FTSE 100 plunges as S&P 500 set to slump April 3, 2025 The FTSE 100 opened 1.4 per cent lower this morning as the UK was spared the worst of the economic impact from US president Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff regime. UK markets have been hit after the country was hit by a sweeping 10 per cent tariff on exports to the US from next week, along [...]
Will a Marxist government put Sri Lanka’s economic recovery at risk? April 3, 2025 Sri Lanka has made a truly remarkable turnaround since an uprising in 2022, but if the island nation is to achieve sustained and equitable growth, its new government has no room for mistakes, says Chris Dorrell Amid rampant inflation, fuel shortages and the country’s first debt default since independence, demonstrators forced Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to [...]
Rachel Reeves: UK will not ‘rush into action’ after Trump’s tariffs speech April 2, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves has indicated that the UK is unlikely to respond quickly to President Trump should he impose damaging tariffs on goods coming from Britain. In a hearing at the Treasury Committee on Wednesday, Reeves said the UK would not “rush into action to get a quick headline”. “The prize on offer is a [...]
Takeovers outnumber IPOs three to one on London Stock Exchange April 2, 2025 There have only been four IPOs on the London Stock Exchange so far this year, compared to 15 takeover bids, leading analysts to worry that London’s equity markets are being rapidly depleted of strong companies. “It’s now been nine months since the UK general election and the pace of IPOs is nothing more than a [...]
Wage growth falling for low-paid workers despite minimum wage hike April 2, 2025 Wage increases among low-paid workers are at their lowest level in three years, according to the jobs website Indeed, as economists fear high inflation will erode incomes. Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said on Tuesday that an increase to the national minimum wage would mean that low-paid workers could help drive growth across the UK. But [...]
Three’s ‘best value’ ads probe cleared after Vodafone complaint April 2, 2025 The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ruled in favour of Three UK, rejecting Vodafone’s challenge that the mobile operator’s ads for its iPhone 16 Pro deal were misleading. Vodafone had argued that the telecom rival’s claim of offering ‘The UK’s best value unlimited iPhone deal’ could mislead consumers into thinking it was based on more [...]
Reeves should be honest: income tax is going up April 2, 2025 Income tax threshold freezes are a de facto tax rise but the revenue won’t be fully realised until the end of the parliament. She should adjust rates now while there’s still time to improve public services before the next election? And fix distortive cliff edges while she’s at it, says Will Cooling Rachel Reeves has [...]
‘Awful April’ price hikes will cause ‘inflation surge’ April 1, 2025 Sweeping price hikes coming into effect from Tuesday are set to push up inflation, a leading economics consultancy has said, as what many have called ‘Awful April’ is set to put an extra burden on businesses’ costs. Higher costs in everything from water to energy will contribute to a rise in inflation that peaks at [...]
Rory Sutherland: Capitalism is ‘unbelievably tedious’ and ‘needs a rebrand’ April 1, 2025 Capitalism is "unbelievably tedious" and should be rebranded for people to fight for it, marketing veteran Rory Sutherland has said.
Higher chocolate prices push up grocery prices in March April 1, 2025 According to the latest data from market research company Kantar, higher prices for premium products pushed grocery prices up in March despite discounts on everyday items. Grocery price inflation rose slightly to 3.5 per cent over the four weeks to March 23 compared with a year ago. “With prices continuing to rise, supermarkets are mindful [...]