10 Things You Need to Know Before Investing in Your First Whisky Cask April 30, 2025 The whisky cask market has experienced significant growth over the past decade, quietlyoutperforming other luxury assets, such as fine wine and vintage cars. With Scotch whisky exports reaching £5.4bn in 2024, showing a steady increase of around 36.7per cent over the last decade, the long-term outlook for cask whisky remains strong, providedinvestors know what to [...]
US economy shrunk by 0.3 per cent in first quarter April 30, 2025 The United States economy shrunk by 0.3 per cent in the first three months of 2025, after American companies raced to get ahead of Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs by stockpiling imports. According to official government data, the US economy fell into contraction from growth of 2.4 per cent, with the effect of higher imports compounded [...]
Construction firms lose hope but businesses are ‘showing resilience’ April 30, 2025 Construction firms have grown despondent about their business prospects despite signs of resilience across the UK economy, a new survey has found. The sector is key to the housing secretary Angela Rayner’s plans to build 1.5m homes by 2030 though early signs suggest the ambitious target will not be met. Construction saw a bigger drop [...]
High-street banks are shortchanging cash savers April 30, 2025 Many savers are choosing cash during a time of uncertainty, but many savings accounts still yield under two per cent. There is a better way, says Nigel Terrington In periods of relentless noise, steep market sell-offs and economic uncertainty, the most sensible decision can be to do nothing. To accomplish this, you need to hold [...]
Trump’s first 100 days: From stock market carnage to electing Carney April 29, 2025 Tuesday marks President Trump’s second first 100 days. On 29 April 2017, pundits looked back at the opening of the then 45th President’s term as a period that had shaken presidential norms and perhaps lowered the tone. In comparison, these first three months have been an earthquake. Trump has shown himself willing to execute the [...]
Vinted launches venture capital arm with eye on UK start-ups April 29, 2025 Vinted, the Lithuanian-founded secondhand marketplace, has launched its own venture capital (VC) arm and is eyeing UK start-ups. The move adds new competition to the UK’s fast expanding, re-commerce and resale market, now worth already £7bn, as major platforms look to capitalise on shifting consumer habits driven by inflation and sustainability concerns. Vinted Ventures will [...]
National Express owner’s chief executive runs out of road April 29, 2025 Mobico’s chief executive is to step down as the group struggles to turnaround persistent financial struggles. Ignacio Garat will depart at the end of April after nearly five years in the top job, in which he oversaw the group’s rebrand from National Express in 2023. Mobico chair Phil White, who served as CEO of National [...]
Cotswold Outdoor racks up a decade of losses April 29, 2025 The firm behind Cotswold Outdoor has failed to make a pre-tax profit for a decade but the retailer did significantly cut its losses in 2024, it has been confirmed. The Wiltshire-headquartered retailer has posted a pre-tax loss of £380,000 for its latest financial year, down from the £7.3m it reported for 2023. The last time [...]
Employment Rights Bill will ‘cut retail staff numbers’ April 29, 2025 Labour’s Employment Rights Bill will lead to job cuts and price hikes, a poll of 31 major retailers has found, in the latest sign the government’s legislative agenda risks harming economic growth. The legislation, which is nearing its final stages in Parliament, introduces sweeping changes to zero-hours contracts, sick pay, leave, flexible working and dismissal, [...]
Food inflation rises to its highest level in almost a year April 29, 2025 Food inflation has risen to its highest level in almost a year as cost pressures begin to weigh on prices. Food inflation increased to 2.6 per cent year on year in April, against growth of 2.4 per cent in March and above the three-month average of 2.4 per cent, according to the British Retail Consortium [...]