Evening Briefing: Monday 28 September 2026
- Fuel: Brent settled into the evening at $105.76, up 1.4%, after touching $108.83 when the president rejected Iran’s conditional offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Pump prices follow crude with a lag.
- Homes: Housebuilder shares jumped on a new government scheme to lower barriers for first-time buyers; Persimmon was 15% higher by late morning.
- Savings and gold: Gold fell more than 3% to a seven-week low as dearer oil fed bets on tighter monetary policy.
Oil Rises as Trump Rejects Iran's Hormuz Proposal
Brent climbed as high as $108.83 on Monday after the president turned down Tehran’s conditional offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Prices pared gains around midday on reports, citing White House officials, that he was open to sanctions…
Russian Strikes Hit Kyiv's National Academy of Sciences
Russia’s round-the-clock bombardment killed at least seven people and wounded more than 50, officials said on Monday. Apartment buildings, offices, data centres and a building of the National Academy of Sciences in central Kyiv were struck…
US and China Agree Tariff Cuts on $60bn of Goods
Washington and Beijing have agreed to cut tariffs on $60 billion of goods, from coal to toys, deepening efforts to stabilise the relationship. China will trim duties on American agricultural produce; America will cut tariffs on toys, small…
Le Pen Hails Senate 'Breakthrough' as National Rally Surges
The National Rally and its allies more than tripled their representation in the French Senate, from four seats to 14. “The results have exceeded our expectations; the breakthrough is widespread, confirming the accelerated expansion of the…
Israel Says It Destroyed 600 Hezbollah Sites in Mansouri
The Israeli military says it has completed a large-scale operation to destroy Hezbollah infrastructure in the southern Lebanese town of Mansouri. Reserve paratroopers and combat engineers destroyed more than 600 sites, including eight tunn…
Five Arrested at RAF Fairford Released on Police Bail
Five British nationals arrested on suspicion of terror offences near the American-used base have been released on bail. “Following extensive interviews, and inquiries, the five men who were arrested are being released on police bail this a…
Healey Tells Conference: A Job, Not a Benefit Payment
The chancellor told Labour’s conference in Liverpool that cutting welfare spending was “more than an economic must — it’s a moral duty”. “The best thing we can offer a young person is not a benefit payment — it’s a first job with training…
Mahmood Reopens Refugee Resettlement Scheme
The home secretary has reopened the UK Resettlement Scheme, arguing that “safe and legal” routes will deter small boat crossings. Shabana Mahmood said the UK must “live up to our international obligations”, but that the process must be “ca…
Rayner Promises Greater Public Control of Housing
Housing associations in England will be told they cannot reject homeless families without good reason, under plans Angela Rayner set out at conference. Councils would also get 60 days to bid to buy social homes when they come on the market.
AI Minister Wants Plan for 'Unprecedented' Job Losses
Kanishka Narayan said the government must “take seriously the possibility of an unprecedented impact on the jobs market” from artificial intelligence. There is no evidence yet of an overall fall in jobs, he said, but a contingency plan is…