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Higher UK growth has reinforced Huw Pill’s case for rates. The Bank of England chief economist has linked stronger second-quarter GDP to his argument for tighter policy as the MPC remains divided over inflation risks.
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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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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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European banks have extended their run of earnings outperformance again. Sector profits rose 17% year on year, while UBS and Deutsche Bank analysis points to stronger revenues, benign credit quality, and broader earnings engines beyond net interest income.
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Employer PAYE debt deferrals have climbed beyond £7bn through HMRC. FOI data obtained by PayFit shows arrangement numbers barely changed while average deferred liabilities rose by more than £12,700 in two years.
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Generali has strengthened earnings while returning more capital to shareholders. First-half operating profit rose 11.2%, life inflows hit a record, and the insurer is proceeding with another €500m buyback.
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Accountability’s workplace model links employee flexibility with sustained client loyalty. The Edinburgh accounting business has combined external accreditation, profit sharing, live financial support, and an 83% annual client-retention rate.