Speculators ramp up £2bn bet against sterling ahead of Chancellor's Budget
CFTC data shows net short positions on the pound rise to levels not seen since the 2022 mini‑Budget turmoil as markets brace for tax rises and fiscal strain
Business & Markets News
Doomed Notting Hill mansion returned to market months after £33 million moth refund
Owner begins renovations after High Court ordered sale reversal following buyers' complaint that a moth infestation ruined clothing and wine
Undercover probe finds London second‑hand shops buying phones flagged as stolen for low prices
Mail on Sunday sting in Ilford found staff offering about £20 for handsets with ‘stolen’ warnings as police data show tens of thousands of phone thefts in London last year
Magaluf businesses report steep losses as British tourists abandon Mallorca resort
Bar owners and party reps say anti-partying measures, price rises and protests have driven UK visitors to mainland rivals, leaving businesses facing up to 40% year-on-year declines
U.S. Exempts Cork From 15% EU Tariff, Easing Pressure on Winemakers and Portuguese Producers
Trade framework spares cork as an “unavailable natural product,” shielding a key input for wine bottles and a major export for Portugal
Retirees Pare Back Financial Support for Family as Budgets Tighten
Quilter data shows average annual gifts to younger relatives at about £2,500, while 13% of retirees plan to cut back; a proposed lifetime gifting cap could further alter intergenerational transfers
Spectacle designer Tom Davies urges government to reinstate tax-free shopping to revive high-end retail
Davies says the 2021 end of VAT-free shopping has driven away wealthy overseas customers and caused an immediate drop in trade for bespoke retailers
Luxury reseller outlines how to spot fake designer bags as social media sales rise
Emily Abraham, co-owner of Love Luxyry and a seller with more than $65 million in transactions, lists authentication checks buyers can use amid growing counterfeit listings on social platforms.
Parents in their late 50s weigh financial risks of helping daughter buy first home
Daughter, 29, and partner have saved $60,000 but remain short of a deposit; experts say gifting or acting as guarantor can help buyers but may jeopardize parents’ retirement and inheritance plans