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Dow sets record high as Big Tech rallies and crude oil falls NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – Wall Street climbed sharply Monday as technology stocks advanced and crude oil prices retreated. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 693.38 points, or 1.32%, to a record 53,178.41. The S&P 500 rose 1.48% to 7,600.50, ending close to its all-time high. The Nasdaq Composite gained 2.13% and closed at 25,913.90. Buying spread across major sectors and included many smaller U.S. companies.

Britain adds thousands of solar systems before new plug-in standards take effect. June’s installation figures marked the second-highest monthly total in the UK’s solar data series, with March 2026 still holding the record at 28,782 systems added. Over the year ending in June, solar capacity increased by 2.2 gigawatts, representing a 10.9% growth. The year 2025 saw the addition of roughly 269,000 systems—the highest annual number ever recorded. Most of these installations were rooftop projects, although larger-scale developments contributed a more significant share to the overall growth in energy generation capacity. The sector is now preparing for a forthcoming shift in regulations concerning small plug-in solar systems, set to take effect on August 27, 2026. These new rules will permit approved microgenerators to connect to the grid via a standard UK plug and household socket. The equipment eligible for connection can produce no more than 800 watts of alternating current. All products must adhere to Interim Product Specification version 2 and operate safely within the local electricity network’s parameters. New standards specify approved plug-in solar systems These legislative updates modify existing regulations related to plug, socket, and safety standards for electrical connections. Parliament received the statutory instrument on July 17, just one day after ministers endorsed it. The law creates a specific exemption for qualified generators that connect via standard household outlets. A designated notified body must verify that each plug complies with the relevant BS 1363 safety

On Friday, the latest official economic data from Canada confirmed that the Canadian economy expanded by 0.3 per cent in May. This marks a continuation of the broader economic recovery, now in its second month, and exceeds previous government forecasts. The monthly Gross Domestic Product figures published by Statistics Canada reveal that real output grew across 13 of the 20 main industrial sectors, buoyed by widespread gains in goods-producing industries and sustained demand in services. Notably, this actual increase in monthly output was higher than the initial flash estimate of 0.1 per cent growth, adding positive momentum to the national economy following April’s revised growth rate of 0.6 per cent.

The Union Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi sanctioned a groundbreaking national project on Friday aimed at accelerating hydrocarbon discoveries in Indian ocean basins. Official statements released by the Press Information Bureau confirmed the approval of a Rs 84,084 crore offshore oil and gas exploration initiative, named the Samudra Manthan national program. Managed by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, this central sector scheme will be executed through the financial years 2030 to 2031. The multi-billion-rupee plan focuses on expanding deepwater exploration, strengthening energy independence, and tapping into previously unexploited oil and natural gas reserves within India’s exclusive economic zone.

The British government announced on Wednesday a significant strategic financial commitment, pledging £8.4 billion towards the operations of its nuclear submarine program aimed at upgrading the nation’s continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent. An official statement from the Prime Minister’s Office detailed that this multi-billion-pound investment is designed to accelerate the building schedules of four Dreadnought-class nuclear-powered submarines, while also creating thousands of high-skilled employment opportunities for young individuals over the next ten years.

Belgian Consumers Face Rising Inflation Rate of 3.56% in July, Impacting Household Budgets Brussels, Belgium / EuroWire / – Unexpectedly, consumer price increases in Belgium accelerated during July, breaking a brief period of moderation and adding more financial strain on both households and businesses. The latest monthly consumer index figures released on Thursday by Statbel, the Belgian national statistical office, show that the country’s annual inflation rate exceeded predictions, climbing to 3.56 percent in July from 3.40 percent in June. This latest data surpassed the 3.37 percent annual projection made by the Federal Planning Bureau, indicating ongoing underlying cost pressures across major sectors such as recreation, utilities, and transportation. On a monthly basis, the consumer price index grew by 0.63 percent, moving up 0.65 points to a value of 103.60 compared to 102.95 in June.

Global comparable store sales grew by 7.9 percent compared to the previous year, fueled by a 4.2 percent increase in customer transaction volume and a 3.5 percent rise in average ticket size. In the core U.S. domestic market, comparable store sales also expanded by 7.9 percent, supported by a steady recovery in foot traffic and enhanced efficiency during morning service hours. The company reported non-GAAP adjusted earnings per share of $0.85, significantly beating the consensus estimate of $0.65 compiled by Yahoo Finance market data providers. Additionally, the GAAP operating margin widened by 60 basis points to 10.5 percent, helped by sales leverage, improvements in supply chain operations, and tariff duty refunds received during the quarter. The robust quarterly results highlight progress made under Starbucks’ corporate turnaround strategy, which emphasizes enhancing seating ambiance, speeding up beverage service, and elevating hospitality standards. Internationally, comparable store sales increased by 5.7 percent, driven by higher average ticket values and positive transaction growth across European and Middle Eastern licensed markets. Overall, consolidated net revenues remained flat at $9.3 billion, primarily due to the reorganization of the Chinese retail segment into a licensed joint venture model during the third quarter. North American operating income rose to $1.0 billion, up from $918.7 million in the same period last year, supported by menu innovation and improvements in store throughput resulting from reduced order downtime.

During an official working visit to Bratislava, President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Head of State of the United Arab Emirates, held a meeting with His Excellency Robert Fico, Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic. The discussions confirmed that the UAE President is actively exploring avenues for bilateral cooperation with the Slovak government, focusing on expanding strategic alliances across Europe through high-level diplomatic talks. The summit emphasized enhancing economic cooperation, accelerating development efforts, and fostering joint initiatives in renewable energy and cutting-edge technologies to benefit the mutual economic goals of both nations.

According to a comprehensive analysis published by the European Union research agency Eurofound, the EU is on track to miss its Digital Decade goal of employing 20 million information and communications technology specialists by 2030. Official reports from Emirates News Agency confirmed that despite sustained multi-year expansion in the regional technology sector, the gap is expected to reach 5 million workers. The Eurofound publication, titled IT Sector in Focus: Evolution of the EU Digital Workforce, highlights that primary and vocational education systems across most European member states are inadequate in keeping pace with the current and forecasted demand for specialized digital skills within enterprises. As a result, companies across the bloc increasingly depend on recruiting skilled workers from outside the EU to fill significant staffing shortages.

Lawmakers must close the crypto conflict of interest loopholes or scrap the CLARITY Act, ethics watchdogs tell Congress today. The post Senate crypto bill faces pushback over conflict of interest rules appeared first on Gulf Daily Report: The Gulf’s daily news, fully reported..