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Energy jargon is emerging as a new cost pressure for UK SMEs. Research from Valda Energy shows that more than half of small businesses struggle to understand key terms — a knowledge gap now linked to higher billing confusion and increased payment risks.
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Nvidia’s upbeat third-quarter ahead of US jobs data eases AI-valuation concerns. The company’s latest results offered a welcome reprieve for investors worried about overheating in the artificial intelligence sector, lifting global markets and restoring short-term confidence in the strength of the AI trade.
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UK Finance CEO warns against bank tax hikes in Budget. David Postings cautions that increasing taxes on banks could harm London’s competitiveness and economic growth. He emphasises the financial sector’s role in job creation and tax contributions.
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Lloyds Banking Group has agreed to acquire London fintech Curve for a reported £120 million. The move marks the bank’s latest step in expanding its digital payments and wallet capabilities, aiming to integrate Curve’s card-consolidation technology into its mobile platform by mid-2026, subject to regulatory approval.
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President insisted the US requires a single federal AI standard. He warned that competing state rules could stifle innovation and allow China to overtake the US in the global AI race.
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The UK’s annual inflation rate eased to 3.6 per cent in October. It marked the first decline in five months, according to the Office for National Statistics.
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Microsoft and Nvidia will invest a combined $15 billion in Anthropic. The Claude-maker has, in turn, committed to spend $30 billion on Microsoft’s Azure cloud services.
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EU regulators have launched investigations into Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure. The European Commission says the probes will examine whether the two tech giants’ cloud services should face tougher obligations under digital market rules.
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Sundar Pichai says no company is immune to correction risks. The Alphabet chief compared today’s AI surge to the dotcom era, as analysts warn valuations, infrastructure spending, and energy demands are stretching business models from Silicon Valley to the City.
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SEC to probe influence of proxy advisors on shareholder votes. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission will review the role of proxy advisory firms and institutional investors in shaping corporate governance, amid concerns over politicised shareholder proposals and potential conflicts of interest influencing ESG and voting decisions.