The index has now increased for four straight months and reached its highest level since February 2026
International News via Reuters:
Investor morale in the euro zone returned to positive territory in August and rose for a fourth consecutive month, helped by a sharp improvement in current economic conditions and continued confidence in the recovery, a survey showed on Monday.
• The Sentix index for the euro zone rose to 0.9 points in August from -3.1 in July, compared with a Reuters poll forecast of -0.5
• The index has now increased for four straight months and reached its highest level since February 2026
• Sentix said the improvement was driven mainly by a sharp recovery in investors’ assessment of current conditions, while expectations also improved
• The current situation subindex climbed to -8.0 points in August from -14.8 in July, while the expectations gauge rose to 10.3 points from 9.3
• Sentix added that the confidence shock caused by the Iran war appeared to have been partially absorbed, though high energy costs and subdued order books remained a drag on the outlook
• Sentix’s headline index for Germany rose to -11.9 points from -19.4, its third consecutive increase and highest reading since February
• “Further economic stabilisation is on the horizon for Germany,” Sentix said, pointing to stronger economic data and second-quarter growth of 0.2% that helped the economy avoid another recession
• The survey of 1,097 investors, including 213 institutional investors, was conducted between Aug. 6 and Aug. 8
Reporting by Friederike Heine, Editing by Linda Pasquini
The blue-chip FTSE 100 fell 0.2% to 10,874.64 points by 1020 GMT, while the midcap FTSE 250 added 0.1% to 24,880.50 points
International News via Reuters:
London’s stock indexes were subdued on Monday, pausing after last week’s gains as investors focussed on earnings reports and upcoming economic data for clues on the health of the British economy.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 fell 0.2% to 10,874.64 points by 1020 GMT, while the midcap FTSE 250 added 0.1% to 24,880.50 points. Both indexes notched their fourth consecutive week of gains on Friday.
• Upbeat earnings reports and expectations of a U.S.-Iran peace agreement have underpinned British stocks lately.
• Oil prices edged higher as optimism over talks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz was tempered by Iran’s insistence that the United States must satisfy several demands before the waterway could reopen.
• Data on Thursday is expected to show the UK economy grew 1.1% on an annualised basis in the second quarter, possibly helped by lower energy prices. British retail sales were unexpectedly strong in June, helped by spending related to warm weather and the World Cup.
• Britain’s labour market showed tentative signs of stabilisation in July, as recruiters stopped shedding permanent staff, according to a survey that also showed a faster rise in starting salaries.
• Among single stocks, affordable homebuilder Vistry slid 7.5% after the Financial Times reported that credit insurer Allianz Trade was reducing the cover it extends to Vistry’s suppliers by up to 70%, a move that could exacerbate a cash flow squeeze.
• Mining giant Glencore climbed 2.2% after Barclays raised its price target to 650 pence from 635 pence following strong results last week.
• Plus500 climbed 5.9% after the trading platform reported a rise in half-year core profit, aided by higher trading activity.
Reporting by Anand Gopal and Sruthi Shankar in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala
Sterling was last up less than 0.1% against the dollar at $1.3502, just below a three-and-a-half week high of $1.35085 hit on Friday
International News via Reuters:
The British pound was little changed against both the dollar and euro on Monday as markets awaited growth data later in the week and updates on talks in the Middle East to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Sterling was last up less than 0.1% against the dollar at $1.3502, just below a three-and-a-half week high of $1.35085 hit on Friday.
Against the euro, the pound was flat at 85.62 pence.
Monthly growth figures, due for release on Thursday, are expected to show that the economy remained resilient in June, with the month’s retail sales unexpectedly strong due to spending linked to the World Cup and hot weather.
EYES ON OIL PRICES
Sterling traders were also keeping an eye on talks in the Middle East to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and any potential impact on energy prices.
Oil prices rose slightly on Monday, due to continued uncertainty about the reopening of the strait. Iran said it was nearing a deal with Oman defining new shipping lanes but that the U.S. must meet other conditions.
Expectations for Bank of England policy settings have tended to fluctuate with energy price movements, with higher oil prices and the feed through to inflation expected to lead to tighter monetary policy.
But so far, the BoE has decided to wait to see how the situation in the Middle East plays out, and refrained from tightening policy, unlike the European Central Bank, which raised borrowing costs in June.
Investors are now pricing in one rate hike from the BoE by the end of the year, with a second hike fully priced in by September next year.
ING FX strategist Francesco Pesole believes that markets are pricing in too hawkish a rate path for the BoE, which could weigh on sterling if it was reversed.
“Our view on the pound is still bearish leaning on the back of our call for no rate hikes and markets still pricing in some tightening,” said Pesole.
Reporting by Samuel Indyk; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise
OBA makes fresh appeal for Parliamentary approval for its road safety bill
Shadow Minister of National Security Jarion Richardson
Statement by Jarion Richardson, Shadow Minister of National Security:
Saturday was not simply another difficult day on Bermuda’s roads. According to reports, three serious collisions occurred within hours of one another, leaving people seriously injured and one person dead.
Our thoughts are with every family affected, and with the police officers, firefighters, paramedics and hospital staff who were again called upon to deal with the consequences.
The Government is right to remind drivers and riders about personal responsibility. Every one of us has an obligation to slow down, obey the law, remain alert and never operate a vehicle while impaired. But personal responsibility cannot be the whole of a Government road-safety policy.
Government has responsibilities too: to provide effective laws, sufficient enforcement, functioning public transport, safer infrastructure, modern systems and consequences capable of deterring dangerous behaviour.
That is why the OBA has brought a concrete road-safety Bill before Parliament. The Bill is not the entire solution, and we have never claimed that it is. Bermuda’s road-safety problem is complex. But complexity is not an excuse for paralysis, and waiting until every piece of a perfect strategy is ready before taking any meaningful step is simply another form of delay.
The perfect cannot become the enemy of the good while people continue to be injured and killed.
Inaction is not restraint. Delay is not prudence. Leadership is not about waiting until every decision is easy or universally popular; it is about acting when the evidence shows that the present course is failing.
The OBA Bill would strengthen enforcement, deterrence and consequences while providing safeguards around police powers. Government can support its principles, improve its details in Committee and continue working on the other parts of a comprehensive road-safety strategy at the same time. Those things are not mutually exclusive.
After years of warnings, serious injuries, fatalities and repeated announcements, Bermuda does not need another choice between doing everything and doing nothing. We need Government to begin doing the things that can be done now.
Support the Bill. Improve it in Parliament. And get on with the work of making Bermuda’s roads safer.
The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Senator, the Hon. Kim R. Wilkerson, JP, will host a Welcome Reception for Bermuda’s law students, pupils, and Counsel called to the Bermuda Bar within the past five years.
The reception brings the next generation of legal professionals together with Counsel within the different sections of the Ministry of Justice to learn more about the work they do and to gain a greater understanding of the important roles they play in supporting the administration of justice in Bermuda.
Guests will have the opportunity to connect with Counsel from across the Ministry of Justice and will meet representatives from the Advisory and Legislative Drafting sections of the Attorney-General’s Chambers, the Legal Aid Office, the Office of Law Reform and the Department of Public Prosecutions, in an informal setting. It will present an opportunity to ask questions about the diverse areas of legal practice within the public service and explore the many ways in which legal professionals contribute to the development of Bermuda’s justice system.
The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice said: “The Ministry of Justice offers a broad range of rewarding and meaningful legal careers that contribute directly to the public interest. This reception is an opportunity to welcome the next generation of legal professionals, share insights into the work that we do, and to encourage those considering careers in public service. I look forward to meeting Bermuda’s next generation and discussing the many opportunities available to them within the Ministry.”
The event will take place from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm at Deja View Restaurant, located in Barr’s Bay Park, on 13 August 2026, and will be in the form of a welcome reception and networking event, providing attendees with an opportunity to engage directly with Ministry representatives in a relaxed and collegial environment.
Those wishing to attend are encouraged to RSVP by noon on the 12 August 2026 to Linda Terry at lmterry@gov.bm.
Statement by Opposition Leader Ben Smith, Shadow Minister for Education & Sport:
In a recent media interview, Minister of Education, Diallo Rabain acknowledged that the PLP Government needs to rebuild the trust of parents and teachers.
I appreciate his sentiment because trust is essential if education reform is going to succeed.
The Minister also acknowledged that senior schools were not ready when they needed to be, that infrastructure commitments were not delivered and that uncertainty influenced the choices many families made. Those are important admissions because they reflect what parents and teachers have been saying for some time.
Parents make decisions about their children’s future based on the information they are given. Teachers dedicate themselves to helping students succeed, often while adapting to changing policies and expectations. Both deserve clarity, consistency and confidence in the direction of our public education system.
But over the past several years, that confidence has been tested.
Rebuilding confidence will take more than announcing a return to the original reform plan.
Parents deserve to see realistic timelines that are actually met. Teachers will want to know that they are being listened to before decisions are made, not after they have already been announced.
School communities will want regular updates so they understand what is happening, why it is happening and when they can expect to see progress.
Trust grows when people know where things stand, even when the news is difficult. It is strengthened when governments communicate openly, keep their commitments and admit when something has not gone according to plan.
I believe everyone involved in education shares the same goal. We want children to receive the best education possible.
We want public schools where students can thrive, teachers feel supported and parents can believe in.
The One Bermuda Alliance will support any step that genuinely moves us closer to that goal.
We will also continue to relay questions that parents are asking, because accountability is not an obstacle to reform, but is what gives people confidence that reform is being carried out properly.
The conversation now has to move beyond promises. It has to be about delivery.
If the Government can consistently do what it says it will do, confidence will return. If it cannot, then trust will continue to be difficult to rebuild.
Students educated in the Bermuda Public School System cannot afford another cycle of uncertainty. They deserve steady leadership, honest communication and an education system that delivers on its commitments.
The Hon. Tinee Furbert, JP, MP, Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, presented awards to student recipients of the 2026 Student Trailblazer Out Front Awards at Harbour Night on Wednesday, 5 August.
Minister Furbert said, “The exceptional students we honour this evening were carefully selected by our panel of judges for embodying excellence in many ways. They have distinguished themselves through academic achievement, perseverance in the face of challenges, service to others, creativity, leadership, and, above all, strength of character. These qualities not only define successful students but also shape remarkable citizens and future leaders.”
Minister congratulated each student, noting that their efforts matter, their potential is limitless, and that their community believes in them.
Minister Furbert added, “To each of our award recipients, I encourage you to pause and truly embrace this moment. As you return to your schools, colleges, and universities, carry this recognition with you. Congratulations to each of our 2026 Student Trailblazer Out Front Award recipients. Continue to dream boldly, lead with integrity, serve with compassion, and never stop believing in what you can achieve.”
The Student Trailblazer Out Front Award recipients are:
Emma Oury — Academic Achievement (High School); Sam Mello — Arts & Culture (High School); Ruth Bella Correia — Arts & Culture (Middle School); Kenya Robinson — Community Impact (High School); Callahj Simons — Leadership & Service (High School); Nyla Wellman — Leadership & Service (Middle School); Chloe Burns — STEM & Innovation (High School); Zach McGuire — Sports Achievement (High School);Dylan Jeffrey — Arts & Culture (High School); Khamil Burchall — Leadership & Service (High School); and Sioma Tashani Rudo — Sports Achievement (High School).
At approximately 4:02pm, Saturday, August 8, 2026, Police along with Emergency Medical Services personnel, were dispatched to a two vehicle road traffic collision, involving a flatbed truck and a motorcycle, at the junction of Harbour Road and Chapel Road, Paget.
Reports are the truck was exiting Chapel Road when it collided with the motorcycle which was traveling west, along Harbour Road.
The motorcycle rider, a male, sustained serious head and back injuries. His female pillion passenger was left with minor injuries.
They were both attended to at the scene before being transported by ambulance to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, for further treatment.
Sadly, the male succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter.
The collision scene is being processed by a Traffic Collision Investigator along with Forensics personnel. Traffic is now restricted to one lane along Harbour Road in the area of the collision.
The male truck driver did not appear to have been injured. He has since been arrested on suspicion of driving whilst impaired by alcohol or drugs and detained at the Hamilton Police Station.
An investigation into this incident has now begun.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Constable, Walter Jackson on phone number, 717-0469 or via e-mail, wjackson@bps.bm<mailto:wjackson@bps.bm>
Recent public discussion regarding Bermuda’s work permit policy provides an opportunity to clarify the challenges facing Bermuda’s labour market and the principles that continue to guide the Government’s approach to immigration and workforce development.
Bermuda’s greatest labour market challenge is not a lack of economic growth, but the demographic reality of an ageing population and a shrinking workforce. As more Bermudians retire and fewer enter the labour force, employers across many sectors are experiencing increasing difficulty filling vacancies.
The facts demonstrate that Bermuda’s economy continues to grow. Employment has increased, unemployment remains at historically low levels, tourism has strengthened, international business continues to invest, and construction activity remains robust.
These conditions point to a labour market where demand for workers is exceeding the available local labour supply. The challenge facing many employers is not a lack of jobs, but a shortage of available workers driven by Bermuda’s changing demographics.
The Government’s work permit policy is designed to strike an appropriate balance between supporting economic growth and ensuring that qualified Bermudians receive the first opportunity to compete for available employment. Immigration remains an important part of Bermuda’s labour market, but it must also complement long-term efforts to develop and protect the local workforce.
To support these objectives, the Government has introduced several policy measures that strengthen employment opportunities for Bermudians while enabling employers to address genuine labour shortages where local workers are unavailable. These measures include:
Expanding the list of closed occupations where work permits are no longer available because qualified Bermudians are available;
Expanding restricted occupations, requiring employers to demonstrate genuine efforts to recruit Bermudians before seeking overseas workers;
Introducing measures that promote greater stability within the work permit system for both employers and employees; and
Reserving summer employment and internship opportunities exclusively for Bermudians, ensuring young people gain valuable early work experience.
Commenting on the Government’s approach, the Minister of Economy and Labour, the Hon. Jason Hayward, JP, MP, explained, “Bermuda’s immigration policy is not simply about filling vacancies. It is about striking the right balance between supporting economic growth and protecting opportunities for Bermudians. As our population ages and our workforce changes, immigration will continue to play an important role in addressing genuine labour shortages. At the same time, we remain committed to investing in education, apprenticeships, workforce development, and policies that ensure Bermudians are first in line for employment opportunities. Together, these efforts will help build a stronger, more resilient economy that benefits everyone.”
The Government also recognises that employers require an efficient and responsive immigration system. Work continues towards modernising immigration services through digital transformation and process improvements while ensuring the immigration framework continues to support Bermuda’s long-term economic development objectives.
At the same time, the Government continues to invest in education, apprenticeships, workforce development, and skills training to prepare more Bermudians for careers in sectors experiencing labour shortages. Immigration and workforce development are complementary policies that together support a strong, resilient, and competitive economy.
As Bermuda’s population continues to age, maintaining a sustainable workforce will require a balanced approach that protects opportunities for Bermudians while ensuring employers have access to the skills needed to support continued economic growth.
The Government remains committed to pursuing policies that strengthen Bermuda’s economy, invest in its people, and ensure that immigration continues to address genuine labour market needs in a way that benefits the island as a whole.
A U.S. official, who declined to be identified, said on Friday that Washington anticipated an agreement soon between Iran and Oman, which sit on either side of the strait, so that normal oil traffic could resume
International News via Reuters:
Iran said on Saturday that a deal with Oman on control of the Strait of Hormuz was close but would not be enough to free up the waterway, and the United Arab Emirates said Iran had hit another ship there.
A U.S. official, who declined to be identified, said on Friday that Washington anticipated an agreement soon between Iran and Oman, which sit on either side of the strait, so that normal oil traffic could resume.
Agreement between the two countries over control of the strategic waterway is seen as crucial to a wider agreement to end the conflict that began with U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Iran and Oman were “very close” to agreement on a new shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz but that reopening the strait depended on other conditions, including U.S. compensation to Iran.
The previous shipping traffic separation scheme through the strait was no longer acceptable to Tehran, he said, adding that Iran was discussing a temporary route with Oman while technical and legal issues surrounding a permanent route were resolved.
Iran has responded to the U.S. attacks by targeting U.S. bases in Gulf states and Jordan, and shipping in the narrow strait, which carried a fifth of the world’s oil and gas shipments before the war.
The UAE said on Saturday that Iran had attacked a carrier affiliated with its state oil company with a missile as it transited the Strait of Hormuz, with no injuries reported, in the latest escalation in attacks on shipping there.
There was no immediate comment from Iranian authorities. Iranian media quoted the UAE report without including the part in which the country blamed Iran for the attack.
U.S. TO LIFT IRAN BLOCKADE ONCE DEAL IS ANNOUNCED, OFFICIAL SAYS
In recent weeks, the Trump administration has repeatedly signaled that a deal to open the strait could be close, only to have Iran deny that talks are under way. It was unclear whether the latest flurry of negotiations would yield a more lasting arrangement.
“There is progress between Oman and Iran on the strait, and we expect a deal soon,” a U.S. official told Reuters on Friday. “Once the deal is announced to restore commercial shipping without impediments, the United States will lift the blockade of Iranian ports.”
“As always, U.S. actions will continue to be performance-based and tied to Iran’s implementation of its commitments,” the official said.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards also said on Saturday that re-opening the Strait of Hormuz depended on Washington accepting Iran’s conditions and was not related to the Iran-Oman negotiations.
Guards spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi did not specify the conditions but said Washington must stop interfering in the regional negotiation process.
“Whenever the United States accepts Iran’s conditions, the Strait of Hormuz will certainly be reopened,” he said, according to Iran’s Tasnim news agency.
SOURCES SAID THIS WEEK A DEAL WOULD GIVE IRAN SOME CONTROL
A proposed deal between Iran and Oman to help end five months of war between Iran and the U.S. would give Tehran control over ships entering the Gulf through the strait, a senior Iranian source and two regional officials told Reuters on Wednesday, one of the biggest concessions yet to Iran.
U.S. officials have repeatedly insisted they would never agree to Iran controlling access to the world’s most important trade route for energy supplies. It was not clear whether they had sought to change the parameters of the deal.
Iran has used the hostilities to justify charging a toll on oil tankers. That, and the firing on ships that attempt to cross the strait without its permission, has badly disrupted global shipments, causing energy prices to surge and fueling inflation.
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, one of the world’s largest energy producers, said on Friday that 15 of its vessels had been struck in what it called unprovoked attacks while transiting the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the conflict. The attacks have killed one crew member and wounded 20 others, it said.
Iranian media often report attacks on ships saying they violated Iran’s directives, without specifying that Iran was behind the attacks.
Iranian strikes on Strait of Hormuz shipping have been coupled with increased attacks by its Yemen-based allies, the Houthis, who have targeted ships at another oil chokepoint on the other side of the Arabian Peninsula between the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Additional reporting by Nafisa Eltahir and Samia Nakhoul in Dubai; writing by Philippa Fletcher; Editing by Toby Chopra
Police at the Plai Bang Police Station in Nonthaburi Province told Reuters the girl had died on Saturday, a day after a 14-year-old boy allegedly shot his grandparents and then killed five more people at his school before turning the gun on himself
International News via Reuters:
The death toll from a school shooting in Thailand rose to nine on Saturday, after police said a 12-year-old girl caught up in Friday’s incident had died.
Police at the Plai Bang Police Station in Nonthaburi Province told Reuters the girl had died on Saturday, a day after a 14-year-old boy allegedly shot his grandparents and then killed five more people at his school before turning the gun on himself.
Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat and Devjyot Ghoshal; Writing by John Mair; Editing by Sharon Singleton
KBB is excited to invite your team to “Sea the Change” by joining this year’s Islandwide Coastal Cleanup, proudly sponsored by EY, taking place from Friday, September 25 to Sunday, October 4, 2026.Last year, 777 volunteers worked across 74coastal locations and removed over 14,652 pounds of trash from Bermuda’s environment. This year, we hope to make an even greater impact — and your company can be a part of this movement.
You can choose a coastal location to clean during the campaign period. KBB will provide all cleanup supplies and coordinate support to make it easy and impactful for you. REGISTER HERE
If your schedule does not allow for boots-on-the-ground participation, we welcome you to champion our cause by becoming a member! Your support will fund clean-ups, educate kids, and increase the amount of waste and recycling we collect year-on-year. Click here to support our mission! SUPPORT HERE
Together, let’s “Sea the Change” and protect Bermuda’s beautiful coastlines for generations to come.
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