New Years optimism wears off as economic expectations drop Economics New Year’s optimism is beginning to fall away with the number of people expecting the economy to improve this year falling at the start of February. According to the latest City AM/Freshwater Strategy poll of UK voters, the number of people expecting the economy to improve in the next 12 months has fallen by four [...]
Schroders signs deal with leading Chinese battery maker Business Leading asset management firm Schroders has signed a deal with a Chinese battery making giant, amid chief executive Richard Oldfield’s trip to China, led by prime minister Keir Starmer. The group’s Schroders Greencoat business, which invests in renewable energy infrastructure, signed the deal with Contemporary Amperex Techology (CATL) and Hong Kong based private equity firm [...]
Trump to raise tariffs on South Korea to 25 per cent Politics US President Donald Trump has said he will increase tariffs on South Korea to 25 per cent, after accusing Seoul of “not living up” to the trade deal reached late last year. In a Truth Social post on Monday, Trump said the increase would apply to a range of products including lumber, automobiles, pharmaceuticals and [...]
UK retains investment appeal but CEO confidence falters January 19, 2026 The UK has strengthened its position as a global investment hub over the last twelve months, as it works to offset competition from other countries. Britain remained the second-most attractive destination for international investment for chief executives last year, according to the latest survey from PwC, but now shares the position with Germany and India. [...]
UK and US agree to zero tariff deal on pharmaceuticals December 1, 2025 The government has agreed to a major deal with Washington that will see the UK become the only country to secure zero import tariffs on pharmaceutical products into the US for at least three years. The deal follows months of negotiations between the government and the Trump administration, after the June trade deal left the [...]
Protectionism is economic cowardice. Britain must not fall into Trump’s trap October 17, 2025 Brexit is our new reality, but we must harness it to expand global trade, not retreat inwards like Trump, says Geoffrey de Mowbray.
Trump’s tariff salvo blindsides UK manufacturers August 24, 2025 Donald Trump has blindsided UK manufacturers by slapping fresh tariffs of up to 25 per cent on more than 400 categories of British goods, from shampoo and children’s highchairs to motorcycles and diggers. Conservative shadow trade secretary Andrew Griffith accused ministers of failing to protect exporters, saying: “When it comes to protecting UK businesses from [...]
After EU-US deal, even Remoaners must admit Brexit has its benefits August 1, 2025 Even the most ardent opponents of Brexit have been forced to concede the UK has got a better deal with the US than the EU.
Global markets take a tumble as Trump pushes on with his trade war August 1, 2025 Global stocks weakened on Friday morning after US President Donald Trump hit multiple countries with a blitz of tariffs. Trump’s ambition to restructure the global trading order in his administration’s favour has sent jitters through markets on his set negotiation deadline day. The FTSE 100 is down 0.7 per cent, with UK drug maker Astrazeneca [...]
Lord Mayor: The unicorns are galloping away June 30, 2025 As capital dries up and unicorns flee, the UK must act now or accept its fate as an incubator economy, writes Alastair King.