4 h. ago Barclays profits surge 19 per cent as bank braces itself for global trade war

The UK banking giant increased provisions for loans expected to turn sour, largely driven by £74 million put by for ‘elevated US macroeconomic uncertainty’

Economics

6 h. ago Barclays sees profits surge as tariffs turmoil boosts trading activity

The banking group reported a better-than-expected 19% rise in pre-tax profits to £2.72 billion, despite setting aside more cash for bad debts.

Economics

5 d. ago Voices: Poll of the day: Do you still believe in the UK–US ‘special relationship’?

Have your say: Is the UK–US “special relationship” still alive, or has Trump’s trade war and shifting global politics turned it into a thing of the past?

Politics

6 d. ago Kenyan president vows closer ties to China during visit amid Trump's trade war

Kenyan President William Ruto pledged to build closer ties with China on Thursday, a day after saying a global trade war triggered by Washington could deal a “death blow” to the current world order

Politics

8 d. ago Risks to global financial stability surging after Trump tariffs, warns IMF

World body says ‘sharp repricing of risks’ possible amid growing concern over role of ‘nonbank’ lendersIMF warns of ‘major negative shock’ from Trump’s tariffsEditorial: Donald Trump could cost the world $1tnThe global financial system is coming under increasing strain as Donald Trump’s trade war rocks markets, the International Monetary Fund has warned.“Global financial stability risks have increased significantly,” the IMF said in its regular snapshot of the system, urging regulators to be on the alert for potential crises. Continue reading...

Events

9 d. ago Peter Navarro: the economist who has outsmarted Elon Musk and has the ear of Donald Trump

US president’s chief trade adviser is intellectual driving force behind global tariffs and trade war with ChinaElon Musk called him “dumber than a sack of bricks” but, in the raw contest for political power, Peter Navarro has outsmarted the billionaire.The tumult in global trade shows that for now it is the 75-year-old economist, not Musk, who has Donald Trump’s ear in the Oval Office. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Secondhand stores are poised to benefit if US tariffs drive up new clothing costs

Stores selling secondhand clothing, shoes and accessories are poised to benefit from the Trump administration’s trade war even as global businesses race to avoid potential damage

Economics

1 week ago Show goes on for Ralph Lauren as fashion reels from Trump tariffs

With the sector bracing itself for a global trade war, investors may find comfort in a trusted pair of handsTwo weeks after Donald Trump announced his “liberation day” tariffs, the fashion industry finds itself in turmoil as it tries to navigate the chaos unleashed.Some are calling it the “tariffpocalypse”, with the sector bracing itself for a global trade war, snarling up supplies and hiking costs, alongside plummeting consumer confidence. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Why British businesses won’t abandon manufacturers in China despite Trump tariffs

China has vowed to ‘fight to the end’ in a trade war with the US which threatens to up-end global supply chains

Economics

2 w. ago Why British businesses say they won’t abandon their manufacturers in China despite Trump tariffs

China has vowed to “fight to the end” in a trade war with the US which threatens to up-end global supply chains

Economics

2 w. ago UK and G7 allies look at lowering ‘meaningless’ cap on Russian oil exports

Limit of $100 a barrel said to be ineffective with the price of crude having crashed in response to Trump’s trade warThe UK and its G7 allies are considering tightening the “meaningless” cap on Russian oil export prices after Donald Trump’s trade war caused global oil markets to crash.UK Treasury officials are understood to be looking at plans to lower the $60 (£46) a barrel cap Russianexports after the oil market plunged this week to $59.77 a barrel for the first time in more than four years. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Musk thinks Trump’s pal Navarro is a ‘moron’. Who are we supposed to root for here? | Dave Schilling

Tariffs have driven a wedge between Trump aides in an administration that hates expertise. I suppose boys will be boysI would like to dispel some rumors right up front. One, I did not receive a PhD in business from Harvard Business School. Hopefully this doesn’t make you think less of me, but I felt it necessary to be honest. Second, I did not even attend Harvard. I thought about it once; hopefully, thinking about something isn’t illegal yet.My point is that I am no elitist snob begging for your subservience. I’m a simple man, just trying to salvage the last of my meager wealth during the great trade war of 2025. I know absolutely nothing about global economic policy. As such, I must be worth listening to.Dave Schilling is a Los Angeles-based writer and humorist Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago The Guardian view on the tariff war pause: the Trump trade shambles is not over | Editorial

The US president blinked first, but this is just a time-out. The threat to the global economy remains real.It was Donald Trump who blinked first. Never forget that. China is unlikely to overlook its importance. A week after launching an all-out global trade war, the US president paused significant parts of it for 90 days. Having insisted that he would stick with the random tariffs he imposed on most trading nations, Mr Trump suddenly decreed that he would reduce most of them to 10%. It was a major humiliation.Yet 10% is still a significant tariff to bear for nations exporting to the US. This is also only a pause until July, not a withdrawal, so the uncertainty remains. And huge tariffs still remain on China (now hiked to 145%), Canada and Mexico (both 25%), as well as on all US imports of steel, aluminium and cars (also 25%). Mr Trump is now substituting a US-world conflict with a US-China one. The two largest economies in the world – which between them have generated around ha...

Politics

2 w. ago The Latest: S&P 500 falls 2% at the open despite Trump’s tariff pause

U.S. stocks are giving back some of their historic gains from the day before as Wall Street weighs a global trade war that has cooled in temperature but is still threatening the economy

Politics

2 w. ago Global stocks soar as Donald Trump backs down from trade war

Washington pauses most tariffs against countries that have not retaliated but increases levies on China

Politics

2 w. ago Trump signs executive order on water pressure to ‘restore shower freedom’

White House says order will ‘make America’s showers great again’ and ‘end the Obama-Biden war on water pressure’A global trade war roller coaster was not enough to distract Donald Trump from fulfilling one of his longtime priorities Wednesday: changing the federal definition of “showerhead”, a move the White House said would “end the Obama-Biden war on water pressure”.Trump has complained for years about inadequate water pressure in American showers, sinks and toilets, and has blamed federal water-conservation standards for the problem. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago US stocks soar as Donald Trump backs down in global trade war

Washington scraps most tariffs against countries that have not retaliated but increases levies on China

Politics

2 w. ago Trump pauses plans to hike US tariffs on most countries except China

Trump says he will raise US tariffs on Chinese exports to 125% and unveils 90-day pause for other countriesBusiness live – latest updatesDonald Trump shelved plans to hike tariffs on most countries except China, unveiling a 90-day pause and pulling back from his global trade war after days of market turmoil and warnings of recession.After insisting for days that he would hold firm on his aggressive trade strategy, Trump announced that all countries that had not retaliated against US tariffs would receive a reprieve – and only face a blanket US tariff of 10% – until July.Never miss global breaking news. Download our free app to keep up with key stories in real time. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago UK government refuses to rule out nationalizing last plant in UK that makes steel from raw material

The British government is refusing to rule out nationalizing the last plant in the U.K. that makes steel from raw materials as the global trade war increases pressure to preserve the nation’s ability to supply domestic industry with the steel it needs

Politics

3 w. ago FTSE 100 Live 09 April: Oil and pharma stocks retreat as heavy selling resumes

Fear returned to the world’s stock markets today after Donald Trump’s swingeing new “Liberation Day” tariffs came into force.

Politics