High income households could pay more for electricity, Ofgem says April 16, 2025 High-earning households could be forced to front more of the cost for running and upgrading the UK’s energy network, Ofgem has said. Jonathan Brearley, the boss of the energy regulator, told a briefing on Tuesday that wealthier households may have to pay more via the standing charge on their energy bills, while those out of [...]
Nvidia hit by US chip curbs as trade war escalates April 16, 2025 Nvidia shares slid sharply on Wednesday after the chip giant revealed that newly tightened US export restrictions on its China-bound AI chips could cost it up to $5.5bn this quarter. The move, part of an escalating series of trade and technology curbs between Washington and Beijing, has rattled markets already on edge over tariff uncertainty [...]
AA boss hails ‘breakout year’ since takeover as profit hits £245m April 16, 2025 The AA has reported a more than quarter rise in full-year profit as the breakdown giant marked a fourth consecutive year of growth since being taken private in 2021. Operating profit increased 28 per cent to £245m, while revenue grew 12 per cent to £1.5bn. On an adjusted basis, earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and [...]
Government scrambles to swerve Trump pharma tariffs April 16, 2025 A race against time is underway to shield the UK pharmaceutical sector from potentially swinging Trump tariffs on imported drugs. As it stands, there is an exemption for pharmaceuticals on the baseline 10 per cent tariffs for goods coming into the US. However, President Trump has warned that there will be tariffs on imported pharma [...]
Bunzl shares plunge after FTSE 100 giant cuts forecast April 16, 2025 Bunzl shares plunged 23 per cent in early deals on Wednesday after the FTSE 100 giant cut its 2025 guidance following a tough first quarter. This was driven by softer-than-expected revenue growth in the UK and Ireland and margin pressure in its largest North American business, which weighed on performance. The distribution titan said revenue [...]
The UK’s fastest growing fintech Allica Bank delivers another record year April 16, 2025 Allica Bank, the UK’s fastest growing fintch, nearly doubled its profit in the last year after another period of rapid growth. The digital bank, which caters towards small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), increased pre-tax profits 86 per cent to £29.9m. Lending activity grew over £1bn in 2024 and revenue shot up 68 per cent to [...]
McIlroy Masters success tees up PGA TV rights price hike for Sky Sports April 16, 2025 Ahead of the Game: Can Sky Sports hold on to PGA rights, how do Hundred teams claim their cash, will Everton’s women stay at Goodison Park, and what will Super League look like in 2028? The PGA Tour is hoping to capitalise on the Rory McIlroy effect by securing a significant increase in the value [...]
Brooks Macdonald suffers market hit amid ongoing acquisitions April 16, 2025 Brooks Macdonald suffered from a significant investment and market loss over the last quarter as the firm continued to integrate its various financial acquisitions. While funds under management and administration at the asset manager did swell seven per cent over the quarter, this was due to £1.6bn added through acquisitions of financial planning firm Lucas [...]
Inflation eases in March amid looming Bank decision April 16, 2025 Inflation remained stubbornly high at 2.6 per cent in March, official data has shown, leaving Bank of England policymakers with a difficult decision to make on interest rates early next month. The year-on-year increase in consumer price inflation (CPI) was lower than the 2.7 per cent figure forecast in a Bloomberg poll of economists. The [...]
Firms scramble to ‘protect bottom line’ amid low growth April 16, 2025 Firms across the UK are putting in “hard work” to limit cost pressures and maintain profits amid low growth, one of the country’s biggest banks has said. Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s aggressive tax hikes at her last Autumn Budget have piled higher employment costs on businesses large and small, threatening to kill off some companies by [...]