Political News
China approves $60bn-worth of retaliatory tariffs on US goods
China will raise tariffs on $60bn-worth of US exports in retaliation for the latest decision from Washington to increase levies on $200bn of Chinese goods from 10% to 25%.
EU readies retaliation as US auto-tariff deadline looms
The European Union has prepared a list of American exports that will be subjected to tariffs on 18 May should the US go ahead with $53bn-worth of levies on the bloc's car and auto parts exports.
Trump warns China not to retaliate as trade war escalates
Tensions between Washington and Beijing were put in sharp focus on Monday after a series of tweets by Donald Trump aimed at Chinese counterpart President Xi.
UK MPs say banks putting poor, elderly at risk with branch closures
Britain's banks are putting the elderly and poor at risk through increasing branch closures, a powerful commons committee said on Monday.
Trump tells Iran 'call me' over sanctions
US President Donald Trump said he was willing to talk with Iran even after he slapped extra tariffs on the country's exports, causing rising tensions.
Trump prepares to increase tariffs on China on Friday as negotiations resume
The US administration is moving ahead with preparations to increase its tariffs on Chinese exports on Friday even as the negotiating team from Beijing arrives in Washington for two days of talks.
May holds off rebels for another week; hints at fourth Brexit vote
UK Prime Minister Theresa May's future intentions were no clearer on Thursday as she promised to meet a Conservative backbench committee next week to discuss a departure timetable.
Tory rebels renew push to topple May
Dissident Tory MPs were once again trying to garner support to unseat Prime Minister Theresa May as pressure intensified on her to provide a departure timetable.
Post-Brexit customs union would leave Britain 3% poorer, says NIESR
UK GDP would be 3% lower if the UK retained a customs union with the EU after Brexit than if it had remained in the bloc, according to a report on Thursday.
CBI calls for business rates review to halt 'regional unfairness'
Business lobby group the CBI has warned that the current business rates system is “entrenching regional unfairness” and have called for a review.
Iran drops key commitments under 2015 nuclear deal
Iran announced on Wednesday that it would drop two of the key commitments that it entered into as part of the 2015 nuclear deal in response to America's withdrawal and its decision to reinstate sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
China reneges on multiple aspects of draft trade agreement
The White House received a diplomatic cable from Beijing late on Friday night containing systematic edits to the pair's nearly 150-page draft trade agreement, threatening to undo months of negotiations between the world's two largest economies.
Wealthy UK investors see positive outcome from Brexit - UBS
Wealthy UK investors grew more optimistic on the economic impact that Brexit might have, the latest survey from UBS shows.
KPMG fined £5m for failings during 2009 Co-op Bank audit
KPMG has been fined £5m and severely reprimanded over auditing work it carried out for The Co-operative Bank, it was announced on Wednesday, the Big Four firm's second sanction in less than a month.
Any weakness in stocks unlikely to be 'material or prolonged', JP Morgan says
A correction in stockmarket prices was possible but any weakness was unlikely to be "material or prolonged", said strategists at JP Morgan, who advised clients to use any weakness on the back of seasonals and the US President to add to their positions.
Labour MPs refuse to back Brexit deal without second referendum
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was warned he could lose the support of up to 60 MPs for a Brexit deal if he failed to secure a second referendum.
Hunt hints at customs union compromise in Labour Brexit talks
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt appeared to hint that the government's cross-party talks with Labour are close to bearing fruit on Tuesday, commenting that he doesn’t "personally" favor a customs union with the European Union but compromise was needed on all sides.
Report backs universal basic income trials in UK
A report commissioned by shadow chancellor John McDonnell urged that trials of a universal basic income scheme providing regular cash payments to adult citizens should start.
Chinese vice premier Liu He to travel to Washington on Thursday
China's top trade official will travel to the States this week even after the US administration's decision to backtrack on a promise not to further increase its tariffs on the Asian giant's exports, in response to what Washington said was backsliding by Beijing on various of its recent commitments.
Markets fall as Trump threatens China with tariff increase
Chinese stock markets fell on Monday and Europe follows suit after US President Trump tweeted on Sunday night threatening the Chinese government with an increase in tariffs.