Number 10 slaps down David Lammy ‘protectionism’ comments as tariff shockwaves continue April 4, 2025 Downing Street has distanced itself from comments made by the foreign secretary, who told reporters on Friday that he regrets “the return of protectionism in the United States.” David Lammy said that Britain is “a nation that believes in open trade” and that these curbs on trade are “something we’ve not seen for nearly a [...]
BP chair Helge Lund to step down as Aviva chief heads search for successor April 4, 2025 BP has announced that its chair Helge Lund will step down, with Aviva chief executive Amanda Blanc – a non-executive director for the blue-chip oil giant – set to lead the search for a successor. Lund is expected to stay on until 2026, which BP says will “ensure an orderly transition.” Blanc has said that [...]
FTSE 100 pharma giants GSK and Astrazeneca appear to swerve Trump tariffs April 3, 2025 FTSE 100 pharma giants GSK and Astrazeneca may have escaped the worst of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs, according to a City broker. Pharmaceutical goods appear to be exempt from higher-rate tariffs introduced by President Trump in his Rose Garden ‘Liberation Day’ address on Wednesday, but there is still uncertainty about the impact on the [...]
Travis Perkins: Profit plunges as construction industry recovery remains sluggish April 1, 2025 Travis Perkins has reported a 99 per cent plunge in operating profit in 2024, after a torrid year for the Nottinghamshire-headquartered firm. The FTSE 250 building group reported an operating profit of £2m, down from £161m in 2023, after a 4.7 per cent revenue decline. Shares in the group fell 10.4 per cent in early [...]
FTSE 100 and global markets slump and gold surges amid tariff panic March 31, 2025 The FTSE 100 dipped 0.7 per cent as markets opened on Monday, with the FTSE 250 down a further 1.28 per cent. The moves followed a sharp drop in Asian markets overnight. The Nikkei 225 plummeted more than four per cent overnight, amid a global market panic as investor and consumer confidence drops ahead of [...]
Steel billionaire Lakshmi Mittal to ditch UK after non-dom crackdown March 28, 2025 Steel billionaire Lakshmi Mittal is set to leave the UK, as a direct result of a government crackdown on non-domiciled residents, in favour of more tax-friendly destinations such as the United Arab Emirates, Italy and Switzerland, the FT has reported. The businessman, a former Blair-era Labour donor and Sunday Times Rich List number seven, is [...]
UK car output dips as Trump auto tariffs loom March 27, 2025 Production of cars and commercial vehicles saw an alarming 11.6 per cent decline in February, according to new data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Just 82,178 vehicles were produced – a drop of 10,787 from February 2024 – in the 12th consecutive month of falling auto manufacturing output. There was a [...]
Rachel Reeves criticises deputy for ‘clumsy’ pocket money comments March 27, 2025 Rachel Reeves has criticised her deputy – Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones – for “clumsy” comments in which he compared slashing disability benefits to taking away a child’s pocket money. The Chancellor told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme: “No, he was clumsy in his analogy, and he’s apologised for that.” She added: “Of [...]
Trump slaps 25 per cent tariffs on all car imports March 27, 2025 President Trump announced late on Wednesday that he will impose a universal 25 per cent tariff on all car imports into the US, just hours after the Office for Budget Responsibility warned that fresh tariffs would erase Reeves’ newfound fiscal headroom. These new levies are part of a package of anti-trade measures from 2 April, [...]
Bellway’s profit jumps amid soaring output March 25, 2025 Bellway has reported a 12 per cent rise in profit, alongside a significant boost in its output – in an indication that the housebuilding sector is seeing a rebound. Profit before taxation has risen to £150.2m, from £134.2m last year. The firm reported 4,577 housing completions in the half-year to January – up from 4,092 [...]
