4 h. ago Former Fed governor's stock trades violated the central bank's ethics rules

A former Federal Reserve governor who retired in August listed several stock trades in her financial disclosure documents for 2024 that violated the central bank’s ethics rules

Politics

3 d. ago Venezuelans sent by Trump to El Salvador endured systematic torture, report finds

Human rights groups accuse Trump officials of complicity and draw comparison with scandal at Abu Ghraib prisonMore than 252 Venezuelans expelled to El Salvador under Donald Trump’s mass deportation policy suffered systematic and prolonged torture and abuse, including sexual assault, during their detention, according to a report published on Wednesday.The report, compiled jointly by Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Cristosal – a group investigating violations in Central America – says conditions at El Salvador’s sprawling “terrorist continent center” (Cecot) breached the UN’s standard minimal rules for the treatment of prisoners. It cites “inhumane prison conditions, including prolonged incommunicado detention, inadequate food” and other shortcomings. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump says he will cut fentanyl tariff on Chinese goods and expects ‘great deal’ with Xi – business live

Most Asian stock markets rally on trade deal optimism, ahead of expected US interest rate cutAston Martin has slashed £300m from its investment plans after the British sportscar maker reported a bigger than expected loss in the third quarter because of Donald Trump’s tariffs and weak demand in China.The carmaker said on Wednesday that losses before tax were £112m in the third quarter of 2025, a ninefold increase from £12m a year earlier.This year has been marked by significant macroeconomic headwinds, particularly the sustained impact of US tariffs and weak demand in China.Work is under way to review our future product cycle plan with the aim of optimising costs and capital investment while continuing to deliver innovative, class-leading products to meet customer demands and regulatory requirements. Continue reading...

Economics

3 w. ago Wall Street hits record highs after US inflation report fuels interest rate cut hopes – business live

US consumer prices rose by less than expected last month, as markets digest breakdown of trade talks with CanadaUS prices rose at a 3% annual rate in September, slightly beating forecastsNewsflash: Conditions appear to be improving in the UK economy this month.The latest poll of purchasing managers at British firms has found that growth is picking up after the lull in September, partly helped by the resumption of manufacturing at Jaguar Land Rover after its recent cyber attack.“October’s flash UK PMI survey brings hope that September was a low point for the economy from which business conditions are starting to improve.Output has picked up, with a particularly welcome return to growth for manufacturing for the first time in over a year accompanied by an upturn in demand for services, notably among consumers. Business confidence has also brightened slightly, job losses have moderated, and inflationary pressures are coming back to levels consistent with the Bank of England’s 2% target...

Economics

3 w. ago Business conditions ‘starting to improve’ in UK economy as activity picks up – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsNewsflash: Conditions appear to be improving in the UK economy this month.The latest poll of purchasing managers at British firms has found that growth is picking up after the lull in September, partly helped by the resumption of manufacturing at Jaguar Land Rover after its recent cyber attack.“October’s flash UK PMI survey brings hope that September was a low point for the economy from which business conditions are starting to improve.Output has picked up, with a particularly welcome return to growth for manufacturing for the first time in over a year accompanied by an upturn in demand for services, notably among consumers. Business confidence has also brightened slightly, job losses have moderated, and inflationary pressures are coming back to levels consistent with the Bank of England’s 2% target. Continue reading...

Economics

3 w. ago Business condition ‘starting to improve’ in UK economy as activity picks up – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsNewsflash: Conditions appear to be improving in the UK economy this month.The latest poll of purchasing managers at British firms has found that growth is picking up after the lull in September, partly helped by the resumption of manufacturing at Jaguar Land Rover after its recent cyber attack.“October’s flash UK PMI survey brings hope that September was a low point for the economy from which business conditions are starting to improve.Output has picked up, with a particularly welcome return to growth for manufacturing for the first time in over a year accompanied by an upturn in demand for services, notably among consumers. Business confidence has also brightened slightly, job losses have moderated, and inflationary pressures are coming back to levels consistent with the Bank of England’s 2% target. Continue reading...

Economics

3 w. ago London Stock Exchange Group Sells 20% Of Post Trade Solutions

London Stock Exchange Group Sells 20% Of Post Trade Solutions  Finimize

Politics

4 w. ago Nearly £11bn wiped off UK banks after US regional banking fears spooked markets – business live

European stock markets have fallen after two US regional lenders disclosed on Thursday that they were exposed to alleged fraud by borrowersGlobal markets fall and gold hits record high amid jitters over US banksUS regional bank stocks fall amid Wall Street concern over credit marketsStorm clouds are gathering over the financial markets, warns Richard Hunter, head of markets at interactive investor:There are increasing signs of storm clouds gathering over markets, with little relief from the building wall of worry.Already grappling with stretched stock valuations in the AI space, an unresolved government shutdown and a deteriorating relationship between Beijing and Washington, investors were exposed to a new source of concern in the form of lending practices and bad loans for US regional banks. Continue reading...

Economics

4 w. ago FTSE 100 slides as US regional bank worries rock markets – business live

Fear index jumps, and European markets follow Asia lower, as bad loan fears hit valuationsGlobal markets fall and gold hits record high amid jitters over US banksUS regional bank stocks fall amid Wall Street concern over credit marketsStorm clouds are gathering over the financial markets, warns Richard Hunter, head of markets at interactive investor:There are increasing signs of storm clouds gathering over markets, with little relief from the building wall of worry.Already grappling with stretched stock valuations in the AI space, an unresolved government shutdown and a deteriorating relationship between Beijing and Washington, investors were exposed to a new source of concern in the form of lending practices and bad loans for US regional banks. Continue reading...

Economics

4 w. ago FTSE 100 heading for worst day since April as US regional bank worries rock markets – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, as FTSE 100 share index sheds 150 points in early tradingUS regional bank stocks fall amid Wall Street concern over credit marketsStorm clouds are gathering over the financial markets, warns Richard Hunter, head of markets at interactive investor:There are increasing signs of storm clouds gathering over markets, with little relief from the building wall of worry.Already grappling with stretched stock valuations in the AI space, an unresolved government shutdown and a deteriorating relationship between Beijing and Washington, investors were exposed to a new source of concern in the form of lending practices and bad loans for US regional banks. Continue reading...

Economics

4 w. ago Stock markets hit by US regional bank worries and trade tensions – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsFears are swirling today that we could be facing a repeat of the US regional banking crisis of 2023.That episode led to the demise of US bank SVB and then Europe’s Credit Suisse.An initially positive risk mood turned during the US session yesterday after news that Zions Bancorp (-13.14%) made a $50m charge-off while Western Alliance (-10.81%) alleged it also suffered from fraud on loans to the same borrowers linked to distressed commercial mortgages.While this was an ostensibly isolated story at two banks each less than $10bn market cap, the event drew inevitable comparisons to the regional bank stress that followed the collapse of SVB in March 2023 and raised broader questions over potential credit quality issues after a lengthy period of elevated rates and expansion in private credit, following also the bankruptcy of subprime auto lender Tricolor last month. Continue reading...

Economics