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The OECD has downgraded the UK’s 2026 growth forecast to 0.7%, the second-lowest in the G7, citing energy supply disruptions and inflation risks from the Middle East conflict. The UK’s inflation is now projected at 4%, with global economic growth weakening amid geopolitical tensions.
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Despite concerns over AI-driven overvaluation, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley forecast continued US stock growth in 2026. Goldman expects a 7% return, citing strong earnings and economic resilience, while Morgan Stanley predicts a 13% rise driven by global cyclical recovery and commodity demand. Experts warn of potential risks, including a possible market correction and shifts in investor confidence.
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UK unemployment rose to 5.2% in December, the highest since early 2021, driven by rising labour costs and economic slowdown. Youth unemployment reached nearly 14%, with private sector wages stagnating. Experts predict further interest rate cuts as inflation eases, but concerns about job security persist.
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Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch has promised to personally oversee a controversial legal reform bill after protests from lawyers. The bill, aimed at modernising the sector and fighting corruption, faced opposition over its disciplinary powers. The government has paused the bill's progress in parliament amid ongoing protests and negotiations.
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On March 15-16, 2026, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng met in Paris to discuss trade issues ahead of President Trump's planned visit to China from March 31 to April 2. Talks focused on tariffs, rare earth minerals, export controls, and agricultural purchases amid ongoing tensions and a fragile global economy impacted by the US-Israeli war on Iran.