Unilever turns to ‘avocado mayonnaise’ as food weighs on profit ahead of spin-off July 28, 2026 Unilever has turned to novel products including “avocado mayonnaise” in a bid to boost ailing sales in its food arm, which is poised to be spun off in a £33bn deal. The consumer goods giant upgraded its sales expectations but saw the performance of its food business and European operations drag on the group’s operating [...]
Why the Bank of England museum is a one-of-a-kind July 28, 2026 Where else in the country can you walk into a museum and without any guard present, lift a gold bar worth £1.2 million? Welcome to the Bank of England museum, one of the City’s hidden gems. Apart from the gold bar, a reminder of the 400,000 beneath you, the museum is a real treasure house, [...]
Bank of England to hold interest rates as oil price surge threatens UK economy July 26, 2026 The Bank of England is expected to hold interest rates in a split vote on Thursday yet a surge in oil prices could complicate the crucial decision. The Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee is widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged at 3.75 per cent. Analysts believe that two members, Huw Pill and Megan Greene, could [...]
Energy operator ‘flying blind’ as net zero push threatens hiked bills and blackouts July 25, 2026 The UK’s net zero push risks leaving the country with higher electricity bills and more susceptible to blackouts, according to a leaked report commissioned by the national grid system. The report, produced by energy consultancy firm Cornwall Insight for the National Energy System Operator (Neso) and shared with The Times by a whistleblower, revealed that [...]
Brits dodge the high street as heatwave boosts online shopping July 24, 2026 Retail sales jumped in June as the heatwave and heavy discounting drove Brits towards online shopping. The volume of retail sales jumped by one per cent in June, having slowed slightly from 1.2 per cent growth in May, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Online shopping grew to the largest proportion of total [...]
Burnham’s cost of living push under threat as oil hits $100 July 23, 2026 The benchmark oil price has hit $100 per barrel amid a re-escalation of war in the Middle East, undermining Andy Burnham’s cost of living drive. Brent crude oil prices inched past the $100 milestone on Thursday afternoon following attacks by the Houthis, an Iran-backed militia based in Yemen, on two Saudi Arabian tankers. The recent [...]
Allegion (NYSE: ALLE) Reports Q2-2026 Financial Results July 23, 2026 Low-Double Digit Revenue Growth, High-Teens EPS Growth; Raising Full-Year 2026 Outlook Quarterly Financial Highlights (All comparisons are year-over-year, unless otherwise noted) Net earnings per share (EPS) of $2.15, up 16.2% compared with $1.85; Adjusted EPS of $2.40, up 17.6% compared with $2.04 Revenues of $1,151.5 million, up 12.7% on a reported basis and up 6.9% on an organic basis Operating margin of 22.1%, compared with 21.5%; Adjusted operating margin of 24.2%, compared with 23.7%
‘Door is open’ to interest rate hike as inflation fears return July 23, 2026 An interest rate hike by the Bank of England this year is back on the cards as fears of continued oil and gas trade disruption across the Strait of Hormuz could push inflation higher, according to City economists. A spike in oil prices to levels seen during the Iran war has dampened the mood across [...]
Milestone Alphabet century bond already under pressure July 23, 2026 Alphabet’s historic century bond has shed more than seven per cent of its value in just five months, amid a wider downturn in long-dated debt and increased scepticism on the earnings potential of the US’s so-called hyperscalers. The sterling-denominated 100-year bond, which the Google owner will not have to repay until 2126, has sold off [...]
Oil prices return to crisis levels July 22, 2026 Oil prices have returned to levels not seen since the beginning of June, after both the US and Iran warned that hopes of a return to peace negotiations were premature. The spot price of Brent crude broke $95 a barrel on Wednesday morning for the first time since the warring parties agreed a 60-day ceasefire [...]