Next has unexpectedly posted strong Q2 sales and raised its full-year guidance. The stock gained up to 8% after the announcement.

Among other stocks, U.K. Government Investments announced it is looking to sell part of its shareholding in NatWest Group PLC over the course of a year. Meanwhile, Unilever’s pretax profit for the first half inched down, but still expects revenue growth in 2021 to meet targets.

The government asked the EU to renegotiate the Northern Ireland Protocol, included in the Brexit agreement, that was negotiated by Britain and signed just a few months ago. It is intended to avoid a physical border in Ireland and protect the European single market. Maros Sefcovic, the European Commission vice president in charge of Brexit, said that the EU bloc would work to find "creative solutions" to trade difficulties related to Northern Ireland but would not renegotiate the Brexit deal, Reuters reports.

Things to read:

EU rejects British plan to rip up Brexit deal (Financial Times)

The Ultra-Rich Are Turning to Crypto After Driving the SPAC Boom (Bloomberg)