Self-inflicted damage makes mockery of government growth pledge October 15, 2025 Back in June, before Donald Trump orchestrated a tentative peace in the Middle East, he reacted with fury to Israel and Iran’s escalating exchange of missile and drone attacks, telling reporters “they don’t know what the f**k they’re doing.” Sometimes undiplomatic language has its place, even in high-stakes diplomacy. I was reminded of this approach [...]
Is your tech strategy good, or just AI theatre? October 15, 2025 Artificial intelligence has become the business world’s favourite performance recently. FTSE 100 earnings calls now mention AI more than inflation, and investor briefings increasingly resemble tech expos. Analysts report that AI references in UK company filings have tripled in the past year, yet the results aren’t matching the rhetoric. Markets are beginning to glance sideways. [...]
Is This Thing On? at London Film Festival: Bradley Cooper’s hilarious homage to John Bishop October 14, 2025 Is This Thing On? starring Bradley Cooper, review and star rating from the London Film Festival: ★★★★ It is the strangest-sounding premise of any of the films premiering at the London Film Festival 2025: in Is This Thing On?, Bradley Cooper directs a biopic inspired by the life of Liverpudlian comedian John Bishop. It is [...]
Bank of England’s Taylor: High rates could push UK into recession October 14, 2025 The UK risks heading into a recession that will be “difficult to contain” if interest rates are kept on hold into next year, a Bank of England rate-setter has said in a speech that has further exposed widening splits between policymakers over the best path for borrowing costs. In a set of dovish comments made [...]
IMF downgrades UK growth and warns inflation will be highest in G7 October 14, 2025 Inflation in the UK is set to surge above all G7 countries in the next two years while growth per capita will lag behind the average across advanced economies, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has predicted. In its World Economic Outlook report, the IMF has said that inflation in the UK will remain higher than [...]
JP Morgan bulks up financial cushion as Dimon warns of uncertainty October 14, 2025 JP Morgan has bulked up its financial cushion against loan losses as chair Jamie Dimon warns of heightened risk and global uncertainty. The lender set aside an additional $810m (£610.2m) to cover potential losses from unpaid loans. This defensive money consisted of $608m earmarked for consumer loans – such as credit cards and mortgages – [...]
State pension set to rise by more than expected in blow to Reeves October 14, 2025 The state pension is set to rise by more than previously expected after the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revised up its figures on wage growth for July, piling extra costs on public finances for Chancellor Rachel Reeves at this year’s Budget. The ONS revised up its wage growth figure for July from 4.7 per [...]
Detached, ignorant, and selfish: City broker blasts the Treasury October 14, 2025 City broker Shore Capital has blasted the Treasury as incapable of creating economic growth, as Britain gears up for a tax-raising budget. Rumours of various taxes that Rachel Reeves might introduce in this Autumn’s budget in an attempt to plug a £40bn gap in the nation’s finances have been swirling, despite strong pushback from companies and consumers. [...]
Bellway says fears of Autumn tax raid has hit housing demand October 14, 2025 Housebuider Bellway has said that uncertainty over possible tax changes in the upcoming UK budget has dampened demand for housing. Rumors of various property taxes that Rachel Reeves might introduce in this Autumn’s budget in an attempt to plug a £40bn gap in the nation’s finances while overhauling a complex system of levies and charges have been [...]
Versace: UK sales slashed again as profit almost wiped out October 14, 2025 Sales at the UK arm of fashion house Versace have been slashed by a fifth for a second consecutive year as the downturn in luxury spending continues. The division has reported a turnover of £15.2m for the 12 months to 31 March, 2025, new accounts filed with Companies House have revealed. The latest total is [...]