Andrew Bailey: Surveys point to weak UK economy June 3, 2025 Andrew Bailey has backed the Bank of England’s low growth outlook, highlighting dreary business surveys which indicate the UK economy looks set to weaken. In an appearance in front of the Treasury Select Committee, the Bank Governor said growth of 0.7 per cent in the first quarter of the year was a “good number” but [...]
OECD: Rachel Reeves’ ‘insufficient’ fiscal headroom poses risk to UK economy June 3, 2025 The OECD has warned Rachel Reeves’ wafer thin fiscal headroom poses a significant risk to the UK economy as it cut its growth outlook for Britain in 2025 and 2026. The economic organisation urged the Treasury to “step up” efforts to bolster its “very thin” fiscal headroom, expressing concern that it could cause “significant downside [...]
British American Tobacco ups guidance on US return to growth June 3, 2025 Pall Mall and Lucky Strike owner British American Tobacco (BAT) has said its American business has returned to growth, driven by smokeless products. In a trading update, the company said its combustible products – cigarettes and cigars – are expected to return to growth in the first half of the year, while its nicotine pouches Velo [...]
JP Morgan launches risk-rated investment portfolios June 3, 2025 JP Morgan plans to scale up its UK investment offering after fresh research revealed a huge frustration among UK retail investors. The lender found nearly one in six UK investors were unsatisfied with the income they received from investments, despite two-thirds saying the income from investing was important. The firm is using its Asset Management [...]
Monzo: The rockstar fintech setting the City abuzz June 3, 2025 Monzo has dominated City chatter in recent months with its hotly anticipated IPO, and now the fintech unicorn’s latest financial results indicate the talk is only going to get louder. The UK fintech veteran broke another milestone in the last 12 months after topping £1bn in annual revenue. Behind the surge in takings was a [...]
Auto Trader: FTSE 100 giant faces double City broker downgrade June 2, 2025 Forecasts for FTSE 100 giant Auto Trader have been downgraded by two City brokers, after the firm’s disappointing financial results caused analysts to doubt predictions of strong growth. Peel Hunt slashed annual revenue expectations for the group by four per cent, decreasing its earnings per share forecast by three per cent and profit before tax [...]
Non-dom exodus could blow ‘black hole’ in public finances June 2, 2025 At least 10 per cent of the UK’s non-doms left the UK last year following Rachel Reeves’ crackdown on the tax status, new research claims, a rate which if continued into this year would wipe out the Chancellor’s fiscal headroom. According to the Chamberlain Walker study, conducted by former Treasury economist Chris Walker, a minimum [...]
Mortgage lending plummets in April as estate agents cross fingers for rate cut June 2, 2025 Mortgage lending dropped in April after the market ‘reset’ following the end of the stamp duty holiday, according to new figures. Net borrowing of mortgage debt decreased sharply by £13.7bn to -£0.8bn in April, according to the Bank of England’s latest data. Net mortgage approvals for house purchases also fell for the third consecutive month, [...]
Business growth expectations fall to weakest since 2022 June 2, 2025 Growth expectations among private sector firms continue to decline rapidly, fresh figures suggest, with forecasts reaching their lowest since September 2022. According to the CBI’s recent Growth Indicator survey, 30 per cent more private sector firms are expecting activity to fall than to grow over the next three months. “There is little sign of summer [...]
Can Cazoo go from collapse to Auto Trader’s ‘undisputed’ rival? June 2, 2025 Cazoo can double in size over the next couple of years and become the undisputed number two to FTSE 100 giant Auto Trader, the man charged with its phoenix-like recovery has said. Barry Judge, who helped rescue the brand after it collapsed in May 2024, added that the company is working on winning back the [...]