Business

Rachel Reeves will this week announce plans to unlock tens of billions of pounds from corporate pension schemes as part of government plans to kickstart economic growth. Sky News has learnt that the chancellor will use a crucial speech on Wednesday to disclose that she wants to use so-called surplus release to boost investment in

WH Smith is in secret talks to sell its entire high street business in Britain more than 230 years after it opened its first shop in central London. Sky News can exclusively reveal that the listed retail group, which has a market capitalisation of almost £1.5bn, has been in negotiations with a number of prospective

The Original Factory Shop (TOFS), the independent discount retail chain, is close to being sold after more than 17 years under the ownership of private equity firm Duke Street. Sky News has learnt that Baaj Capital, a family office which counts In The Style and party supplies group Amscan International among its investments, has emerged

The family behind Lakeland, one of Britain’s most prominent privately held retailers, is exploring a sale after more than 60 years amid growing cost pressures sweeping the industry. Sky News has learnt that Lakeland, which is controlled by the three sons of founder Alan Rayner, has appointed advisers to gauge the appetite of prospective buyers

There has been an “unprecedented” rise in the number of businesses on the brink of insolvency, according to a closely watched report. The latest Red Flag Alert report by Begbies Traynor, an insolvency specialist, showed those in critical financial distress rose by 50% in the three months to December compared to June-August. It said that

For three days Donald Trump dominated Davos from a distance. On the fourth, he did it in person, albeit virtually, with a speech that took his threats of economic conflict with Europe directly to its political leaders. Beamed from the White House to the World Economic Forum, he delivered a message of total confidence in

Sainsbury’s has revealed plans to cut more than 3,000 jobs. The supermarket said the move was a bid to save money ahead of a £140m leap in costs from budget tax measures, due to come into force within weeks. Head office and senior management roles are among those affected, the chain said, adding that the

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has indicated she will overrule environmental objections to a third runway at Heathrow in order to prioritise economic growth, a position likely to bring her into conflict with colleagues including energy secretary Ed Miliband. Speaking as she began a 48-hour pitch to international investors at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Ms

There’s a chart that’s been doing the rounds in recent weeks – American businessman Marc Andreessen tweeted it, and then it was reposted by Donald Trump himself. The chart is pretty simple: it shows the proportion of American federal government revenues coming from tariffs, going all the way back to the early days of American

It is no surprise to see a government that claims to be committed to making economic growth a priority giving the green light to expansion of Gatwick Airport and Luton Airport. Nor, for that matter, would it be a surprise for a third runway at Heathrow Airport to be given the go-ahead by Sir Keir

There has been a surge in the pace of wage growth but a rise in the unemployment rate, according to the latest official figures. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that both basic pay excluding bonuses, and average weekly earnings, rose at an annual rate of 5.6% in the three months to November. That

One of the things that made President Donald Trump’s inauguration distinctive was the prominence of Silicon Valley elite. Easily identifiable were the world’s three richest men – Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg. And that’s not to mention some of the billionaires not placed directly in view of the cameras. When the riches of

Rachel Reeves will hold talks with some of Wall Street’s leading financiers in Davos this week, less than hours after Donald Trump’s second US presidency gets underway. Sky News understands that the chancellor will attend a breakfast hosted by JP Morgan on Wednesday amid speculation about the threat of US tariffs being imposed on the

The private equity owner of Asda has struck a deal to buy a controlling stake in a group which specialises in backing British SMEs. Sky News has learnt that TDR Capital has agreed to acquire a majority interest in CorpAcq, less than six months after the so-called ‘corporate compounder’ aborted a deal to list in

The owner of Poundland, one of Britain’s biggest discount retailers, has drafted in City advisers to explore radical options for arresting the growing crisis at the chain. Sky News has learnt that Pepco Group, which has owned Poundland since 2016, has hired consultants from AlixPartners to address a sales slump which has raised questions over

TikTok has said it could go dark on Sunday after the Supreme Court ruled against its bid to avoid a ban that could shut the app down. The looming ban is the end result of 2024 legislation passed on national security concerns that called for TikTok parent ByteDance to sell the popular short-video app or

The wife of green energy entrepreneur Dale Vince has been awarded more than £40m by a High Court judge following their divorce. However, Mr Vince said his ex-wife came away from their divorce with £12m less than he offered her four years ago. The pair disputed how their money should be split at a hearing

The UK’s benchmark stock index has reached another record high. The FTSE 100 index of most valuable companies on the London Stock Exchange closed at 8,505.69, breaking the record set last May. It had already broken its intraday high earlier on Friday, meaning it reached a high not seen before during trading hours. The weakened

A week of news showing the UK economy is slowing has ironically yielded a positive for mortgage holders and the broader economy itself – borrowing is now expected to become cheaper faster this year. Traders are now pricing in three interest rate cuts in 2025, according to data from the London Stock Exchange Group. Earlier

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned against the prospects of a renewed US-led trade war, just days before Donald Trump prepares to begin his second term in the White House. The world’s lender of last resort used the latest update to its World Economic Outlook (WEO) to lay out a series of consequences for