The UK government has intervened to halt a prospective joint venture between Versarien, a Gloucestershire-based developer of advanced graphene materials, and a Chinese peer. National security concerns were cited as the principal reason, casting uncertainty over the future of the once-celebrated British innovation firm. Versarien has been at the forefront of graphene applications since its […]

WH Smith’s pivot to focus on travel retail has met a major setback, with shares plunging over 40 per cent following an unexpected accounting error in its North American arm. The retailer, a longstanding fixture of the UK high street, recently rebranded itself as a “pure-play travel retailer”. Yet on Thursday, this new direction cast […]

Britain is set to face an autumn and winter of severe disruption, with a fresh wave of strikes across essential public services threatening both the economy and daily life. This turbulence is poised to test the government’s fiscal resilience and its relationship with the trade unions. The RMT union has declared a week-long industrial action […]

Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, finds herself at the heart of a legal storm as green activists challenge her decision to approve a £1bn data centre on the edge of the M25 in Iver, Buckinghamshire. The controversial project had previously been rejected twice, first by Buckinghamshire Council and then, in 2023, by former housing […]

The debate over the role and relevance of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has intensified as the UK’s fiscal framework faces fresh scrutiny. The New Economics Foundation (NEF), a respected left-leaning think tank, has urged Chancellor Rachel Reeves to consider abolishing the OBR and establishing an alternative body to provide economic forecasts. Their proposal […]

Britain’s largest listed recruiter Hays has slashed its dividend and announced further workforce reductions as the firm grapples with a severe 90 per cent drop in profits. The beleaguered recruitment group, which also unveiled a fresh wave of cost cutting, blamed persistent economic and political uncertainty for undermining corporate hiring appetite and discouraging workers from […]

Weight loss medications, specifically GLP1 agonists like Ozempic Wegovy and Mounjaro, are redefining the landscape of healthcare in Britain, with new research signposting not only longer lives for millions but also vast economic benefits. These drugs which mimic natural hormones to reduce appetite and inflammation, are now being recognised as powerful tools in the prevention […]

Britain’s third largest steel producer has come under government control following a High Court decision that placed part of Sanjeev Gupta’s Liberty Steel group into insolvency. Speciality Steel UK SSUK, an employer of over 1,400 people across its Rotherham and Stocksbridge plants, saw a winding up order granted at the request of creditors, who are […]

JCB, Britains largest privately owned engineering firm, has sounded the alarm after a dramatic escalation in US tariffs on exports could cost the company hundreds of millions of pounds. The Trump administration has moved unexpectedly to broaden its 25 per cent tariffs on British steel and aluminium components to include finished goods, catching UK manufacturers […]

Labour is preparing to reignite public private partnerships (PPPs) as a solution for delivering new neighbourhood health centres central to its ambitious 10year NHS plan. Ministers are set to make a pivotal decision in the autumn budget regarding whether to deploy the controversial funding model, which has been on ice since the Carillion collapse sent […]

The future of Britain’s third largest steelworks hangs in the balance, as government officials prepare to take over operations in a dramatic bid to protect 1500 jobs at Sanjeev Gupta’s Rotherham-based Liberty Steel. The High Court was told that the government’s official receiver stands ready to act as administrator should Gupta’s team fail to secure […]

The United States stock market has endured a volatile week, as a sell-off in major technology companies wiped $1 trillion from market capitalisation in just four days. The S and P 500 index ended Wednesday down for the fourth consecutive session, pressured by mounting concerns that the artificial intelligence driven rally in tech shares could […]

Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, is weighing up whether to reduce the limit on the tax-free pension lump sum as she grapples with a public finance gap estimated at up to £50bn. Civil servants are set to present her with a substantial list of revenue-raising options ahead of the Budget, and cutting pension benefits for retirees […]

A surge in social media activity by so-called fishing “finfluencers” is behind a remarkable uptick in Angling Direct’s performance, drawing a younger audience to Britain’s riverbanks and driving the retailer’s revenues higher. The London-listed specialist in rods, lines and tackle has experienced over 30 million views on its YouTube outlet, ADTV, which blends light-hearted content […]

Inflation in the United Kingdom soared to a new 19-month high this July, putting additional pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves and testing the government’s strategy to address the ongoing cost of living crisis. The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rose by 3.8 per cent on an annual basis, up from 3.6 per cent in June, marking […]

Australian graphic design platform Canva has achieved a fresh valuation of $42 billion after launching a significant employee share sale. The Sydney-based business, which now employs over 5,000 staff, invited both new and existing investors—including asset managers Fidelity and JP Morgan—to participate in the oversubscribed round. Co-founder and chief executive Cliff Obrecht remarked that the […]

Ithaca Energy, the leading North Sea oil and gas operator, has lifted its production forecasts for the second time this year while confirming it remains on course to return $500 million to shareholders in 2025. The London-listed company enjoyed a surge in pre-tax profit, up to $513.4 million for the first half compared with $189.4 […]

British manufacturers are facing an unexpected surge in costs after President Trump introduced a 25 per cent tariff on finished goods containing steel and aluminium exported to the United States. Industries spanning construction machinery to automotive parts are set to feel the impact, with leading firms such as JCB identified as particularly exposed to these […]

British farming is navigating a critical point as a devastatingly dry growing season collides with a series of economic and policy challenges. Arable farmers across the driest parts of England are grappling with crop failures of historic proportions after persistent drought has slashed yields and pushed many close to breaking point. Martin Williams, a third […]

Dozens of local councils across Britain are actively preparing legal measures to end the government’s use of hotels to house migrants, spurred by a crucial High Court decision in Epping Forest. The Conservative-led council recently secured a temporary injunction stopping the Bell Hotel from being used as asylum accommodation on the grounds that necessary planning […]

The private equity industry, famed for deft dealmaking and distributing handsomely to its investors, is deploying increasingly complex methods to return cash as traditional exit routes seize up. The spotlight now falls on so-called continuation funds and net asset value NAV loans—clever mechanisms, but ones that are inviting closer scrutiny from regulators. When Inflexion, a […]

BHP, the world’s largest mining group, has posted its lowest profit in five years. The company saw underlying profit decline to $10.16 billion for the year ending June, marking a 26 per cent drop from the previous period. Revenue took an eight per cent year on year hit, sliding to $51.3 billion as the price […]

A leading biopharmaceutical business saw its shares tumble by almost 40 per cent after results from a trial of its much-anticipated weight loss pill failed to meet market expectations. Viking Therapeutics, which is engaged in fierce competition with pharmaceutical giants such as Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to develop the next generation of oral obesity […]

Asda has suffered a decline in market share, raising the prospect of being overtaken by Aldi as Britain’s third largest supermarket. New industry figures from Worldpanel show Asda’s sales fell by 2.6 per cent in the August quarter, bringing its UK market share down to 11.8 per cent from 12.7 per cent a year ago. […]

Applied Nutrition, a protein shake producer backed by JD Sports and high-profile investor Coleen Rooney, has celebrated its inaugural year as a publicly-listed company with results that outpace market expectations. The firm disclosed that sales for the twelve months ending 31 July are set to reach £107 million, comfortably surpassing analysts’ forecasts of £100 million […]

The number of private schools entering administration has doubled in the first half of 2025, a stark sign of the mounting pressures on the sector following the government’s decision to impose a 20 per cent VAT rate on school fees from January. According to recent data released by the risk advisory firm Kroll, 12 schools […]

The Japanese technology giant SoftBank has announced a substantial investment of two billion dollars in the US chipmaker Intel, signalling renewed confidence in the efforts to revitalise the company. The deal sees SoftBank acquire a stake of just under two per cent at a price of twenty three dollars per share, a modest discount compared […]

The UK Office for National Statistics has postponed the publication of its monthly retail sales figures, intensifying existing doubts over the reliability of official economic data. On Tuesday, the ONS announced that it would delay its consumer spending numbers, originally scheduled for Friday, to 5 September. The agency cited the need to conduct further quality […]

Shares in International Workplace Group, the world’s leading provider of serviced office space, suffered their steepest fall in five years after the company issued a warning that its annual adjusted underlying profit would come in at the lower end of expectations. IWG, which operates renowned brands such as Regus and Spaces, reported a successful first […]

Britons’ deep affection for their pets is increasingly redefining how we travel. Fresh research has revealed a significant uptick in the number of holidaymakers opting to take their dogs and other animals along for overseas trips, rather than leave them behind in kennels or with minders. Analytical data from a survey of over 1,200 pet […]

The UK market for private weight loss drugs is bracing itself for seismic change as Eli Lilly announces dramatic price increases for its popular Mounjaro injections. Over 1.5 million Britons currently purchase Mounjaro privately, but from September the cost for the highest 15mg dose will leap from £122 to £330 per monthly pen. Even the […]

The government’s efforts to house asylum seekers in hotels have come under severe scrutiny after a landmark High Court decision ordered the removal of migrants from a property in Essex, following long-standing protests and rising tensions in the local community. The Bell Hotel in Epping, which has served as accommodation for asylum seekers for three […]

Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, is exploring plans that would see owners of high-value residential properties facing a new capital gains tax when they sell their homes. This move, designed to address a reported £40 billion deficit in the public finances, marks a potential end to the long-standing capital gains tax exemption for primary residences valued […]

Senior Treasury officials are evaluating ambitious plans to replace stamp duty with a national property tax targeting homes sold for more than £500000. The proposal, being scrutinised ahead of this autumn’s budget, forms part of a wider potential reform spanning council tax and the way local authorities are funded. Sources indicate that Chancellor Rachel Reeves […]

Rising temperatures across southern Europe have sparked a significant shift in holiday trends, with more travellers seeking relief in the cooler cities of the United Kingdom. New research from online travel giant eDreams Odigeo reveals a notable increase in flight searches and bookings to British destinations, as Europeans contend with relentless heatwaves on the continent. […]

Estate agents experienced their busiest July in five years, with a surge in home sales driven by widespread price reductions and a notable increase in available properties. Data from Rightmove revealed an 8 per cent rise in agreed sales compared to July 2024, making this the most active July for the market since 2020, when […]

British warehouse construction is facing an unprecedented boom after the government pledged a major increase in defence spending, with property agent Savills estimating that an additional three million square metres of storage space will be required in the next seven years. This surge, driven by promises to boost the annual defence budget by around £40 […]

The world’s most influential central bankers are gathering this week in Jackson Hole Wyoming drawing the full gaze of global financial markets and the White House. All eyes rest upon Jerome Powell chairman of the US Federal Reserve who finds himself at the epicentre of political and economic tension as President Trump intensifies criticism for […]

The headquarters of the Ministry of Justice in central London have been acquired for £245 million by billionaire developer Surinder Arora. The iconic brutalist building, Queen Anne’s Mansions, located near Buckingham Palace, was sold by FTSE 100 landlord Land Securities as part of its wider commercial vision. The fourteen-storey structure is currently let in its […]

Monzo, the digital banking powerhouse, is venturing beyond finance by considering the launch of a Monzo-branded mobile phone service. In talks with leading mobile operators, Monzo aims to offer an innovative package, leveraging its reputation for customer-centric services. This strategic move positions Monzo in direct competition with established mobile virtual network operators such as Tesco […]

The Swiss watchmaker Swatch has abruptly withdrawn a global advertising campaign after sparking fierce criticism in China. The campaign featured an Asian model pulling at the corners of his eyes—a gesture widely condemned for perpetuating racist stereotypes. Over the weekend, anger erupted across Chinese social media, with calls for a boycott of Swatch products gaining […]

The UK market for prescription weight loss injections has witnessed dramatic upheaval, prompted by a sharp price increase for Mounjaro, currently the nation’s most widely used weight loss jab. From 1 September, Mounjaro manufacturer Eli Lilly will nearly double the price for UK pharmacies, raising steep cost concerns among patients who have relied on the […]

Shares in Novo Nordisk climbed over five per cent on the Copenhagen exchange after the Danish pharmaceuticals firm received crucial approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration for its well-known injection Wegovy to be used in the treatment of metabolic dysfunctionassociated steatohepatitis Mash in patients with liver fibrosis. The move arrives at a […]

Soho House, the renowned operator of private members’ clubs adored by celebrities and royalty alike, is set to mark the end of its volatile tenure as a public company. The business will be taken private in a deal valued at 1.8 billion dollars, orchestrated by a consortium led by MCR Hotels—Britain’s third-largest hotel owner—and featuring […]

Consumer sentiment in Britain has climbed to its highest level in ten months, following recent interest rate reductions that have eased pressures on household budgets. The S and P Global UK consumer sentiment index, released for August, posted a reading of 47, up from 45.1 in July. Although the index remains below the positive threshold […]

Britain’s local authorities are grappling with soaring debt, with almost £1 in every £5 raised in council tax now allocated to servicing interest payments. New figures reveal that councils collectively owe upwards of £148.5 billion, translating to around £5,200 per household. Since 2015, this debt mountain has surged by 60 per cent, fuelled by reductions […]

The British chemical industry faces an existential crisis as a leading credit insurer deems the entire sector “very high risk” amid unprecedented rises in energy costs and a surge in insolvencies. Coface, a global authority in credit insurance, attributes much of this turmoil to escalating energy prices, which are undermining profit margins, causing liquidity problems, […]

The owner of Kingsmill has struck a landmark deal to acquire rival bread brand Hovis, forming the nation’s largest breadmaker in a move set to generate both opportunities and scrutiny in the sector. Associated British Foods ABF which also owns retail giant Primark and grocery staples such as Twinings is to purchase Hovis Group from […]

Industrial output growth in the world’s second largest economy fell to an eight month low in July as Chinese consumers continued to hold back on spending. The latest data increases pressure on the government in Beijing to introduce further stimulus and reignite domestic demand, which has been dampened by both extreme weather events and persistent […]

An Uzbek mining company operating one of the world’s most prolific gold mines is preparing to launch an initial public offering in London in what could be a monumental event for the capital markets. Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Company NMMC which oversees the Muruntau gold deposit is expected to be valued as high as 25 […]

More than 15 billion dollars has been injected into UK equities by American investors since the beginning of the year, providing a welcome uplift to the London Stock Exchange. While international markets have wavered amid global economic and political uncertainty, the FTSE 100 has achieved record highs, underlining the UK’s growing appeal as a safe […]

Boundless confidence is a common trait among technology leaders, and Niccolo de Masi, chief executive of IonQ, is no exception. As the figurehead of a US-listed quantum computing company, de Masi champions a technology many consider on the brink of revolutionising the field. His belief is unwavering that quantum computing marks the next transformative era […]

The private credit market has transformed from a niche corner of finance to a global powerhouse, now valued between $1.3 trillion and $3 trillion. Born in the aftermath of the banking crisis, this sector rapidly filled the void abandoned by conventional lenders constrained by stricter capital requirements. Today, private credit attracts institutional investors seeking stable […]

The growth in Chinese-backed acquisitions of British independent schools has become a point of concern for government officials and educational bodies, as more than thirty institutions have fallen under Chinese ownership over the past decade. Sources within the Department for Education and security services report unease over the implication of such investments, given the potential […]

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to roll back environmental safeguards as part of a bold plan to stimulate the UK economy and accelerate infrastructure development. In what may become a defining initiative for the autumn budget, Reeves is examining reforms that would make objections over nature and wildlife less likely to impede major projects such […]

Centrica, the owner of British Gas, has made a significant £1.5bn investment in the UK’s energy future by acquiring Europe’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal on the Isle of Grain in Kent. This decision comes at a critical juncture, as UK gas demand fell to its lowest level since the early 1990s last […]

Fresh claims of a mass departure by wealthy non-domiciled residents in response to recent tax changes may be exaggerated, as new reports suggest their numbers align closely with government forecasts. The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, ended the longstanding non-domiciled tax status in April, a policy that once allowed affluent individuals with international ties to shield overseas […]

The latest figures from the United States reveal a steeper than expected rise in producer prices for July, raising fresh concerns over stagflation and the likelihood of imminent interest rate cuts. The producer price index (PPI), a key measure of inflation at the wholesale level, increased by 0.9 per cent last month. This figure surprised […]

London-listed miner Antofagasta has reported a remarkable 63 per cent increase in first-half profits, driven by a combination of higher copper production, robust commodity prices, and lower operational costs. The Chilean-based company revealed that revenues jumped by 29 per cent to $3.8 billion, a performance that exceeded analyst expectations. This growth was achieved amid a […]

Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund has reduced the value of its flagship “giga-projects” by eight billion dollars, casting a fresh spotlight on the challenges facing the kingdom’s high-profile economic transformation plans. The Public Investment Fund’s (PIF) recent annual report reveals that projects such as Neom, a high-tech development in the desert, are now valued at […]

Exports of Scottish salmon to the United States have surged in the first half of 2025, more than doubling to £190 million, in spite of ongoing tariff barriers. According to data from HMRC, global exports of Scottish salmon are on track to approach £1 billion for the year, buoyed by a 23 per cent year-on-year […]

The value of UK exports to the United States has fallen sharply, reaching its lowest point since February 2022 following the introduction of sweeping tariffs by President Trump. Official trade figures reveal a 15 per cent decline, equivalent to £700 million, in UK goods exported to the US during June this year. This drop came […]

Gatwick Airport’s ambition to launch a second runway by 2030 faces mounting obstacles as business rates and transport logistics take centre stage in negotiations. Outgoing chief executive Stewart Wingate remains “optimistic” about the airport’s £2.2 billion expansion, yet warns the project remains in jeopardy without urgent government intervention. Gatwick proposes converting its northern relief airstrip […]

Admiral, one of the United Kingdom’s largest motor insurers, has allocated £50 million to compensate customers who received unfair settlements for stolen or written-off vehicles. In half-year financial results released on Thursday, the group admitted it had not acted quickly enough to reflect rising used-car prices in its claims assessments. The discrepancy in payouts affected […]

A technological leap has brought braincomputer interfaces a step closer to allowing patients with severe paralysis to communicate as effortlessly as conversational speech. Researchers at Stanford University have developed a brain implant capable of recognising a person’s imagined words and translating their thoughts into speech with unprecedented accuracy. The new device, which was the focus […]

A major rise in the cost of Mounjaro is set to impact more than a million weight loss patients across Britain next month amid an international dispute over medicine prices. Eli Lilly, the US based manufacturer, has announced the UK list price for Mounjaro will almost double from 1 September, aiming to align UK prices […]

Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have harnessed artificial intelligence to design two innovative antibiotics capable of combating superbugs such as MRSA. This breakthrough could usher in a new era for the discovery of these vital drugs, a sector where much of the pharmaceutical industry had lost momentum in recent decades. Using advanced AI […]

A proposed £500m acquisition of the Telegraph Media Group by a consortium led by RedBird Capital is under mounting scrutiny after a coalition of human rights and freedom of expression organisations appealed to the culture secretary to halt the sale. The groups are raising serious concerns about RedBird Capital’s links to China, warning that media […]

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is facing heightened scrutiny as Britain’s economic growth remains sluggish one year after Labour’s ascent to government. With official figures expected to show that GDP crept up by just 0.1 percent in the last quarter, Reeves is emphasising a renewed effort to confront the UK’s longstanding productivity problem in her upcoming autumn […]

Thames Water is set to announce that the price tag for its proposed reservoir near Abingdon in Oxfordshire has soared to as much as £7.5bn, a substantial escalation from the initial £2.2bn projection. The revelation comes as the company points to spiralling construction expenses and heightened material costs, rapidly outstripping previous assumptions for the development. […]

The global oil market is heading towards a historic oversupply in 2026, driven by aggressive production increases from the Saudi-led Opec+ bloc, as worldwide demand falters. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has warned that oil markets appear “ever more bloated,” with supplies set to outpace consumption by a significant margin over the next two years. […]

The recent abolition of the non-dom tax regime has ignited debate across Britain’s financial and construction communities, as influential voices call for a re-evaluation of the move’s impact on foreign investment. Leo Quinn, chief executive of construction giant Balfour Beatty, has emerged as a leading figure urging Chancellor Rachel Reeves to soften her approach to […]

Europe’s largest travel operator, Tui, has delivered stronger-than-anticipated profits and revenues despite facing a turbulent operating environment across the continent. The Frankfurt-listed giant, whose portfolio stretches across five European airlines, major hotel chains, travel agencies and cruise lines, announced third-quarter pre-tax earnings of €321 million—a surge of more than a third, topping prior market forecasts. […]

Rolls-Royce, a titan of British engineering, is setting its sights on becoming the largest publicly listed company in the United Kingdom by market value. Chief executive Tufan Erginbilgic, who took the helm at the Derby-based group in 2023, believes this ambition could be realised by a surge in demand for small modular nuclear reactors. These […]

Virgin Trains has struck a major deal with French manufacturer Alstom for a fleet of twelve high-speed trains, signalling Sir Richard Branson’s determined effort to compete directly with Eurostar on cross-Channel routes. The new agreement, described as “binding exclusivity,” enables Virgin to access the latest generation of Avelia Stream rolling stock, which is already operational […]

Global equities rallied on Wednesday as mounting optimism for interest rate reductions by the US Federal Reserve sent markets to fresh all-time highs. The FTSE 100, London’s blue-chip index, climbed 17.42 points or 0.2 per cent to close at 9,165.23, setting a new record and taking gains for the year to an impressive 12.1 per […]

The intensifying rivalry between technology billionaires Sam Altman and Elon Musk has shifted into a new and highly advanced sphere as both compete to establish a direct connection between the human brain and machines. Artificial intelligence now sits at the heart of brain computer interface developments that promise life-changing capabilities for those with paralysis and […]

Proposals to restrict the ability of parents to make unlimited tax-free gifts to their children could render the United Kingdom a difficult environment for wealthy individuals, tax specialists have warned. The Treasury is reportedly evaluating measures that would tighten the rules on gifting assets and money, aiming to address the fiscal gap ahead of the […]

Ministers have unveiled fresh measures compelling vape sellers to pay for the disposal and recycling of their products, in a bid to tackle the UK’s mounting electrical waste problem. The government is determined to end what it describes as the “throwaway culture” by placing greater responsibility on producers and online vendors of electronic goods. Electronic […]

The global financial markets reacted positively following President Donald Trump’s decision to extend the truce in the ongoing trade dispute between the United States and China for an additional ninety days. Signed late on Monday night, the executive order postpones the implementation of higher tariffs until 10 November, averting the imminent threat of a dramatic […]

The Treasury is actively reviewing reforms to inheritance tax (IHT) in an effort to close a significant gap in the nation’s public finances ahead of the upcoming autumn budget. With the deficit projected to exceed £40bn, officials are exploring the tightening of rules around the gifting of money and assets as one avenue to increase […]

Official figures have revealed that Labour has placed more than a million working age Britons onto jobless benefits with no requirement to search for employment. Since Sir Keir Starmer entered Downing Street, the number of people exempt from job seeking on Universal Credit has now reached 3.7 million, almost half of all claimants for Britain’s […]

Profits at PageGroup, one of Britain’s largest recruitment firms, have nosedived by more than 99 per cent in the first half of the year as the protracted downturn in the global hiring market continues to bite. The company, well known for its accountancy sector placements, revealed that demand for its services across Europe has weakened […]

Elon Musk has announced his intention to take legal action against Apple, alleging that the technology giant favours his former company, OpenAI, within its App Store to the detriment of rivals. Musk’s company, xAI, claims Apple has created conditions where no AI company other than OpenAI can achieve the top App Store ranking, calling this […]

Waitrose has reported a significant nationwide upswing in sales and searches for hallmark Scottish food and drink since the outset of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival on 1 August. According to recent figures, interest in products such as haggis, whisky, salmon, oats and Scottish cheese has soared, with the supermarket chain noting a 900 per cent […]

Entain, the owner of Ladbrokes and Coral, has upgraded its full-year expectations following impressive results in the first half of the year, with significant growth in the UK and Ireland. The company now anticipates online net gaming revenue to grow by around 7 per cent on a constant currency basis for 2025, revising its previous […]

Rachel Reeves has acknowledged there is “more to do” on employment after fresh data revealed a slowdown in wage growth and a drop in payroll numbers in the latest quarter. The figures offer clear evidence of a cooling labour market which comes in the wake of the chancellor’s national insurance hike and a sharp rise […]

US equity markets surged to new heights on Tuesday after official figures revealed inflation remained steady at 2.7 per cent in July. This development fuelled investor optimism that the Federal Reserve may lower interest rates at its next meeting, intensifying trading activity and drawing attention from global financial observers. The S&P 500 index, widely regarded […]

Shareholders of Assura, a leading landlord to the NHS, have voted decisively to merge with Primary Health Properties (PHP) rather than accept a £1.7 billion all-cash takeover from American private equity group KKR and its partner Stonepeak. The vote, which concluded with 62.9 per cent in favour of the PHP merger, brings to an end […]

Perplexity AI, a fast-rising artificial intelligence start-up based in San Francisco, is reported to have offered a striking $34.5 billion for Google Chrome, the world’s most widely used web browser. The move comes as Google contends with a protracted antitrust case in the United States, where it faces mounting pressure to divest key assets and […]

The government is preparing to take Thames Water, the UK’s largest water utility, into temporary public ownership, paving the way for a potential sale to a major Chinese infrastructure company. Ministers, with Environment Secretary Steve Reed at the forefront, are actively making arrangements to commence a special administration regime for Thames Water. This measure would […]

Santander has introduced sweeping changes to its mortgage lending policies, making it easier for certain higher-earning couples to borrow substantially more towards their home purchases. The move comes after interventions by the City regulator and the Bank of England, which have encouraged lenders to open up the market amid concerns that traditional tests were unnecessarily […]

Ministers have pledged to accelerate key nuclear projects across Britain, aiming to position the country as a global leader in green energy. The move accompanies a Government-commissioned taskforce’s call this week for a comprehensive overhaul of the UK’s nuclear regulations, which it characterised as excessively slow, inefficient, and costly. The independent taskforce’s inaugural report spotlighted […]

CK Infrastructure, a leading Hong Kong-based utilities investor, is on the verge of securing a £2 billion agreement to acquire the Isle of Grain liquefied natural gas terminal from National Grid. This landmark deal would add Europe’s largest LNG terminal to CKI’s already extensive UK portfolio, solidifying its position across Britain’s energy infrastructure sector. Listed […]

Marshalls, the FTSE 250 construction materials specialist, has sounded alarm bells over the health of the home improvement market as spending slumps and the company faces tumbling profits. The group, well-known for its pavements, paviors, and roofing products, reported a near collapse of its flagship landscaping division’s profitability in the first half of 2025. Half-year […]

Andrew Rennie, chief executive of Domino’s Pizza, has sharply criticised the slow pace of the UK’s planning system, blaming excessive red tape for a dramatic slowdown in the company’s store openings this year. The FTSE 250-listed pizza delivery chain, which aims to operate 2,000 outlets in the UK and Ireland by 2033, managed to open […]

More British investors than ever are finding themselves liable for dividend tax as persistent cuts to the tax-free allowance pull millions into HM Revenue & Customs’ net. Fresh figures from HMRC reveal that a record 3.7 million people will pay dividend tax in the 2024 to 2025 tax year, close to double the number two […]

Shares in Ørsted, the world’s largest developer of offshore wind farms, endured a dramatic drop after the group announced a £7.4 billion capital raise. The funding move followed a wave of jitters sparked by the Trump administration’s decision to halt construction of Equinor’s Empire Wind project off the New York coast earlier this year. The […]

The founder of the UK’s preeminent toy retailer, The Entertainer, is preparing to place the company in the hands of its 1900-strong workforce. Gary Grant and his wife Catherine, who transformed the enterprise from a single Amersham shop into a national chain of over 160 stores and more than 1000 concessions in major retailers, are […]

Ambitions at Pasta Evangelists are rising as the London-based fresh pasta specialist charts a bold course for expansion. Defying the current challenges within the British hospitality sector, the company aims to open 100 new restaurants across the UK, a move set to create up to 1,500 jobs and bring a taste of Italy to high […]