Spring Statement 2025: Rachel Reeves’ popularity nears Kwasi Kwarteng levels March 28, 2025 Rachel Reeves’ popularity rating as Chancellor has neared Kwasi Kwarteng levels after the mini-Budget, following the Spring Statement on Wednesday. She set out £14bn in welfare and spending cuts in the House of Commons, including a £4.8bn squeeze on benefits, to restore the £9.9bn headroom she had at the Autumn Budget, which would otherwise have [...]
Schroders upgrades Revolut stake in former Woodford trust by 85 per cent March 28, 2025 A Schroders trust formerly run by star stockpicker Neil Woodford has upgraded the value of its stake in Revolut by 85 per cent, implying the fintech firm is worth $48bn (£37.1bn). The Schroders valuation would put Revolut, which has been mulling an IPO for years, above the $45bn it was valued at last summer, though below [...]
Blackstone takes stake in UK airports group for £235m March 28, 2025 Blackstone has bought a 22 per cent stake in AGS Airports in a deal valued at £235m, it has been announced. The agreement sees AviAlliance offload some of its holdings in AGS, which owns Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airport, although it will retain a majority 78 per cent stake. AGS was acquired by PSP, one [...]
WH Smith agrees sale of UK high street chain to Modella March 28, 2025 WH Smith has agreed to sell its 233-year-old UK high street business to Modella Capital for around £76m. Modella Capita, which owns Hobbycraft, pipped a number of bidders to the prize including Alteri Investors, the owner of Bensons for Beds. The deal will transfer WH Smith’s 500 stores to the investor, with the high street [...]
The cheapest Stocks and Shares ISA providers March 28, 2025 According to Kepler Trust Intelligence, AJ Bell is the best 'all-rounder' ISA provider, even though competitor Trading 212 took the label of the cheapest provider.
US tariffs: Trade secretary won’t rule out cuts to digital services tax March 27, 2025 Jonathan Reynolds has refused to rule out cutting the digital services tax on major tech firms, amid the prospect of looming US trade tariffs. The business and trade secretary insisted the UK government was “committed to ensuring tech companies pay a fair amount of tax in the UK”, but added that the digital services tax [...]
Private equity trust Pantheon rated ‘buy’ by City broker March 27, 2025 Private equity trust Pantheon International has been upgraded to a ‘buy by City broker Stifel after falling to its lowest stock price since 2023. The £1.4bn trust saw its stock price fall as low as 300p in recent days, compared to around 340p at the end of last year. “This appears to reflect concerns across [...]
‘We’re building Manchester’s next unicorn’: Meet the 2025 Young Entrepreneurs winners March 27, 2025 The winners of the 2025 Young Entrepreneurs, which reward the best young UK start-up founders, have been unveiled by the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation. Two of this year’s winners founded tech businesses, while the third is a developer of social housing in Wales. “This year we saw an amazing reaction from UK young entrepreneurs, with a [...]
US tariffs: Reynolds urges ‘cool heads’ over trade negotiations March 27, 2025 Jonathan Reynolds has said it is a time for “cool heads” as the UK engages with the US over tariff plans despite holding a “different set of views” on trade policy. It comes after Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the UK is not planning “at the moment” to introduce retaliatory tariffs on the US, after President [...]
Spring Statement 2025: Labour MP warns of ‘mother of all rebellions’ March 27, 2025 A Labour MP have warned that Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves could face the “mother of all rebellions” over welfare policy.