One in five Brits in ‘high financial stress’ as economic woes deepen March 3, 2025 Public confidence in the UK economy has taken another hit, with the latest City AM Freshwater Strategy poll showing little hope for the near future. The polling revealed nearly one in five voters, 18 per cent, could not pay an unexpected £500 bill, categorising them as in “high financial stress”. 35 per cent said their [...]
Wayve: Nvidia, Uber and Softbank backed EV startup set for global expansion March 3, 2025 British artificial intelligence (AI) startup Wayve, which develops autonomous vehicle systems, has announced plans to accelerate its international expansion by launching a new hub in Stuttgart, Germany. Backed by tech giants Uber and Softbank, the self-driving firm is testing its AI-powered self-driving tech in Germany and the US and plans to secure partnerships with various automakers. [...]
CBI: Consumer spending slump deflating private sector confidence March 3, 2025 Sluggish consumer spending is damaging the private sector, according to new CBI data that shows business volumes declining faster than in the last quarter. The CBI has projected that private sector activity will fall for a fourth consecutive quarter in the three months up to May, with a 23 per cent drop in activity for [...]
Mortgage approvals up a fifth since January last year March 3, 2025 Mortgage approvals rose 18 per cent year on year in January after interest rate cuts improved affordability. Mortgage approvals sat at 66,189 in January, up 18 per cent from 55,941 in January 2024, according to ONS data. “UK homebuyers appear to have begun the year on the front foot,” CEO of specialist lender Octane Capital, [...]
Oak Furnitureland battles rising costs as sales cut March 3, 2025 Oak Furnitureland remains in the red as a catalogue of issues impacted its sales during its latest financial year. The Swindon-headquartered retailer has revealed its revenue fell by 17 per cent to £236m in the 12 months to the end of June 2024 because of “a soft market, the Red Sea disruption and the subsequent [...]
Loyalty tech startup acquired in mega eight figure deal March 3, 2025 UK-based loyalty tech startup Lux Rewards has been acquired by global rewards company Enigmatic Smile in an eight-figure deal following years of near closures. The exact purchase price has not been disclosed. The acquisition reflects growing consolidation in the loyalty tech industry as businesses compete to meet increasing consumer demand for rewards and retention-focused programs. [...]
Manufacturing job cuts accelerate ahead of national insurance hike March 3, 2025 Activity in the UK’s manufacturing sector dropped to its lowest level in fourteen months, a new survey has revealed, with lower demand and weak confidence plaguing the industry. The S&P’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) showed downturns deepened as firms braced for changes made in the Government’s budget to be enacted. The index stood at [...]
FTSE 100 giants Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems surge following Ukraine defence summit March 3, 2025 UK and European defence shares rose to near-record highs on Monday morning lead by names such as Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems, after the defence summit in London, at which European leaders emphasised support for Ukraine and pledged to raise defence spending. The STOXX 600 rose 0.4 per cent boost, following ten consecutive weeks of gains [...]
FTSE 100 hits all-time high as defence stocks soar March 3, 2025 The FTSE 100 index rallied to an all-time high on Monday morning, bolstered by surging defence stocks as European countries signalled their willingness to up defence spending over the weekend. The UK’s blue-chip index rose 0.4 per cent or 32 points after the market opened. BAE Systems led the market higher. The firm’s stock jumped [...]
Co-op Live rakes in millions after overcoming disastrous launch March 3, 2025 Co-op Live, the UK’s largest indoor arena, bounced back from a disastrous launch to rake in millions during its first year in operation. The £365m Manchester venue hit national headlines at the start of 2024 when its grand opening was delayed several times. The fall out led to the resignation of boss Gary Roden days [...]