House prices drop an ‘eye-catcher’ due to stamp duty changes April 30, 2025 UK house prices fell in April at their fastest month-to-month rate in nearly two years, fresh data has suggested, as adjustments to stamp duty knocked demand. Prices declined by 0.6 per cent in April compared to the previous month, according to Nationwide. The drop was attributed to stamp duty changes, introduced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves [...]
Aston Martin limits US imports amid tariff uncertainty April 30, 2025 Aston Martin has begun limiting car imports to the US as it wrestles with the fallout from Donald Trump’s erratic tariff regime. The luxury carmaker was already forced to revised down sales targets slightly in April as Donald Trump’s liberation day announcement rocked global markets and sent shares in a string of carmakers spiralling. Chief [...]
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 [...]
Taxes and tariffs combine to ‘drag business sentiment’ April 30, 2025 The double whammy of Rachel Reeves’ taxes and Donald Trump’s tariffs have dragged confidence in business volumes to their lowest level in more than two years, fresh data has found, further clouding prospects for the British economy. The UK has already suffered from lacklustre growth over the last few years as real GDP only expanded [...]
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 [...]
Mark Carney’s Canadian win presents an opportunity for UK businesses April 29, 2025 Mark Carney’s victory in Canada presents a unique opportunity for UK businesses willing to seize it, writes Michael Martins.
Bank of England ‘analysing’ end of dollar’s prestige April 29, 2025 The Bank of England’s stability watchdog is assessing the potential impacts of the dollar’s recent slump after President Trump’s tariffs spooked investors. Sam Woods, head of the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and Bank deputy governor, suggested that the first month of Trump’s global trade war had diminished the dollar’s status as a safe haven currency. [...]
Why Donald Trump’s ‘bucks for babies’ plan won’t work April 29, 2025 Donald Trump is proposing a $5,000 “baby bonus” to reverse America’s plunging birthrates, but it’s an approach that has failed everywhere it’s been tried, says Eliza Filby Elon Musk calls it a crisis more serious than climate change. US Vice President JD Vance warns of the “rejection of the American family”. Now Donald Trump is [...]
Trump’s Gilded Age American dream shows he is no historian April 28, 2025 You can’t recreate the past in a global economy, yet Trump's Gilded Age fantasy will not abate, writes Eliot Wilson.
Rolls-Royce’s FTSE 100 shares near complete recovery after tariffs shock April 25, 2025 Shares in FTSE 100 giant Rolls-Royce have surged to their highest value since US President Donald Trump shocked global markets with his trade tariffs. The Derby-headquartered group has seen a spike in its share price of almost two per cent in early trading on Friday morning, continuing a recovery which started on 7 April. The [...]