Carwow boss: Why Chinese EVs have become so popular April 28, 2025 China’s share of the UK car market has soared in the last two years to make up more than 10 per cent of imports as Brits embrace an influx of new, cheaper models. Many of China’s biggest manufacturers, from BYD to Geely, are jostling to become the dominant player in the UK EV segment, setting [...]
Consumer confidence drops as inflation fears mount April 25, 2025 Brits’ confidence about their own finances, as well as those of the Treasury, has dipped as geopolitical uncertainty mounts. GfK’s long-running confidence index dropped by four points to -23 in April, driven by an eight-point drop in how Brits see the economy and a four-point drop in how Brits see their own finances. The findings [...]
Threat of global trade war pulls down Brits’ economic confidence April 24, 2025 Consumer confidence in the UK has taken a steep tack downward thanks to the emerging trade war between the US and the rest of the world. Consumer expectations over the next three months on the state of the economy dropped significantly to -48 in April, down from -35 in March, according to the British Retail Consortium. [...]
Tesla misses, yet Musk reassures investors with AI push April 23, 2025 Tesla’s first quarter results, announced at market close yesterday, may have disappointed on traditional metrics. Yet, the company has used its earnings to pivot the story, away from missed car delivery targets and falling profits, and toward its future bets on AI, autonomy and energy. Revenue fell nine per cent year on year to $19.3bn, [...]
EU fines Meta and Apple a combined £600m for breaching digital laws April 23, 2025 The European Commission has imposed significant fines on Apple and Meta, marking the first enforcement actions under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which aims to promote fair competition and enhance consumer choice. Apple has been fined €500m (£428.3m) for restricting app developers from directing users to alternative purchasing options outside its App Store. The commission [...]
Reckitt Benckiser: Dettol, Durex and Gaviscon drive growth but America lags April 23, 2025 Consumer goods giant Reckitt Benckiser has reported an uptick in profit driven by its core brands and emerging markets despite a slowdown in North America. Group revenue at the company rose by 1.1 per cent in the first quarter of the year. This growth was driven by emerging markets China and India, where like-for-like revenue [...]
‘Code red’ for Tesla as Musk’s firm stalls ahead of key earnings April 22, 2025 Tesla shares sank nearly six per cent on Easter Monday, leaving investors braced for what analysts have called a “code red” moment for Elon Musk’s firm ahead of its first quarter earnings announcement. The electric vehicle (EV) giant is facing mounting concerns over failing sales, geopolitical headwinds and evolving criticism of Musk’s political involvement, which [...]
‘Appeasement cannot bring peace’: China warns nations not to bow to Trump trade demands April 21, 2025 China has warned nations not to bow to President Donald Trump in trade negotiations and promised to fire back if deals come at its expense as the country hits back at tariffs imposed by the US. The fresh comments follow reports from the Wall Street Journal that the US would use discussions with key trading [...]
A Shein-shaped question looms large over London April 20, 2025 With UK regulators said to have rubber-stamped its application to list in London, Shein’s long-awaited blockbuster IPO is closer than ever. But with questions over its links to forced labour continuing to dog the Chinese-founded firm, and recent turbulence from Trump’s tariffs, Ali Lyon asks, is it losing steam at just the wrong time? On [...]
UK firms put the brakes on investment plans post tariffs, survey finds April 19, 2025 Three quarters of UK manufacturing and logistics firms are bracing for a hit from US tariffs, with many putting the brakes on investment plans in a blow to the Government’s growth ambitions, new data reveals. Larger businesses are more likely to be expecting a squeeze from new global trade policy, according to a survey carried [...]