Author: WTX Business Team

Cost of British food basics increases by up to 80% in a year The Guardian says The price of staple foods such as cheddar cheese, white bread and pork sausages has soared by up to 80% in some shops over the past year, in further evidence of how inflation is hitting those on the tightest budgets the hardest. Porridge oats topped the price increase ranking among a basket of British basics measured by the consumer group Which?, with prices up by an average of 35.5% followed by skimmed milk, which was up by 33.6%, and cheddar cheese, which rose by…

EasyJet boss says it is prepared for summer despite ongoing strikes The Guardian says The boss of easyJet said the travel industry was much better prepared for this summer than last year when staff shortages led to chaos at airports, although he warned that ongoing strikes could cause some disruption. The budget airline lifted its profit outlook for this year after summer bookings rose and passenger numbers over Easter returned to pre-pandemic levels. Johan Lundgren, the easyJet chief executive, said the airline had completed its largest ever crew recruitment drive and had received a number of applications more than eight…

Financial Times – Savers withdrew nearly $60bn from three US banks as Apple raises heat Summary of the front page The Financial Times says savers withdrew nearly $60bn from US banks Charles Schwab, State Street and M&T in the first quarter as customers moved their money in search of higher interest rates. Traditional banks could face further threat because of Apple and Goldman Sachs’ new savings account in the US that will pay 4.15% interest a year, it reports. The paper’s main image is of Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Russian opposition activist, during a court hearing in Moscow where he was…

More people looking for work as vacancies fall The latest official figures suggest that the uncertain economic outlook is affecting employment, with a rise in jobseekers and a fall in job vacancies. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that between December and February, around 220,000 more people were seeking work than in the previous three months. The number of job vacancies fell for the ninth consecutive quarter, with a drop of 47,000 from the previous quarter to 1,105,000. Despite this, there was an increase in the employment rate as more people returned to the jobs market. However, the rate…

UK firms have sharpest rise in confidence since 2020 UK chief financial officers (CFOs) have seen the sharpest rise in confidence since 2020, according to a survey by Deloitte. The improvement came as CFOs became less concerned about energy prices and Brexit-related issues. The survey, conducted between 21 March and 3 April, showed that 25% of CFOs felt better about the future than worse, compared to 17% feeling the opposite three months ago. Deloitte chief economist Ian Stewart attributed the rebound to simultaneous improvements in areas including the lowering of energy prices, inflation peak and the improvement of relations with…

Greener flights will cost more but will reduce carbon emissions by 70% Sustainable Aviation, an industry group representing UK aviation, has said that efforts to decarbonise air travel are likely to increase ticket prices, which could deter some passengers from flying. Measures such as using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which is several times more expensive to produce than traditional jet fuel, will “inevitably reduce passenger demand”, according to the group, which includes airlines such as British Airways, airports such as Heathrow, and manufacturers like Airbus. However, the group also found that people will “still want to fly” despite “slightly higher…

Scrap all existing smart motorways, says AA The Automobile Association (AA) has called for all existing smart motorways in England to be scrapped, joining campaigners who have raised concerns over safety. Smart motorways use technology to regulate traffic flow and ease congestion, including the use of the hard shoulder as an extra lane. Critics argue that the removal of the hard shoulder has led to deaths. The government cancelled the construction of 14 new smart motorways due to financial and safety concerns, and plans to make existing smart motorways safer through the creation of 150 additional emergency stopping places and…

CITY AM – City warms to Rishi CITYAM SAYS As Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer doesn’t tire of reminding voters: expertise beyond politics can be invaluable. For the current resident behind that most famous front door, it’s so far proved an advantage. Liz Truss’ accountancy background may not have aided her short-lived leadership bout, but – for the City’s boardrooms at least – her successor could hardly be better suited for the clean up. Financial analyst, hedge fund manager, MBA-holder: Rishi Sunak’s Californian-esque CEO charm has proved a tonic for the Square Mile. “I think the consensus is that Sunak…

Financial Times – Bank of England consider urgent reform of deposit guarantee scheme Summary of the front page The lead story on the front page of the Financial Times says the Bank of England is considering “urgent” reforms to its deposit guarantee scheme following turmoil in the sector last month caused by the collapse of US lender Silicon Valley Bank, which saw billions withdrawn from the firm’s UK entity. The paper’s lead image shows smoke rising above the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, after the death toll there rose following a second day of fighting between the army and a rival paramilitary…

Ford launches hands-free driving on UK motorways The UK government has approved Ford’s BlueCruise technology, which allows drivers to take their hands off the wheel while driving on certain motorways. The system can control steering, acceleration and braking, but requires a camera to monitor the driver’s eyes so they stay focused on the road.  Initially, the technology will only be available for 2023 models of the electric Mustang Mach-E SUV, and will be offered on a subscription basis. The first 90 days of the subscription are included with the purchase of the £50,830 car, after which drivers will have to…

City AM – Out of Order: De La Rue warns of ‘significant uncertainty’ as demand for cash dries up CITY AM SAYS Storied banknote-maker De La Rue said profits would slump below expectations and warned of a “significant degree of uncertainty” today as it struggles to cope with a downturn in cash usage. In a trading update, the firm said full year adjusted operating profits would come in at a “mid-single digit percentage below” an initial £30m forecast after a sharp fall in demand for its banknotes over the past year. “The downturn in currency, impacting both De La Rue…

Financial Times – Biden presses Belfast parties Summary of the front page The Financial Times says Joe Biden’s visit to Northern Ireland, commemorating 25 years of the Good Friday Agreement. The paper focuses on Mr Biden’s appeal to Northern Ireland’s political parties and carries a photo of the leader with actor James Martin who recently starred in the Oscar-winning film An Irish Goodbye. The president will spend the rest of his trip in the Republic of Ireland, the paper notes. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National newspapers Previous Next

Fears and warnings swirl, but how dangerous is AI technology? AI (Artificial Intelligence) is not a new concept, it’s been around since the mid-20th century and can be traced back even further to early Greek myths and the development of mechanical devices designed to automate tasks in the industrial revolution. But fears over AI have once again amplified in recent months, following the launch of ChatGPT (and others like it) – an AI language model that many say threatens white-collar jobs, and some predict it could, if not truly understood, end the human race. Elon Musk, a man you wouldn’t…

UK to be one of worst performing economies this year, predicts IMF The UK is set to have the worst-performing economy in the G20 this year, according to predictions from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), due to a forecasted shrinkage.  Although the predictions are grim, they are a small upgrade from the IMF’s previous prediction on the health of the UK economy. They have still warned of the “rocky road” ahead for the global financial system due to recent instabilities. The IMF prediction on the UK’s economy points to Britain’s exposure to high gas prices, rising interest rates and slow…

Financial Times – First batch of IPOs under streamlined China listings rules soars 96% on debut Summary of the front page The Financial Times says shares in 10 Chinese companies soared almost 100% on average on Monday as the first initial public offerings under a streamlined listings regime debuted in Shanghai and Shenzhen. Mr Biden’s trip to Northern Ireland is also a focus of the front page, with the paper leading on a parade that took place in Londonderry on Monday, organised by Republicans opposed to the Good Friday Agreement. “Police had warned of possible violence,” the paper notes, adding petrol…

CBI boss Tony Danker sacked over misconduct claims Tony Danker, the boss of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), has been fired following an investigation into complaints about his conduct at work involving a female employee. Three other CBI employees have also been suspended pending further investigation into allegations. The CBI is liaising with the police and intends to fully cooperate with any police investigations. Danker, who stepped aside in March during the investigation, has not commented. In its statement on Tuesday, the CBI said: “Tony Danker is dismissed with immediate effect following the independent investigation into specific complaints of…

Interest rates likely to fall to pre-Covid levels, IMF predicts A new International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecast suggests that interest rates in major economies are expected to fall back to pre-pandemic levels. It says low productivity and ageing populations will be factors likely to reduce inflation, which will result in central banks easing monetary policy. The Bank of England has raised interest rates since December 2021 from 0.1% to 4.25%, with the UK experiencing its highest inflation rates in almost 40 years. Other central banks – in the US, Europe and other nations, have also raised interest rates to combat…

More people entertaining at home amid cost of living crisis Sales of home accessories and furniture increased sharply in March, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), which helped to boost total retail sales by 5.1% compared with the previous year.  The cost of living continues to put pressure on households, with inflation rising 10.4% in the year to February.  The BRC said that Mother’s Day drove sales of jewellery, flowers and fragrances, but that wet weather held back demand for gardening, DIY and fashion items. Sales of home accessories and furniture saw the strongest growth of any category in…

CITY AM – CBI IN CRISIS: Firms mull bailing out CITYAM SAYS The Treasury has placed on pause all engagement with the CBI, Britain’s biggest business body, after a string of sexual misconduct allegations. The CBI regularly meets with ministers to discuss economic policy and is regularly consulted by officials on changes to the business landscape. However in light of allegations which have surfaced over the past 48 hours the Treasury has elected to “temporarily pause” all engagement. On Monday the Guardian published allegations that up to twelve women had experienced what they have described as sexual misconduct. That followed…

Financial Times – Ukraine ‘ready’ for Crimea talks with Kremlin if counteroffensive succeeds Summary of the front page The Financial Times reports that Kyiv is willing to discuss the status of Crimea with Moscow if its forces reach the border of the Russian-occupied peninsular, according to a senior adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The front page also reports on the arrest of Nicola Stugeon’s husband in relation to a probe into SNP funding and financing. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National newspapers Previous Next

New tax year: Bills and benefits rise, but tax rise risk looms The new tax year has started with warnings for people to be cautious with their finances due to tax, pension, and benefit rules. Income tax thresholds are frozen until 2028, meaning pay rises could push people into a higher tax bracket. The Office for Budget Responsibility predicts that 3.2 million new taxpayers will be created, with 2.6 million people paying higher rate tax. State pension and a range of benefits will increase by 10.1% on Monday. For the state pension, paid to those aged 66 and above, the…

Financial Times – Trump enters not guilty plea to 34 counts on day of drama in New York Summary of the front page Trump’s “day of drama” is the main story on the front page of the Financial Times. The paper also covers allegations of workplace misconduct at the Confederation of British Industry, which has resulted in the organisation cancelling all external events today. The paper reports that the “dramatic legal reckoning” will threaten Mr Trump’s plans to return to the White House. The paper reports that the indictment represents a “huge moment of peril” for Mr Trump, who is…

Financial Times – EY banned from German audit work for two years after Wirecard scandal Summary of the front page The Financial Times reports that EY has been banned from taking on any newly listed audit clients in Germany for two years over failures in its work for collapsed payments company Wirecard. Germany’s audit watchdog, Apas, also announced a €500,000 (£439,000) fine for EY, the paper reports. The front page pictures electric scooters and reports Paris is to ban e-scooters after a poll revealed most want the mode of transport outlawed. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK…

Richard Branson’s rocket firm Virgin Orbit files for bankruptcy Virgin Orbit, the satellite launch company founded by British billionaire Sir Richard Branson, has filed for bankruptcy in the US due to a failure to secure new investment. The company, which is a spin-off from Sir Richard’s space tourism firm Virgin Galactic, halted its operations weeks ago and announced that it plans to cut 85% of its 750-strong workforce. Virgin Orbit will now look to find a buyer for the business, with the aim of providing clarity to customers, vendors, and employees about the future of the company. It launches rockets…

Economist – America vs China: It’s worse than you think Economist says you may have hoped that when China reopened and face-to-face contact resumed between politicians, diplomats and businesspeople, Sino-American tensions would ease in a flurry of dinners, summits and small talk. But the atmosphere in Beijing just now reveals that the world’s most important relationship has become more embittered and hostile than ever. In the halls of government Communist Party officials denounce what they see as America’s bullying. They say it is intent on beating China to death. Western diplomats describe an atmosphere laced with intimidation and paranoia. In…