Business

Institutional investors are pulling back from US equities and the dollar in record numbers, as President Trump’s aggressive tariff policies send shockwaves through global markets and push growth expectations to a 30-year low. According to the latest Bank of America survey of top fund managers, investors are adopting their most bearish stance on the dollar in nearly two decades. The poll, conducted between April 4 and 10, surveyed 164 institutional investors managing a combined $386...

The City of London’s financial services sector experienced a modest hiring rebound in the first quarter of 2025, according to Morgan McKinley’s latest London Employment Monitor. However, the early-year optimism is being tested by renewed global uncertainty and the escalating trade tensions triggered by President Trump’s return to office. The report shows a 12% increase in job vacancies in Q1 compared to the previous quarter—largely reflecting the industry’s seasonal bounce as firms resume hiring activity...

China has launched a scathing attack on British politicians, accusing them of “arrogance, ignorance and a twisted mindset” over criticism of British Steel’s Chinese owner, Jingye, and the firm’s recent threat to shut down its Scunthorpe blast furnaces. In a strongly worded statement published on Wednesday, Beijing’s embassy in London condemned what it described as unfounded “slander” against both the Chinese government and Chinese businesses operating in the UK. The rare public rebuke follows remarks...

Google is facing a landmark £5 billion legal challenge in the UK, accused of abusing its dominance in internet search to stifle competition and inflate the cost of advertising for businesses. The class action lawsuit, filed on Tuesday at the Competition Appeal Tribunal, alleges that Google unlawfully shut out rival search engines and leveraged its market power to charge British businesses significantly more for digital ads than they would in a competitive market. Brought by...

UK inflation fell more sharply than expected in March, reaching its lowest level in five months as falling petrol prices and flat food costs helped to ease the pressure on consumers and policymakers. Figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that the annual rate of inflation fell to 2.6%, down from 2.8% in February, and well below forecasts by economists and the Bank of England. It marks the slowest pace of price...

Companies across the UK are being urged to tap into an often-underutilised talent pool: military veterans. New research from the Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA) suggests that businesses which employ former service personnel benefit from enhanced team resilience, superior problem-solving skills, and a notably stronger work ethic. According to a survey conducted on behalf of the OVA, 91 per cent of employers who had hired veterans reported a positive business impact. The findings challenge lingering...

China’s economy grew faster than expected in the first quarter of the year, with a 5.4 per cent expansion driven by robust industrial output and domestic consumption — a performance that economists warn may prove short-lived as US tariffs begin to bite. The stronger-than-forecast GDP figures, released by Beijing on Tuesday, showed that the world’s second-largest economy continued to defy global headwinds in the January-March period. Analysts had expected 5.1 per cent growth, making the...

​​Maintaining high-quality, safe, and standards-compliant code is absolutely necessary in sectors where regulatory compliance is vital. Businesses in legal services, healthcare, and finance, as well as others, have to follow rigorous industry standards, including GDPR, HIPAA, and ISO 27001. Code review programs are among the best strategies available for guaranteeing compliance. These evaluations enable companies to enforce regulatory norms, find security problems, and create software compliant with legal and compliance criteria. Code reviews incorporated into...

UK business confidence has fallen to its lowest level in over two years, according to new data from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), as rising tax pressures and escalating global trade tensions take their toll on corporate sentiment. In its latest quarterly survey of 1,000 chartered accountants, the ICAEW reported that its Business Confidence Index dropped to -3 for the first quarter of 2025—down from 0.2 in the final quarter...

Eyewear has undergone a dramatic transformation. No longer just a practical item, it has evolved into a powerful accessory that bridges the gap between style and professionalism. For business professionals and young executives, a well-chosen pair of glasses adds sophistication, confidence, and a dash of flair to any outfit. But what’s driving this shift, and how do you choose the perfect frames to complement your professional persona? This blog will take a closer look at...