FTSE 100 leader Vodafone and Google expand AI partnership October 8, 2024 The agreement will mean Vodafone's customers in 15 countries - as well as partners in 45 more - will see additional storage, security features and AI assistance.
S&U fires barbs at regulator after motor finance probe dents profit October 8, 2024 Specialist lender S&U fired another salvo at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) today as it blamed regulatory pressure for the “uninspiring performance” of its motor finance business in the first six months of the year. Pretax profit across the London-listed firm slumped by nearly half to £12.8m for the six months to 31 July, down [...]
The dirty, dangerous and ‘obsessive’ world of mudlarking October 8, 2024 Once the domain of Victorian street urchins, the art of mudlarking has gone mainstream. Lucy Kenningham investigates
‘Challenging policy’: What the pushback to private school VAT plans reveals October 8, 2024 VAT… easy as ABC? It may not quite be Blair’s ‘education, education, education’ mantra, or Michael Gove’s multi-academy trusts. But for Sir Keir ‘my-father-was-a-toolmaker’ Starmer, there’s been one education policy that’s been front and centre of his manifesto and the first 100 days. This is, of course, the plan to impose VAT on private school [...]
UK’s cash-strapped fintechs brace for buyouts as London IPOs stall October 8, 2024 Amid a dearth of IPO activity, the UK's fintech sector is bracing for more consolidation as successful start-ups expand and established players fend off future rivals.
Bank of England should not adopt ‘aggressive’ rate cuts October 8, 2024 In an interview with the Guardian, Governor Andrew Bailey said there was a chance that the Bank could become a "bit more activist" on rate cuts in the months ahead.
Pension death tax an ‘area to target’ experts say October 8, 2024 In a new report, the industry body discussed the wide range of changes to pension taxes which Reeves is rumoured to be considering ahead of the budget, warning there were "no easy solutions".
Oasis tickets and discounts ensure September spending doesn’t slide away October 8, 2024 Retail sales in the UK have held up despite a dip in confidence, driven by widespread discounts and a spike in entertainment spending after Oasis‘ tickets went on sale. Consumer card spending increased 1.2 per cent year on year in September, after returning to growth in August, according to data from Barclays. Discounting pushed spending [...]
Businesses ‘clearly anxious’ as budget approaches, survey shows October 8, 2024 The BCC's quarterly economic survey showed that 48 per cent of firms cited taxation as a worry, up from 36 per cent the quarter before.
Adopt new fiscal rules to break UK’s low-growth trap, IPPR says October 8, 2024 The current set of fiscal rules, the UK's ninth, has come under fire from a range of different quarters for their perceived impact in disincentivising government investment.
