I recently met the owner of a company that sells windows and doors. He told me he invested about $10,000 in an AI application that is used by his salespeople in his showroom. The application listens to the conversations between the salesperson and the prospective customer and then automatically creates a quote for the salesperson … Read more
Andy Burnham has been urged to lobby EU leaders directly to suspend the new entry-exit system, EES, as the peak weekend for overseas holidays begins. About 2.2 million British holidaymakers are expected to head abroad between Friday and Monday, the majority to Europe, with all schools in the UK now on their summer break. Speaking … Read more
Oil price touches $95 as US-Iran conflict escalates Oil prices are climbing further this morning as investors grow fearful around the impact of the war in the Middle East on global supply. Brent crude, the international benchmark for oil prices, is up 4.6% to $95.16 a barrel, its highest point in six weeks. Oil prices … Read more
10-year gilt yield edges higher as Andy Burnham made PM Andy Burnham becomes Prime Minister, Downing Street, London, UK, 20 Jul 2026 Photograph: Victoria Jones/Shutterstock The yield on the 10-year UK government bond has risen slightly after new prime minister Andy Burnham pledged that his government will meet its fiscal rules. The 10-year gilt yield … Read more
There are simply too many companies in the world. Apple, Google, Amazon, Ryanair. I’m probably forgetting some. How could I not? There are so many companies. Thankfully, here in Hollywood, we’re culling the herd. My memory says thanks. My career, on the other hand, does not. After Disney swallowing up 20th Century Fox (which is … Read more
TikTok is under formal investigation over concerns it has failed to protect children from harmful content, the UK’s online regulator, Ofcom, has announced. The social media platform’s approach to checking the ages of users has sparked “particular concerns” at the watchdog, almost a year after measures to protect children from the worst of online content … Read more
Crude oil prices hit highest levels in four weeks Crude oil prices have hit their highest levels in four weeks, as Washington and Tehran traded attacks and the US reimposed a naval blockade of Iran. Brent crude has jumped $3.79 a barrel to $87.08 a barrel, a 4.55% increase, the highest since 12 June, before … Read more
Just as Nigel Farage kicks off a summer of “arguing with a bin”, as the chancellor, Rachel Reeves called it, Labour’s bill to clean up politics returns to the House of Commons this week. As more questions emerge about the financing of Reform UK and Farage’s mega-donor chums – through the brilliant reporting of Guardian … Read more
Introduction: Apollo gatecrashes easyJet sale with surprise £5.7bn takeover offer Good morning and welcome to our rolling coverage of business, the financial markets and the world economy. A surprise corporate twist this morning: the US private equity firm Apollo has agreed to buy the airline easyJet in a £5.7bn deal, beating a rival bid for … Read more
Key events UK and other government bond yields soar on Middle East UK and other government borrowing costs have risen sharply today, as traders reassess the outlook for inflation and interest rates on the back of Middle East developments. Bond yields are continuing to climb, with the yield (or interest rate) on the UK’s 10-year … Read more