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Business confidence in the UK has climbed to its highest level since before last autumn’s budget, buoyed by President Trump’s decision to delay the full implementation of his reciprocal tariff regime, according to the latest survey from the Institute of Directors (IoD). The organisation’s economic confidence index rose from -58 in March to -51 in April, reaching its highest point since September 2024. The findings are based on a poll of 648 business leaders conducted...

Tesla has initiated a search for a new CEO, marking a pivotal moment for the electric vehicle giant as it grapples with a sharp downturn in profits, declining sales, and growing backlash over Elon Musk’s controversial involvement in politics. The move follows weeks of investor unrest and a steep 71% drop in first-quarter profits, with earnings falling to $409 million, down from $1.4 billion a year earlier. Tesla shares have plunged nearly 40% since January,...

Greene King chief executive Nick Mackenzie has warned that rising business rates and employment costs are putting huge pressure on the UK pub sector, calling on the government to “level the playing field” and deliver meaningful reform by 2026. Speaking after the October budget, which introduced significant tax changes for hospitality businesses, Mackenzie said Greene King expects to be hit with nearly £50 million in additional costs each year. He also revealed that national insurance...

The US economy shrank in the first quarter of 2025, marking its first contraction since early 2022, as a surge in imports ahead of President Trump’s sweeping new tariffs dragged down output, official figures show. Gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 0.3% on an annualised basis between January and March, according to the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), ending a period of strong post-pandemic growth. The figure was worse than the 0.2% drop expected...

Dame Julia Hoggett DBE, CEO of the London Stock Exchange, and Insiya Jafferjee, co-founder and CEO of Shellworks, have been named this year’s winners of the prestigious 2025 Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Awards, held at a ceremony at the Royal Opera House in London. Now in its 53rd year, the Bold Woman Award is the longest-running international accolade recognising outstanding women in business. Hoggett was honoured for her impact and leadership in financial services, as...

Families earning £100,000 a year are left with less disposable income than those on minimum wage if they send two children to private school, according to new analysis by financial planning firm Saltus. The introduction of VAT on private school fees has pushed costs sharply higher, leaving even high-earning parents struggling to cover education costs without making significant sacrifices. Saltus said families now face an average annual fee of £50,302 to send two children to...