Brits urged to back UK pubs during World Cup amid booking surge June 16, 2026 Brits have been urged to support their World Cup team by getting down to the local pub amid a four-fold increase in bookings for England games. The UK hospitality sector is set for a 42 per cent sales boost across the group stages of the World Cup – with kick-off times in the US, Canada [...]
And they’re off: Royal Ascot racegoers put on a patriotic show as iconic horse racing meet gets underway June 16, 2026 Royal Ascot, the greatest flat racing festival in all of horse racing, is underway and thousands of punters have dressed to impress at the Berkshire course. There are over 100 runners across Tuesday’s seven races, with over £2.75m in prize money on offer to the top performers. Racegoers must adhere to the strict Royal Ascot [...]
Co-Op and Next among firms launching workplace savings scheme June 16, 2026 A new employer-led coalition designed to help workers build emergency savings and boost financial resilience has launched, urging employees to save regularly in order to avoid unexpected financial storms. The National Coalition for Workplace Savings was launched on Tuesday, representing firms across a range of sectors including retail, hospitality and transport, all urging employees to [...]
Allianz tech blitz dethrones AXA to claim Europe’s insurance AI crown June 16, 2026 Allianz has officially overtaken French insurer AXA to claim the top spot in global AI maturity, capitalising on a massive talent hoarding strategy. The German insurance giant, Allianz, has amassed an AI workforce 28 per cent larger than its closest rival, resulting in a staggering 900 active AI use cases worldwide and putting pressure on [...]
Lyft bets black cabs and robotaxis can share London’s streets June 16, 2026 Lyft is preparing to bring Chinese robotaxis to London and believes autonomous vehicles will grow the capital’s transport market rather than replace its drivers. The Uber rival has claimed the arrival of self-driving vehicles would create a “hybrid network” of robotaxis and human drivers, as the American mobility giant expands its presence across Britain through [...]
Everyman set to quit London stock exchange over investor pressure June 16, 2026 Luxury cinema chain Everyman is set to drop its London listing over pressure from its shareholders, including an investment firm poised to trigger a takeover bid. Everyman said on Tuesday that it is likely to recommend to its shareholders that it drops its listing on the challenger AIM market, sending its share price plummeting. The [...]
Streeting attacks Burnham’s pledges as ‘appeal to party at expense of Brits’ June 16, 2026 Former health secretary Wes Streeting levelled a series of thinly-veiled attacks against Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, ahead of a crucial by-election that will likely set a Labour leadership contest in motion. In a speech in Tower Bridge in London, Streeting appeared to criticise Burnham’s political campaign in Makerfield in the weeks leading up to polling [...]
Nationwide fires starting gun on mortgage deals ahead of interest rate decision June 16, 2026 Nationwide has slashed its mortgage rates for the second time in the space of a week, ahead of the Bank of England’s interest rate decision on Thursday. The building society has taken the chop to its home loan prices, with a 0.28 percentage-point reduction. It follows a 0.12 cut on 10 June. The move comes [...]
Associated British Foods toasts approval for £75m Hovis takeover June 16, 2026 FTSE 100 giant Associated British Foods has been given the green light for a £75m takeover of Hovis, creating the UK’s biggest bread brand. Associated British Foods (ABF) has been cleared to snap up Hovis after the competition watchdog accepted that the foods giant would likely exit the bakery sector in Great Britain and Northern [...]
Record number of central banks plan to increase gold holdings amid global volatility June 16, 2026 A record number of central banks are expected to increase their gold holdings over the next 12 months as global volatility continues to rock markets. Nearly 90 per cent of reserve managers anticipate central bank holdings to continue rising in the wake of the precious metal becoming the top reserve asset, overtaking US government treasuries, [...]