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Global Bond Yields Hit Multi-Decade Highs as US-Iran Ceasefire Falters

Bond yields in the US, UK, Japan, Germany and France hit multi-decade highs on 18 August 2026 as the US-Iran ceasefire lapsed and oil prices topped $90 a barrel.

5 min read

UK Wage Growth Cools and Vacancies Hit Five-Year Low as Iran War Fuels Cost Squeeze

UK wage growth slowed to 4.1% and vacancies fell to a five-year low of 707,000 in the three months to June, as unemployment held at 4.9% amid fallout from the Iran conflict and rising living costs.

6 min read

Ferguson Marine to Cut 70 Jobs Amid Wait for Promised Government Contracts

Ferguson Marine plans to cut around 70 jobs, roughly a quarter of its workforce, while the Scottish government's promised new shipbuilding contracts remain stuck in due diligence.

7 min read

Oil Prices Jump Above $90 as Iran Ceasefire Collapses; UK Wage Growth Cools

Oil prices surged above $90 a barrel after the US-Iran ceasefire collapsed, while UK wage growth slowed and unemployment edged down, according to new ONS figures and market data from 18 August 2026.

10 min read

UK Job Vacancies Hit Five-Year Low as Small Firms Pull Back on Hiring

UK job vacancies fell to a five-year low of 707,000 in the May-to-July 2026 period as smaller firms cut hiring amid rising costs, though temporary vacancies showed early signs of recovery.

4 min read

North Lanarkshire to Get Second Data Centre as Scotland Tightens Planning Rules

DataVita plans to expand its Airdrie site and build a second North Lanarkshire data centre as part of a £300m investment, as Scotland introduces new planning notification rules for facilities over 50MW.

6 min read

Half of UK Homes Now Take Longer to Sell as Mortgage Rate Swings Persist

Zoopla data shows homes in half of Great Britain's local authorities are taking longer to sell than last year, as volatile mortgage rates tied to the Iran conflict prompt buyers to wait for better deals.

5 min read

The Dos and Don'ts of Writing an Out-of-Office Reply That Actually Works

Etiquette experts and career specialists explain how to write an out-of-office reply that avoids confusion, oversharing and awkward jokes, with 2026 guidance pushing for even shorter, clearer messages.

7 min read

Swansea Ball Boy Kicked by Hazard Set for £100m Windfall in Au Vodka Sale

Au Vodka, the Swansea-founded drinks brand, is reportedly nearing a £500m sale to Sazerac, owner of BuzzBallz and Southern Comfort, with co-founder Charlie Morgan — once kicked by Eden Hazard as a ball boy — set for a nine-figure payday.

5 min read

Virgin Clears Track Access Hurdle for Channel Tunnel Rail Plans

Virgin has won UK regulatory approval for track access through the Channel Tunnel, advancing its plan to challenge Eurostar's monopoly with services to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam from 2030.

3 min read

UK Asking Prices Post Biggest August Drop Since 2018 as Sellers Compete

Average UK asking prices fell 2% in August 2026, the steepest August drop since 2018, as Rightmove cuts its price growth forecast and investors drive harder bargains.

6 min read

Ferrari's First Electric Car Fetches Record $40m at Charity Auction

Ferrari's first fully electric car, the Luce, sold for $40m at a Monterey Car Week charity auction, smashing the record for a new car sold at auction and benefiting the Ferrari Foundation's education programmes.

4 min read