Business & Financial Headlines

Please see the following comment from Chris Beauchamp, Chief Market Analyst at online trading and investing platform IG.

The US Dollar (USD) falls sharply during the American session on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve (Fed) left interest rates unchanged. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) maintained the fed…

Silver price clings to gains on Wednesday late in the North American session, as the Federal Reserve held rates unchanged, which, instead of strengthening the Dollar, weakened it, while US Treasury…

The Fed left interest rates unchanged at 3.50%-3.75%, but the decision carried a distinctly hawkish edge as three officials voted for an immediate 25-basis-point increase.

The Fed kept interest rates on hold today, defying a 30% chance in the Fed Funds Futures market that rates would rise. The Committee voted 9-3 to keep rates on hold, with governors Kashkari, Hammac…

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Oil stayed muted near $83 per barrel following the Federal Reserve's (Fed) decision to hold interest rates constant on Wednesday afternoon. The price consolidation com…

Ethereum (ETH) climbed above $1,900 on Wednesday following the Federal Open Market Committee's (FOMC) decision to leave interest rates unchanged at 3.50-3.75%.

The Federal Reserve (Fed) held its target range at 3.50% to 3.75% at 18:00 GMT on a 9-3 vote, with three voting members preferring an immediate quarter-point increase.

NZD/USD trades higher near the 0.5790 area on Wednesday, reversing its earlier decline as the US Dollar (USD) weakens sharply following the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) monetary policy announcement.

USD/JPY trades near the 163.60 area on Wednesday, recovering from its immediate post-announcement decline as investors assess a generally hawkish Federal Reserve (Fed) monetary policy decision.

As Hong Kong prepares to formulate its first Five-Year Plan (2026–2030), aligning closely with the national 15th Five-Year Plan, the city faces a defining question: how will it power its next sta…

Chinese home appliance maker Midea reported that European demand for its air conditioners continues to soar amid recurrent heatwaves, with two of its factories receiving hundreds of thousands of ne…

Hong Kong’s de facto central bank has linked its securities settlement platform with Switzerland’s SIX stock exchange, giving its members direct access to securities in the Swiss and Spanish ma…

China’s increasing clout in the global semiconductor supply chain is accelerating the unravelling of the artificial-intelligence trade, as expectations grow that the Asian nation will challenge f…

Chinese manufacturers of multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) – tiny components required in great numbers to regulate electrical flow in electronic devices – are riding a stock rally on the ba…

China’s unaddressed economic structural problems are swallowing profits and leaving its multinationals falling far behind their US peers in the latest Fortune Global 500 list, despite its firms r…

China’s Moonshot AI, whose recently released Kimi K3 model stunned with performance close to American frontier systems, is seeking ambassadors to elevate its global influence. The Beijing-based s…

Zhongji Innolight’s buy-back plan – worth as much as 8 billion yuan (US$1.2 billion) in the run-up to its offshore listing in Hong Kong – may give global investors an anchor for pricing, as t…

For any family business built up over many decades, succession is rarely as simple as passing down a title. Each generation must understand the values and qualities that have made the company popul…

China’s largest second-hand electronics platform, ATRenew, plans to use its technology and trading standards to modernise Hong Kong’s huge wholesale market for pre-owned devices, as it seeks to…

Visa CEO Ryan McInerney cited efficiency and AI-driven shifts in a staff memo as the payments giant moves to cut 2,600 jobs across its workforce.

The aircraft flew more than 14,000 miles during a marathon test flight, moving Qantas closer to launching nonstop service between Australia and Europe.

Fed policymakers left interest rates unchanged at their July meeting as stubborn inflation remains well above the central bank's 2% target.

Sen. Josh Hawley accused Anthony Fauci of using federal employees to pursue over $1 million in personal cash awards during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Julie Masino will receive $4.63 million in severance plus security costs after stepping down as Cracker Barrel CEO amid the failed rebrand fallout.

With new aircraft deliveries years away and engine-maintenance backlogs growing, airlines are relying on existing assets to meet current demand. Aeras Aviation founder and CEO Demetrios Bradshaw di…

Six Flags Great Adventure's Bakunawa coaster will stand 382 feet tall with the world's first upside-down launch and free-spinning floorless trains.

Representing Cipriani Residences, Giuseppe Cipriani and developer Camilo Miguel Jr. reveal how international buyers and corporate titans are making Miami's tallest luxury tower home.

IEEE's 2030 report ranks health technologies as the most transformative megatrend, driven by AI-powered personalized medicine and early diagnostics.

Costco agreed to a $14 million settlement over claims its promotional emails violated Washington law, with eligible shoppers able to file for compensation.

After a month criss-crossing America, Lachlann delivers his verdict on the "crumbling empire" question, the AI debt trap ahead, and where the real opportunity lands.

The post

A US$570 billion rout in SK Hynix has investors questioning AI returns. That money may eventually land in the ground, and unloved ASX resource plays could be waiting.

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Australians are suffering from a serious case of taxpayers’ remorse. But will the Labor government’s reforms really get reversed? And how could you profit?

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It is flatly impossible for a normal human animal to go through life without preferences. It is discrimination that is the piston power of progress.

The post

Groundhog Day

Markets once again wake to the same headlines. Each turn of the loop starts from a weaker position than the last. Winners may be the ones who simply ignore it.

The post

• Cotton imports likely to rise to a record 60 lakh bales

  Exports are taking a hit, dropping to 15 lakh bales from 18 lakh, as local consumption is on the rise and is now projected to hit 348 lakh bales this season

  
• Chola MS records 6.7% growth in Gross Written Premium in Q1FY27, profit falls

  
• Premiumisation powers Radico’s Q1 numbers; P&A growth guidance raised to 25%+

  Revenue from operations grew 11.8% year-on-year to ₹1,683.7 crore

  
• NEET UG Counselling 2026 to introduce one-time physical reporting, online verification

  The revised counselling system will allow candidates to indicate their preference after seat allotment by choosing either the ‘Freeze’ or ‘Float’ option online

  
• Redington posts record revenue and PAT growth in Q2

  Revenue from operations for the quarter went up 34.5% year-on-year to ₹34,922 crore

  
• NCDEX ventures into MF distribution with launch of NCDEX Nidhi

  The exchange aims to take MF investments to smaller cities through its farmers producers organisation network

  
• DGCA’s thrust control module inspection continues: Minister

  Fuel control switch detents carried out at the OEM facility in Seattle did not reveal any abnormalities, the civil aviation minister said

  
• India’s corporate bond market matures

  India’s corporate bond market is shifting from a bank-dominated credit model toward a market-based structure. According to a report from Crisil, private issuers led by NBFCs have reached a record…

  
• IPL’s business value soars to $20.6 billion, RCB most valued franchise

  Royal Challengers Bengaluru was ranked as the most valuable franchise with a brand value of $312 million, up 16 per cent year-on-year, becoming the first franchise to cross the $ 300 million-mark

  
• Deep depression drags rain fury west; targets MP, Gujarat next

  IMD has warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall and extremely heavy falls, over West Madhya Pradesh on Thursday after issuing a similar alert for Vidarbha and Chhattisgarh on Wednesday

  

• US interest rates held again at 3.75% for fifth time in a row despite inflation concerns

  
  

  The Federal Reserve held American interest rates steady this evening, extending its pause for a fifth consecutive meeting and maintaining borrowing costs at their current level.

  The …

  
• Topps Tiles to close major London branch as chain pushes ahead with 23 store closures

  
  

  Topps Tiles is set to close its Cheam store in south London next week as the retailer continues a programme of branch closures across the UK.

  The branch is due to shut on August 7, w…

  
• Andy Burnham may fund spending plans by axing state pension triple lock, think tank warns

  
  

  Labour could ultimately be forced to scrap the state pension triple lock to help fund its cost-of-living commitments, a leading economic think tank has warned.

  The National Institute…

  
• HMRC issues urgent tax deadline warning to prevent millions 'significantly increasing the amount owed'

  
  

  Self Assessment taxpayers have just two days left to make their second payment on account before HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) begins charging interest on any unpaid tax.

  The deadlin…

  
• HMRC launches highest number of death duty investigations in six years

  
  

  HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) opened the highest number of inheritance tax investigations in six years during the 2025-26 tax year, with almost 5,000 estates coming under formal scrutiny.<…

  

• University College Birmingham buys former Cube hotel in £15m plan

  
• Apple launches Klarna device leasing in US from $17.99 a month

  
• Steph McGovern to host UK’s first Vocational Celebration Day

  
• Masaj raises £1.5m to open three more London studios

  
• Late payments will limit £2bn lending expansion, credit firm says

  
• Universal Credit families to get £4,500 apprenticeship bursary

  
• Beefeater to close all 106 restaurants on 10 September

  
• Bezos names Amazon chip arm as company’s next pillar

  
• Princes forecasts 60 per cent pea yield as growers trial chickpeas

  
• Fair Work Agency labour abuse inquiries rise 87 per cent in first quarter

  

• Sheffield coffee company Cafeology undergoes partial management buyout

  Steve Hampshire, head of coffee, and Joe Cross, head of operations, take a majority stake in the established firm

  
• Lenzing Grimsby jobs at risk as major lyocell plant announces plans to close by 2027

  The Lenzing Group has announced plans to cease production at its Grimsby lyocell manufacturing facility by the end of 2027 as part of a global restructure, putting 215 jobs at risk

  
• Hargreaves Services hails highest pre-tax profits in 12 years

  The diverse, North East-based group published full year results to the London Stock Exchange

  
• Strong order book for Welsh construction firm as it marks its centenary

  Denbighshire-based Wynne Construciton has an order book in excess of £325m.

  
• Sage focuses on AI development as revenues soar

  The accounting and payroll tech specialist said demand remains strong

  
• Sales and profits soar at homeware seller Online Home Shop

  New accounts for the family-run business show large strides in its performance

  
• Profits at St James's Place fall ahead of UK pensions tax changes

  The wealth manager has pinned a decline in inflows on changes coming into effect next April

  
• First development plans for huge Brocastle Employment Park site

  The first phase at the 116 acre site owned by the Welsh Government will see a major industrial unit built

  
• Procook strikes deal with DHL as it looks to ramp up UK growth

  The kitchenware retailer said the partnership would help the business scale

  
• Birmingham Sports Quarter plans to transform 'deprived' area of city

  The project includes a stadium, jobs and 1,000 new homes over the next 20 years

  

• Not many STI listcos provide substantial forward-looking guidance: study

  Despite strong fundamentals, 57% of the index constituents do not articulate a clear and differentiated investment case

• Vietnam seeks US$76 billion a year from capital markets to ease reliance on banks

  Hanoi rolls out comprehensive capital-market reform to support high economic growth through 2045

• Singtel explores Nasdaq-SGX dual listing for data centre arm Nxera, local data centre Reit

  Shareholders also press the board on KPMG’s reappointment after confidentiality lapse involving Optus

• Sheng Siong H1 net profit rises 11.7% to S$80.8 million on improved sales mix

  Board declares interim dividend of S$0.0375 per share for period, up from S$0.032 per share for H1 FY2025

• Taiwan’s ultra-wealthy turn to Singapore for succession, regional expansion

  Many are drawn by city-state’s structural advantages over competing wealth centres, say observers

• StanChart unveils fresh US$1 billion buyback as Q2 earnings beat estimates

  The lender posts a pre-tax profit of US$2.33 billion for the three months through June

• This Singapore startup wants to solve airplane baggage ‘Tetris’ with a snake-like, AI-powered system

  Antomation’s automated baggage loading system, the Cargo Cobra, aims to speed up the job by 20%

• Sembcorp to purchase 20% stake in clean power unit of Singapore refiner Aster

  Agreement also stipulates that Sembcorp will be Aster Power’s sole gas supplier

• SIA shares close 3.1% lower after Q1 earnings dive

  The national carrier has incurred a net loss of S$76 million for the quarter

• EGP Energy shares close 21.6% above IPO price on trading debut

  Group announces a S$1.1 million contract win after the end of its first trading day