Week in Business: The billionaires backing Britain May 1, 2025 BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, Virgin supremo Sir Richard Branson, businessman John Caudwell and JP Morgan top dog Jamie Dimon – quite the quartet – have all made some fascinating interventions this week. Let’s start with BlackRock, the world’s largest investor, running more than $11 trillion on behalf of pension funds, private clients and sovereign wealth [...]
Manufacturing edges towards year of decline amid ‘noticeable impact’ of tariffs May 1, 2025 UK manufacturing’s falling production levels show no signs of ending as the spectre of tariffs brings a “noticeable impact” on exporters’ sales, leading analysts have said. Firms have had to navigate through sticky inflation and high energy costs for the best part of three years as the UK’s weakened economy has failed to bounce back [...]
Rolls-Royce eyes nearly £3bn profit despite tariffs May 1, 2025 Rolls-Royce said it is confident it will hit underlying profit of nearly £3bn in 2025, despite ongoing tariff uncertainty. The London-listed engineering giant on Thursday held a previously guided underlying profit range of between £2.7bn and £2.9bn. It is also looking at between £2.7bn and £2.9bn of free cash flow. In a statement to markets, [...]
National Grid appoints Shell director to replace chief executive May 1, 2025 National Grid has unveiled plans for the appointment of a top executive at Shell to replace its current boss, John Pettigrew. Zoë Yujnovich, a former director of integrated gas and upstream at Shell, will net a base salary of £1.3m per year when she takes charge of the UK’s electricity network later this year. She [...]
IoD: Business leaders remain frustrated with Reeves May 1, 2025 UK business leaders are less optimistic about wage growth and cost expectations remain high, a new survey has suggested, in signs that Chancellor Reeves will continue to face a “strong sense of frustration” from company bosses. The Labour government could yet offer businesses olive branches as it rolls out its industrial strategy and spending review [...]
UK law firms look for novel way to trump US pay war supremacy May 1, 2025 UK national law firms have been in a long-running battle with US law firms but Trump's attack on the US legal market may open the door of opportunity
Talent is fleeing Trump’s America and Britain stands to benefit May 1, 2025 The US is experiencing a brain drain as the American dream turns into a nightmare under Donald Trump. Britain should welcome American talent with open arms, says John Caudwell I cannot be the only one watching with deep concern as the United States – a nation once synonymous with opportunity and freedom – descends into [...]
Little respite for carmakers despite Trump’s tariff rowback April 30, 2025 Donald Trump’s rowback on tariffs provides little respite for a global car industry already struggling to cope. Following intense lobbying from manufacturers, the mercurial US president on Tuesday introduced a set of relief measures for carmakers which enable them to pay less in import taxes for foreign parts. While the move will be welcomed by [...]
House prices drop an ‘eye-catcher’ due to stamp duty changes April 30, 2025 UK house prices fell in April at their fastest month-to-month rate in nearly two years, fresh data has suggested, as adjustments to stamp duty knocked demand. Prices declined by 0.6 per cent in April compared to the previous month, according to Nationwide. The drop was attributed to stamp duty changes, introduced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves [...]
Aston Martin limits US imports amid tariff uncertainty April 30, 2025 Aston Martin has begun limiting car imports to the US as it wrestles with the fallout from Donald Trump’s erratic tariff regime. The luxury carmaker was already forced to revised down sales targets slightly in April as Donald Trump’s liberation day announcement rocked global markets and sent shares in a string of carmakers spiralling. Chief [...]