‘Attention, please’: Rachel Reeves hails rail fare freeze over Liverpool Street tannoy March 2, 2026 Commuters arriving into Liverpool Street station have been serenaded by the Chancellor’s voice today. Rachel Reeves has taken over the key City transport artery to share the news of a freeze to rail fares – the first in 30 years. In a message read out over the tannoy periodically throughout Monday, Reeves opens with: “Testing, [...]
Real Chemistry Delivers Double-Digit Year-Over-Year Growth in 2025 as Tier-One, Tech-Enabled Healthcare Commercialization Partner March 2, 2026 Company reported $560 million in 2025 revenue, reflecting continued demand for integrated, AI-enabled solutions from molecule to market
HSBC names ex-CBI chief Carolyn Fairbairn as UK chair March 2, 2026 The former boss of Britain’s largest industry body has been appointed the next chair of HSBC UK, having served on the bank’s board for five years. The lending giant confirmed on Monday that Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, who ran the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) between 2015 and 2020, would lead its board in the UK, [...]
Manufacturing exports highest in four years despite jobs decline March 2, 2026 Export orders across the manufacturing sector hit its highest level in four years and a half despite a continued decline in employment across the sector, new research has shown. S&P Global’s purchasing managers’ index (PMI) has pointed to upbeat news on the UK economy ahead of tomorrow’s Spring Statement, which will be delivered by Chancellor [...]
Exclusive: RFU in talks over back of shirt and short sponsor deals March 2, 2026 The question that hangs over rugby union always seems to be a financial one: how can a sport with successful World Cups, a strong women’s game and a generally affluent audience struggle so much to commercialise itself effectively? That doesn’t seem to be an issue for England and its governing body, the Rugby Football Union. [...]
HSBC Innovation Banking CEO: the next phase of UK innovation will be won quietly March 2, 2026 The next phase of UK innovation will be driven by deep tech, life sciences and infrastructure-heavy businesses, says Emily Turner The UK’s innovation economy is now worth $1.3tn. Artificial intelligence sits at the heart of that story, commanding headlines and capital in equal measure. But when we look at where long-term value is being created, [...]
Formula 1: Middle East conflict hits teams’ Australian Grand Prix plans March 2, 2026 The start of the new Formula 1 season has been disrupted by the conflict in the Middle East, with hundreds of team personnel facing a rush to reach this week’s Australian Grand Prix. Strikes and retaliatory attacks involving the US, Israel and Iran have grounded commercial flights across the region, forcing F1 teams to make [...]
What does Rachel Reeves’ ‘low-key’ Spring Statement mean for markets? March 2, 2026 Ahead of Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement on Tuesday, Investec’s Chief Economist Philip Shaw sat down with City AM’s Rupert Hargreaves to discuss what investors should look out for in the key statement. Rupert Hargreaves: Next Tuesday, the Office for Budget Responsibility publishes updated economic and fiscal forecasts, as required under the 2011 Budget Responsibility Act, [...]
Private sector to decline but City to buck trend March 2, 2026 Activity in the private sector is forecast to decline over the next three months but firms across business and professional services are set to enjoy their best quarter since 2024, the UK’s leading industry group has said. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has found that most firms expect activity to fall in the next [...]
Oil prices spike as UK base hit by Iranian missile March 2, 2026 Oil prices spiked this morning as tensions continued to escalate in the Middle East, raising concerns that a key shipping route could be halted and an Iranian missile attack on an RAF base could drag the UK into a regional war. The cost of a barrel of brent crude – the international benchmark for oil [...]