Banks’ bond market headache spells trouble for FTSE 100 September 4, 2025 The frenzy in the bond market spells trouble for banking stocks and could create broader issues for the FTSE 100. Bond markets have had a tumultuous week, with the UK’s 30-year gilt yields hitting a 27-year high. This was triggered by a global sell-off, as well as political unease stemming from a Downing Street reshuffle [...]
Government launches consultation to ‘strengthen’ £100bn design sector September 4, 2025 The UK government has launched its most extensive review of design protection in decades, aiming to modernise the system, tackle abuse, and support the nation’s £100bn design economy. The consultation was launched by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) as a result of problems facing the sector, including its reputation as ‘David vs Goliath’ for smaller [...]
Watch: Reeves fights back against critics ‘talking rubbish’ September 4, 2025 It’s not just Angela Rayner who finds herself on the defensive; Rachel Reeves has come out fighting – claiming many of her critics are talking rubbish. Who could she be talking about? Imagine returning from your summer break to find that your boss has poached your deputy and hired a brace of advisers to advise [...]
Rachel Reeves warned on bank tax by lobby group boss September 4, 2025 Rachel Reeves has been hit with a firm warning from the banking industry to avoid taxes on the sector or risk harming economic growth. The Chancellor has received a letter from the boss of UK Finance – a lobby group for the banking industry – which details the harm of tax on the sector. David [...]
Construction firms are ‘lagging behind’ as confidence plummets September 4, 2025 Construction firms are struggling to kick back into growth, fresh data has suggested, as more bosses are becoming worried about a bleaker future ahead. The Labour government is pinning hopes on a revival of the construction sector to build 1.5m homes by 2030. However, a new survey has raised doubts about whether Labour can achieve [...]
Sidelining Reeves now is a big gamble September 4, 2025 Keir Starmer's mini reshuffle has sidelined Rachel Reeves just as the markets need a show of faith, writes Helen Thomas.
Nick Clegg: Labour’s choices have left UK in ‘perilous’ place September 4, 2025 Former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg has blasted the Labour government for its poor preparations ahead of last year’s elections, which led to “ridiculous” decisions being made at least year’s £40bn tax grab in the Autumn Budget. Speaking to LBC, Clegg said Labour had made promises it could not deliver as it struggled to balance [...]
Rachel Reeves told UK economy is ‘stuck in first gear’ September 4, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been warned by top industry bosses that the UK economy remains “stuck in first gear” as the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said growth would be slightly higher than expected this year. The BCC has revised its GDP growth estimate for 2025 up to 1.3 per cent from 1.1 per cent [...]
Pothole partners: JCB to be official exhibitor at Reform conference September 4, 2025 JCB will be one of the ‘official exhibitors’ at this week’s Reform Party conference, where it will showcase a pothole machine in the latest sign of tightening ties between the poll-topping party and blue-chip UK firms. The yellow-liveried manufacturer, which is owned by longstanding Tory donor Lord Bamford, will be one of the most prominent [...]
Bank of England: Interest rate cuts are near the end September 4, 2025 The Bank of England is less likely to make drastic cuts to interest rates in the coming year as officials said the current cycle could “not go on forever”. In a hearing before the Treasury Select Committee, members of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) indicated markets may be correct to predict there would be no [...]