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Shoppers walk past at a branch of the British clothing and food retailer Marks & Spencer on Oxford Street in London, Britain, December 28, 2025. REUTERS/Isabel Infante

British retail sales rose unexpectedly last month, helped by strong online shopping, according to data published on Friday which added to signs of a pickup in the economy after finance minister Rachel Reeves' budget.

Sales volumes rose by 0.4% in December from November, the Office for National Statistics said. This was the first increase since September and marked a brighter end to an otherwise drab final quarter for shops.

Economists polled by Reuters had expected sales to fall by 0.1% in month-on-month terms.

Earlier, market research firm GfK said consumer confidence rose to its highest level since August 2024 as households became more positive about their own finances.

UK POLITICS COULD IMPACT CONFIDENCE

Friday's data added to tentatively positive readings for economic activity for Reeves after her tax-raising November budget, despite more signs of cooling in the labour market and still-high inflation.

"The budget was tough, but people's worst fears weren't met," said Neil Birrell, chief investment officer at Premier Miton, a wealth management company.

"This does suggest the UK consumer is in better shape than expected, and if that follows through in the wider economy, maybe there is room for a bit more optimism for the UK."

For the fourth quarter as a whole, retail sales fell by 0.3%, reflecting declines in November and October, which the ONS said would exert a 0.01 percentage-point drag on overall economic output.

Thomas Pugh, chief economist at RSM UK, said the outlook for spending hinged on whether consumers stuck to their high levels of savings or used them to boost spending, and on the possibility of fresh political turmoil with Prime Minister Keir Starmer under pressure ahead of local elections in May.

"A disruptive leadership contest, which opens the door to another round of tax increases, is a significant downside risk to confidence continuing to recover," Pugh said.

The ONS said online jewellers saw renewed demand for precious metals in December - against a backdrop of rising gold prices.

Compared with December a year ago, overall retail sales volumes were 2.5% higher, marking the strongest such reading since April.

Still, sales volumes remained 2.2% lower last month than their level six years ago, before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Major British retailers were generally cautious about 2026 prospects in their post-Christmas trading updates.

Source: Reuters

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban holds an international press conference in Budapest, Hungary, January 5, 2026. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo/File Photo

Hungary's Viktor Orban criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, describing him as "a man in a desperate position" whose "war efforts" he would not support, intensifying his anti-Ukrainian campaign ahead of pivotal April elections.

As Hungary's economy stagnates and Orban's Fidesz party trails the opposition Tisza party in most polls, the prime minister has framed the parliamentary election due on April 12 as a choice between war and peace, portraying Ukraine as undeserving of financial support.

In a Facebook post directly addressed to Zelenskiy, late on Thursday Orban said:

"You are a man in a desperate position who, for the fourth year now, has been unable or unwilling to bring a war to an end - despite the fact that the President of the United States has provided every possible assistance to do so."

"Therefore, no matter how much you flatter me, we cannot support your war efforts," the nationalist leader added, again rejecting financial aid for Ukraine.

ZELENSKIY CRITICISES EUROPE FOR LACKING COURAGE

Zelenskiy on Thursday criticised Europe for being a "fragmented kaleidoscope of small and middle powers" lacking the courage to act decisively and facing a dark future unless it stood up to U.S. and Russian power.

Orban, who has maintained close ties with Moscow and with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has sought to associate Hungarian opposition leader Peter Magyar with Brussels and Ukraine, and accused Ukraine of wanting a change in government.

"The Ukrainians will be active participants in the Hungarian campaign, because they have a vested interest in a change of government in Hungary," Orban told a briefing early on Friday in Brussels.

Ukraine's government could not immediately be reached for comment.

Orban said his government would launch a "national petition" that Hungarians can sign to "tell Brussels that Hungarians won't pay to Ukraine."

This primarily targets rural voters and echoes Orban's past anti-migrant campaigns.

Magyar has said Tisza supports peace in Ukraine, rejects the idea of conscription, and will not support any escalation in the war.

Source: Reuters

China and the Philippines said on Friday they launched rescue operations after receiving reports of a sinking cargo ship near the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea that was carrying 21 Philippine crew members.

Scarborough Shoal is one of Asia's most contested maritime features and a frequent flashpoint in disputes, particularly between China and the Philippines, over sovereignty and fishing rights.

The Chinese military said 17 crew members were rescued and two of them later died, after a report around 1:30 a.m. on Friday (1730 GMT on Thursday) that a foreign cargo vessel had capsized in waters near the shoal.

It dispatched aircraft to conduct searches and the Chinese Coast Guard sent two vessels for rescue efforts.

One person was receiving emergency medical treatment, it said, adding that China's maritime authorities were organising additional rescue forces to head to the area.

The Philippine Coast Guard said it deployed two vessels and two aircraft to rescue the Philippine crew from a Singaporean-flagged cargo vessel loaded with iron ore that was en route to the southern Chinese city of Yangjiang.

"The PCG Command Center acquired information from the Hong Kong Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre that 10 of the 21 Filipino crew members were rescued by a passing China Coast Guard vessel," it said.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore confirmed that the bulk carrier, "Devon Bay", had sunk in the South China Sea while en route to Yangjiang.

"As the vessel's flag state, MPA is in contact with the ship owner and relevant search and rescue authorities, and is providing support as required," it said, adding that it will investigate the incident.

Underlining the Scarborough Shoal's disputed status, China's military said on Tuesday it had organised naval and air force units to repel a Philippine government aircraft that it accused of "illegally intruding" into airspace over the atoll.

Both China and the Philippines claim the Scarborough Shoal, but sovereignty remains unresolved. China took control in 2012 after a standoff and has since stationed its coast guard and fishing vessels there.

A 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague invalidated China's sweeping claims in the South China Sea and declared its blockade illegal, affirming the shoal as a traditional fishing ground for countries like the Philippines and Vietnam. China rejected the ruling.

China's claims overlap with the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Source: Reuters

The UK's private sector expanded at its fastest pace in nearly two years this January, fueled by a resurgence in the technology and financial services industries. A key business survey from S&P Global showed its purchasing managers' index (PMI) climbing to a 21-month high of 53.9.

This figure significantly outpaced the 51.4 recorded in the previous month and economists' expectations of 51.5. A reading above 50 indicates expansion, and S&P noted the current level corresponds to quarterly economic growth of approximately 0.4%.

Post-Budget Clarity Spurs Business Activity

Analysts attribute the surge in activity to renewed business confidence following the Labour government's budget on November 26. With fiscal policy clarified, companies reportedly moved forward with previously stalled projects.

The survey suggested that firms were relieved after being largely spared from the £26 billion in tax increases announced by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves. Businesses also appeared to overlook geopolitical risks, including potential trade tensions between the US and Greenland, to focus on domestic opportunities.

The data points to the British economy regaining momentum after a period of slower growth and a weaker labor market in the second half of 2025.

Services Outpace Manufacturing

The UK's dominant services sector remains the primary engine of growth.

"Growth continues to be driven by the service sector, and in particular financial services and tech," said Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence. "Companies are reporting higher demand, both from home and export markets, which has driven output growth to the fastest since April 2024."

The services business activity index reached a 21-month high. Meanwhile, the manufacturing output index also showed positive momentum, marking its fourth consecutive month of growth.

Rising Orders and Exports Boost Optimism

Forward-looking indicators also painted a positive picture. The overall increase in new business orders was the most rapid since October 2024, while business optimism for the year ahead hit its highest level since September 2024.

Export sales saw their strongest performance in 18 months, supported by climbing demand from key markets in Europe, the US, and China.

Lingering Concerns Over Jobs and Costs

Despite the strong headline figures, the survey highlighted persistent challenges. Firms continued to reduce their workforce, and input costs rose at the joint-fastest rate seen in eight months, signaling ongoing inflationary pressures.

According to AccuWeather, a powerful Arctic cold front is expected to sweep across the United States, reaching as far south as the southern states and bringing lower temperatures to more than 150 million people across 24 states.

On Thursday, Texas Governor Abbott declared a state of emergency in more than half of the state's counties ahead of the cold snap. It is worth noting that Texas is home to key natural gas production facilities, while its infrastructure is less adapted to prolonged cold weather.

As a result, market sentiment is being shaped both by expectations of higher natural gas demand for heating and by the risk of technical disruptions to production.

Consequently, the XNG/USD chart shows a sharp rise in natural gas prices, with the move from last week's low to the recent high amounting to nearly 40%.

Technical Analysis of the XNG/USD Chart

When analysing gas prices on 15 January, we identified a long-term descending channel, highlighted in red on the chart. At that time, we also:

→ noted that prices were hovering near the 2025 low;→ suggested that bears might attempt to break below the 2025 low, which could have a psychological impact on the market, prompting short sellers to take profits and encouraging renewed buying interest.

Indeed, following a false bearish break of the 2025 low (as indicated by the arrow), prices surged sharply towards the median of the channel, an area where supply and demand often tend to balance.

Moreover, around the 3.330 level, there was a clear period of imbalance in favour of buyers. Bulls broke through the descending trendline resistance, and XNG/USD rose with minimal pullbacks.

From a technical perspective, it is therefore possible that this area may now act as support. However, the actual path of the natural gas market will largely depend on the severity of the cold weather and its impact on conditions across the country.

Source: FXOpen

Eurozone private sector activity showed no signs of acceleration in January, with the latest business surveys pointing to a continuation of the modest growth seen at the end of last year.

The HCOB Flash Eurozone Composite PMI Output Index held steady at 51.5, the same level as in December. While this marks the 13th consecutive month of expansion, the rate of growth remains tied for the slowest pace recorded since September.

Services Slowdown Masks Manufacturing Rebound

A clear divergence emerged between the Eurozone's two main sectors. The previously resilient services sector saw its growth cool to a four-month low, with its PMI falling to 51.9 from 52.4.

In contrast, the manufacturing sector showed signs of life. After contracting in December, manufacturing production edged back into growth territory with a reading of 50.2. The broader Manufacturing PMI, while still indicating an overall contraction, rose to a two-month high of 49.4 from 48.8.

Despite the mixed performance, demand showed signs of weakening. New orders rose for the sixth straight month, but the pace of this increase was the slowest since September 2025. Export orders also continued to fall, though the rate of decline was less severe than in December.

Job Market Shows Cracks with First Decline in Months

In a concerning turn, Eurozone companies reduced their workforce for the first time in four months. This employment decline was heavily concentrated in Germany, which experienced its most significant job cuts since November 2009, excluding the initial shock of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, hiring continued in France and the rest of the Eurozone, highlighting a growing divergence in labor market trends across the bloc.

Inflationary Pressures Mount, Complicating ECB Outlook

The January data revealed a notable intensification of inflation pressures. Input costs for businesses climbed at the fastest rate in nearly a year, and this was passed on to customers through higher output prices. The rate of output price inflation was the strongest seen since April 2024, driven primarily by the services sector.

According to analysts at ING, these trends are unlikely to force the European Central Bank's hand immediately. "Even though inflation has remained remarkably benign in recent months despite all the economic turmoil, the PMI does indicate increasing price pressures again," they noted. "That being said, the moves are not nearly enough to sway the ECB from its expectations to hold rates for the foreseeable future."

Analysts See 'Feeble' Recovery Ahead

Despite the sluggish activity and job cuts, business confidence across the Eurozone climbed to a 20-month high. Optimism in the manufacturing sector was particularly strong, reaching a peak not seen in nearly four years.

Dr. Cyrus de la Rubia, Chief Economist at Hamburg Commercial Bank, characterized the recovery as "rather feeble" and suggested the data points to "more of the same in the months to come."

He added that the resurgence in services inflation could reinforce the ECB's cautious stance. The rising price pressures might even lead some central bank officials to argue against rate cuts and in favor of holding rates steady or potentially even increasing them.

The report also highlighted differing national performances, with Germany beginning 2026 on a growth trajectory while France saw a monthly decline in output, potentially linked to budget finalization challenges.