Exchange operator CME Group said on Friday that its Globex futures and options markets pre-opened at 07:00 Central Time (1300 GMT) and open at 07:30 CT, after an earlier halt caused by a cooling issue at its data centres. ...

Market Disruptions and Data Center Challenges - CME Group has halted trading across major platforms due to a cooling system issue at CyrusOne data centers, affecting Globex futures, options, and foreign exchange markets [2][7] - The disruption has frozen pricing data for key indices such as the S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, and 10-year U.S. Treasuries, as well as commodities like gold and oil, creating market uncertainty [2][7] - CyrusOne operates over 55 data centers globally and serves approximately 1,000 customers, and is actively addressing the cooling system problem [3] UK Fiscal Health Under Scrutiny - S&P Global Ratings has assessed the UK's fiscal position as "vulnerable," despite revenue-generating measures in the Autumn 2025 Budget, projecting ongoing fiscal pressures due to structural spending demands and subdued economic growth [4] - The UK maintains an "AA" sovereign credit rating with a stable outlook, but its fiscal health is a significant constraint on this rating [4] EU Defense Fund Negotiations - Negotiations for the UK to join the EU's €150 billion defense fund have failed, highlighting ongoing divergences between London and Brussels regarding financial contributions [5][7] Geopolitical Diplomacy and Frozen Assets - Russian President Putin has expressed willingness to hold talks on Ukraine with the U.S. in Budapest, a proposal welcomed by Hungarian Prime Minister Orban [6][7] - The EU is in discussions with member states, particularly Belgium, about using frozen Russian assets (approximately €140 billion or $162 billion) to support Ukraine, while seeking legal frameworks to mitigate financial and legal risks [7][8]