Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, reports OpenAI has hired senior XAI executive Brent Mayo to help ensure its data-center projects progress on schedule.

Spot palladium rose above $1,300/oz, up 1.84% on the day.

HSBC economist Chris Hall says UK inflation data show almost no evidence of indirect energy pass-through, suggesting the Bank of England may keep rates on hold next week and beyond. Headline inflation fell to 2.6% in June from 2.8% in May, driven by motor fuel (especially diesel); core inflation remained at 2.6%, above consensus. Hall says the first sign of pass-through would appear in food inflation, which has eased, and there is so far no evidence of higher wages or broader price-setting, though recent oil and gas price rises add upside risk to the BoE's inflation outlook.