Tuesday newspaper round-up: Nationalism, UK consumers, Uber, Juul

The rise of nationalism and governments that interfere in markets pose a threat to the global economic system, the boss of BHP, the world’s biggest mining company, has warned. Despite announcing a 124% rise in profits to $US8.31bn (£6.84bn), helped by booming iron ore sales to China, Andrew Mackenzie said on Tuesday that there were “a number of things abroad” that were causing concern for the Anglo-Australian behemoth. – Guardian

UK households have cut back on big purchases such as holidays as fears of a possible recession continue to loom, a survey suggests. Confidence among UK households has fallen to its lowest in three months, according to the latest IHS Markit household finance index, dropping to 43.7 in August from 44.3 the previous month. The index measures perceptions of financial well-being, with readings below 50 reflecting a deterioration in sentiment. – Guardian

City lobby groups have started talking to banks and investors about reducing stock market trading hours in a radical move aimed at helping working parents. The plans, which are at the early discussion stage, are aimed at ending the era of testosterone-fuelled trading rooms by encouraging more women not to drop out of senior City jobs due to childcare issues. – Telegraph

Uber has hired a new boss for the UK and Ireland as it battles to secure a long-term licence to operate its taxis in London. The American company has recruited Melinda Roylett to replace Tom Elvidge, who left to join Wework, the shared offices company, in April. – The Times

A fast-growing American maker of e-cigarettes has raised $325 million as it prepares to increase its expansion overseas. Juul, which is 35 per cent-owned by Altria, the maker of Marlboro cigarettes, raised the funds through a debt and equity sale, a regulatory filing showed yesterday. Valued privately last December at $38 billion, Juul launched its first e-cigarette in 2015 and now dominates the market in the United States, with about three quarters of sales. – The Times