Given how far it was from expectations what confidence can you have in the data or future expectations?

PODCAST: Powerless Central Bankers🎙️ Does central bank independence work without real accountability? @Gerald_Ashley, @xGeorgeCooper, and @DamianPudner of @GreatBritishTT break down the Bank of England's recent missteps, and the UK's economic outlook.👇 equitileconversations.com/24…

Asian markets at 5.21am BST - 17/6/26 - NIKKEI - 70,109.83 ( 1.02%) 705.33, HANG SENG – 24,403.96 (-0.37%) −89.99, SHANGHAI - 4,084.54 (-0.18%) −7.35, KOSPI - 8,726.84 ( 0.03%) 3.58

Though there was evidence of profit taking on the S&P/NASDAQ yesterday, the DJIA hit a record high amid US-Iran deal news & ahead of FOMC meeting today. Oil dipped to $78. Bond yields steady. Opening calls indicate a degree of circumspection: FTSE -7 @ 10487, DJIA 65 @ 52064

Economic Data posted today – UK Inflation, EU Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices, US FOMC Meeting, US MBA Mortgage Applications, US Retail Sales, US Business Inventories, US Pending Home sales, US Crude Oil Inventories

UK companies posting earnings today - AO World, Speedy Hire - US companies – Jabil Circuits, Korn Ferry, Carmax, Smith & Wesson

European/US closing levels - 16/6/26 - FTSE- 10,494.21 ( 0.61%) 63.59, DAX – 24,910.41 ( 0.066%) 16.40, CAC40 - 24,910.41 ( 0.066%) 16.40, DJIA - 51,999.67 ( 0.64%) 328.64, S&P500 - 7,548.60 (-0.075%) −5.69, NASDAQ – 26,376.34 (-1.15%) −307.60

BRENT CRUDE $78.44 - GOLD $4,329.88 - UK 2-Year Gilt yield 4.21%, UK 7-year Gilt yield 4.52%, UK 10-year Gilt yield 4.81%, UK 30-year Gilt yield 5.52%, US 10-year Treasury yield 4.43% - BITCOIN $65,793.74 – CABLE $1.3424 at 5.04am

David Buik & Michael Wilson engage with Lord Peter Ricketts, the distinguished diplomat in UK Investor Magazine Youtube. He appraises the UK’s standing in the World, the situation in Ukraine & Middle East and how diplomacy can help business. An informative listen. Out tomorrow

At 10.17am - FTSE 100 -10,491.19 ( 0.58%) 60.57 - Healthy to see a positive turnaround this morning after yesterday's dreary response to the 'supposed' peace deal.

It remains to be seen whether Burnham's arithmetic is Diane Abbot abacus wrong or not, but we can already be sure that our taxes will further increase to the detriment of GDP growth if he becomes PM. But hopefully Makerfield voters have sussed him out! x.com/i/status/2066788815570…

Bailey's column in today's Times is a fair riposte to criticism of the BoE's approach to QT, although recent balance sheet plateauing from the ECB & Fed have meant the UK divestment profile has become an outlier - contradicting the Governor's view that "Arguments that the UK is out of line with other countries is wide of the mark". At a time when the relative cost of capital is an issue, continuing divestment at this pace (£70bn/year) does make the UK stand out.

Since 17th April 2026, the US 10-year Treasury yield has quietly increase from 4.26% to 4.48% today (16/6/26), presumably relecting the possibility of increased inflation

Asian Markets at 5.56am BST - 16/6/26 - NIKKEI - 69,729.97 ( 0.60%) 412.47, HANG SENG – 24,533.35 (-1.25%) −309.32, SHANGHAI - 4,098.85 ( 0.058%) 2.38, KOSPI - 8,720.64 ( 2.04%) 174.66

UK inflation rate for May 2026 remained at 2.8%, ONS figures show

UK inflation unchanged at 2.8% YoY in May, continuing the pattern of undershoots to market expectations. Little in the data (apart from survey expectations) to suggest the BoE will take a hawkish pivot tomorrow, indeed the oil futures curve is undershooting all three of the scenarios laid out in the April MPR.

Update on my health. I’m having another Surgery in July so that’ll be my 8th surgery since September 2024. Good news though the surgeon is pleased with progress, although I’d still need further surgery going forward. This all begun with life saving emergency surgery. I had attended A&E in September 2024 but was sent home after a 9 hour wait only to be told to go straight back to hospital by 111 the following day where upon it was discovered I was seriously ill and required immediate intervention. The delay wouldn’t have changed the necessity for multiple surgeries but it would have killed me had 111 not told me to go straight back to hospital. I had an apology via a Pals complaint apparently it was a Junior Doctor who assessed me the first time at A&E where he didn’t follow the correct procedures. I accepted the apology as everyone has a bad day in work. I just hope people can learn from experience. I recently read about a young girl who had the same problem her name was Libby. Unfortunately she was sent home multiple times and sadly passed away. Reading about her case had a profound effect on me and my mental health, it affected me deeply. I really do hope the NHS takes everything onboard regarding people presenting with bowel obstructions. Especially if they return to hospital with the same condition. Thankfully in my case on the second return it was diagnosed correctly. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone in the NHS who has helped me thus far. Although I’ve found it frustrating at times because even some medical professionals aren’t familiar with my condition or symptoms or indeed the surgical intervention I’ve had. Anyway now I’ve got that off my chest I’m taking time away to look after myself. Peace and love.

A woman was able to wander around the Houses of Parliament in the middle of the night after security guards fell asleep on the job, it is claimed. In the latest in a series of embarrassing incidents, the middle-aged visitor evaded detection for several hours by hiding in the toilets after her official tour of the palace ended. She then managed to walk around unchallenged in the early hours of Sunday morning before she was eventually spotted & police were called in to arrest her for trespass. Now the Parliamentary authorities have launched an urgent investigation into how the shocking lapse happened – & it is likely to look into claims that guards meant to be patrolling the site were actually taking naps. The authorities have also been left embarrassed by a £10million front door that did not work & a 'hideous' fence.

THIS IS JUDGE JOSEPH HUGHES You know what this judge has done? Well... He has allowed paedophile Stephen Dolman walk from his court room on a community order... Yes you read that right!! A COMMUNITY ORDER despite having 1.5 MILLION INDECENT IMAGES OF KIDS... 16,000 of them images shown the r*pe and s*xual assault of children. Meanwhile these exact same judges are jailing people for hurty words on social media

If you asked Sammy not to mention the race of her rapists, @GMB - can you tell us all why?