Anna Wise
Business News
Bank of England boss defends Government bond-selling policy against critics
Andrew Bailey said the process of offloading debt was giving the Bank capacity to defend against future economic shocks.
By Anna Wise
15 Jun 2026
Business News
Co-op defends culture and leadership after reports of ‘fear’ among senior staff
The grocery and services chain said it does not believe the criticisms ‘represent the views of our broader leadership and colleagues’.
By Anna Wise
11 Feb 2026
Business News
Higher prices and record Christmas gifting bolster sales for PZ Cussons
The Manchester-based maker of labels including Imperial Leather and Carex reported revenue growth for each of its ten largest brands.
By Anna Wise
11 Feb 2026
Business News
Coleen Rooney ups stake in Applied Nutrition as it targets working mothers
The TV personality, and wife of ex-footballer Wayne Rooney, has significantly increased her shareholding in the company, it said.
By Anna Wise
10 Feb 2026
Business News
Barclays to home in on AI as profit jumps and boss handed £15m pay packet
Chief executive CS Venkatakrishnan said AI was a core part of the bank’s plans to make it more efficient.
By Anna Wise
10 Feb 2026
Business News
Barclays annual profit leaps by 13% as bank aims to hand £15bn to shareholders
Barclays said it wants to hand out more than £15 billion to shareholders over the next two years, through dividends and share buybacks.
By Anna Wise
10 Feb 2026
Business News
Beauty brand Barry M bought out of administration by Warpaint
The acquisition includes the brand and intellectual property, but not Barry M’s factory and staff.
By Anna Wise
9 Feb 2026
Business News
NatWest to buy wealth manager Evelyn Partners for £2.7bn
The deal marks a major acquisition for NatWest which has been privately owned for less than a year.
By Anna Wise
9 Feb 2026
Business News
EU warns Meta over blocking rival AI chatbots from WhatsApp
The European Commission said Meta’s policy risked “irreparably harming competition in Europe”.
By Anna Wise
9 Feb 2026
Business News
Ocado plans cost-cutting drive with up to 1,000 jobs at risk, says report
Ocado Group declined to comment but said the business regularly reviewed operations to ensure it was set up for ‘long-term success’.
By Anna Wise
9 Feb 2026
Business News
Mandelson’s lobbying firm cuts all ties and announces boss to quit
Global Counsel said Lord Mandelson no longer has a stake in the business nor any influence over it.
By Anna Wise
6 Feb 2026
Business News
What will Barclays and NatWest earnings show about the booming banking sector?
Both British banking groups are expected to report higher earnings for 2025.
By Anna Wise
6 Feb 2026
Business News
TSB announces boss leaving to head up Spanish owner Sabadell
Marc Armengol will step down to take up the new role at Sabadell.
By Anna Wise
5 Feb 2026
Business News
Rio Tinto and Glencore abandon talks to form world’s largest miner
The companies said they were unable to reach an agreement that worked for both parties.
By Anna Wise
5 Feb 2026
Politics
Interest rates: Why did the Bank stick to 3.75% and what does it mean?
Here, the Press Association examines what the decision means and what the Bank expects to happen to the economy.
By Anna Wise
5 Feb 2026
Politics
Bank of England holds interest rates but future cuts ‘likely’
It came as the central bank also warned that economic growth is now set to be weaker than previously expected.
By Anna Wise
5 Feb 2026
Business News
Interest rates held at 3.75% as Bank cuts UK growth outlook
The central bank said it was keeping rates unchanged to make sure that inflation stays around its target level of 2%.
By Anna Wise
5 Feb 2026
Business News
Drax has ‘betrayed’ workforce with plans to cut jobs, union says
Drax Group is consulting over restructuring in the UK and North America that could result in the reduction of its workforce.
By Anna Wise
4 Feb 2026
Business News
Bank of England set to keep interest rates on hold as it faces ‘balancing act’
Most economists think the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee will opt to leave rates unchanged at its next decision on Thursday.
By Anna Wise
4 Feb 2026
Business News
NatWest pledges to lend £10bn to social housing over three years
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said loans from the bank will help build thousands of affordable homes for ‘families priced out of homeownership’.
By Anna Wise
4 Feb 2026
Business News
‘Post-budget clarity’ boosts UK services sector but job shedding worsens
The S&P Global UK services PMI survey scored a reading of 54.0 in January.
By Anna Wise
4 Feb 2026