Britain’s leading banks have warned the government against capping the resale prices of concert and event tickets, claiming the move would push ticket touts and fraudulent sellers onto unregulated social media platforms. In a submission to ministers, UK Finance, the trade body representing Lloyds, NatWest, HSBC, Barclays and more than 300 other financial institutions, said proposed ticket price caps could ...
Business activity across the UK slowed sharply in September as mounting anxiety over the government’s delayed autumn budget led companies and households to postpone investment and spending decisions. The S&P Global composite purchasing managers’ index (PMI) — a closely watched measure of private-sector health — fell to 50.1 from 53.5 in August, marking its weakest reading since early spring. While ...
Bitcoin broke through the $125,000 mark for the first time on Sunday, extending a powerful rally that analysts say could continue into the end of the year. The world’s largest cryptocurrency jumped 3 per cent in Asian trading to reach $125,245, propelled by institutional inflows, a weaker US dollar, and renewed political support for digital assets in Washington. The milestone ...
The chief executive of Entain, the FTSE 100 owner of Ladbrokes and Coral, has warned the government that higher gambling taxes in next month’s Budget could lead to widespread betting shop closures and a sharp reduction in UK investment. In her first interview since taking the role permanently in April, Stella David said any increase in gambling duties would compel ...
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s chemicals empire, Ineos, has introduced a company-wide hiring freeze as it prioritises debt reduction following years of rapid expansion and weakening market conditions. The British-founded group confirmed a “general recruitment freeze” while tightening capital spending after acquiring assets worth around €2.7 billion across the US, Europe and Asia between 2022 and 2024. The move comes as Ineos ...