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UK retailers began 2026 with stronger sales momentum following January discounting. New industry data shows improved year-on-year growth, led by food and selective non-food categories, as shoppers delayed spending into the new year amid fragile confidence.
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Strong ESG performance supports international R&D expansion and innovation outcomes. New academic research suggests companies with credible environmental, social, and governance records are better positioned to build overseas research operations, attract partners, and access global innovation ecosystems.
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Estonia’s e-Residency programme generated nearly €125 million in state revenue last year. Company formation and tax contributions rose sharply as international demand for digital business access accelerated.
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NatWest plans major expansion of its UK Accelerator entrepreneur community. The bank aims to grow membership to 50,000 by 2026, a five-fold increase on its 2025 ambition, following a year in which participation exceeded the total supported across the previous decade combined.
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Alibaba paused chatbot coupons after heavy demand strained its AI systems. The disruption followed a Lunar New Year promotion tied to AI-driven shopping, highlighting execution risks as generative AI tools move from conversation into real-world commerce.
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Advent and FedEx have agreed a $9.2bn takeover of InPost. The consortium deal will take the European parcel locker operator private, reshaping ownership of one of the region’s fastest-growing last-mile logistics platforms.
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Europe is drawing a hard line around teen social accounts. After Prague signalled support for an under-15 ban, Slovenia began drafting legislation, Greece said it was “very close” to acting, and Spain set out an under-16 prohibition. Marketers now face a structural shift in reach, data, and measurement this year.
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UniCredit raised profit guidance after strong results and gains from rival stakes. The Italian lender said higher income expectations for 2025 and beyond reflect earnings contributions from minority holdings in other European banks, alongside the benefit of tax credits linked to past losses.
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The UK regulator wants to reset perceptions of London market liquidity. Britain’s financial watchdog plans to publish comprehensive trading data for all London-listed shares, aiming to counter claims that the UK equity market lacks depth and activity.
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UK hiring pressures ease slightly as pay growth firms for starters. Recruiters reported a slower decline in permanent placements in January, alongside stronger starting salaries, suggesting early stabilisation in the labour market rather than a full recovery.
