Business confidence edges up despite tax raid fears August 29, 2025 Business confidence has grown for the fourth consecutive month, according to a fresh survey, despite rising speculation of a fresh tax raid on businesses by the Labour government. Lloyds Bank’s business confidence index edged up two points to 54 per cent in August as sentiment among manufacturers climbed to its highest in a decade. The [...]
‘Inflation fears’ and trade turmoil to reinforce sterling rally August 28, 2025 A fresh bout of inflation and Donald Trump’s capricious approach to trade policy should extend the pound’s rally well into next year, according to a top investment bank which has raised its 12-month forecast for sterling against the dollar. Panmure Liberum’s Simon French said the recent string of hotter-than-expected inflation readings in the UK was [...]
Beware calm markets. Smooth waters don’t always signal safety August 26, 2025 As US markets prove resilient to tariff chaos, Fabio Bassi pleads a note of caution. As sailors know, calm waters don't always signal safety.
Business secretary to meet JCB boss after concerns raised about US tariffs August 25, 2025 Jonathan Reynolds will meet the boss of JCB after the company was among those which raised the alarm about the impact of new US tariffs on British businesses. JCB chief executive Graeme Macdonald called on the UK Government to get a “deal done quickly” with the US on steel, after hundreds of British goods became [...]
JD Sports to provide update after tariff sales crunch August 23, 2025 JD Sports investors will be hopeful the retailer can show signs of progress next week after sales came under pressure at the start of the year. The impact of US tariffs and its overall performance in the US will be particularly in focus when it provides a half-year trading update on Wednesday August 27. Shares [...]
Dovish Powell hints at more rate cuts in US August 22, 2025 The Federal Reserve is likely to cut US interest rates at its next decision in September, Jay Powell has said, despite the country’s softening labour market being in conflict with upward pressure in prices from Donald Trump’s tariffs. In an eagerly anticipated address at the Jackson Hole symposium, the Fed chair highlighted slower economic growth, [...]
Port of London exports boom despite tariff threats August 19, 2025 The Port of London Authority (PLA), the UK’s largest port, recorded a boom in trade volumes over the second quarter of the year despite fears around President Trump’s higher global tariffs. In its first ever report on quarterly trade data, the PLA said 14m tonnes of shipments moved through the port during the period. A [...]
BHP profit hits five-year low amid weaker iron ore prices August 19, 2025 Profit at BHP has slumped to a five-year low as lower iron ore prices and economic turbulence have hit the mining giant. The firm posted underlying attributable profit of $10.2bn (£7.6bn) in the year to June, a decline of 26 per cent compared to last year and the lowest since the start of the pandemic [...]
Rachel Reeves told to ‘get out of the way’ ahead of Autumn Budget August 13, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been told to “let businesses get on with it and get out of the way” ahead of delivering her second Autumn Budget in the coming months. A group of 1,500 private business leaders surveyed by KPMG said the Chancellor should focus on promoting higher wages and lower costs for companies. They [...]
Jaguar Land Rover: Trump’s tariffs cost car maker millions August 8, 2025 Jaguar Land Rover has revealed how much US President Donald Trump’s tariffs have impacted its finances during the first three months of its financial year. The car maker has confirmed that its revenue in the three months to 30 June, 2025, fell by 9.2 per cent to £6.6bn. Its pre-tax profit was also slashed by [...]