Blow to Thames Water as KKR pulls out of equity raise June 3, 2025 Thames Water’s battle to escape nationalisation has suffered a hammer blow after KKR withdrew its bid to acquire an equity stake in the business. The US private equity giant had been selected as a preferred partner for the debt-laden utility business as part of its efforts to raise funds, with KKR having “prepared detailed plans, [...]
Relentless surge in government debt is unsustainable says BIS May 27, 2025 Policymakers across the world need to get a grip on the relentless surge in public government debt, a leading economist has warned. Agustin Carstens, general manager of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) said fiscal authorities have a “narrow window” to put their house in order “before the public’s trust in their commitments starts to [...]
UK government borrowing blows past estimates on Labour’s spending plans May 22, 2025 Government borrowing spiked in April, official data has shown, reflecting Rachel Reeves’s difficulties in controlling public finances. The rise to £20.2bn in monthly borrowing was more than economists’ prediction of £18bn. Capital Economics suggested that the rise in borrowing costs since March via debt interest payments has slashed Reeves’ headroom down to £5.7bn. Tax receipts [...]
The great debt headache May 22, 2025 Debt, debt, everywhere but not a drop to… add to any well balanced investment portfolio. The world is awash with government bonds thanks to the debt piled up during the pandemic. But the increase in interest rates alongside the most significant bout of inflation for four decades has left investors in a quandary. What interest [...]
Government debt sale delayed over ‘Bloomberg system issues’ May 21, 2025 An auction of UK government debt was delayed on Wednesday after a Bloomberg system outage prevented traders from participating. In a statement the UK’s Debt Management Office (DMO) said: “Due to the ongoing market-wide Bloomberg system issues, the bidding window for this morning’s auction of 4 per cent Treasury Gilt 2031 is being extended.” A [...]
Reeves’ risky borrowing policies prompt fresh tax hike fears May 20, 2025 Tax hike fears are gathering pace as rising borrowing costs are set to wipe out around half of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ small £9.9bn headroom, a leading economics consultancy has warned. Reeves made around £14bn in spending cuts at her Spring Statement two months ago but left herself with one of the slimmest fiscal buffers on [...]
Debenhams: Shares in Boohoo owner rise amid £175m refinancing talks May 12, 2025 Shares in Debenhams Group, which also includes brands such as Boohoo, have risen amid talks over a £175m refinancing its huge debt pile as it looks to turn around the struggling business. The owner of Pretty Little Thing, which rebranded to Debenhams earlier this year in a shift to a marketplace model, has been struggling [...]
Jaguar Land Rover eliminates £5bn debt pile but warns of ‘significant threat’ April 7, 2025 The boss of Jaguar Land Rover has revealed the luxury car maker has eliminated its net debt pile which totalled £5bn at its peak. Speaking alongside Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves during their visit to the Midlands, chief executive Adrian Mardell confirmed the milestone which has seen the manufacturer reduce its debt over a [...]
Reeves will have to get real and raise taxes March 25, 2025 Despite frantic denials, the debt burden means Rachel Reeves will soon have to revisit promises she made on tax in the care-free days of opposition, says Vince Cable The Chancellor has many competing priorities on Wednesday: a big rise in defence spending; keeping the NHS afloat; honouring promises not to raise taxes on income and [...]
Economists warn of tax hikes after borrowing blow February 21, 2025 Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that tax receipts fell short of expectations in January due to the sluggish performance of the UK economy.