43 h. ago UK manufacturers hit by largest drop in orders since 2020; FTSE 100 hits record high – business live

Shares in oil companies jump after US sanctions Russian energy firms, while manufacturers see weak prospects aheadYesterday’s weaker-than-expected UK inflation report has sparked chat that the Bank of England could cut interest rates sooner than expected.Deutsche Bank say there is now an “interesting debate” on whether there may be enough ammunition for the Bank’s monetary policy committee to cut borrowing costs as soon as its next meeting in early November.What’s the case for November? Relative to the Bank’s projections, growth has surprised to the downside, private sector AWE growth has surprised to the downside, unemployment has risen in line with Bank expectations, and inflation now sits a healthy amount below the Bank’s projections. Indeed, one could make the argument that the ingredients for a November rate cut are there.So, why not November? We think three things will be important for the MPC to see before dialling down restrictive policy again. One, the MPC may want to see s...

Economics

44 h. ago UK manufacturers hit by largest drop in orders since 2020; FTSE 100 hits fresh record high – business live

Shares in oil companies jump after US sanctions Russian energy firms, while manufacturers see weak prospects aheadYesterday’s weaker-than-expected UK inflation report has sparked chat that the Bank of England could cut interest rates sooner than expected.Deutsche Bank say there is now an “interesting debate” on whether there may be enough ammunition for the Bank’s monetary policy committee to cut borrowing costs as soon as its next meeting in early November.What’s the case for November? Relative to the Bank’s projections, growth has surprised to the downside, private sector AWE growth has surprised to the downside, unemployment has risen in line with Bank expectations, and inflation now sits a healthy amount below the Bank’s projections. Indeed, one could make the argument that the ingredients for a November rate cut are there.So, why not November? We think three things will be important for the MPC to see before dialling down restrictive policy again. One, the MPC may want to see s...

Economics

46 h. ago FTSE 100 Live 23 October: Index near record, results boost for Rentokil and LSEG

Lloyds Banking Group and Unilever are among the companies in the spotlight amid a busy session for FTSE 100 updates.

Society

48 h. ago FTSE 100 Live 23 October: Index higher as Rentokil and LSEG surge, Foxtons warns

Lloyds Banking Group and Unilever are among the companies in the spotlight amid a busy session for FTSE 100 updates.

Events

49 h. ago FTSE 100 Live 23 October: Lloyds posts lower profit, Foxtons cuts guidance

Lloyds Banking Group and Unilever are among the companies in the spotlight amid a busy session for FTSE 100 updates.

Politics

2 d. ago FTSE 100 Live 22 October: Inflation surprise lifts stocks, Barclays rallies despite car loans redress

Rachel Reeves was handed a pre-Budget boost today as the rate of inflation unexpectedly remained unchanged at 3.8% in September.

Economics

3 d. ago FTSE 100 Live 22 October: Inflation surprise lifts index, Barclays rallies despite car loans impact

Rachel Reeves was handed a pre-Budget boost today as the rate of inflation unexpectedly remained unchanged at 3.8% in September.

Economics

3 d. ago Data reveals you're more likely to live to 100 than ever before

Over 16,600 people across the UK reached the milestone in 2024, according to the ONS. It means the number of centenarians has more than doubled since 2004.

Politics

3 d. ago FTSE 100 Live 21 October: Borrowing setback for Chancellor, gold price falls

Government borrowing rose in September to the highest level in five years, piling more pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves over the nation’s public purse.

Politics

4 d. ago New changes to daily standing charges for energy customers set to start in January

The energy regulator said standing charges cannot be removed entirely and can only be moved from one part of the bill to another.

Economics

4 d. ago FTSE 100 Live 21 October: Borrowing highest since 2020, index maintains progress

Government borrowing rose in September to the highest level in five years, piling more pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves over the nation’s public purse.

Politics

4 d. ago FTSE 100 Live 20 October: B&M shares slide after £7m accounting error, markets rally

Asia markets have rallied and the FTSE 100 index is higher during a strong start to the week for global markets.

Economics

4 d. ago Households warned as their smart thermostat could stop working this week

This device will be removed from smart home systems by the weekend.

Events

5 d. ago FTSE 100 Live 20 October: Index higher as Asia markets surge, B&M shares slide

Asia markets have rallied and the FTSE 100 index is higher during a strong start to the week for global markets.

Politics

5 d. ago FTSE 100 Live 20 October: Index higher as Asia markets surge, B&M warning

Asia markets have rallied and the FTSE 100 index is higher during a strong start to the week for global markets.

Events

5 d. ago Householders warned not to use pressure washer to clean garden slabs

Now is the perfect time of year to get your garden packed up for the winter.

Events

7 d. ago Want to live to 100? Try these six activities from flossing to sauna sessions & how much sex you really should be having

YOGHURT could be one of the keys to a long and healthy life, according to Maria Branyas Morera who lived to the ripe old age of 117.  Mrs Branyas Morera was the oldest person on Earth at the time of her death in Spain in 2024, and researchers have been studying her lifestyle, which included...

Politics

7 d. 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

7 d. ago Households warned one cleaning tool causes 'permanent' damage to clothes

Superdry have warned shoppers of the best ways to protect your clothes

Events

8 d. ago FTSE 100 Live 17 October: Banks drive big index fall, gold continues record run

The FTSE 100 index has fallen by more than 1% as London traders track Wall Street weakness and selling in Asia.

Politics