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Why Is Halloween Candy So Expensive?

Oct 28, 2026

The average cost of a 100-piece bag has jumped 71 percent in the last five years. Consumers are thinking twice about what they’ll spend.

Luxury cruise passengers stranded in Cambodia due to soaring fuel costs

Oct 28, 2026

Judge Limits Candace Owens’s Liability in Macron Defamation Case

Oct 28, 2026

Tax on banks, energy bill help and minimum wage rise - what could be in the Budget?

Oct 28, 2026

I get £4,062 a year and am trying my best - here's what I want from the Budget

Oct 28, 2026

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Oct 28, 2026

'An annoying buzz': The search for stealthier drones

As drone deliveries become more commonplace, their makers are looking for ways to make them quieter.

Oct 27, 2026

China's families are now supporting more old people than kids

Oct 27, 2026

Plaid demands more cash, but how could the Budget affect Wales?

Oct 27, 2026

'Tone deaf at best' - advice to stock up on essentials worries experts and low-income families

Oct 27, 2026

Bots Drive Online Chatter About Races in Kansas and Texas

Interesting Read

Asia shares up ahead of US tech results

Asia stocks rallied on Wednesday after a resurgence in AI enthusiasm ahead of earnings from industry bellwethers later in the US day, while the dollar was perky ahead of a Federal Reserve policy decision. The AI rally faces its next test when technology giants Alphabet and Microsoft report earnings after market close, with investors looking for evidence of returns that would justify the hefty price of AI build-out. Ahead of US earnings, MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 0.85 percent in early Asia trade, with Japan's Nikkei adding 1.2 percent and South Korea's Kospi jumping more than three percent. The Hang Seng Index was slightly lower in mid-morning trade, down 0.02 percent, at 23,036. (Reuters) Edited by Aaron Tam

Oct 28, 2026

US consumer confidence up in October on fuel cost lull

US consumer confidence improved in October, driven primarily by a lull in fuel price increases, according to a key indicator published on Tuesday, a week before crucial midterm elections that will decide control of Congress. The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index rose by 7.5 points to 91.7 in October, the organisation said in a statement. The data defied analyst expectations of a drop in confidence. "The recovery was in line with retail gasoline prices easing from September to October," said Fergus McCormick, senior economist at the Conference Board. "Yet, despite the increase in October, consumer confidence remained on the long-term downward trend that's persisted over the past few years." The rising cost of living is a core voter concern going into the November 3 elections, in which the Democratic Party is seeking to wrest control of Congress from US President Donald Trump's Republicans. Trump's war on Iran has driven up global energy prices, exacerbating already high inflation in the United States as the price for regular petrol has increased by more than 40 percent since the start of the conflict. Trump welcomed the October consumer confidence data in a post on social media, calling it "an extremely big rise." (AFP) Edited by Cecil Wong

Oct 27, 2026

Wall Street ends higher on revived AI momentum

An AI-fueled tech rally sent US stocks to a higher close on Tuesday as third-quarter reporting season gained steam, while the US Federal Reserve convened for its penultimate meeting of the year. The tech-heavy Nasdaq led the gains. The buzz surrounding details of Anthropic's impending initial public offering helped boost chip stocks for the third consecutive session. Growing concerns over the viability of debt-funded spending amid rising borrowing costs have weighed on the AI trade this month. To fund its AI expansion, Meta increased its largest-ever equity fundraising to US$97.5 billion, sending the Facebook parent's shares down 1.6 percent. "(The Anthropic news) seems to be giving a little bit of a relief rally to the AI stocks, particularly the semis," said Chuck Carlson, CEO at Horizon Investment Services in Hammond, Indiana, referring to chip stocks. "Those stocks have gotten clobbered in recent weeks and they were probably due for a bounce." Economic data showed rising new orders for computers and peripheral equipment, supporting the notion of strong AI-related spending. Nearly half of S&P 500 companies have reported third-quarter results. Of those, 83 percent have delivered better-than-expected results, according to the most recent available LSEG data. Boeing tumbled 10.7 percent following its bigger-than-expected third-quarter loss, while water-management company Xylem slid 14.2 percent after trimming full-year forecasts. United Parcel Service advanced 5.8 percent after the package delivery firm raised its annual revenue and profit forecasts. Sherwin-Williams' quarterly profit miss sent the stock 2.7 percent lower, weighing on the Dow. Royal Caribbean rose 5.5 percent after the cruise operator lifted its full-year profit forecast. Microsoft and Alphabet results are expected on Wednesday, while Amazon.com is due to report on Thursday. The Fed convened on Tuesday for its October monetary policy meeting, which is widely expected to culminate in a decision to keep the fed funds target rate on hold in the 3.75 to 4 percent range, saving its second rate hike of the year for its final meeting in December, according to CME's FedWatch tool. "There seems to be more confidence that the Fed isn't going to do anything at this meeting, partly because we have an election on Tuesday," Carlson added. "There's probably at least some relief that the rate situation is not going to get in the way of a rally." The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 15 points, or 0.03 percent, to 52,377, the S&P 500 gained 45 points, or 0.6 percent, to 7,722 and the Nasdaq Composite gained 308 points, or 1.2 percent, to 26,477. (Reuters) Edited by Cecil Wong

Oct 27, 2026

Boeing delays 737 production target to early 2027

Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said on Tuesday that the company will not reach its 737 production rate target of 47 jets a month until next year, a serious setback to the company's ongoing recovery. The company had planned to reach the target this past summer, but it will take "into early next year," Ortberg said during an interview on CNBC. In September, he said that Boeing has not been able to make wings fast enough. Deliveries of the popular single-aisle jetliner are a major driver of Boeing's cash flow. Shares of the US planemaker fell 2.5 percent in premarket trading even as Boeing continues to recover from years of crises and controversies that dented its reputation, drained cash and saddled it with a heavy debt load. During the quarter, Boeing secured certification for the 737 MAX 7 from US regulators, won the US Navy's sixth-generation F/A-XX fighter contract and generated free cash flow for another quarter, while certification of the larger MAX 10 followed in October. "Expectations are rising, and they should. We have a stronger foundation than a year ago, but we also have more work to do to deliver on our backlog, strengthen our culture, and improve how we work every day," Ortberg said in a memo to employees after the results. Boeing reported an adjusted loss of 34 cents per share for the quarter through September, compared with market expectation of 21 cents, according to data compiled by LSEG. Revenue at Boeing Commercial Airplanes dipped slightly to US$10.7 billion, while operating loss stood at US$697 million and margin shrank by just 6.5 percent compared with a contraction of 48.3 percent a year ago. The company attributed the performance to less profitable jetliner deliveries and higher production costs, including from its supply chain. At Boeing's defense division, higher deliveries, improved operational performance and a US$252-million sale of a subsidiary contributed to nearly US$500 million in quarterly earnings with an operating margin of 6.2 percent, up from 1.7 percent a year ago. Boeing Global Services earned US$1 billion and posted an operating margin of 18.3 percent. The US planemaker ended the quarter with US$25.2 billion in net debt, down slightly from US$25.9 billion in the previous three months and US$30.4 billion a year ago. (Reuters) Edited by Aaron Tam

Oct 27, 2026

HK stocks slip as mainland tech gains lose steam

Mainland stocks gave up gains earlier in the day to close at a 14-month low on Tuesday, with tech shares resuming their decline after a brief rise on an uptick in sentiment in the region. In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng Index fell 170 points, or 0.7 percent, to 23,041 on turnover of HK$178.35 billion. The tech index was down 57 points, or 1.5 percent, at 3,800 while the China enterprises index slipped 35 points, or 0.5 percent, to 7,766. Up north, the Shanghai Composite Index closed down 49 points, or 1.33 percent, at 3,648 on turnover of 672.4 billion yuan while the blue-chip CSI300 Index was also 1.3 percent lower. The Shenzhen Component Index fell 288 points, or 2.5 percent, to close at 11,245 on turnover of 788.5 billion yuan while the ChiNext Index dived 90 points, or 3.41 percent, to 2,548 on turnover of 381.58 billion yuan. Shanghai's tech-focused Star50 index slumped 4.8 percent to the lowest since March. The selloff in Chinese AI-related shares, however, continued, with the CSI Semiconductor Index down 5.8 percent at a fresh six-month low and the CSI AI Index down nearly four percent. "The market may stage a short-term rebound after the recent selloff, but a more sustained recovery could require further de-leveraging over the medium term as some crowded positions have yet to be fully cleared," analysts at Sinolink Securities said in a note. China's central bank said on Monday it had decided to establish a swap facility to provide emergency liquidity to non-bank financial institutions facing large-scale redemptions. "The establishment of such facilities to address large redemptions at non-bank financial institutions could keep short-term liquidity conditions accommodative," Huajin Securities analysts said in a note. Elsewhere, data released on Tuesday showed China's industrial profits grew at a faster pace in September, but the sectoral divide remained pronounced. Around the region, Asian stocks climbed as AI firm Anthropic's eagerly anticipated IPO filing lifted risk appetite ahead of tech earnings that will be a test for the AI trade, and central bank meetings that will influence near-term interest rates. In Tokyo, the tech-heavy Nikkei share average rebounded 1,078 points, or 1.73 percent, to close the day at 63,268 after paring an earlier gain of more than two percent. The broader Topix rose 24 points, or 0.61 percent, to 3,997. In Seoul, the Kospi closed up 168 points, or 3.09 percent, at 5,638 after rising up to 4.9 percent during the session. "The market may stage a short-term rebound after the recent selloff, but a more sustained recovery could require further de-leveraging over the medium term as some crowded positions have yet to be fully cleared," analysts at Sinolink Securities said in a note. China's central bank said on Monday it had decided to establish a swap facility to provide emergency liquidity to non-bank financial institutions facing large-scale redemptions. "The establishment of such facilities to address large redemptions at non-bank financial institutions could keep short-term liquidity conditions accommodative," Huajin Securities analysts said in a note. Elsewhere, data released on Tuesday showed China's industrial profits grew at a faster pace in September, but the sectoral divide remained pronounced, with the CSI Semiconductor Index down 5.8 percent at a fresh six-month low and the CSI AI Index down nearly four percent. (Reuters/Xinhua) Edited by Tony Sabine

Oct 27, 2026

HSBC net profit rises in Q3 but misses forecasts

Banking giant HSBC on Tuesday said net profit in the third quarter rose a less-than-expected 45.5 percent year-on-year as the London-headquartered lender continued to restructure operations and cut costs. Profit attributable to shareholders for the three months ending in September stood at US$7 billion, from US$4.87 billion a year earlier, HSBC said in a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange. Pre-tax profit grew 32 percent to US$9.6 billion, with revenue increasing by US$0.8 billion to US$18.6 billion. "As we simplify HSBC, we are creating greater capacity to invest, grow and deliver strong returns for our shareholders," chief executive Georges Elhedery said in the filing. The banking giant also approved a third interim dividend of US$0.10 per share, and announced second US$1 billion buyback after completing one in the previous three months. HSBC said it remained "confident in achieving the targets" set out earlier this year. "We continue to target year-on-year growth in revenue from 2026 to 2028, rising to five percent growth in 2028 compared with 2027," it said. The bank also said expected credit losses tumbled 17 percent to US$800 million from the same period a year ago, thanks to a reduction in charges linked to Hong Kong's real estate sector as well as its UK and Mexican wealth businesses. The lender also said it expected net interest income of at least US$46 billion for 2025. (Agencies) Edited by Edmond Fong

Oct 27, 2026

CUHK to bid for Hung Shui Kiu university town land

Chinese University of Hong Kong will bid for one of the first three sites in the Northern Metropolis University Town in Hung Shui Kiu, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dennis Lo said, but warned that the government's staggered tendering process and high construction costs pose major challenges. In an interview with Ming Pao published on Tuesday, Lo said the university town project would allow the city's eight publicly funded universities to expand their footprint and increase their impact on society. "Our campus is currently relatively small, like a boutique hotel, and I believe this Northern Metropolis University Town has given us a rare opportunity to have some land to expand our footprint," he said. He said Hong Kong universities enjoy strong international reputations and high rankings but are limited in size. Lo said scale is important for universities to produce research that can "change the world", as campus size affects the number of researchers, which in turn affects patents and publications. The university town would help break through the space constraint, he said. He noted that the university had established an InnoHub for New Quality Industries in Qianhai, near Hung Shui Kiu, in March this year, and believed there would be synergy effects. He said the university was considering collaboration with overseas institutions and industries in future at the Hung Shui Kiu university town, but could not reveal further details as it was competing with other universities. However, Lo predicted that due to limited land, the university may prefer to set up research institutes rather than full campuses in the university town. He also said the government's plan to tender the three campuses — in Hung Shui Kiu, San Tin and Ta Kwu Ling — at different times would make planning and collaboration among universities more difficult. "The three plots are being rolled out in batches. For the first ones, you dare not not bid, because each time is an opportunity," he said. On financing, Lo said CUHK would be prudent with possible future development at the Northern Metropolis. He noted that while the government has earmarked HK$10 billion for loans to support campus development at the Northern Metropolis University Town, there is a cap on borrowing and construction costs are high. He estimated that HK$10 billion would only be enough to build five buildings, and called on the government to increase funding. Edited by Tony Sabine

Oct 27, 2026

Chinese industrial profits see sharp rise to 14.4pc

China's industrial profits grew at a faster pace in September, though a deepening divergence across the economy continued to weigh on business earnings. Profits at industrial firms rose 14.4 percent from a year earlier last month, quickening from a 4.2 increase in August, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed on Tuesday. Profits were up 15.5 percent in the first nine months, compared with a 15.7 percent increase in the January-August period. While export-oriented firms brace for greater uncertainty, as expanding trade surpluses heighten the risk of external pressures, firms tied to domestic demand continue to grapple with subdued consumption, casting a shadow over the sustainability of profit growth. The sectoral divide remained pronounced. Profits in the computer, communication, and other electronic equipment manufacturing category soared 103.8 percent in the first nine months, whereas the furniture manufacturing sector posted a 51.3 percent decline, making it one of the weakest performers and highlighting the uneven nature of China's economy. A stronger-than-expected 4.5 percent expansion in the third quarter put China within reach of its annual growth target of 4.5 to five percent, but disparities across different parts of the economy suggest the recovery remains unbalanced, with persistent weakness in some sectors continuing to erode corporate profitability. That pressure has become increasingly visible at the company level. Net profit at the world's largest electric vehicle battery maker, CATL, slowed sharply in the past quarter, as intense competition in the EV battery market squeezed margins at a time when China's auto sales were in a downturn. Industrial profit figures cover firms with yearly revenue of at least 20 million yuan from main operations. (Reuters) Edited by Tony Sabine

Oct 27, 2026

HK rises amid Anthropic IPO lift for regional markets

Asian stocks surged on Tuesday as AI bellwether Anthropic's eagerly anticipated IPO filing lifted risk appetite ahead of tech earnings that will be a test for the AI trade, and central bank meetings that will influence near-term interest rates. In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng Index opened up 48 points, or 0.21 percent, at 23,260. The China enterprises index was 14 points, or 0.18 percent, higher at 7,816 while the tech index rose 28 points, or 0.74 percent, to 3,886. Across the border, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index opened up 0.02 percent at 3,698. The Shenzhen Component Index opened almost 57 points, or 0.49 percent, higher at 11,591 while the ChiNext Index was up 0.89 percent, to open at 2,661. The gains in Hong Kong and the mainland came as US Claude-owner Anthropic disclosed a steep loss and red-hot revenue growth in its filing for a US initial public offering, as investors increasingly dissect the potential payoff from massive AI spending and its profitability. Also boosting sentiment was Meta Platforms' plans to raise up to US$95 billion in its largest-ever equity fundraising. The currency markets are muted ahead of policy decisions from the US Federal Reserve, European Central Bank and Bank of Japan, with economists expecting all three to stand pat on interest rates, leaving the focus on comments from policymakers to gauge the rates outlook. In Tokyo, the Nikkei opened 379 points, or 0.61 percent, up at 62,569 before the gains piled on to send the 225 benchmark 1,168 points higher at one stage before noon as Anthropic's IPO filing and gains in the US semiconductor index lifted local AI-related stocks. In Seoul, the Kospi surged 189 points, or 3.46 percent, up to open at 5,658 and was 226 points higher at one stage before lunch, taking the lead from US artificial intelligence gains and strong local economic growth data. More than a third of US S&P 500 companies are scheduled to report earnings this week, including hyperscalers Alphabet, Microsoft and Amazon.com. "Given the increased AI scrutiny of late and circular arrangements, investors will want evidence that demand is broadening beyond these interconnected relationships to support the continued infrastructure expansion," said Anthony Saglimbene, Ameriprise's chief market strategist. "Investors need confidence that aggressive capex spending reflects durable business needs and that profitability will hold up as new infrastructure comes into service," he said. Fed policymakers have telegraphed they will not raise short-term borrowing costs again this week, but with inflation concerns still front and centre, investors believe a rate-hike pause will not last for long. Traders are pricing in a hike from the Fed in December. "Can we expect [US] growth to hold up in an environment of higher rates? We think yes. We believe the US economy is going to be able to manage through higher interest rates," said Geng Ngarmboonanant, head of macro and policy, multi-asset solutions, JP Morgan Asset Management. (Reuters/Xinhua) Edited by Tony Sabine

Oct 27, 2026