4 h. ago More than eight out of ten Londoners 'fear the impact of AI on live music'

London has an estimated 179 grassroots music venues but they are in decline

Politics

13 h. ago Thames Water hit with record £104.5m fine over sewage failures, Pets at Home vets surge ahead but UK retail confidence plunges

From Thames Water’s record fine and Pets at Home’s vet division overtaking retail, to Willmott Dixon’s profit rebound, falling retail confidence, and a warning from Britain’s biggest bioethanol plant - here are today’s top UK business stories.

Events

28 h. ago Tesla sales plummet in Europe as Elon Musk backlash continues

Sales across Europe plunged by half last month even as growth in the electric car market increased

Politics

29 h. ago IMF lifts UK growth forecast for 2025; markets welcome US delay to EU 50% tariffs – as it happened

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, as IMF releases latest healthcheck on UK economyRachel Reeves should ease fiscal rules to prevent emergency spending cuts, IMF saysEU hopes for quick deal to resolve US trade war after Trump delays 50% tariffsToyota to move some GR Corolla production to UK from JapanOuch! Germany’s economy is on track for its worst performance in post-war history, a new report shows.The German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) predicted this morning that Europe’s largest economy will contract by 0.3% this year, Reuters reports. That would be the third annual contraction in a row, although not as bad as the 0.5% fall in GDP which the DIHK predicted back in February.“A mood of cautious relief is spreading after the long weekend, amid hopes for more fruitful trade negotiations between the United States and its global partners. There are no post bank holiday blues for the London market, with the Footsie in striking distance of the record ...

Economics

32 h. ago Retailers expect more job cuts amid plummeting sentiment following tax rises

Confidence across the retail sector has fallen at the sharpest pace in five years, according to a quarterly industry gauge.

Politics

33 h. ago IMF lifts UK growth forecast for 2025; markets welcome US delay to EU 50% tariffs – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, as IMF releases latest healthcheck on UK economyRachel Reeves should ease fiscal rules to prevent emergency spending cuts, IMF saysEU hopes for quick deal to resolve US trade war after Trump delays 50% tariffsToyota to move some GR Corolla production to UK from JapanOuch! Germany’s economy is on track for its worst performance in post-war history, a new report shows.The German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) predicted this morning that Europe’s largest economy will contract by 0.3% this year, Reuters reports. That would be the third annual contraction in a row, although not as bad as the 0.5% fall in GDP which the DIHK predicted back in February.“A mood of cautious relief is spreading after the long weekend, amid hopes for more fruitful trade negotiations between the United States and its global partners. There are no post bank holiday blues for the London market, with the Footsie in striking distance of the record ...

Economics

34 h. ago UK retail confidence plummets as sales fall; markets welcome US delay to EU 50% tariffs – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsEU hopes for quick deal to resolve US trade war after Trump delays 50% tariffsToyota to move some GR Corolla production to UK from JapanOuch! Germany’s economy is on track for its worst performance in post-war history, a new report shows.The German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) predicted this morning that Europe’s largest economy will contract by 0.3% this year, Reuters reports. That would be the third annual contraction in a row, although not as bad as the 0.5% fall in GDP which the DIHK predicted back in February.“A mood of cautious relief is spreading after the long weekend, amid hopes for more fruitful trade negotiations between the United States and its global partners. There are no post bank holiday blues for the London market, with the Footsie in striking distance of the record high reached in February. More positive vibes are pulsing about the outlook for the global economy, with hopes that more scores can b...

Economics

37 h. ago Tesla sales halve in Europe; markets welcome US delay to EU 50% tariffs – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsEU hopes for quick deal to resolve US trade war after Trump delays 50% tariffsStocks have jumped in London as trading resumes after the Bank Holiday weekend.City investors are relieved that Donald Trump has delayed his threatened hike on EU tariffs to 50% until July, cooling trade war fears. Continue reading...

Economics

50 h. ago Trump in Memorial Day speech says: ‘I have everything. Amazing, the way things work out’ – US politics live

President honors fallen soldiers but also says says ‘God did that’ when when taking credit for US hosting world sports eventsThis year’s summer months promise to be among the hottest on record across the United States, continuing a worsening trend of extreme weather, and amid concern over the impacts of Trump administration cuts to key agencies.The extreme heat could be widespread and unrelenting: only far northern Alaska may escape unusually warm temperatures from June through August, according to the latest seasonal forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa). Continue reading...

Politics

55 h. ago Trump says he is considering giving $3bn of Harvard’s grants to trade schools – US politics live

President says he could take grant money from Harvard, a week after his administration blocked institution from enrolling foreign studentsThis year’s summer months promise to be among the hottest on record across the United States, continuing a worsening trend of extreme weather, and amid concern over the impacts of Trump administration cuts to key agencies.The extreme heat could be widespread and unrelenting: only far northern Alaska may escape unusually warm temperatures from June through August, according to the latest seasonal forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa). Continue reading...

Politics

58 h. ago Donald Trump announces he will pause threatened 50% tariffs on Europe after call with EU chief – US politics live

President says tariffs will be paused until 9 July after a ‘very nice call’ with European Commission president Ursula von der LeyenThe Kremlin on Monday said that US president Donald Trump’s claim that Vladimir Putin had “gone absolutely CRAZY” might be due to emotional overload, but thanked the US leader for his assistance in launching Ukraine peace negotiations.Trump said Putin had “gone absolutely CRAZY” by unleashing the largest aerial attack of the war on Ukraine and said he was weighing new sanctions on Moscow, though he also scolded Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Continue reading...

Politics

64 h. ago US futures jump while Asian shares slip after Trump delays tariffs on the EU

U.S. futures have turned sharply higher and Asian shares mostly fell after U.S. President Donald Trump said he would delay a threatened 50% tariff on goods from the European Union to July 9 from June 1

Politics

67 h. ago Trump agrees to delay 50% tariffs on EU imports until July 9

Mr Trump had recommended that the 50% tariff rate comes into effect on June 1.

Politics

68 h. ago Trump delays 50 percent tariff threat to European Union until July 9

European Commission president requested the extension, Trump said

Politics

5 d. ago Trump says Samsung and other smartphone manufacturers will also be subject to 25% Apple tariff – business live

US president says 50% tariff on EU goods to come in 1 June; Apple iPhones and those of other manufacturers made overseas to face 25% tariffTrump says he is hitting EU with 50% tariff as trade talks are ‘going nowhere’As well as cutting UK energy costs (see earlier), Donald Trump can also take credit for growing the German economy!New GDP data this morning shows that Germany’s GDP rose by 0.4% in January-March, twice as fast as the first estimate of 0.2% growth in the quarter.“The reason for the slightly higher growth compared to the initial estimate was the surprisingly positive economic development in March.”“In particular, production in the manufacturing sector and exports performed better than initially expected.The German economy had its best quarterly performance since the third quarter of 2022, and the reason for it seems to be Donald Trump. As a result of the announced tariffs and in anticipation of ‘Liberation Day,’ German industrial production and exports surged in March.Ne...

Economics

5 d. ago European markets suffer losses after Trump ‘recommends’ 50% tariff on EU, and threatens Apple with 25% tariff – business live

US president Donald Trump reignites trade war with threat to impose high tariffs on European goods, and Apple iPhones made overseasTrump says he is hitting EU with 50% tariff as trade talks are ‘going nowhere’As well as cutting UK energy costs (see earlier), Donald Trump can also take credit for growing the German economy!New GDP data this morning shows that Germany’s GDP rose by 0.4% in January-March, twice as fast as the first estimate of 0.2% growth in the quarter.“The reason for the slightly higher growth compared to the initial estimate was the surprisingly positive economic development in March.”“In particular, production in the manufacturing sector and exports performed better than initially expected.The German economy had its best quarterly performance since the third quarter of 2022, and the reason for it seems to be Donald Trump. As a result of the announced tariffs and in anticipation of ‘Liberation Day,’ German industrial production and exports surged in March.Net export...

Economics

5 d. ago Ukraine’s Zelenskyy confirms major prisoner swap with Russia – Europe live

The first stage of a major prison swap between Ukraine and Russia has taken place in Turkey, with 390 people released todayFor more coverage of Trump’s tariffs threats – which also include a warning that Apple must pay a 25% tariff unless it manufactures its iPhones in the US – follow our business live blog here:US president Donald Trump has just called the EU “very difficult to deal with,” lamenting the bloc’s “powerful Trade Barriers, Monetary Manipulations, unfair and unjustified lawsuits against American Companies, and more” (original capitalisation!).“Our discussions with them are going nowhere! Therefore, I am recommending a straight 50% Tariff on the European Union, starting on June 1, 2025. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago Trump says he is hitting EU with 50% tariff as trade talks are ‘going nowhere’

President says EU imports to US will be subject to levy from 1 June as markets slump in reaction to ‘major escalation’Business live – latest updatesDonald Trump has said he will impose a 50% tariff on all EU imports to the US from 1 June after saying trade talks between the two trading blocs were “going nowhere”.In a surprise announcement, the US president posted on his Truth Social platform that his long-running battle to secure concessions from the EU had run aground. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Trump ‘recommending’ 50% tariff on EU, and threatens Apple with 25% tariff – business live

US president Donald Trump reignites trade war with threat to impose high tariffs on European goods, and Apple iPhones made overseasTypical energy bill in Great Britain to fall 7% to £1,720 a year from JulyAs well as cutting UK energy costs (see earlier), Donald Trump can also take credit for growing the German economy!New GDP data this morning shows that Germany’s GDP rose by 0.4% in January-March, twice as fast as the first estimate of 0.2% growth in the quarter.“The reason for the slightly higher growth compared to the initial estimate was the surprisingly positive economic development in March.”“In particular, production in the manufacturing sector and exports performed better than initially expected.The German economy had its best quarterly performance since the third quarter of 2022, and the reason for it seems to be Donald Trump. As a result of the announced tariffs and in anticipation of ‘Liberation Day,’ German industrial production and exports surged in March.Net exports an...

Politics

5 d. ago FTSE 100 Live 23 May: Sterling higher after retail surprise, energy bills fall

Household energy bills will fall by 7% from July after the latest energy price cap was revealed by Ofgem today.

Science