Claire’s on the verge of collapse with over 2,000 jobs at risk August 13, 2025 Claire’s, the high street fashion accessories chain, is on the brink of collapse after revealing its intention to appoint administrators in the UK and Ireland in a move which would put over 2,000 jobs at risk. The business, which has 278 stores in the UK as well as a further 28 in Ireland, filed a [...]
Rachel Reeves told to ‘get out of the way’ ahead of Autumn Budget August 13, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been told to “let businesses get on with it and get out of the way” ahead of delivering her second Autumn Budget in the coming months. A group of 1,500 private business leaders surveyed by KPMG said the Chancellor should focus on promoting higher wages and lower costs for companies. They [...]
EG Group: Billionaire Issa brothers sell £367m Italian arm August 12, 2025 EG Group, the empire co-founded by a major investor in supermarket giant Asda, has sold its Italian division in a deal which values it at €425m (£367m). The Blackburn-headquartered group has agreed terms with a consortium of established Italian operators comprising PAD Multienergy S.p.A., Vega Carburanti S.p.A., Toil S.p.A., Dilella Invest S.p.A. and GIAP s.r.l. [...]
Bank of England interest rate cut offers modest boost for UK SMEs August 11, 2025 The Bank of England’s recent decision to reduce its base interest rate from 4.25 per cent to four per cent marks the first time borrowing costs have fallen to this level since March 2023, offering a modest reprieve for UK small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) after two years of elevated rates. According to new analysis [...]
Hiscox shares jump after firm lifts buyback despite wildfire losses August 6, 2025 Shares in Lloyd’s of London insurer Hiscox jumped more than 10 per cent in early deals this morning after the company hiked its share buyback. Overall, the group posted a slight fall in interim profit as wildfire claims hit its reinsurance division, but the group increased capital returns on the back of substantial investment income. [...]
Metro Bank trebles profit amid pivot to specialist lending August 6, 2025 Metro Bank more than trebled its profit in the first six months of the year as its transformation strategy gained pace. The high street lender recorded an underlying profit before tax of £45m, compared with £12.8m in the second half of 2024. Revenue grew 22 per cent to £286m whilst operating costs fell eight per [...]
Labour urged to come clean on exit tax August 5, 2025 Labour ministers have been urged to clarify whether the government will introduce an exit tax as Tax Policy Associates chief Dan Neidle warned rumours could be “damaging” for the UK economy. Chancellor Rachel Reeves looks poised to raise more than £20bn in taxes later this year amid a shortfall in the fiscal headroom left by [...]
Reeves’ non-dom crackdown is unwittingly driving rich Brits away too August 4, 2025 The hordes of wealthy foreigners leaving Britain to escape the government’s non-dom crackdown are being joined by high-net-worth Brits capitalising on an arcane element of the policy that has made it easier for them to avoid paying inheritance tax (IHT). Several wealth advisers and tax lawyers have reported a “second wave of interest” from middle-aged [...]
UK should introduce its own ‘Trump card’ to woo back the wealthy August 1, 2025 To address the UK’s fiscal challenges and reverse capital flight, Rachel Reeves’ government should implement creative, pro-investment policies, such as reforming non-dom rules and reintroducing an investor visa, rather than pursuing punitive tax measures, says Brandon Lewis Rachel Reeves’ recent Mansion House speech was full of assurances that she would neither bend nor break in [...]
Investors continue to opt for gold driving global demand July 31, 2025 Global demand for gold shows no sign of slowing down as investors and central banks continue to hoover up the safe haven asset. The precious metal rallied over the first half of the year, recording a 26 per cent rise against the dollar and outperforming almost all other major asset classes, according to the latest [...]