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Five-year mortgage rates reach 6% for first time in three years

The average five-year fixed mortgage rate has reached 6% for the first time in three years as lenders face higher costs amid international economic pressures. Around 1,500 deals below 5% have vanished since September.

2 min read

Man and woman sit at a kitchen table with a laptop and mug in front of them.

BT rescues TalkTalk from collapse, saving 900 jobs as euro tumbles on French debt fears

BT Group has agreed to rescue broadband provider TalkTalk from administration, saving 900 jobs and securing service for 2.4 million customers. The £400m acquisition comes after a failed sale process, with the UK government intervening to protect critical national infrastructure. Meanwhile, the eu...

9 min read

BT to acquire struggling TalkTalk in major UK broadband consolidation

BT has agreed to acquire TalkTalk, rescuing the struggling broadband operator from financial collapse. The deal requires UK competition regulator approval and affects 2.5 million customers across retail and wholesale segments.

2 min read

UAE threatens to halt UK investments after Manchester City's guilty verdict

The UAE has warned it could cancel major UK investments following Manchester City's guilty verdict on financial rule breaches. Emirati officials said the Premier League's actions would influence bilateral relations, with threats to withdraw funding from an Oxbridge tech hub.

4 min read

Northern Ireland households face mounting energy bills as suppliers raise prices sharply

Energy suppliers in Northern Ireland are implementing substantial price increases, with SSE Airtricity raising gas prices by 19% and Share Energy increasing electricity by 12.6%. The rises are driven by volatile wholesale energy markets linked to Middle East geopolitics, leaving households, stude...

8 min read

Two people. On the left, a woman with brown hair smiling at the camera. She is wearing a blue fleece. The walls behind her are white, and there is a sky-light. On the right, a man with black hair smiles at the camera. He is wearing a black hoodie and standing in front of a plain white wall.

Papers review: G7 oil deal, City guilty verdict, and Hammond's health scare

Today's newspapers cover the G7's agreement to release 100 million barrels of fuel to combat rising diesel prices, John Healey's first Budget focusing on cost-of-living relief, Manchester City's guilty verdict and resulting diplomatic tensions with the UAE, terrorism charges against Ann Widdecomb...

8 min read

The headline on the front page of the Times reads: 'G7 strikes oil deal to bring down diesel price.'

Energy suppliers urge government action as winter bills set to soar 16%

Energy suppliers are pressing the government to act urgently on rising winter energy bills, warning that a 16% price increase in January could trigger a second energy crisis. The typical household bill is forecast to reach £1,999, up from £1,723.

5 min read

Woman with a phone in her hand and bills and a piggy bank on the table in front of her.

Plaid targets second Welsh FTSE 100 company within decade

Plaid Cymru has committed to creating economic conditions for a second Welsh FTSE 100 company within a decade, with Enterprise Minister Adam Price unveiling the Sbardun programme to support 20 firms initially over two years.

4 min read

Adam Price speaking at an event in front of a window, wearing a blue suit, blue shirt and a blue tie.

G7 agrees to release 100 million barrels as Trump's export ban threat eases

The G7 has agreed to release 100 million barrels of oil and diesel over four months to ease global fuel shortages, following President Trump's threat to ban US diesel exports. The coordinated action includes a substantial diesel release within 20 days and a commitment by member nations to avoid e...

6 min read

French President Emmanuel Macron (C) speaks next to France's Economy, Finance and Industry Minister Roland Lescure and Secretary-General of the Office of the President of the French Republic Pierre-Andre Imbert following a video conference with G7 leaders

Nasdaq hits record as weak US jobs report eases rate-hike fears

The US economy added just 29,000 jobs in September, far below expectations, prompting a rally in equity markets as investors reassess the outlook for interest rate increases. The Nasdaq Composite hit a record high, while the Federal Reserve's October rate-hike probability collapsed to 20.5%.

9 min read

Someone walking past the New York Stock Exchange with the US flag displayed

Middle East Oil Rebounds to Near Pre-War Levels Despite Iran Tensions

Middle East crude oil shipments have recovered to 92% of pre-conflict levels through military escorts, shuttle tankers, and pipeline diversions, but analysts warn the arrangement remains fragile amid persistent Iranian attacks and geopolitical uncertainty.

6 min read

US jobs market stalls in September with just 29,000 positions added

US employers added just 29,000 jobs in September, a sharp decline from August's 133,000, as the labour market cools ahead of midterm elections. The unemployment rate rose to 4.2%, creating political challenges for those campaigning on economic performance.

4 min read

An American flag flies near a construction worker during construction of a new building on 6 March 6, 2026 in Pasadena, California.

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