9 h. ago Gold, silver and platinum hit record highs as investors look for Santa rally; oil climbs amid Venezuela blockage – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsIs the Christmas shopping period more of a whimper than a bang for Britain’s retailers this year?Shopper traffic yesterday remained “stubbornly muted”, according to the latest footfall data from Sensormatic Solutions, which shows that visits were 13.1% lower than a year ago.“After an unsettled start to the festive period - defined by shaky consumer confidence and spending hesitancy – retailers will be left feeling frustrated that footfall remains stubbornly muted, after many were pinning their hopes on a surge in store traffic yesterday.”“With consumers leaving purchases right up to the wire, some retailers have released Boxing Day deals early to try and unlock that, so far, elusive consumer spending.”“What we’ve seen over the past week is a combination of position squaring in thin markets, after last week’s breakdown failed to gain traction, coupled with heightened geopolitical tensions, including the US blockade on Venezuel...

Economics

11 h. ago UK retailers launch early Christmas discounts; no Santa rally on London stock market – business live

UK retailers launch early Christmas discounts; no Santa rally on London stock market – business live  The Guardian

Economics

25 h. ago Gibraltar’s chief minister made ‘sinister’ interventions to protect friend from police

Inquiry finds Fabian Picardo was ‘grossly improper’ to protect James Levy from a search warrantThe chief minister of Gibraltar made a series of “grossly improper” and “sinister” interventions to interfere in a live criminal investigation in order to protect his friend, mentor and business partner from the consequences of a search warrant, a public inquiry has found.The retired England and Wales high court judge and inquiry chair, Sir Peter Openshaw, concluded that Fabian Picardo acted to protect James Levy KC when police were at Hassans law firm, where Levy was a senior partner, on 12 May 2020 with a search warrant from “a legitimate police investigation and operation”. Continue reading...

Politics

32 h. ago Tesla sales fall across Europe again as BYD surges; Ryanair to appeal €256m fine from Italy’s competition authority – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsStocks are sneaking up a little in London this morning, but we can’t really call it a Santa Rally yet.The FTSE 100 share index has gained 14 points, or 0.14% to 9880, back towards last Friday’s near-record closing high of 9,897 points.Ryanair, Europe’s No.1 airline, today (Tues, 23 Dec) instructed its lawyers to immediately appeal both the bizarre/unsound ruling and the €256m fine, unjustly levied by the Italian Competition Authority (AGCM), which seeks to ignore – and overturn – the Jan 2024 Precedent Ruling of the Milan Court, which declared that Ryanair’s direct distribution model “undoubtedly benefits consumers” and leads to “competitive fares”. Continue reading...

Economics

33 h. ago FTSE 100 Live 23 December: Pets at Home appoints new CEO, sterling and gold rise

Pets At Home has ended its three-month search for a new boss with the appointment of former Waitrose managing director James Bailey.

Society

34 h. ago FTSE 100 Live 23 December: Gold extends record run, Pets at Home appoints new CEO

Pets At Home has ended its three-month search for a new boss with the appointment of former Waitrose managing director James Bailey.

Society

34 h. ago Tesla sales fall across Europe again as BYD surges; Ryanair fined €256m by Italy’s competition authority – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsToday’s European car sales data shows that hybrid-electric cars (which have a fossil fuel engine and a rechargable battery) account for 34.6% of the total EU market this year.Since January, 3,408,907 hybrid-electric cars have been registered in the EU, with growth in the four biggest markets: Spain (+26%), France (+24.2%), Germany (+8.7%), and Italy (+7.9%). Continue reading...

Economics

56 h. ago FTSE 100 Live 22 December: Gold price record but index falls, GDP slowdown confirmed

The UK economy is heading into 2026 with little momentum after figures showed GDP growth of just 0.1% in the third quarter.

Economics

59 h. ago FTSE 100 Live 22 December: GDP slowdown confirmed, gold price hits new record

The UK economy is heading into 2026 with little momentum after figures showed GDP growth of just 0.1% in the third quarter.

Economics

5 d. ago Mad Friday 2025 LIVE: UK braces for busiest travel day of the year

We bring you all the latest travel updates as the UK braces for significant travel disruptions on Mad Friday 2025, one the busiest travel days of the year

Transport

5 d. ago FTSE 100 Live 19 December: WH Smith pressure continues, retail sales disappoint

Black Friday failed to lift the retail sector after figures for November today came in below expectations.

Events

5 d. ago FTSE 100 Live 19 December: Retail sales disappoint, WH Smith posts delayed results

Black Friday failed to lift the retail sector after figures for November today came in below expectations.

Politics

6 d. ago Clare Balding's apology after 'inexcusable' live TV comment on BBC

The BBC Sports Personality of the Year presenter is regarded as one of the best in the business but has occasionally landed herself in hot water on live TV

Politics

6 d. ago FTSE 100 Live 18 December: Currys surges after results beat, BP names first female CEO

The Bank of England will today reduce the cost of borrowing by cutting interest rates from 4% to 3.75%.

Politics

6 d. ago FTSE 100 Live 18 December: BP hires first female boss, Currys shares surge

The Bank of England will today reduce the cost of borrowing by cutting interest rates from 4% to 3.75%.

Politics

6 d. ago FTSE 100 Live 18 December: Interest rates set to fall, BP appoints new CEO

The Bank of England will today reduce the cost of borrowing by cutting interest rates from 4% to 3.75%.

Politics

7 d. ago FTSE 100 Live 17 December: Stocks surge amid inflation cheer, interest rate set to fall

The rate of inflation fell far more quickly than expected last month, paving the way for another cut in interest rates tomorrow.

Economics

7 d. ago FTSE 100 Live 17 December: Index rallies amid inflation cheer, interest rate set to fall

The rate of inflation fell far more quickly than expected last month paving the way for another cut in interest rates tomorrow.

Economics

7 d. ago FTSE 100 Live 17 December: Inflation rate shows surprise fall, oil price steadies

The rate of inflation fell far more quickly than expected last month paving the way for another cut in interest rates tomorrow.

Economics

8 d. ago FTSE 100 Live 16 December: Rate cut seen as jobs market weakens, Brent Crude below $60

The rate of unemployment has risen to its highest level in almost a decade outside the pandemic as employers continue to shed jobs.

Society