HSBC has unveiled its largest bonus pool in 14 years after annual profits came in ahead of City expectations, handing bankers a $3.9bn windfall as the group accelerates its strategic overhaul. The FTSE 100 lender increased total variable pay by 10 per cent year-on-year, taking the 2025 bonus pot to its highest level since $4.2bn was distributed in 2011. The uplift comes despite a 7.4 per cent fall in annual pre-tax profits to $29.9bn, a...
Many conservatives quickly took to social media to praise President Trump’s State of the Union speech, which lasted just under two hours, energizing Republicans and riling Democrats. ‘It’s not just an excellent speech, it’s mostly POTUS himself,’ conservative radio host Mark Levin posted on X. ‘ He’s a truly historic leader. I know it drives DC nuts. Who cares.’ ‘Trump is a colossus; an amazingly patriotic speech,’ FOX Business Senior Correspondent Charles Gasparino posted on X. ‘This...
Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas said Tuesday that she would ‘boycott’ President Donald Trump’s State of the Union speech. She blasted him as a ‘wannabe king’ and described the present state of the union as ‘grim.’ ‘Tonight, I will boycott Donald Trump’s State of the Union address,’ she said in the statement. ‘The American people deserve better than a low-down, scamming wannabe king who plans to stand at that podium and spew more lies;...
The government has convened a new taskforce to unlock up to £1bn in additional lending for small businesses, pressing Britain’s major banks to commit fresh capital to alternative community lenders. Ministers are seeking “concrete commitments” over the next five years to expand funding for the community development financial institution (CDFI) sector, not-for-profit lenders that support businesses unable to secure loans from mainstream banks. The initiative follows a review which found that many small firms are...
The British Business Bank has committed a further £25m to support emerging and diverse angel syndicates across the UK, bringing total investment in the platform to £32m. The funding is being deployed through a vehicle managed by Haatch, an early-stage VC firm and existing partner of the Bank. The expanded commitment follows an initial £7m investment last year into a first cohort of five angel syndicates. The initiative is designed to channel capital into high-performing...
Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., on Tuesday urged spring breakers with plans to visit Mexico to cancel their trips due to violent clashes in the country triggered by the Mexican army’s killing of cartel leader Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as ‘El Mencho,’ earlier this week. Mullin made the comments during an appearance on CNBC’s ‘Squawk Box,’ in which he said his chiropractor was still planning to visit a popular tourist destination in Mexico. ‘Anybody that’s...
President Donald Trump used part of his State of the Union address on Tuesday to spotlight American military heroism, awarding U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Eric Slover and U.S. Navy Captain E. Royce Williams with the nation’s highest military honor. Recounting what he described as a high-risk January raid targeting Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, Trump detailed Slover’s role in leading the mission. He said Slover was piloting a Chinook helicopter transporting U.S. forces into heavily...
President Donald Trump, during his Tuesday night State of the Union address, awarded the Purple Heart to Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe and deceased Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, two National Guard members who were critically injured and fatally shot by a gunman who ambushed them while on duty last year in Washington, D.C. Trump used a portion of his State of the Union address to acknowledge Wolfe and the parents of 20-year-old Beckstrom, who did not...
President Donald Trump called out insider trading on Capitol Hill during his address, urging Congress to ‘pass the Stop Insider Trading Act without delay’ while also taking a shot at Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi. ‘Let’s also ensure that members of Congress cannot corruptly profit from using insider information,’ Trump said, prompting members of both parties to stand. Trump responded, ‘They stood up for that. I can’t believe it. I can’t believe it. Did Nancy Pelosi...
President Trump’s first swipe at Democrats during his first official State of the Union of his second term was a dig related to taxes and their opposition to his signature ‘Big Beautiful Bill.’ ‘Together, we’re building a nation where every child has the chance to reach higher and go further, where government answers to the people, not the powerful, and where the interests of hardworking American citizens are always our first and ultimate concern,’ Trump...
