US economic growth slows to 1.5% in second quarter
Growth in the US slowed in the three months to June, according to official figures.
Policy & regulation
FCA censures Equity for Growth (Securities) Limited
The FCA has censured Equity for Growth (Securities) Limited (EFG) for approving financial promotions relating to minibonds that were unfair, unclear and misleading.
Bank Rate maintained at 3.75% - July 2026 Monetary Policy Summary and Minutes
At its meeting ending on 29 July 2026, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted by a majority of 6–3 to maintain Bank Rate at 3.75%. Three members voted to increase Bank Rate by 0.25 percentage points, to 4%.
Digital euro app to incorporate highest accessibility standards
The European Central Bank has outlined the accessibility features of the digital euro app, which will allow users to access basic digital euro services. From the outset, accessibility and inclusion have been core design…
Weapons makers Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems expect higher profits as defence spending surges – business live
Rolls-Royce is not the only weapons company to report strong demand today: BAE Systems has also said that “sustained increases” in defence budgets around the world meant it had upgraded its profit forecasts.
Shell’s profits more than double after jump in oil and gas prices
Shell more than doubled its profit in its second quarter of the year, as Europe’s biggest oil and gas company reaped the benefits from the jump in oil and gas prices triggered by war in the Middle East.
Meta misses earnings forecasts after Zuckerberg media push to promote AI
Mark Zuckerberg’s media spree touting the positive effects of artificial intelligence did little to cushion the blow of Meta’s second-quarter earnings, which sent its stock tumbling on Wednesday.
Interest rates expected to be held again by Bank of England
UK interest rates are expected to be held at 3.75% for a fifth time by Bank of England policymakers.
US interest rates held for fifth time in a row
US interest rates have been held for the fifth time in a row by the Federal Reserve.
Federal Reserve issues FOMC statement
The Federal Open Market Committee approved the following statement for release by a 9 â 3 vote:
Lib Dem MP calls for investigation into Reform deputy leader’s £80,000 loan
Richard Tice has been referred to parliament’s standards watchdog over an undeclared loan of nearly £80,000 from Nigel Farage’s aide George Cottrell .
BMW to cut ‘as many as 8,000 jobs’ under pressure from Chinese rivals
BMW is planning to cut as many as 8,000 jobs in Germany, according to reports, in the latest sign of Europe’s largest carmakers reducing costs under pressure from Chinese rivals.
Rogue OpenAI agent that hacked startup tried to attack other firms
OpenAI has revealed that a cyber-attack carried out by a rogue AI agent had more than one victim.
What happens here has a big impact on your money
Las Vegas is in a tourism slump. Hotel occupancy and air travel are down, and many local hospitality employees are experiencing layoffs or cuts in their hours. What's driving this downturn, and can Sin City bounce back?
Greggs sales jump as iced matcha lattes and chicken rolls become heatwave hits
Iced matcha lattes and a bigger range of salads and chicken rolls helped Greggs to boost its sales during the string of summer heatwaves, as the bakery chain continues to expand across the UK.
Datacentre projects could face fees for grid access to ease connection queue, Ofgem says
Datacentre projects in Britain will be forced to put down significant upfront fees to secure an energy connection under proposals to ease an electricity grid logjam .
IPL’s value soars past $20bn to rival NFL as one of world sport’s biggest brands
The Indian Premier League’s value has surged to an estimated $20.6bn (£15.5bn), boosted by ownership deals involving two of its biggest franchises, according to a report by the investment bank Houlihan Lokey.
Concacaf joins criticism of Fifa plan to sell off World Cup stakes to private investors
Concacaf has joined Uefa in criticising Fifa’s plan to sell off stakes in the World Cup to private investors.
UK faces ‘very difficult trade-offs’ in budget because of Iran war, say analysts
Andy Burnham has been warned by a leading thinktank of “very difficult trade-offs in the next autumn budget” if the Iran war keeps oil prices and inflation high.
Adolescence or The Traitors? Netflix neck-and-neck with BBC as British viewers’ go-to
Netflix is neck-and-neck with the BBC as the default service Britons turn to when they switch on their TV, according to research.
EBay and ex-executives to pay $55.7m to couple sent cockroaches in harassment campaign
Bloggers David and Ina Steiner were stalked by eBay executives over their critical coverage of the company
Labour MP suing Elon Musk’s xAI says chatbot added own fake abusive content
A Labour MP who is taking legal action against Elon Musk’s xAI company over fake sexualised images created by Grok says the AI tool was instructed to operate with “no restrictions on adult sexual content or offensive co…
Young people ‘expected’ to engage with new work support, says McFadden
Young people will be expected to engage with new support to find work, Pat McFadden has said, as he announced parents receiving benefits could get £4,500 a year if their child starts an apprenticeship.
Strengthening resilience across an increasingly interconnected financial system
Think of the last time you made a payment, transferred money, used a banking app or logged on to online financial services. Did you give much thought to the infrastructure that makes those essential everyday transaction…