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Burnham has put wider business rates reform on Budget agenda. The Prime Minister says government wants to go further, although limited fiscal room will determine the scale and design of additional support.
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Standard Chartered arranged $390m financing for nine United Airlines aircraft. The transaction covers Airbus A321neo and Boeing 737 MAX 8 deliveries as the carrier continues investing in newer narrowbody capacity and fleet efficiency.
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Cordel’s takeover by Vossloh has cleared its final court hurdle. The acquisition is expected to become effective on 13 August, with Cordel’s AIM listing scheduled for cancellation the following morning.
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UK foreign exchange trading reached another record in April 2026. Average daily turnover climbed to $4.609tn, with swaps, spot trading, and options all recording increases from the previous Bank of England survey.
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Funding Circle has secured fresh institutional capital for UK SMEs. Castlelake has committed up to £500m over two years, expanding the platform’s lending capacity and adding another major institutional investor to its funding base.
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Plus500 lifted first-half revenue while increasing shareholder returns again materially. Revenue rose 12% to $462.9m, customer income reached a five-year high, and the group announced another $182.5m of dividends and share buybacks.
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Five fintechs have joined the FCA’s specialist Scale-up Unit programme. ClearScore, Modulr, Teya, Urban Jungle, and Zilch will receive tailored regulatory support as the regulator increases its focus on governance and controls during rapid growth.
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Nichols is buying VITHIT to broaden its drinks portfolio significantly. The €75m cash-funded acquisition adds a profitable functional-drinks brand with UK, Irish, and international distribution, and is expected to enhance earnings immediately.
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Swiss Re says European heat mortality risk remains underestimated today. The reinsurer’s warning shifts the climate discussion towards life-and-health exposure, workforce resilience, and risk modelling as extreme temperatures drive thousands of excess deaths.
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Thames Water faces another complication in its planned financial rescue. The utility missed a statutory pension-valuation deadline, creating potential regulatory and funding consequences as it works to recapitalise a business carrying close to £20bn of debt.