Wall Street rebounded as TSMC sparked a rally in semiconductor stocks, easing recent market pressure and lifting major US indexes.
Saks Global files for bankruptcy after the Neiman Marcus deal added heavy debt, securing $1.75bn financing to keep Saks Fifth Avenue stores operating.
Edinburgh (Parliament Politics Magazine) January 13, 2026 – Deputy First Minister Shona Robison presented the Scottish Budget 2026-27 allocating £58.5 billion total expenditure despite UK government funding constraints. Scottish Child Payment increases to £40 weekly for babies under one year representing targeted
JPMorgan Chase posts 9% Q4 profit increase, excluding Apple Card acquisition effects, supported by solid consumer and investment banking gains.
Ethiopia is building a new $12.5bn airport to support surging passenger demand and position itself as a leading aviation gateway in Africa.
Kent (Parliament Politics Magazine) January 12, 2026 – Authorities declared a major incident after water supply failures left approximately 30,000 properties without water or facing low pressure across Kent and Sussex. Both Southern Water and South East Water attributed disruptions to Storm
Southampton (Parliament Politics Magazine) January 12, 2026 – Batt Cables Limited entered administration January 6 with Ernst & Young partners Samuel Woodward Dan Edkins appointed joint administrators placing 290 jobs at risk across UK Ireland European operations. Southampton-headquartered electrical cable distributor maintains
Morrisons has announced a major closure as part of a supermarket overhaul, putting dozens of jobs at risk amid wider restructuring plans.
Glencore shares jumped 8% after reports of merger talks with Rio Tinto, with investors focused on copper exposure.
UK hedge fund founder Chris Rokos paid himself £477m, highlighting the scale of profits in the alternative investment sector.
Silver mining stocks fell sharply after commodity index rebalancing triggered a sudden 5% flash correction across the sector.
Rolls-Royce shares have surged 95% in 2025, prompting investor speculation over whether the rally can be sustained amid improving fundamentals.
Chinese brands MG, BYD, and Chery are projected to sell 10% of UK new cars in 2025, driven by increasing demand for EVs and hybrid vehicles.
Eurostar and Le Shuttle services between the UK and France have resumed after a major Channel Tunnel disruption caused widespread delays Tuesday.
Eurostar and Le Shuttle trains were suspended by a Channel Tunnel power outage, with services resuming gradually amid long vehicle queues.
Italy’s FS Group plans to launch London-Paris high-speed trains by 2029, entering the Channel Tunnel route and competing with Virgin and Eurostar services.
Copper hits $12,000/tonne in 2025 as demand for clean energy, US-China hoarding, and supply fears drive record price gains.
Everyman CEO Alex Scrimgeour resigns after a profit warning, with Farah Golant appointed interim chief of the UK cinema chain.
ACCA will end remote exams from March, citing rising AI-assisted cheating and requiring most students to sit tests in person.
UK Treasury insures Bayeux Tapestry £800m for 2026-27 British Museum loan via Indemnity Scheme amid French fragility concerns.
Gold surged past $4,500 an ounce as silver and platinum hit record highs, driven by safe-haven demand and expectations of US rate cuts.
Southern Water warns thousands of Hastings households could still face water disruption on Christmas Eve after a burst main, despite repair progress.
Denise Coates earned £280m from Bet365 in 2025 despite £349m profit drop from restructuring & US expansion. UK Gambling Commission license key.
Paramount Skydance on Monday guaranteed billionaire Larry Ellison’s backing in its amended offer for Warner Bros. Discovery, addressing board concerns.
Jim Beam will pause bourbon production at its main Kentucky distillery in 2026, citing tariffs, market uncertainty, and plans for site investment.
The Bank of England cuts interest rates to 3.75% after a narrow MPC vote, signaling caution as inflation eases and UK economic growth stalls.
Unison members elect leftwing Andrea Egan as general secretary, replacing Christina McAnea and potentially straining the union’s ties with Labour.
UK inflation dropped to 3.2% in November as food prices rose more slowly, increasing pressure on the Bank of England to cut rates.
Morrisons faces a £17m tax bill after losing a High Court case over whether its rotisserie chickens should be classed as hot food for VAT purposes.
UK house prices could rise 2–4% in 2026, Nationwide predicts, as falling interest rates, rising wages, and improved affordability support buyers.
UK cinema leaders urge Labour to block Netflix's Warner Bros takeover over fears of fewer films, job losses, and less choice post-pandemic.
Zipcar’s exit from the UK opens opportunities as car-sharing rivals like Free2Move, Hiyacar, and Turo consider expanding in London.
Ofgem plans a £30 energy credit and faster account setup to curb rising £4.5bn debt, urging UK home movers to register quickly to avoid power loss.
Sir George Bain warns Labour’s plan to scrap the youth rate could raise youth unemployment and cost young workers vital job opportunities.
OECD says UK growth is weakening as Labour’s migration curbs and tax rises hit productivity, lift unemployment, and keep inflation above the 2% target.
The Bank of England plans to cut capital requirements to 13% after stress tests show UK banks remain resilient, aiming to boost lending and economic growth.
The UK ends $1.15bn support for TotalEnergies’ Mozambique LNG project over climate, security, and human rights concerns amid renewed plans to restart operations.
Reeves unveils major Budget reforms
UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – UK bank shares rose over 2% as confidence grew that Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s budget will avoid new tax hikes on lenders after months of uncertainty. As reported by The Guardian, UK bank shares rose after signals that
UK inflation fell to 3.6% in October, easing pressure before the Autumn Budget. See ONS data, political reactions, economist views and expected tax changes.
UK energy price cap forecast to drop to £1,725 in January, offering short-term relief before rising nearly £100 in April due to network and policy costs Cornwall Insight.
Business leaders warn against levy
Former chancellor George Osborne is shortlisted to succeed Sir Mark Tucker as HSBC chair, joining Naguib Kheraj and Kevin Sneader in the final selection.
UK economy expands only 0.1% in Q3 as Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack hits manufacturing, with weak services and low investment dragging growth.
UK unemployment rises to 5%, highest since 2021, as payrolls fall and labour market weakens ahead of Rachel Reeves’s budget.
UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – The Bank of England keeps interest rates at 4% as Chancellor Rachel Reeves prepares her key budget, with inflation still almost double the official 2% target. As reported by The Guardian, the central bank’s policymakers kept interest
UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Sainsbury’s CEO Simon Roberts warns Reeves against tax hikes on retailers, citing inflation risks, while reporting profits and plans for major store expansion. As reported by The Guardian, the head of the UK’s second-biggest supermarket has urged
UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Marks & Spencer profits drop to £184.1M after cyber-attack halts online orders, with clothing and homeware sales down, while food sales rise 7.8%. As reported by The Guardian, Marks & Spencer’s profits have fallen by over half
