Bank of England to cut interest rates but faces dilemma on outlook August 4, 2025 The Bank of England is unlikely to signal faster interest rate cuts at this Thursday’s meeting, leading economists have said, leaving the future of monetary policy in the balance. Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) members are widely expected to agree to cut interest rates by 25 basis points to four per cent. But City analysts have [...]
Papa John’s: UK losses continue as over 70 locations closed August 4, 2025 The UK arm of Papa John’s continued to make significant losses in 2024 as it closed more than 70 locations. The division of the US pizza giant has reported a pre-tax loss of £21.8m for its latest financial year, having also lost £19.2m in 2023. New accounts filed with Companies House also show the firm’s [...]
McDonald’s sheds 2,000 UK jobs as profit almost doubles August 4, 2025 Profit at the UK arm of McDonald’s almost doubled in 2024 as it shed more than 2,000 jobs, it has been revealed. The US fast food giant has posted a pre-tax profit of £120m for its latest financial year, up from the £66.3m it reported in 2023. That figure though was down from the £170.8m [...]
Close Brothers shares rocket after motor finance win August 4, 2025 Shares in Close Brothers rocketed as markets opened on Monday after the bank won its landmark motor finance case at the Supreme Court. Shares in the FTSE 250 lender surged over 25 per cent during early trading, hitting a high of 500p. Close Brothers win Investors rushed to buy the shares after the Supreme Court [...]
President Donald Trump could be given Freedom of Canada August 4, 2025 President Donald Trump could be offered the Freedom of Canada during his second state visit to the UK in September. The Independent has reported that the Freedom is on the table to get the US President in the room with Canada Corporation, which hopes to use the symbolic honour [...]
Motor finance: Lloyds shares jump after ruling August 4, 2025 Shares in Lloyds Banking Group and Close Brothers jumped in early deals this morning after the Supreme Court’s landmark motor finance ruling last week. Lloyds shares jumped 5.5 per cent in early deals to 80p – a five-year high. Shares in Close Brothers jumped 22 per cent. Analysts at Jefferies had said Lloyds shares would [...]
Exclusive: OnlyFans signs up England cricket star Tymal Mills August 4, 2025 England international Tymal Mills has agreed a partnership with OnlyFans that will see him become the first big-name cricketer on the global content creator platform. Mills joins other athletes including tennis star Nick Kyrgios on the site, where he has promised to share behind-the-scenes content, analysis and one-to-one coaching advice. As part of the partnership, [...]
Business chiefs urge Labour to train UK’s young Neets August 4, 2025 Top business executives across the country have urged the Labour government to introduce a tax relief for training young people not in employment, education or training (Neet). In a joint letter to Chancellor Rachel Reeves signed by over 125 business leaders including senior figures at Toyota and JCB, the government was urged to take urgent [...]
Reeves’ non-dom crackdown is unwittingly driving rich Brits away too August 4, 2025 The hordes of wealthy foreigners leaving Britain to escape the government’s non-dom crackdown are being joined by high-net-worth Brits capitalising on an arcane element of the policy that has made it easier for them to avoid paying inheritance tax (IHT). Several wealth advisers and tax lawyers have reported a “second wave of interest” from middle-aged [...]
High street banks lost £100bn in customer savings to rivals since 2019 August 4, 2025 High street lenders have lost the equivalent of £100bn in customer savings to online banks and building societies as they come under pressure to adapt amid a major shift in the sector, according to a report. KPMG’s latest State of the Banks report found that traditional banking groups saw their market share in deposits drop [...]
