Businesses shed staff at ‘fastest rate since February’ Economics Businesses laid off staff at the fastest rate in nine months as growth in the UK economy suffered a “renewed slowdown”, new data has indicated. S&P Global’s purchasing managers’ index (PMI) for November suggested growth marginally changed over the month, with researchers pointing the finger at pre-Budget speculation keeping bosses on edge. The composite PMI [...]
‘Maximum’ 20p increase for Spoons breakfast next year, says Tim Martin hospitality JD Wetherspoon will make sure the price of its breakfast doesn’t rise by more than 20p next year, boss Tim Martin said on Monday. The confirmation comes despite serious pressure on hospitality from tax hikes and food costs, with warnings of inflation across the sector. Speaking on LBC radio this morning, Sir Tim Martin told [...]
The pension triple lock won’t ‘last forever’, warns Labour MP Personal Finance A Labour MP has admitted that the pension triple lock won’t “last forever”, as the Budget fails to mention an end to the controversial scheme. Speaking live to City AM‘s Christian May and Alys Denby, Chris Curtis, MP for Milton Keynes North, said that the “triple lock inevitably cannot last forever”. He said: “That is [...]
Autumn Budget ‘deeply concerning’ for squeezed hospitality industry November 26, 2025 The UK’s hospitality industry has been disappointed by the Autumn Budget, with no cuts to VAT and no changes to National Insurance. Even a cut to business rates has been described as “too little, too little” as well as something likely to get wiped out by an inflation-linked revaluation of rates next year. “This is [...]
Autumn Budget: Reeves splurges £12bn on welfare as two-child benefit cap ditched November 26, 2025 The UK’s fiscal watchdog has forecast welfare spending to soar over the next few years after the Labour government ditched plans to reform the welfare state. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), which accidentally published its report before the Budget, has said welfare spending will rise by £12bn in the fiscal year 2029-30, when compared [...]
UK economy flatlines in November as Labour growth push fails November 21, 2025 The UK economy flatlined in November, researchers have suggested, as pre-Budget nerves have hit growth across the private sector. S&P Global’s initial estimate for its purchasing managers’ index (PMI) has shown the UK economy just inching up, with firms pausing orders and investment plans before Chancellor Rachel Reeves announces sweeping tax hikes and possible spending [...]
HP pursues Lynch estate for £1.35bn as tech giant forks out £150m in legal bills November 18, 2025 The High Court heard that the estate of British technology tycoon Mike Lynch should be liable to pay more than £1.35bn to Hewlett-Packard (HP) over fraud linked to the sale of Autonomy. Lynch, who founded software firm Autonomy in 1996, sold it to HP in 2012 for $11.1bn, but after a bust-up over allegations of [...]
KBRA Releases 2025 European Structured Finance Symposium Recap November 17, 2025 KBRA releases a recap of the 2025 European Structured Finance Symposium, held in London on 14 November. The company hosted structured finance (SF) professionals at the May Fair Hotel to discuss key trends and developments shaping the SF market. This year’s symposium featured industry leaders across four panels, each moderated by a KBRA analyst. Discussions [...]
KBRA Releases Research – 2026 European Structured Finance Sector Outlook: Resilient Foundations Supporting Continued Growth November 13, 2025 KBRA releases its 2026 European Structured Finance Sector Outlook. The report highlights how the European structured finance market is entering 2026 from a position of relative strength, underpinned by sound credit fundamentals across most sectors. Although geopolitical tensions and trade uncertainties continue to pose risks, the overall outlook remains one of cautious optimism, supported by [...]
Three quarters of Brits think UK ‘heading in wrong direction’ as Budget looms November 12, 2025 The UK is heading in the wrong direction, most Brits believe, in the latest sign of rising gloom about the state of the country’s economy. A City AM/Freshwater Strategy poll has shown that 76 per cent of voters are pessimistic about the future of the country, the highest level of pessimism recorded since our polling [...]