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France's retailers are facing significant disruption ahead of the crucial Christmas trading period as nationwide protests over rising living costs and fuel prices have damaged approximately 2,400 stores and forced widespread closures. The French Chamber of Commerce estimates retail losses have exceeded €1bn, while Morningstar DBRS warns total losses could approach $2bn, including uninsured damage and lost revenue. Consumer confidence has fallen to a 13-year low, raising concerns ahead of November and December, which typically account for 40% of annual retail turnover. More than a quarter of damaged stores remain closed, with further demonstrations threatening additional disruption. Retailers have warned that prolonged unrest could significantly weaken festive sales and tourism, placing further pressure on France's already fragile consumer spending environment.

 

Reuters

Binance users withdrew a net $3.64bn after withdrawals gradually resumed on Sunday following Thursday’s record $6.3bn theft. The exchange had suspended withdrawals to repair systems and investigate the breach, which has been blamed on a North Korea-linked group. The outflow represented 2.1% of assets held before the hack, according to the company’s update. 

 

Financial Times

The Daily Telegraph

The Times

France's economy contracted by 0.1% in the third quarter - the second decline in GDP this year, following a 0.2% drop in the first. Roland Lescure, France's finance minister, observed: "For three quarters now, there has been no growth." The bond market reacted sharply, with 10-year bond yields rising from 4.91% to 4.96%. Inflation also hit a three-year high of 3.8% in October. Analysts worry about the government's ability to manage spending ahead of the presidential elections. Lescure has warned of a potential fiscal crisis if the budget is not passed.

 

Financial Times

The Daily Telegraph

Daily Mail

Members of IG Metall, Germany's largest trade union, launched warning strikes in the metalworking and electrical sectors early Sunday. Approximately 300 workers from Thyssenkrupp's Rasselstein unit participated in the first walkout. The union rejected an employer offer of a 1% one-off payment and a 1.3% increase, demanding a 5% pay rise and job guarantees instead. Jorg Kohlinger, head of IG Metall's central district, said: "The midnight warning strike at Thyssenkrupp Rasselstein is merely the start of a massive phase of warning strikes." Further strikes are expected this week throughout the ⁠bargaining region covering the states of Hesse, ⁠Rhineland-Palatinate and ​Saarland as well as in Thuringia.

 

Daily Sabah

Research by the Rockwool Foundation Berlin suggests that more flexibility in collective wage agreements can boost competitiveness and protect jobs, but only ​if workers retain effective safeguards. "Wage restraint resulting from increased flexibility . . . contributed to Germany's improved competitiveness after 1995," observed study co-author Christian Dustmann. Clauses allowing German firms, with worker representatives' ​consent, to depart from sector-wide agreements on ​pay, hours and other terms were expanded from the mid-1990s.

 

Reuters

Stellantis chief executive Antonio Filosa has said the success of “war rooms” he has set up to tackle quality problems, alongside efficiency measures, show his turnaround plan for the automaker is working. Engineering, quality and manufacturing teams work with experts from the group’s suppliers, with the aid of AI, to help fix vehicle issues that have increased expenses for repairs and warranties. Old as well as new glitches that affected vehicles had hit confidence and drove away customers.

 

Bloomberg

Ofcom has successfully compelled TikTok, Meta and X to provide data on their moderation of harmful content. The ruling marks the first legal test of the UK media regulator's authority under the Online Safety Act 2023. Lord Justice Singh and Mrs Justice Collins Rice upheld Ofcom's information requests, rejecting claims from the companies that compliance would be excessively burdensome. Ofcom argued that the data is crucial for assessing compliance with legal duties and ensuring user safety online.

 

Reuters

The Independent UK

Yandex has withdrawn its full-year 2026 financial guidance following Ukrainian drone strikes on its data centres, which disrupted services including ride-hailing, food delivery, banking and cloud computing. The Russian technology group had previously forecast revenue growth of approximately 20% and adjusted Ebitda of R350bn ($4.3bn), but has warned that the financial impact of the attacks remains uncertain, with some services still being restored. Despite the disruption, Yandex has reported a 12% increase in third-quarter revenue to R411bn ($5.1bn), while adjusted Ebitda rose 12% to R88bn and net profit increased 2% to R46bn.

 

The Moscow Times

Serbia’s central bank has revoked Alta Bank’s licence, citing deteriorating finances and liquidity risks. The lender, used by Russians, had faced international scrutiny over suspected money laundering before its forced closure.

 

Financial Times

A record 19 of the 38 OECD member countries now offer government bonds directly to individual investors, as governments seek to diversify their borrowing sources amid rising financing costs and growing public spending demands. Estonia, Slovenia, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic are among the latest countries to introduce retail-focused bond programs, while Italy and Portugal have expanded their existing offerings. According to the OECD, five countries introduced new retail bond products in the year through September 2026, following six in the previous reporting period. Higher interest rates have made government bonds more attractive to households, while governments increasingly view individual savers as an additional source of funding for healthcare, defence, and other spending priorities.

 

Bloomberg

Italy’s government plans a 26% capital gains exit tax for individuals moving their tax residence abroad with assets exceeding €800,000 (£670,000). The previously unannounced proposal, which was included in Giorgia Meloni’s draft 2027 budget, could affect wealthy expatriates and others who recently relocated to Italy. According to Henley & Partners, 3,600 millionaires moved to the country in 2025.

 

The Daily Telegraph

Mrs Justice Ellenbogen, a judge at the UK's High Court, has been reprimanded for taking over a year to deliver judgments on three cases. An investigation followed a complaint in February, and concluded that her delays constituted serious misconduct. Ellenbogen acknowledged she should have been more "proactive" in communication and attributed the delays to workload pressures and personal circumstances. The Judicial Conduct Investigations tribunal accepted the recommendation for a reprimand, saying her actions harmed public confidence in the judiciary.

 

Financial Times

The I

The Times