European stocks rose Wednesday to approach the record high set in August, after Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in the US midterms. Banks, luxury and renewables stocks drove investors’ risk-on rally.

Corn futures topped the $5-a-bushel mark for the first time in 18 months as weaker-than-expected US crop tour results added to global supply concerns for the staple grain.

Black Sea grain exports are facing fresh constraints as record-low Danube levels restrict flows through Romania just as escalating Russian strikes divert Ukrainian grain from Odesa and other ports.

Global food prices ticked up in July to the highest in more than three years as renewed concerns over key grain export corridors compounded adverse weather across major growing regions.

Some of the UK capital’s toughest return-to-office policies have been relaxed amid record temperatures

JPMorgan Chase & Co. has relaxed some of the finance industry’s strictest return-to-office requirements for its London staff, after the UK capital sweltered through record-high temperatures.