2 h. ago Chinese economy slows as Trump tariffs bite; FTSE 100 on track to hit new record

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsThe owner of Kingsmill has agreed to buy its rival bakery business Hovis, in a deal that could make the biggest bread brand in the country if it gets the green light from regulators.Associated British Foods, a FTSE 100 company which also owns the retailer Primark, has agreed to buy Hovis from the private equity firm Endless.This transaction will create a UK bakeries business that is both profitable and sustainable over the long term. Supporting the Hovis and Kingsmill brands with well-invested and efficient operations will also enable innovation and growth. This solution will create value for shareholders, provide greater choice for consumers and increase efficiencies for customers.Firms may be running on existing capacity rather than building new plants The July industrial value-add breakdown tells a more nuanced story than the weak fixed asset investment headline. Continue reading...

Politics

18 h. ago British Gas owner buys £1.5bn gas terminal in big bet on fossil fuel reliance

Deal for Europe’s biggest facility for LNG imports comes as overall UK gas demand fell sharply last yearThe owner of British Gas has placed a £1.5bn bet on the UK’s future reliance on fossil fuel imports after striking a deal to buy Europe’s biggest gas import terminal.Centrica plans to partner with a US private equity firm to acquire the Isle of Grain terminal in Kent, which can import 15m tonnes of liquefied natural gas a year, even after Britain’s gas demand fell last year to its lowest level since the early 1990s. Continue reading...

Economics

39 h. ago Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon strikes tentative deal to buy the Portland Trail Blazers

Paul Allen’s estate has agreed to a tentative agreement to sell the Portland Trail Blazers to a group led by Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon, a person with knowledge of the negotiations tells The Associated Press

Economics

5 d. ago Gen Zers have dozens of people’s exact locations on the Find My app — and they’re too scared to remove them

Generation Z is obsessed with keeping track of their friends thanks to iPhone built-in location sharing app. Amber Raiken speaks to young people tracking the location of so many of their friends — and why it would be rude to remove them

Politics

8 d. ago It’s time to admit it: Zillennials are the only normal Gen Zers

I’m a Zillennial, and I’ve decided there’s no hope for my younger comrades. Mine is the last normal age group in existence — and here’s why

Politics

8 d. ago Former Crystal Palace owner John Textor ‘interested’ in buying Sheffield Wednesday

Textor sold his 43 per cent stake in Crystal Palace in July

Politics

1 week ago British Airways owner IAG's shares have soared 130% in the past year

Since the beginning of the year, the British Airways owner's shares have gained more than 25%, having recovered swiftly from a Trump-tariff related downturn.

Politics

3 w. ago Gen Zers are becoming home owners by buying in cheap small cities (and yes, sometimes having parental help)

Being a homeowner as a young person can feel impossible, but some Gen-Zers have beat the odds. Katie Hawkinson reports

Society