India has intensified negotiations with the UK, seeking exemption from the UK’s planned carbon tax as part of efforts to secure a free trade deal before the UK election. The discussions, occurring amidst India’s impending general election campaign, are crucial for Rishi Sunak’s government, which aims to finalize the agreement despite time constraints. The Indian […]
Despite hopes of a resurgence in consumer spending fueled by the early Easter holiday, retail sales in the UK unexpectedly stalled in March, painting a mixed picture of the nation’s economic recovery. Official data released by the Office for National Statistics revealed that retail sales volumes remained stagnant over the month, defying analysts’ expectations of […]
Thames Water, facing a deepening financial crisis compounded by shareholder disinvestment, has submitted a revised business plan to the regulator, proposing an unprecedented 56% increase in customer bills over the next five years. The drastic measure comes amid heightened concerns over the company’s mounting debt and its ability to secure necessary recapitalisation. With shareholders withholding […]
Hipgnosis, the renowned British music royalties investment fund boasting rights to hit songs by artists ranging from Beyoncé to Neil Young, has greenlit a $1.4bn takeover bid by Concord Chorus, a rival specializing in music and theatrical rights. The deal, offering a 32% premium to Hipgnosis shareholders, holds the potential to quell lingering uncertainty surrounding […]
The UK’s rental market has witnessed an unprecedented surge in prices, with rents rising by a record 9.2% over the past 12 months, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). While this marks the highest annual percentage change recorded since 2015, experts anticipate a cooling trend in rental inflation as affordability concerns […]
Nigel Farage has said Parliament needs to oppose an amendment which some say could give the DWP the right to access the bank accounts of anyone in receipt of DWP money. Speaking on GB News, Nigel Farage said: “We’ve been hearing a lot of stories recently about fraud, particularly on Universal Credit. And I have […]
The UK grapples with a record-breaking surge in long-term sickness absences, reaching over 2.8 million individuals, marking an increase of 700,000 over the past three years. Before the pandemic, approximately 2.1 million individuals were classified as economically inactive due to long-term sickness. The staggering rise in long-term sickness absences underscores the profound impact of health-related […]
Inflation fell more slowly than expected last month thanks to strong petrol and communication goods price pressures, casting doubt on hopes for immediate rate cuts by the Bank of England. Despite a drop in the consumer price index to 3.2% in March, from 3.4% in the previous month, the rate of decline falls short of […]
International Distributions Services (IDS), the parent company of Royal Mail, has rebuffed a takeover bid from Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský’s EP Group, signaling a desire to maintain autonomy amid challenging market conditions. Křetínský, known for his diverse business interests spanning from energy to media assets and football clubs, approached IDS with an undisclosed offer earlier […]
Hundreds of UK chief executives believe that artificial intelligence (AI) could steal their job, underlining widespread fears over the technology’s potential to shake up traditional working models. Nearly half of CEOs said they felt that their job could be at risk due to AI technology, according to a major new study from AND Digital. Additionally, […]