Author: Lucas

According to the CME FedWatch Tool, the probability of a December rate cut has fallen to roughly 35%, down sharply from earlier in the month. That shift helped lift the dollar to its strongest level since May, creating a challenging backdrop for non-yielding assets such as gold and silver. The dollar’s advance was also supported by concerns surrounding the prolonged U.S. government shutdown, which analysts warn may disrupt near-term economic momentum. Even so, global equity weakness bolstered demand for the greenback as investors sought liquidity and short-term safety. Minutes from the latest Federal Open Market Committee meeting underscored policymakers’ divided…

Police community support officers are paid members of forces who share some, but not all powers of a police officer.Chief Constable Mark Roberts said they “make a significant contribution”.”As we continue to be impacted by the legacy of austerity, we have got to look at ways of working differently.”He said the planned changes “would put more warranted police officers in our local policing teams going forwards than we have had this year”.”The public have told us that they want more police officers on the streets tackling crime, and these proposals will support that work, whilst also supporting the government’s Neighbourhood…

X Register for free to receive latest news stories direct to your inbox Register A construction and manufacturing group has transitioned to employee ownership as part of its growth strategy to safeguard its future and ensure long-term job stability for its employees. Established in 1986, Grimsby-based Central Insulations Ltd specialises in designing and building temperature-controlled environments for the food industry. In 2015, the business expanded its services to pharmaceutical and cleanroom industries, before acquiring Lincs Doors in 2017 and broadening the group’s capabilities to include bespoke industrial door solutions. Following the creation of an employee ownership trust (EOT) structure, Paul…

Netflix fell in lockstep with broader declines in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite.On Nov. 17, a 10-for-1 stock split on Netflix (NFLX 3.94%) went into effect, marking the streaming giant’s first split in over a decade. But despite the enthusiasm for the split, Netflix stock actually declined by 0.8% during the session. Here’s why investors shouldn’t be concerned about the tempered reaction to the split, and why Netflix remains a top buy now. Image source: Getty Images. Expectations are everything If a company’s value were a pie and the number of slices represented shares, then stock splits essentially take…

Earlier this year, Watches and Wonders was all about the Rolex Land-Dweller. As the brand’s first new model in 13 years, it sent the social media-sphere into a frenzy and had the watch community hotly debating their favourite version of the newbie. Pretty much anything Rolex does gets attention be it good, bad or indifferent and the Land-Dweller very much falls into the very good category.The Rolex Land-Dweller has been well received because it ticks a lot of boxes for a lot of people. It has heritage undertones, modern technology and many new features for us to drool over. “The…

Good Morning Britain delivered a gut-wrenching breaking news announcement about the energy price cap on Friday morning – but of course, Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis was on hand to help viewers save money despite a rise in prices.It was originally thought that energy regulator Ofgem would announce a drop in the price cap today, but instead, there is going to be a 0.2% increase from January. The ITV show shared that the changes will be costing most families on average an extra 28p per month in their energy bills. This means that, from 1st January, bills for most households…

In 2026, the global trading landscape will be primarily shaped by changes in trade policies and the way tariffs are imposed, particularly across major economies such as the US, China, and India. As forex traders in India, it is necessary to monitor these developments. They have the potential to create large swings in the value of the Indian Rupee (INR) and can affect trading strategies. Indian traders will need to carefully follow negotiations between India and the US, as trade talks may evolve in response to shifting global dynamics. A trade agreement or disagreement between India and the US could have…

Americans now spend $532 billion annually on utilities, with median household costs reaching $4,168 a yearNew doxoINSIGHTS reports reveal the most and least expensive states and cities for essential servicesRising energy demand, infrastructure investments, and price volatility push household utility costs up 15% in five years As AI-driven energy consumption grows, infrastructure upgrades accelerate, and utilities turn increasingly toward renewables, the cost of keeping the lights on continues to climb for U.S. households. New data from doxo’s 2025 Utilities Market Size and Household Spending Reports reveals Americans now spend $532 billion each year on essential utility services — and many families…

There are tentative signs of progress in British Land’s (BLND) strategic pivot towards retail parks and office “campuses” (offices plus retail and leisure amenities) after something of a lost decade.Underlying EPS growth of 1 per cent in the six months ended September versus the prior year was modest, but the fundamentals were supportive. Like-for-like net rental income rose 4 per cent to £224mn, aided by new leasing that was 5 per cent higher than the previously estimated market value. The company has agreed a further 300,000 square feet of leases since the period-end, supporting leasing momentum. Occupancy of the company’s…

TLDR: Citi and Swift successfully tested PvP settlement for fiat-to-digital currency transactions. Trial used USDC tokens on Ethereum Sepolia to simulate near-production settlement conditions. Escrow and orchestration mechanisms ensured synchronized settlement without execution failure. Stablecoin market adoption could reach $1.9 trillion by 2030, requiring interoperable solutions. Citi and Swift completed a landmark digital currency settlement trial, proving cross-currency payments are feasible. The Payment-versus-Payment workflow synchronized fiat and digital currency transfers in near real-time.  The trial used existing Swift infrastructure enhanced with blockchain connectors, orchestrators, and smart contracts. This initiative signals a step forward in integrating traditional finance with distributed ledger…