Caroline Hepker

The Times first reported Britain's lack of approval due to concerns over international law.

Donald Trump spoke by telephone to the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday about Iran.

The following day, the US President changed his public stance on the Chagos Islands, which is host to the US-UK base, saying that key military bases there would be critical for any strike on Iran.

Christine Lagarde says that she expects completing her mission as president of the European Central Bank will take until the end of her term amid speculation that she could resign early.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, she said, quote, the baseline is that it will take until the end of her term to achieve her goals of financial stability and protecting the euro.

She also told the newspaper the World Economic Forum is, quote, one of the many options that

She is considering once she leaves the central bank.

Now, she declined to comment on reports in the Financial Times this week, suggesting that she would step down before her term expires in October 2027.

It had been reported that her early departure would give French President Emmanuel Macron time to have a say in picking her successor at the ECB before the April 2027 presidential election in France.

NVIDIA is reportedly close to a new agreement with OpenAI that will downgrade its long-term $100 billion deal with the firm.

The Financial Times is reporting the chip giant is near to agreeing a $30 billion equity deal to replace its bigger commitment.

Now, the retreat comes as the wider market has been rattled by concerns over the health of the AI sector.

NVIDIA is the only member of the MAG7 stocks that is currently posting a positive return year to date.

Those are our top stories for you this morning.

In terms of the markets, a six-month high now for oil prices with Middle East risks rising.

You have Brent crude futures trading at $72.15 up by seven-tenths of 1%.

There's also the possibility, only a possibility, that with the US Supreme Court returning from recess, there could be maybe an opinion on oil.

Trump tariffs today.

Hang Seng tech index is dropping 2%.

So the AI and tech concerns remain there in focus in parts of the market.