The US central bank cut interest rates for the second time in a row, as the independent agency’s future becomes uncertain under Donald Trump’s second presidency. The Federal Reserve Bank, commonly known as the Fed, cut interest rates to 4.5% from 4.75%. Unlike the UK, the US interest rate is a range to guide lenders … Read more
Rachel Reeves probably doesn’t need any reminders of the political and economic power of inflation. Her party’s landslide electoral victory in the summer was largely attributed to the presidential election Cost of living calamity. Donald Trump wins this week He highlighted this point, as his sweeping gains across all demographics are due to inflationary effects … Read more
HS2 is spending more than £100m on a “shed” to protect bats on part of the line, despite “no evidence of high-speed trains interfering with bats”, the head of the project company said. Sir John Thompson said the 1km (0.6 mile) curved structure at Sheephouse Wood in Buckinghamshire would create a barrier so the creatures … Read more
The measures announced in the Budget will cost one of the UK’s largest supermarket chains £140 million, its chief executive said. Increase in employer National Insurance contributions, announced by the Chancellor Rachel Reeves In its budget last week, it will cost Sainsbury’s £140m as of April, said chief executive Simon Roberts. No price has been … Read more
Donald Trump’s victory was secured on an unequivocal promise to exhausted American families that he would “end inflation,” but markets and economists expect his second term to do the opposite. A combination of corporate tax cuts, government borrowing, lower immigration, and swinging tariffs on foreign imports is expected to heat the US economy and raise … Read more
An influential group of Manchester United fans have called on the club’s owners to revive plans for a fan engagement scheme, which remains on ice almost three-and-a-half years after it was initially promised. Sky News has learned that the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust (MUST) wrote to Joel Glazer, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Omar Berrada, the … Read more
Whitbread, owner of the FTSE 100 Premier Inn hotel chain, has begun the search for a successor to Adam Crozier, its chairman. Sky News has learned that headhunters working for Whitbread have begun searching for potential candidates for the position. Crozier, who has headed the company since 2018, is expected to step down sometime in … Read more
Post Office campaigner Sir Alan Bates has written to Sir Keir Starmer to remind him that “the clock is still ticking” on the deadline for compensation for victims. In his letter to the Prime Minister, Sir Alan called for a March 2025 deadline for compensation to the sub-postmaster’s victims in the incident. Horizon scandal. Earlier … Read more
A £15bn merger between two of the UK’s biggest mobile networks could get the green light – if they stick to their commitments to invest in the country’s infrastructure, the competition watchdog said. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said the merger of Vodafone and Three has “the potential to be pro-competitive in the UK … Read more
Ryanair – Europe’s largest budget airline – reported a significant drop in profits and trimmed its growth forecast amid challenges caused by Boeing aircraft delivery delays, falling prices and consumer spending pressures. For the six-month period to September, Ryanair’s net profit fell 18% to £1.5bn, down on the same period last year. The airline attributed … Read more