Business - Daily Politics

Concerns are mounting over the impact of higher business rates on pubs and hospitality businesses, with warnings that the changes could accelerate closures, especially in rural communities.

Industry representatives have said that pubs are already under strain from rising costs, including energy bills, wages and supply prices. They argue that further increases in business rates risk making many venues financially unviable, particularly smaller, community-based pubs that operate on tight margins.

The issue has prompted unease within government ranks, with reports of cabinet-level concern over the scale of the changes and their potential political fallout. Hospitality groups have been urged by ministers not ...

The FTSE 100 has climbed to a new record level, marking a symbolic milestone for the UK’s main stock market index as it continues to benefit from strong performances in key sectors.

Gains were led by energy, mining and defence companies, which have been buoyed by higher commodity prices, global demand and a weaker pound. The international nature of the FTSE 100, with many firms earning revenues overseas, has helped insulate it from slower growth in the domestic economy.

Market analysts noted that while the index’s rise reflects positive sentiment among investors, it does not necessarily signal improved conditions for the broader ...

Tesla has lost its position as the world’s top electric vehicle seller after reporting weaker deliveries, while China’s BYD recorded stronger growth and expanded its global lead in EV sales.

Tesla’s deliveries declined compared with the previous year, reflecting intensifying competition, pricing pressure, and uneven demand across key markets. The company has also faced challenges linked to shifting consumer preferences, increased competition from lower-cost rivals, and delays around new product rollouts.

BYD’s rise has been driven by robust domestic demand in China and expanding international sales, supported by a broad lineup of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Analysts say BYD’s pricing strategy ...

Donald Trump’s personal wealth has increased in 2025, driven by a mix of media holdings, licensing deals, and growing involvement in cryptocurrency-related ventures. Recent estimates show that non-traditional assets now make up a notable share of his overall fortune.

A significant portion of the gains has been linked to Trump-affiliated digital assets, including a branded cryptocurrency project and related investment vehicles. These ventures have attracted strong interest from supporters and retail investors, contributing to sharp fluctuations in valuation tied to market sentiment.

Trump also continues to earn income from his majority stake in a publicly traded media company, along with revenue from ...

Meta has acquired Manus, a Chinese artificial intelligence startup, in a move aimed at strengthening its AI research and product development capabilities. The deal is part of a broader wave of late-year investments by large technology companies seeking to accelerate progress in artificial intelligence.

Manus is known for its work in advanced AI systems and model development, and the acquisition is expected to bolster Meta’s efforts to integrate more powerful AI tools across its platforms, including social media, advertising technology, and emerging products. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The acquisition comes amid heightened competition among global technology firms to ...

Silver prices briefly surged above $80 an ounce for the first time, marking a historic milestone in precious metals trading, before undergoing a sharp reversal as traders locked in gains. The rally, driven by momentum and investor demand, quickly shifted course overnight, reflecting the market’s fragile balance between speculation and fundamentals.

Following the brief spike, silver dropped as much as 5% during the next session, with analysts citing profit-taking and overbought conditions. The decline mirrored a broader pullback across precious metals, including gold, which also saw declines after a strong year-end run-up.

Market observers pointed to stretched technical conditions as a warning ...

Lloyds Bank and Halifax have announced plans to close a total of 55 bank branches across the UK during 2026, continuing a wider shift away from high street banking.

The banks said the decision reflects changing customer behaviour, with the majority of transactions now carried out online or via mobile apps. In-branch usage at many locations has declined significantly in recent years, prompting a review of physical networks.

Customers affected by the closures will be directed to alternative branches, digital services, or shared banking hubs where available. The banks said they would contact impacted customers in advance and provide support for those ...

Silver prices have climbed to record levels, extending a powerful rally across precious metals as investors respond to shifting interest rate expectations, geopolitical tensions and strong industrial demand.

The metal rose above $75 per ounce, with some trading sessions pushing prices toward the upper $70s, marking an unprecedented milestone. The surge comes alongside record or near-record gains in gold and platinum, signalling broad-based momentum in the commodities sector.

Analysts attribute the rally partly to growing expectations that major central banks may begin cutting interest rates in the coming year. Lower rates tend to boost demand for non-yielding assets such as precious metals, ...

Alphabet has agreed to acquire its long-time data center partner Intersect in a deal valued at approximately $4.75 billion, as the tech giant moves to secure critical infrastructure for its expanding cloud and artificial intelligence operations.

The acquisition will bring Intersect’s data center assets and development pipeline in-house, giving Google greater control over power supply, site development, and long-term capacity planning. Demand for computing power has surged as companies race to deploy AI models and scale cloud services.

Alphabet said the deal aligns with its strategy to invest heavily in infrastructure while improving efficiency and sustainability. Intersect has specialized in building large-scale ...