Political News
EU leaders agree on outline of immigration deal
EU leaders have managed to agree on an outline of an immigration deal after a 10 hour session of talks.
EU leaders call for more urgency in Brexit talks
The European Union has warned of the continuing possibility of a no-deal Brexit after a meeting between the bloc's leaders in Brussels highlighted the "serious divergence" with Britain.
Trump dreams of WTO exit, but Mnuchin denies it
President Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted to his staff that he wants the US to withdraw from the World Trade Organisation, according to to reports that were later denied.
Chinese state firms likely to win HS2 bid as FirstGroup, Virgin flounder
Chinese state railway firms are now at the top of the list to operate new high-speed trains in Britain, as other local bidders remain embroiled in their own franchise crises.
UK faces two decades of tax hikes to pay for NHS
UK taxpayers could face another two decades of tax hikes in order to fund the government's promised annual £20bn boost in NHS spending.
SSE compensates customers £665,000 following termination of Ebico partnership
Scottish energy giant SSE has paid £190,000 in compensation to customers following the termination of its 'white label' partnership tariff with Ebico.
Mattis takes aim at Chinese expansionism in Beijing visit
China’s military expansionism will be met with a "medium tough" message from US defence secretary James Mattis during his three-day visit to Beijing this week.
BoE calls on Brussels to do its bit to reduce Brexit risks
The Bank of England has called on the EU to match the UK's actions to deal with continuing risks of disruption to financial services from Brexit.
UK unions join businesses in call for urgency in Brexit negotiations
Union and business leaders in the UK and Europe have joined together to demand “measurable progress” from Brexit negotiations this week, with Britain's economic interests, people’s jobs, rights and livelihoods to be put first.
Brexit bill becomes British law after months of debate
The House of Commons Speaker John Bercow has announced on Tuesday that the Brexit bill has become British law after months of debate.
UK military spending needs rise 'to maintain influence'
Former chief of defense staff Lord Gen Nick Houghton said the UK’s defense programme is unaffordable within current budgets and needs to rise if the country is to maintain its relationship with the US and its influence overseas.
Brussels amends draft conclusions to include 'evolution clause'
EU officials have adjusted their draft conclusion ahead of the council's summit on Thursday and Friday.
Bank of America gets ready to move London jobs to Paris
Bank of America is pressing ahead with moving some of its investment bank to Paris to prepare for Brexit by appointing three senior managers who will move there in 2019.
Treasury committee calls for hedge funds to stop profiting from poll data
The chair of parliament's influential Treasury committee has called for hedge funds to stop commissioning private polls and then profiting from the market’s reaction after reports of the huge profits made from leaks about the Brexit referendum result.
Car industry calls for customs union, single market benefits
Britain’s motor industry has called on the government to keep the UK in the EU customs union and retain single market benefits as car plant output falls, jobs are lost and investment drops.
Heathrow expansion gets approval in historic Commons vote
MPs have voted overwhelmingly for a third runway at Heathrow airport in a move welcomed by business leaders and Britain’s biggest union after years of political wrangling.
FX round-up: Are currencies the next front in the global trade war?
Sterling was slightly weaker at the beginning of the week, with the ongoing concerns around Brexit offsetting the bid resulting from the ongoing aggressive rhetoric out of the White House on trade.
Commons set to vote on Heathrow expansion plans
MP’s will decide later on Monday whether to go ahead with plans to build a third runway at Heathrow airport.
UK business shows 'deep concern' over Brexit in letter to PM
The UK’s five main business lobbies have urged the Prime Minister in a letter to make progress in the Brexit negotiations or risk losing jobs and investment.
BofA-ML sees rising risk of no ECB rate hikes in 2019 because of trade wars
Economists at Bank of America-Merrill Lynch stood by their forecasts for a first hike in the ECB's deposit rate in September 2019, but said they now saw an increased risk of no interest rate hikes at all next year.