Business

French consumers are more pessimistic about their future finances but are a little more open to making bigger purchases. ADVERTISEMENT French consumer confidence decreased to 92 in March, down from 93 in the previous month, according to INSEE. This number was below analyst expectations of 94, while also remaining below the index’s long-term average of 100.  Consumers were increasingly pessimistic …

Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves has laid out the latest on UK public finances. Her statement arrives at a moment when the nation needs to find billions to boost defence spending against the backdrop of an ailing economy. Here are the key takeaways. ADVERTISEMENT The UK government has just revealed new plans to cut public spending as it …

The partnership demonstrates Alibaba’s increased focus on AI, while BMW is also seeking to develop competitive products for the Chinese market. ADVERTISEMENT BMW and Alibaba Group have announced that they have partnered to develop artificial intelligence for cars in China. This decision comes as Alibaba Group attempts to focus more on monetising its products and growing its customer base.  Alizila, …

Spain’s economy grew 3.2% in 2024, one of the fastest in the eurozone, driven by strong domestic demand, robust tourism, and EU recovery funds, outperforming Germany, France and Italy. Economists say Spain remains a ‘bright spot’ in Europe, expecting this outperformance to continue through 2025. ADVERTISEMENT Powered by strong household spending, resilient investment and a tourism sector showing no signs …

The better-than-expected inflation figure comes as a relief to the economy as it faces the looming threat of stagflation: high inflation coupled with low output. ADVERTISEMENT UK inflation came in lower than expected in February, following a 10-month peak in January, raising morale before Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement, due later on Wednesday.  UK prices rose by 2.8% year-on-year, following …

European markets continued to outperform their US counterparts despite the recent rebound on Wall Street. Notably, the banking and industrial sectors stand as the top two performers, driven by relatively cheaper valuations, expectations for surging defence spending, and optimistic economic outlooks. ADVERTISEMENT On Tuesday, European stock markets snapped a three-day losing streak following news that US President Donald Trump may …

Shell recently revamped its focus on oil and gas output, a move which has been greatly welcomed by shareholders, due to the current higher returns potential. ADVERTISEMENT British oil and gas giant Shell has revealed that it will be slashing costs, especially in clean energy, while also increasing shareholder returns. This decision comes as the company attempts to reduce its …

Crude oil prices jumped following US President Donald Trump’s announcement that he would impose 25% tariffs on Venezuela’s oil buyers. The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures at NYNEX rose 11% and the Brent futures at ICE were up 6.7% since their lows on 5 March. ADVERTISEMENT US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that he would sign an executive …

The German software company’s share price gained 40% in the past year, while Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk has gradually lost almost half of its own since last summer. ADVERTISEMENT German tech giant SAP SE rose to the throne of Europe’s biggest public company, surpassing the market capitalisation of the Danish drug maker Novo Nordisk. The multinational software company, based in …

Eurozone business activity expanded for a third straight month in March, driven by a rebound in German manufacturing and easing inflation pressures, offering early signs of a more sustained recovery. ADVERTISEMENT Europe’s economic engine might finally be shifting into gear, as a rebound in German manufacturing and easing price pressures across the euro area offered a glimmer of hope that …