8 h. ago Trump’s war on Fed is ‘serious danger’ to world economy, says ECB head

Undermining independence of central bank will affect the US and other countries, says Christine LagardeBusiness live – latest updatesDonald Trump’s attempt to influence the US Federal Reserve could pose a “very serious danger” for the world economy, the head of the European Central Bank has warned.Christine Lagarde, the president of the ECB, said Trump undermining the independence of the world’s most powerful central bank would have an impact for the US and other countries. Continue reading...

Politics

10 h. ago UK manufacturing downturn continues as new orders slide; Trump’s attack on Fed is ‘a serious danger’ – business live

Weak market conditions, US tariffs and downbeat client confidence blamed for drop in factory ordersOuch! The UK manufacturing sector shrank again last month, as factories were hit by weaker demand at home and abroad.The latest monthly poll of purchasing managers across Britain’s manufacturing sector found that new orders and new export business both fell at quicker rates in August, leading to another drop in production volumes.“Production volumes are still showing resilience in the face of global geopolitical uncertainty and US tariff policies, with both July and August having seen only slight contractions that were milder than those suffered earlier in the year. Business confidence has also lifted to a sixmonth high, reflecting hopes that the trading environment is starting to settle down.However, August also saw a steep drop in UK manufacturers’ new orders, with total order books and overseas demand both falling at some of the fastest rates seen over the past two years. Weak marke...

Politics

11 h. ago UK manufacturing downturn continues as new orders slide; Profits surge at Royal Mail – business live

Weak market conditions, US tariffs and downbeat client confidence blamed for drop in factory ordersOuch! The UK manufacturing sector shrank again last month, as factories were hit by weaker demand at home and abroad.The latest monthly poll of purchasing managers across Britain’s manufacturing sector found that new orders and new export business both fell at quicker rates in August, leading to another drop in production volumes.“Production volumes are still showing resilience in the face of global geopolitical uncertainty and US tariff policies, with both July and August having seen only slight contractions that were milder than those suffered earlier in the year. Business confidence has also lifted to a sixmonth high, reflecting hopes that the trading environment is starting to settle down.However, August also saw a steep drop in UK manufacturers’ new orders, with total order books and overseas demand both falling at some of the fastest rates seen over the past two years. Weak marke...

Economics

12 h. ago FTSE 100 Live 01 September: Defence stocks lift index, house price growth slows

Annual house price growth softened in August, building society Nationwide reported today.

Society

12 h. ago Profits surge at Royal Mail’s parent company after £3.6bn takeover by foreign owner – business live

Royal Mail returns to an underlying annual profit for the first time in three years despite a “competitive and challenging” backdropRoyal Mail’s parent company has posted a surge in profits, in its first financial results since being taken over by Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský.International Distribution Services (IDS) has reported that pre-tax profits jumped to £429m in the year to 30 March 2025, up from £114m the previous year.“It has been a year of change for IDS. Thanks to the hard work of our people and our investment in transformation, Royal Mail returned to profit for the first time in three years, marking an important milestone in the company’s turnaround.With IDS’s acquisition by EP Group complete and Universal Service reform decided now is the time for us to drive the business forward and capitalise on our momentum.This is in line with guidance and was achieved despite an increasingly competitive and challenging trading environment. Continue reading...

Economics

13 h. ago Factory activity shrinks as US tariffs bite; UK house prices drop – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsEuropean Central Bank president Christine Lagarde has weighed in on the crisis in France, saying that any risk of a government falling in the euro zone is “worrying”.Speaking to broadcaster Radio Classique, Lagarde said France is not currently in a situation that would need the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to intervene. Continue reading...

Economics

13 h. ago FTSE 100 Live 01 September: House price growth slows, Alibaba shares jump

Annual house price growth softened in August, building society Nationwide reported today.

Society

13 h. ago Business news live: UK house prices fall with ‘market ‘struggling’ after stamp duty change

Stock market news and latest business and finance updates from Monday

Economics

14 h. ago Factory activity shrinks as US tariffs bite; UK house price drop – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsNationwide also expects income growth to continues to outpace house price growth.That would mean that housing affordability should continue to improve, if gradually.Borrowing costs are likely to moderate a little further if Bank Rate is lowered again in the coming quarters.This should support buyer demand, especially since household balance sheets are strong and labour market conditions are expected to remain solid. Continue reading...

Economics

3 d. ago The Cracker Barrel mess exposes the cynicism of the rightwing culture war | Sidney Blumenthal

The restaurant means little to activists – it’s simply a tool to bludgeon perceived enemies and flex conservative powerFirst they came for the Smithsonian. Then they came for Cracker Barrel.Whether it’s the museums or the corporations – or the universities, law firms, federal departments and agencies – the attack lines of the Trump culture war and its culture warriors are the same. The vicious full-scale assault on the Cracker Barrel restaurant chain after the company naively wandered on to the battle zone by altering its “Old Timer” logo exposes the cynicism of the whole operation and its ulterior motive to impose an authoritarian regime over every aspect of American society.Sidney Blumenthal, former senior adviser to President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, has published three books of a projected five-volume political life of Abraham Lincoln: A Self-Made Man, Wrestling With His Angel and All the Powers of Earth. He is a Guardian US columnist Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago FTSE 100 Live 29 August: Tax raid fears hit banking shares, US inflation data in focus

FTSE 100 banking stocks are under pressure after a think tank urged Rachel Reeves to consider tax raid on major firms such as Barclays, Lloyds and NatWest.

Economics

3 d. ago FTSE 100 Live 29 August: Banking stocks hit by levy fears, US inflation data in focus

Banking stocks are under pressure after a think tank urged Rachel Reeves to consider hiking a windfall tax on major firms such as Barclays, Lloyds and NatWest.

Economics

3 d. ago Zelensky warns Russian strike an ‘attack on Europe and Trump’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed Russia's major aerial attack on Kyiv shows President Vladimir Putin is “choosing ballistics” instead of "real steps towards peace".

Events

3 d. ago FTSE 100 Live 29 August: Call for bank levy, US inflation data in focus

Stock market sentiment will be tested later when figures in the US show the impact of tariffs on the prices of goods and services.

Economics

4 d. ago Liz Truss warns there is ‘a reckoning coming’ for central banks, and backs Trump in Fed battle; US growth revised higher amid AI boom – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, as former PM criticises Bank of England and claims UK faces ‘economic doom loop’People in the UK: how have you been affected by the rise in food prices?The FCA’s investigation into Drax comes five months after the company’s former top lobbyist accused it of “misleading the public, government and its regulator” over its sourcing of wood for biomass pellets.In a claim for unfair dismissal, Rowaa Ahmar, Drax’s former head of public affairs, said evidence suggested Drax was “unable to prove that it only sourced sustainable wood for its biomass, and that it was in fact using unsustainable wood”. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Russia’s devastating attack on Kyiv proves Trump’s Ukraine peace plans have failed. It is time for Europe to show leadership

Starmer and EU leaders may express outrage but they need to take more drastic action to help Ukraine beat Putin, writes World Affairs Editor Sam Kiley

Politics

4 d. ago Shocking moment Russia strikes British Council building in Kyiv as Starmer accuses Putin of 'sabotaging peace'

The mass drone and missile attack marks the first significant attack on Ukraine’s capital since Donald Trump met with Vladimir Putin in Alaska

Events

4 d. ago Business news live: Nvidia share price falls despite ‘monster’ profits as ‘politics has got in the way’

Stock market news and latest business and finance updates from Thursday

Economics

4 d. ago Liz Truss warns there is ‘a reckoning coming’ for central banks, and backs Trump in battle with Fed – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, as former PM criticises Bank of England and claims UK faces ‘economic doom loop’People in the UK: how have you been affected by the rise in food prices?The FCA’s investigation into Drax comes five months after the company’s former top lobbyist accused it of “misleading the public, government and its regulator” over its sourcing of wood for biomass pellets.In a claim for unfair dismissal, Rowaa Ahmar, Drax’s former head of public affairs, said evidence suggested Drax was “unable to prove that it only sourced sustainable wood for its biomass, and that it was in fact using unsustainable wood”. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago FTSE 100 Live 28 August: Cool reaction to Nvidia results, Drax falls on FCA probe

Nvidia results are the main focus for investors after the chip giant’s quarterly figures beat expectations but shares still fell.

Politics