Sharp fall in UK business activity forecast as economic gloom deepens CBI survey finds firms planning to reduce hiring amid weakest expectations for growth since November 2022
Rachel Reeves’ push to improve EU ties remains boxed in by red lines Chancellor’s visit to EU meeting looks for smoother trade to improve growth but youth mobility scheme remains sticking point
Faced with Trump and Farage, Britain’s natural ally is Europe The Labour party’s determination to stick to Brexit simply condemns the UK to fight a lone hand against the far-right forces ranged against it
Let China build electric cars in UK, Tory ex-chancellor tells Rachel Reeves ahead of trade trip Despite ‘spy’ scandal, Philip Hammond says Britain should now adopt a ‘pragmatic approach to Beijing’
UK house price predictions for 2025: with pay rising and rates falling, they’ll just keep going up Nothing seems to stop the relentless march of property values, even with a stamp duty increase looming
FTSE 100 share index records biggest weekly loss in a year, as US shutdown fears hit markets – as it happened Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news
Reeves may have to U-turn over no more tax rises, warn economists Dramatic economic slowdown means chancellor could face lower receipts and higher borrowing costs in 2025
Donald Trump tells EU to buy more US oil and gas or face tariffs President-elect reignites fears of a trade war as he says bloc must make up its ‘tremendous deficit’ with US
Lift for Rachel Reeves as UK borrowing hits three-year low Drop to £11.2bn a welcome figure for chancellor after backlash from business leaders to budget
Canada’s government in shambles after Trump tariff threats – what can it do next? Even before he assumes the presidency, Trump has sent the Canadian government into paroxysms with trade threats
Bank of England holds interest rate at 4.75% but warns of UK stagnation risk Central bank downgrades growth forecast amid threat from budget fallout, rising inflation and Trump trade tariffs
Inflation fears trump growth concerns among Bank of England’s MPC members Investors are betting on just one more rates cut this year, which could bring stagnation, undermining government efforts to drive the economy forward
Bank of England leaves UK interest rates on hold in 6-3 split, knocking pound – as it happened Final UK interest rate decision of the year, as Spain’s Navantia agrees a deal to purchase Harland & Wolff’s four shipyards
Will Japan’s close ties with US survive the caprice and quirks of Donald Trump? Japan’s complex defence alliances built up over years as protection against China could be put at risk in a Trump-launched trade war
Wall Street falls sharply as Fed indicates fewer rate cuts in 2025 to fight inflation Central bank lowers benchmark federal funds rate by a quarter of a percentage point to between 4.25% to 4.5%