Holly Williams
Business News
Oil prices drop as Trump heralds US-Iran peace deal
Benchmark Brent crude fell more then 4% to just over 83 US dollars a barrel at one stage on hopes of a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
15 Jun 2026
UK
BP halts share buybacks and ramps up cost-cutting as profits slump
The FTSE 100 oil giant reported a 16% fall in underlying replacement cost profits to 7.49 billion US dollars (£5.47 billion) for 2025.
10 Feb 2026
Business News
Tesco to open more convenience stores as it snaps up Amazon Fresh sites
The supermarket giant said it will open 70 new convenience store sites by March next year.
9 Feb 2026
Business News
InPost agrees £6.8bn takeover by FedEx and private equity-led consortium
The group is looking to more than double its UK locker-point network to 30,000 from 14,000 currently.
9 Feb 2026
Business News
UK must work with China on energy tech or get ‘left behind’, says Octopus boss
It comes after Octopus struck a joint venture deal with Chinese firm PCG Power late last month to expand into China for the first time.
9 Feb 2026
Business News
Lidl set to hike pay for seventh time since 2023
The group, which employs more than 35,000 workers, claimed it was once again the ‘highest paying UK supermarket’ following the moves.
6 Feb 2026
Business News
TSB’s earnings in robust shape ahead of Santander takeover
The high street lender said pre-tax profits rose 20.7% to £350.4 million for 2025.
6 Feb 2026
Business News
Retailer Quiz becomes latest firm to hit the wall with 109 jobs axed
The chain’s 40 stores across the UK and seven concessions in Ireland will continue to trade while administrators look at options.
5 Feb 2026
Business News
JLR suffers further losses after lengthy cyber attack impact
The UK’s largest car maker booked another £64 million of costs related to the hack in its third quarter to December 31, and saw sales slump 39%.
5 Feb 2026
Business News
BT broadband customer losses slow as competition eases
The group revealed it shed 210,000 broadband customers in the last three months of 2025, which was less than feared in the market.
5 Feb 2026
Business News
Construction sector ‘exits tailspin’ but housebuilding remains weak spot
The latest S&P Global UK construction purchasing managers’ index showed a better-than-expected reading of 46.4 for January.
5 Feb 2026
Business News5 Feb 2026
Royal Mail in talks to end dispute with union over second class post changes
IDS said the changes have been delayed for over six months as it remains at loggerheads with the Communications Workers Union on the plans.
Business News
Shell profits slump by more than a fifth amid oil price rout
The oil giant said full-year underlying earnings dropped 22% to 18.53 billion US dollars (£13.6 billion).
5 Feb 2026
Business News
Novo Nordisk shares plunge on outlook warning as Mounjaro rival races ahead
Wegovy and Ozempic maker Novo Nordisk forecast plunging sales and earnings in 2026, which saw the Danish drugmaker’s shares plummet by nearly a fifth.
4 Feb 2026
Business News
Watches of Switzerland hikes annual sales outlook on ‘strong’ festive demand
Demand for its luxury brands, such as Rolex and Omega watches, continues to outstrip supply in the UK and US, according to the group.
4 Feb 2026
Business News
Santander to cut costs further as profits rise despite another motor finance hit
The Spanish-owned lending giant reported a 14% rise in pre-tax profits to £1.51 billion for 2025.
4 Feb 2026
Money
Monthly insurance costs cut by £157m a year after premium finance rates fall
The FCA said interest rate premiums on monthly motor and homes insurance policy payments have fallen by 4.1 percentage points on average since 2022.
3 Feb 2026
Business News
Irn-Bru maker AG Barr buys Fentimans and Frobishers in deals worth over £50m
Cumbernauld-based AG Barr unveiled the acquisitions as it reported a ‘strong’ financial year.
3 Feb 2026
Science
GSK cutting jobs in UK and US as part of ongoing R&D changes
It is understood around 50 UK jobs so far are being cut in the group’s main UK R&D hub in Stevenage, Hertfordshire.
2 Feb 2026
Business News2 Feb 2026
Gold and silver prices plummet in correction after record highs
Gold and silver suffered their worst trading days for decades on Friday and were down heavily again on Monday
Politics
UK growth to slow and business investment to contract amid tax hikes – report
The EY Item Club is forecasting growth to pull back to 0.9% in 2026 and for business investment to contract by 0.2%.
2 Feb 2026