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Pension capital could move closer to British scale-up funding plans. Major providers are exploring a £1bn vehicle to back high-growth science and technology companies, with the British Business Bank supporting the proposed fund.
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Manufacturing output has returned to growth after months of strain. NatWest’s tracker shows stronger confidence and easing cost inflation, though services and SMEs remain weaker.
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Beumer’s court action puts airport-logistics consolidation back under scrutiny today. The case challenges how far Brussels must go when national regulators seek EU review of a completed specialist industrial deal.
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Central bank decisions will test market confidence this week sharply. Rate signals, oil prices, bank earnings, and retail pricing data will shape second-half planning assumptions.
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Bank-account access is becoming a sharper operational risk issue. Reform UK’s reported account freeze highlights the tension between compliance checks and service continuity.
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The ECB’s inflation judgement now rests heavily on energy persistence. Philip Lane says the current shock remains medium-sized, but policymakers are watching whether energy costs feed into wider wages, prices, and expectations.
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European lenders enter reporting season with profit momentum still intact. Analysts expect stronger second-quarter results, but investors will be watching whether rate benefits, trading income, and AI-led efficiency can translate into durable returns.
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Prediction markets are colliding with UK gambling and finance rules. Regulators are examining whether event-based trading platforms should be treated as betting, financial products, or both.
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A narrow EU exemption could unblock UniCredit’s long-stalled Alfa transaction. The move may help the Italian lender deal with historic obligations while keeping Russia sanctions controls intact.
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Franchise protections are facing renewed scrutiny after Adrian Howe’s death. His family is calling for Adrian’s law after concerns over risk in brand-led franchise agreements.