Government urged to do more to tackle £1bn piracy problem in sport and entertainment September 1, 2026 Illegal streaming of live sport, film and TV is costing the UK economy £1.35bn and requires a tougher crackdown, the government has been told. Piracy of content including Premier League football is depriving the Exchequer of £366m in tax and could fund 10,000 jobs in media, according to a new report commissioned by cross-industry coalition [...]
Manufacturing growth loses momentum as economic risks loom September 1, 2026 The manufacturing sector suffered a slowdown in growth over August as smaller firms struggled to clinch new orders. S&P Global researchers suggested growth in the manufacturing sector eased in August as the purchasing managers’ index (PMI) reading dropped from 51.9 in July to 51.7. The reading remains above the neutral 50 mark, indicating that activity [...]
Healey facing £6bn hit as UK borrowing costs reach highest point since financial crisis September 1, 2026 UK borrowing costs have hit their highest level since the financial crisis as gilts were swept up in a mass rout across global bond markets. The UK government is set to pay a higher rate on debt interest as 10-year gilt yields, the benchmark for borrowing costs, were up by as much as 15 basis [...]
FCA ‘worked backwards’ to justify motor finance redress, say lenders September 1, 2026 A trio of motor finance lenders have accused the City watchdog of “working backwards” to justify its redress scheme that is set to cost the industry billions. In new documents, Mercedes-Benz’s financial services arm, which has set aside as much as £400m in payouts for the car mis-selling scandal, said the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) [...]
Treasury sought to cap motor finance payouts, court filings claim September 1, 2026 The government sought to cap payouts in the motor finance scandal at a level lenders could absorb and the City regulator acted “unlawfully” in failing to protect consumers, new court filings seen by City AM allege. Both the Treasury and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) are facing fresh scrutiny over the motor finance redress scheme as [...]
Mike Ashley’s Frasers weighs move to oust Hugo Boss chief September 1, 2026 Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group is weighing up a move to oust a boardroom chair at Hugo Boss as it laid out fresh plans to grow its stake in the German fashion house. The retail group, which was founded by the British billionaire, told investors on Tuesday that it wants to control more than half of [...]
Bunzl: Inflation spike lifts FTSE 100 outsourcing firm’s revenue September 1, 2026 Distributor Bunzl saw a boost in its bottom line after the firm was able to pass on inflationary pressures to customers. The FTSE 100 outsourcing group recorded a three per cent rise in revenue to £5.93bn in the first half of the year, bolstered by commodity-driven price adjustments and growth across North American markets. Bunzl’s [...]
Trio of firms poised to quit London Stock Exchange as exodus gathers pace September 1, 2026 The scale of the exodus from the London Stock Exchange has been laid bare on the first trading day back from the summer break after three listed companies simultaneously unveiled plans to exit the market. FTSE 250 members Bodycote and Gamma Communications, as well as energy firm Capricorn, each laid out fresh offers to be [...]
House prices remain sluggish in ‘subdued’ property market September 1, 2026 House prices continued their sluggish run in August, gaining just 0.2 per cent on the previous month, as uncertainty caused by the Iran war and the upcoming Budget in October weigh on the market. The average UK house price grew by 1.6 per cent to £275,465 in the year to August, marking a slight improvement [...]
SpaceX float ‘could kickstart mega IPO access for British retail investors’ September 1, 2026 SpaceX’s use of the UK’s new public offer platform to raise hundreds of millions of pounds from British retail investors could encourage a wave of large US companies to follow suit, according to one of the brokers that orchestrated the deal. The public offer platform (POP), introduced by the financial watchdog in January, was designed [...]