Rupert Lowe axes pensions triple lock and pledges tax cuts in economic plan August 4, 2026 Rupert Lowe, the hard right leader of the Restore Britain party, has said he would back scrapping the triple lock pension and ordering three-year freezes on departmental budgets. Lowe, who has mainly focused on the issue of immigration since breaking from Reform UK over a year ago, published a pamphlet outlining his new party’s economic [...]
Will Drastic Dave live up to his name at Diageo? August 4, 2026 Putting the finishing touches to Diageo’s annual report, Sir Dave Lewis may be channelling the old slogan of the drinks giant’s prize brand, Guinness: ‘Good things come to those who wait’. Since Lewis began his tenure as chief executive of the FTSE 100 firm on New Year’s Day, investors have heard very little from him. [...]
Ordnance Survey revenue jumps as map maker goes digital August 4, 2026 Ordnance Survey has posted record revenue growth as the mapping agency takes the fight to Apple and Google with the “most detailed digital map of Britain to date”. The firm, which is Great Britain’s official mapping service, posted a 2.1 per cent jump in revenue to £199m in the year to March, driven by its [...]
Apple gears up for fresh legal fight with government August 4, 2026 Whitehall’s pursuit of a backdoor into Apple’s encrypted data could trigger yet another transatlantic bust-up after the US tech giant launched a new legal challenge against the UK government. The tech giant has launched fresh legal action against the UK government at the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, which specialises in surveillance complaints, after the Home Office [...]
British brewery drafts plan to join Pisces platform August 4, 2026 A British brewery has drawn up plans to become the inaugural member of Asset Match’s new private markets platform, granting it a major boost as it competes to lure over unlisted companies to its framework. The online private stock market has welcomed Wiltshire-based brewer and pub operator Wadworth to its Private Intermittent Securities and Capital [...]
Domino’s battles for slice of fried chicken market as revenue jumps August 4, 2026 Domino’s has scored a World Cup boost from its bet on fried chicken, as the recovering pizza delivery chain looks to draw in new customers. The FTSE 250 pizza chain said the World Cup and its new ‘Chick’n’dip’ range drove a six per cent jump in revenue to £825m in the six months to June, [...]
North Sea is not competitive, says BP boss days after exit August 4, 2026 The boss of BP has branded the North Sea as not competitive just days after putting the company’s assets in the basin up for sale. Meg O’Neill, who took over as chief executive in April said she had spoken with prime minister Andy Burnham as she justified BP’s decision to exit the North Sea. Speaking [...]
Metro Bank profit jumps as it bucks branch closure trend August 4, 2026 Metro Bank secured its highest half-year profit on record in the first six months of 2026 as it bucked an industry-wide trend of branch closures and grew its small business offering. The FTSE 250 bank recorded a £60.7m pre-tax profit, up 41 per cent from the same period last year. This was driven by a [...]
FTSE 100 Segro agrees to £14bn takeover by Prologis August 4, 2026 FTSE 100 property firm Segro has agreed to a £14bn takeover by Prologis, bringing an end to a long tussle between the two real estate giants and striking another blow to the London Stock Exchange. The US-based commercial landowner said on Tuesday that it has reached an agreement with Segro’s board which values the British [...]
HSBC kicks off $1bn share buyback after profit smashes forecast August 4, 2026 HSBC has resumed its share buyback programme after profit soared past expectations in the second quarter of 2026. The FTSE 100 bank – whose market cap of £274bn makes it the London Stock Exchange’s most valuable company – posted $10.1bn (£7.5bn) in pre-tax profit for the last three months, surging past an internal forecast of [...]