukraine, a shift marked by irony given their previous inaction during the Iraq invasion. Despite meetings among 30 nations and promises of military aid, the coalition's effectiveness is undermined by insufficient troop commitments, funding challenges, and a lack of political will among European populations regarding troop deployments. Leaders should prioritize feasible initiatives such as aiding Ukraine in building its military and...

An exodus of educated Italians seeking better opportunities abroad is intensifying the economic challenges posed by an ageing labor force, according to Bank of Italy Governor Fabio Panetta. In 2024, nearly 191,000 people left Italy, with a significant portion being young, educated individuals, leading to a negative migration balance of skilled workers. Panetta emphasized the need for Italy to create attractive employment opportunities and suggested that legal immigration could help alleviate labor shortages in key...

The EU is set to launch an age verification app in July to enhance online protections for minors, aiming for stricter enforcement of existing regulations on platforms handling content for young users. This app will allow users to verify their age without revealing personal information and is part of a broader initiative leading to a digital identity wallet by 2026. EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen emphasized the need for social media companies to proactively implement...

SummaryBank of England governor Andrew Bailey urged the UK government to minimize the negative effects of Brexit by enhancing alignment with the EU, particularly in reducing non-tariff barriers in financial services to promote trade and economic growth. His comments followed Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's announcement of a "reset" deal with the EU aimed at cutting trade barriers. While acknowledging the challenges posed by Brexit, Bailey emphasized the benefits of increased openness in financial markets...