City AM Shadow MPC votes 8-1 to HOLD interest rates September 16, 2025 Leading economists from academia and the City have voted 8-1 for interest rates to be held at four per cent in City AM’s Shadow Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) ahead of the Bank of England’s own decision this week. Top analysts, who expressed views independently of their organisations, have said that stubborn inflation above the Bank [...]
Scrap quarterly reporting for listed companies, Donald Trump says September 15, 2025 President Donald Trump has called for an end to quarterly reporting for US-listed companies in what would be one of the biggest shake-ups to financial markets seen in years. The US president said companies should “no longer be forced” to report results on a quarterly basis and instead report on a six month basis, emulating [...]
Can Peter Kyle deliver a Budget lifeline for UK’s SMEs? September 15, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to deliver her Autumn Budget on 26 November, nearly a month later than usual, and eyes are on what she will do for the SMEs. With borrowing costs hitting their highest levels since 1998, and servicing the national debt topping £100bn a year, the government has been urged to maintain fiscal [...]
Keir Starmer ‘has until May’ as polling sends warning shot September 15, 2025 Keir Starmer has been told he has until next May’s local elections to turn fortunes around as polling has sent the prime minister an ominous warning about his future. The Prime Minister is facing intense pressure from Labour MPs after new questions were raised about his appointment and judgment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to [...]
Pret A Manger ‘being punished for focusing on UK’ September 15, 2025 Pret A Manger is being punished for focusing on the UK and this is a “disaster for domestic growth”, according to the chief executive of drinking chocolate chain Knoops. Writing on LinkedIn, William Gordon-Harris said “the sad fact is for UK domestic growth is that so many UK founded businesses focus their growth after launch [...]
Primark owner says larger stores to come under pressure from rates changes September 15, 2025 The boss of Primark’s parent firm has warned the Government that proposed business rates changes are “mistaken” and heap pressure on big stores on UK high streets. George Weston, the billionaire boss of Associated British Foods (ABF), told the PA new agency that the Labour Government “should not increase taxes on businesses any more” in [...]
Food inflation to spike as suppliers can ‘no longer absorb’ costs, FDF warns September 15, 2025 Food and drink inflation could climb to 5.7% by the end of the year thanks to cost pressures on manufacturers “trickling down” to supermarket shelves, a leading industry body has warned. The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) said current prices were “steeper than anything in recent decades”. The group – whose members make a quarter [...]
Should we raise capital via debt or equity? September 13, 2025 Amid a financing drought, should business leaders bet on debt or dilute with equity? Himanshu Singh gives us his assessment.
Coco di Mama bets on meal deals as it launches in Tesco September 12, 2025 Coco di Mama has announced the launch of a range of freshly made Italian sourdough sandwiches in Tesco’s premium meal deal as it bets on the grocery market. The launch follows a “hugely successful” debut year in retail with its range in Sainsbury’s’ £5.50 meal deal. “Capital-light, fast-growing channels,” are the focus of the brand at [...]
Barclays boss: UK banks are taxed too much September 12, 2025 Ahead of the Autumn Budget, Barclays’ chief executive has called on the government to curb pay rises for public sector workers and to avoid increasing taxes on banks. Speaking to the Financial Times, CS Venkatakrishnan said “we need to find a way to curb wage inflation,” and emphasised the need to curb expenditure at the [...]