Business

Surging housing prices have led to several employees leaving capital cities, and as consequence, many employers have introduced staff housing benefits in order to attract and retain staff. ADVERTISEMENT The rising cost of living being seen in several parts of the world at present has also resulted in soaring housing prices. A number of employees are now increasingly unable to …

The warning comes as France’s government meets party representatives, hopeful of winning support for a new budget bill. ADVERTISEMENT The plan to reform pensions in France mustn’t be altered to appease political opponents, said the head of the country’s largest employer federation on Thursday. “The effectiveness of the reform must not be compromised”, said Patrick Martin, chief of Medef, speaking …

The final quarter of last year was disappointing for retailers in the eurozone, with little reprieve forecasted for 2025. ADVERTISEMENT The seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade increased by 0.1% in the euro area in November 2024, compared to the prior month. That’s according to data released by Eurostat on Thursday – and follows readings of -0.3 in October and …

Electric vehicle demand is expected to keep rising this year, but uncertainty over policy changes and tariffs is clouding the forecast. ADVERTISEMENT Global sales of battery electric vehicles are expected to reach 15.1 million in 2025, marking a 30% jump, according to S&P Global Mobility. Battery electric vehicles are expected to make up 16.7% of the market share for light …

Northvolt AB has signalled that its battery production operations will continue as normal, while the company ramps up efforts to find new sources of funds under the US Chapter 11 restructuring process. ADVERTISEMENT Swedish electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturer Northvolt AB has revealed its shareholders have voted for operations to carry on as usual, while the company attempts to secure …

UK gilt yields hit multi-decade highs, with 10-year yields at 4.90% and 30-year at 5.40%. The pound slumped to a 14-month low. Analysts debate if this is a new “Truss moment” or temporary turbulence driven by inflation and fiscal worries. ADVERTISEMENT Yields on UK government bonds have soared to levels not seen in decades, with 10-year gilts reaching 4.90% on …

The copper price has been on the rise in 2025, reaching a three-week high amid robust demand in China, given Beijing’s ongoing stimulus measures. However, Trump’s tariffs are expected to cap the uptrend later in the year. ADVERTISEMENT Copper prices have had a strong start in 2025, rising more than 6% in the first six trading days of the year. …

A winter recession could be on the cards for Germany as factory activity levels slumped in November, according to data released on Wednesday by the Federal Statistical Office. ADVERTISEMENT Germany could experience a winter recession, as disappointing factory activity levels in November deepened its ongoing manufacturing crisis.  New orders across Europe’s biggest economy fell by 5.4% between October and November …

Oil and gas giant Shell has reduced its estimates for liquefied natural gas (LNG) production for the last quarter of 2024, with significant well write-offs for upstream exploration and integrated gas also expected. ADVERTISEMENT The details were revealed in an update to its fourth quarter 2024 outlook on Wednesday, ahead of the actual Q4 results due to be released on …

Analysts are now hopeful that the Swedish central bank will lower its key policy rate later this month, following five interest rate cuts last year. ADVERTISEMENT Prices in Sweden rose at a slower pace in December compared to the prior month, fuelling predictions that the country’s central bank will cut interest rates at its next monetary policy meeting on 28 …