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The Guardian Business 18 hours ago

Saudi state oil company reports jump in profits despite attacks; Australian central bank lifts rates – business live

Iran war reduces Aramco’s output but this has been offset by higher oil prices Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of business, the financial markets and the world economy. The Saudi state oil company Saudi Aramco has reported that profits rose by more than a third in the latest quarter despite attacks on its facilities. Geopolitical uncertainty and attacks on key energy facilities…
The Guardian Business 19 hours ago

Poundland staff could be out of work for years if retailer collapses, founder says

Steve Smith calls on owners to accept proposed buyout as 12,000 staff face uncertain future in run-up to Christmas The founder of Poundland has warned that staff at the retailer could be out of work for “years” if it collapses, as he called on the owners of the troubled chain to accept a proposed buyout deal. Steve Smith, who set up the firm with a store in Burton upon Trent in 1990, said: “Once…
BBC Business 20 hours ago

Public venues offer tea and warm welcome in winter

The annual scheme sees community venues and libraries offer hot drinks and the chance to socialise.
The Guardian Business 21 hours ago

UK job satisfaction at record low amid rising frustration over pay and flexible working

Resolution Foundation study finds workers are less willing to go ‘above and beyond for employers than a decade ago’ Job satisfaction among UK workers has dropped to a record low, according to a study that shows a growing frustration with employers over pay and flexible working. Analysis by the Resolution Foundation thinktank shows that a lack of flexible working, insecure jobs and a loss of…
The Guardian World 22 hours ago

RBA interest rates: Reserve Bank hikes cash rate for fifth time this year in blow to mortgage holders

Reserve Bank of Australia increases official cash rate to 4.85%, bringing it to highest level since 2008 RBA interest rates live updates: Reserve Bank cash rate decision Get our daily political email, free app or daily news podcast The Reserve Bank has hiked rates for the fifth time this year, from 4.6% to 4.85%, in an attempt to regain control of surging inflation amid an ongoing global oil…
The Guardian World 3 Nov 2026, 01:40

RBA interest rates live: Reserve Bank of Australia meeting today before cash rate decision and announcement – latest news

Reserve Bank is expected to raise interest rates to an 18-year high on Tuesday, the fifth hike this year Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Asked why Labor can’t guarantee it won’t find net savings in the mid-year budget update, Chalmers told RN the government is undertaking that task this month ahead of December’s release. We are currently working our way through the…
The Guardian Business 3 Nov 2026, 00:01

John Lewis Christmas ad stars Kristin Scott Thomas as glamorous granny on a gift hunt

Company tugs at heartstrings with Pickles the talking toy dog as it celebrates 20 years of blockbuster festive ads John Lewis has turned to a celebrity best known for playing aristocrats to put a playful but rather upmarket spin on the countdown to Christmas with this year’s festive ad, which features a toy dog called Pickles and a glamorous granny. Kristin Scott Thomas, known for playing…
The Guardian Business 3 Nov 2026, 00:00

British Airways lost my father’s vital life-saving machine

He needs a dialysis machine to survive, but on a flight it was first damaged, then it was lost My father suffers from terminal renal failure and relies on a highly specific dialysis machine every night to survive. British Airways’ check-in staff twice insisted on checking this fragile 20kg lifeline into the aircraft hold where it was first damaged, then lost. When his outbound flight arrived at…
The Guardian Business 2 Nov 2026, 20:05

British Gas resume force-fitting prepayment meters months after £112m settlement

Regulators have lifted a block on the supplier, enabling it to install meters in the homes of people who cannot afford their energy bills British Gas has resumed force-fitting prepayment meters in the homes of people who cannot afford their energy bills just months after paying the largest settlement on record for sending debt collectors into the homes of vulnerable customers. The industry…
The Guardian Business 2 Nov 2026, 18:13

Control of Britain’s 39m smart meters passes to non-profit startup

The handover marks the end of a 13-year license for Smart DCC, after years of spiralling costs and delays Control over Great Britain’s 39m smart meters has passed to a non-profit startup after its former owner presided over more than a decade of spiralling costs and delays in the troubled network. The company owned by crisis-hit outsourcing firm Capita has promised a “seamless transition” to its…
The Guardian Business 2 Nov 2026, 17:23

Brickmaker’s woes deepen the UK housebuilding gloom

Ibstock has issued a thumping profits warning, with sales 22% below expectations in the third quarter With John Healey’s Your First Home scheme on the way, is the mood improving in the housebuilding sector? A couple of the builders have results later this week, so can speak for themselves. In the meantime, though, here’s a thumping profits warning from Ibstock, the country’s biggest brickmaker…
The Guardian Business 2 Nov 2026, 16:37

Oil price falls amid hope of a breakthrough to end Iran war

Brent crude dropped by more than 6% to $105.55 a barrel, the lowest level in two weeks The oil price fell to its lowest level in over two weeks on Monday, amid new hopes of a breakthrough to end the Iran war. Brent crude, the international benchmark, dropped by more than 6.5% to as low as $105.55 a barrel, the lowest since 16 October, sending shares in airline companies higher and pushing down…
BBC Business 2 Nov 2026, 13:40

Poundland's former owner offers to invest as minister prepares to meet board

Wolverhampton's Steve Smith says he attempted to contact Gordon Brothers but did not get a reply.
The Guardian UK 2 Nov 2026, 12:22

Snowball fight: Cadbury owner in trademark row over festive chocolate treat

Mini Snow Balls’ maker Mondelēz is demanding vegan brand Moo Free remove its White Choccy Snowballs from shelves Toblerone owner sues British vegan chocolate brand over chunky shape The owner of Cadbury and Toblerone has demanded that a small vegan chocolate brand remove its products from shelves in a trademark dispute over the use of the word snowball. Mondelēz International has written a legal…
The Independent 2 Nov 2026, 11:53

Millions in UK set for higher mortgage costs next year as interest rate rise imminent

The next Bank of England vote takes place on Thursday 5 November
The Guardian Business 2 Nov 2026, 11:30

UK’s largest brickmaker hit by sales slump as housebuilding downturn deepens

Ibstock, which has cut production by a fifth, criticises government for delay in help for housing sector Sales at the UK’s largest brickmaker plunged by more than a fifth over the summer, as it criticised the government for not introducing fresh help for the housing sector faster. Leicestershire-based Ibstock said on Monday that sales slumped by 22% below its expectations in the quarter to the…
The Guardian Business 2 Nov 2026, 11:00

Prediction market bettors are the new political pundits. Why are we listening to them? | Judith Levine

Sites like Kalshi and Polymarket offer faux populism as elites reap the benefits – and voters risk being misled Online betting is a bit like Donald Trump. The prediction markets – platforms where users bet on whether events will occur – pretend to be populist, pushing the nabobs aside and representing the “wisdom of the crowd”. “This data is bottom-up, not elites-driven,” a Kalshi spokesperson…
The Guardian World 2 Nov 2026, 09:06

Ryanair considers pay freezes and reducing crew on flights as fuel costs soar

Airline also weighs up increasing use of AI as part of cost-cutting measures to offset impact of Iran war Ryanair is considering cost-cutting measures including implementing pay freezes, reducing crew on flights and increasing the use of AI to offset soaring fuel costs because of the Middle East conflict. Europe’s biggest low-cost carrier said it expects European airlines to raise their ticket…
The Guardian Business 2 Nov 2026, 07:36

Crypto ‘scammers on overdrive’ as Binance customers pull billions from accounts after $6.3bn hack – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news And in case you missed it: rival trading platform Chainalysis said on Friday it had also been the target of a cyber attack, although it found no evidence of unauthorised access to “investigation content, authentication credentials, or session tokens.” It said in a statement: Our team is working with leading cybersecurity experts to…
The Guardian Business 2 Nov 2026, 07:00

What to look for if you’re buying a smart lock in the UK

More people are fitting keyless devices to their front door – but are they worth it and do they affect your insurance? As the nights draw in, thoughts turn to home security. A growing number of British homeowners are choosing to upgrade their front doors with tech-enabled “keyless” smart locks, which allow them to be opened by phone, fob, fingerprint or a number pad. But you need to make sure you…
The Guardian Business 2 Nov 2026, 07:00

Nine big oil firms on track to share more than £95bn profit two quarters in a row

Windfall for oil corporations such Saudi Aramco and BP comes on back of soaring fuel prices driven by Iran war The world’s biggest oil companies are on track to amass profits of more than $95bn (£71bn) in the third quarter as the war in the Middle East drives up the price of fossil fuels. The windfall war profits have sparked calls for oil corporations such as Saudi Aramco and BP to pay for…
The Guardian World 2 Nov 2026, 06:57

‘Sharper, longer slowdown’ predicted for economy as fifth interest rate hike looms

Australia’s central bank expected to hit mortgage holders again on Tuesday, as war in Middle East combines with collapsing house prices Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Australia’s economy is set for a “sharper, longer slowdown”, major bank economists say, as the Reserve Bank is forced to keep interest rates higher to rid the nation of persistent inflationary pressures.…
BBC Business 2 Nov 2026, 06:22

Christmas donations gift demand up, charities say

Charities collecting Christmas presents for struggling families say demand has gone up.
BBC Business 2 Nov 2026, 06:21

Christmas shoebox appeal launches to help children

A gift-filled shoebox campaign launched for children who would otherwise go without this Christmas.
The Guardian UK 2 Nov 2026, 06:00

Millions in UK brace to remortgage on worse deals as rate rise looms

More than 2.3m households face jump in payments in 2027, after expected increase in Bank of England rate this week More than 2.3m UK households face a sharp rise in mortgage payments as they come off fixed-rate deals in 2027, with the Bank of England expected to begin raising interest rates this week. The Bank’s nine-member monetary policy committee (MPC) is widely expected to increase the base…