Small business confidence slumped in the ‘golden quarter’ of 2023 January 22, 2024 Small business confidence in 2023 "lost ground" during what is often considered the "golden quarter" of the year, a leading industry support group has announced.
SME business activity returns to growth, but priorities are changing January 18, 2024 Business activity for UK small and medium enterprises (SMEs) has reached its highest since May of last year, the latest data shows, but one particular challenge remains clear.
Chancellor to meet with Lloyds, Barclays and Natwest executives over share slumps January 18, 2024 Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is convening a summit with bosses from the UK's largest banks to discuss concerns that their poor share performance is preventing more lending into the economy.
Surprise inflation uptick poses new challenge in mortgage price war January 17, 2024 Mortgage rates continue to edge downwards as almost 50 lenders have offered new deals since the start of the year, although brokers warn that a surprise increase in inflation could buck this trend.
How one manufacturer collapsed into administration owing over £100m before being rescued January 16, 2024 The story of how a group that manufactured buses and police cars collapsed into administration owing more than £100m and led to over 150 people to lose their jobs has been revealed for the first time.
London sees output boom as demand picks up in December January 15, 2024 Firms in the capital saw new business orders accelerate in December taking the new business index to its highest level since May.
Vistry: Mortgage rates buoy housebuilder as profits top expectations January 12, 2024 Housebuilder Vistry said it was “optimistic” on recent cuts to mortgage rates today as it revealed it topped profits expectations last year. In a trading update this morning, the FTSE 250 housebuilder said pre-tax profits for 2023 were ahead of its previous guidance and in line with last year at £418m. The group also slashed [...]
Mortgage rates are falling — how low could they go in 2024? January 11, 2024 More than 30 British lenders have slashed their home loan prices in the last two weeks as 2024 kicks off with a mortgage price war.
Mark Kleinman’s City column: Why BAE chief Woodburn could be a slick choice for BP and more January 11, 2024 Mark Kleinman is Sky News’ City Editor and is the man who gets the City talking in his weekly City A.M. column. This week he asks who might take the reins at BP, what next at Endeavour Mining, and a new retail platform BP’s board might legitimately be accused of many things in its handling [...]
Natwest boss’s radio blunder betrays the reality of C-suite groupthink January 10, 2024 Natwest chair Sir Howard Davies's housing comments betray the risks of the C-suite echo chamber, writes Simon Neville.