Author: Lucas

UK borrowing costs dipped back on Monday after rising earlier in the day, as cabinet ministers voiced support for the embattled Keir Starmer.The yield, or interest rate, on UK benchmark bonds initially increased on Monday as traders reacted to Sunday’s resignation of the prime minister’s chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, over the decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington.Yields rose further after the Downing Street communications director, Tim Allan, resigned on Monday morning, with long-term borrowing costs then hitting their highest level since November, as the Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, called on Starmer to stand down as…

It’s no secret that insurance is crucial for protecting companies from unpredictable events that could otherwise severely harm their bottom line or their reputation. But in recent years, many new companies have found it difficult to access that protection. Premiums have surged to levels that strain corporate budgets, coverage gaps leave companies vulnerable at the moment of crisis, and the entire structure depends on foreign reinsurance capacity that most American executives don’t realise controls their fate.Recent events have only made those challenges more urgent. The California wildfires of early 2025 exposed many companies to unforeseen situations that they couldn’t cover,…

Strong demand for commercial property investment opportunities is outpacing supply across Shropshire, reports Halls Commercial in Shrewsbury who have investors waiting to buy. The quick sale of 2, High Street, Church Stretton highlights the strong demand for commercial investment properties in Shropshire The award-winning company is now actively seeking investment property opportunities for retained clients, following the successful sale of 2, High Street, Church Stretton, a former banking hall and currently let to PCB Solicitors. Known as “Little Switzerland” because of its picturesque landscape, Church Stretton is a popular Shropshire tourism destination and a ‘Walkers are Welcome’ town. Underlining the…

India reducing its purchase of Russian oil has dealt a heavy blow to Russia. After US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to a trade agreement, Indian oil refiners significantly reduced their purchase of Russian crude oil. New Delhi had accounted for about 38 per cent of Russia’s seaborne crude oil exports, according to finam.ru. By March, the imports will reportedly be below 1 million barrels per day, with supply volumes declining to 500,000-600,000 barrels per day. In 2025, the average was about 1.7 million barrels per day. Russian media reported that India had begun to adopt…

A skills shortage continues to plague the United Kingdom’s manufacturing sector, where about 49,000 jobs lay vacant at the end of April 2025.In a mid 2024 survey of U.K. manufacturers, 97.5 percent of respondents said that finding and retaining skilled workers was a significant business challenge.Ruchir BudhwarSocial Links NavigationEVP and Industry Head Manufacturing at Infosys.Hiring digital talent is especially problematic, because manufacturing companies must compete against other sectors that are perceived as more technologically advanced. You may like This means that even as they invest in robotics, artificial intelligence, advanced analytics and other digital solutions, manufacturers are unable to provision…

Most of us crave some time away from our regular routine to truly unwind and experience the finer things in life. Travel plans are always at the back of the mind but rarely come to fruition. If you find yourself in the same boat, planning your dream vacation is easier than you think. A little planning goes a long way in easing the financial burden to fund your trip. And your handy tool is your savings account. Learn how you can leverage it to make your much-awaited travel plans a reality.Role of savings account travel planning Building your travel fund with…

Image source: Getty Images If someone had asked me to compile a list of the best FTSE 100 growth stocks a week ago, it would almost certainly have included data specialist RELX (LSE: REL). That’s a stock I’ve wanted to buy for years. Is this my moment? My list might also have included software provider Sage Group, plus credit reference agency Experian and educational publisher Pearson. All have performed so well for so long, I thought I’d missed the boat. I felt the same about London Stock Exchange Group. Its price had plunged 25% in a year, so I dived in and…

How AI in Trading is Redefining the Landscape in India | Image: Initiative Desk AI is reshaping India’s trading ecosystem, giving everyday investors access to institutional-grade tools, once used only by big institutions.  India’s financial markets have been witnessing a tech revolution. As retail participation surges and trading volumes reach unprecedented levels, AI in trading has emerged as the defining force reshaping how Indians invest, analyse, and execute trades.  What was once the exclusive domain of institutional investors – sophisticated algorithms, predictive analytics, and lightning-fast execution – is now accessible to everyday traders, fundamentally altering the investment landscape. The Rise…

Oil baron Winston Soosaipillai seemed to vanish into the sunset after he abandoned his Lincolnshire oil refinery and left a trail of £1.5billion debts behind last June.The sudden collapse of Prax Lindsey Oil Refinery (PLOR) under a mountain of unpaid loans saw hundreds of workers left jobless, redundancy packages slashed and family livelihoods ruined.Meanwhile, Mr Soosaipillai and his wife Arani are said to have deserted the refinery near Grimsby, their £5million Surrey mansion and repayments on a £783million loan riddled with ‘irregularities’, but took £11.5million with them in pay and dividends. Refining will not continue at the site as new owners Phillips…

X Register for free to receive latest news stories direct to your inbox Register Listed investor Palace Capital has confirmed it is selling commercial property at Broad Street Plaza shopping centre, Halifax, for £9.9m with completion expected in the next few weeks. The company first revealed in April 2025 the disposal of Units 5&6b, Broad Street Plaza on a long leasehold interest for £4.8m to Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust. On completion of the disposal announced today – 9 February – the business says it will have disposed of all its interests in Halifax. Palace Capital adds that it has also…