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Second buyer makes rescue bid for Poundland as retailer faces collapse

Nov 5, 2026

A little-known investment group has made a bid to buy the business.

Poundland owner in crunch talks as retailer's collapse looms

Nov 5, 2026

Food, fuel and taxes – can the Democrats do anything to ease cost of living pressures?

Nov 5, 2026

Why do veterinary fees and sausage rolls vary in price across London?

Nov 5, 2026

Pound rises to its highest level since the Brexit referendum

Nov 5, 2026

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Nov 5, 2026

Trump Administration Moves to Oust Arbitrators as Doctor Payouts Soar

The two companies settled billing disputes between doctors and insurers, keeping patients out of the middle. One let doctors win 96 percent of the time.

Nov 5, 2026

The New York Times Adds 420,000 Digital Subscribers

Nov 5, 2026

Australia's oldest department store David Jones folds after 188 years

Nov 5, 2026

How Trump’s Energy Policies Helped Trigger Midterm Rout

Nov 5, 2026

Interest rates expected to rise for first time in over three years

Interesting Read

Top import expo opens in Shanghai

The ninth edition of the China International Import Expo opened in Shanghai on Thursday amid fanfare. It's the country's largest import expo and the world's first national-level exhibition dedicated to imports. Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony. "China's continuous hosting of the China International Import Expo is not only a concrete measure to actively expand imports, but more importantly, a practical action to advocate for an open world economy, promote a proactive, dynamic and upward trade balance, and drive global development towards becoming more balanced, coordinated and inclusive," he said. “Everyone is concerned about trade market issues, the key is how to realise trade balance.” This year's event, which runs through November 10, has attracted 4,142 overseas exhibitors from more than 160 countries and regions. More than 480 exhibits are making their global, Asian or China debuts at the 2026 event, the highest number ever. This year's expo retains its six major exhibition areas and an innovation incubation section, covering areas such as intelligent industry and information technology, consumer goods, food and agricultural products, automobiles and smart mobility, medical devices and healthcare products, and trade in services. (Xinhua and agencies) Edited by Tony Sabine

Nov 5, 2026

What the Democratic midterms sweep changes for U.S.-China relations

Analysts note the growing risks around U.S. President Donald Trump's ability to maintain a fragile trade truce.

Nov 5, 2026

HK 'is largest cross-boundary wealth management hub'

Financial Secretary Paul Chan on Thursday said Hong Kong’s wealth management sector is growing strongly and is well positioned to capture a fair share of business emanating from shifting global affluence. In a keynote speech at the Wealth Management Summit, he pointed to a survey in July by the Securities and Futures Commission that showed assets under management jumped 20 percent to more than HK$42 trillion. The city, Chan said, is now the largest cross-boundary wealth management centre in the world. A survey by summit organiser Private Wealth Management Association offered a similarly encouraging picture, as it found 77 percent of member firms reported stronger demand to open accounts or book client assets in Hong Kong and that 94 percent were moderately or highly optimistic about the city's prospects over the next five years. Chan said sentiment at this week’s Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit, which drew some 280 international leaders from the sector, including around 120 chairmen or chief executives, was "decidedly positive", with some planning to increase investment and headcount in the city. International capital was showing fresh confidence in Hong Kong, he said, with it being reinforced by policy measures to boost private wealth management. "Our tax concession for family-owned investment vehicles is now well established and Hong Kong is home to over 3,300 single-family offices, up 25 percent in just two years," he said at the summit. "The New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme has received some 4,300 applications, representing an expected investment of HK$150 billion, and we have introduced legislation to further enhance the preferential tax regimes for funds, single-family offices and carry interest, which we aim to pass by the end of this year." Chan said higher rates and uncertainty were redrawing the map for capital flows, with cash earning a return again and investors diversifying across markets and currencies. Hong Kong is a clear beneficiary, he said, noting that deposits rose 7.7 percent to HK$20.9 trillion in the first nine months of this year. Initial public offerings raised, Chan pointed out, a record HK$388 billion and capital is arriving from the United States and Europe, as well as the mainland, Southeast Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. He also pointed to technology and AI as a growing source of wealth: tech is now the largest source of wealth among the world's richest tycoons, and mainland billionaire fortunes rose over 20 percent to US$1.8 trillion last year. Hong Kong is capturing it at source – 116 A- and H-share listings in the first three quarters accounted for about 70 percent of funds raised, over half of which were in AI, semiconductors and robotics, with some 500 applications in the pipeline. Edited by Tony Sabine

Nov 5, 2026

Candy and Smiles on MS NOW, and Some Regrets on Fox News

On TV, the outcome of the midterm elections became clear early on. Pundits celebrated and grieved by turns.

Nov 5, 2026

HK stocks gallop up as midterms fuel caution in region

Oil, chip stocks and the US dollar were under pressure in Asia on Thursday and just about everything else was up after US voters swept the Democrats to a series of stunning midterm election wins, a result that raised hopes for an end to the country's war on Iran. In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng Index opened up 397 points, or 1.66 percent, at 24,316 and almost doubled its gains to be 784 points up in early trading. The tech index rose 56 points, or 1.43 percent, to open at 3,992 while the China enterprises index too was higher by a similar margin, putting on 116 points, or 1.45 percent, to 8,174. Up north, the Shanghai Composite Index opened down 39 points, or 1.1 percent, at 3,646. That downward trend held too for the Shenzhen Component Index, putting it 118 points, or 1.1 percent, lower at 11,216 while the ChiNext Index was 51 points, or two percent, down at 2,493. In Tokyo, the Nikkei opened 196 points, or 0.32 percent, higher at 62,384, buoyed by declines in crude oil but with gains held in check by fears that the US midterms trashing for President Donald Trump will result in Democrats slowing the pace of AI data centre expansion. The 225 benchmark was 104 points down at one stage before noon. In Seoul, the Kospi opened 103 points, or 1.82 percent, lower at 5,580 on fears for AI and chip shares and was 182 points down at one stage before lunch. Brent crude futures dived nearly 9 percent overnight, falling below US$100 a barrel. Brent has dropped by about 20 percent so far this week. If sustained through to Friday's close, it would make for the largest weekly drop in oil prices since a week in April 2020 when US crude briefly fell into negative territory. Tumbling energy prices encouraged a rally in bonds, which lowered yields, pulled the dollar to a one-month low of US$1.1273 per euro, and helped stocks. Solar supply chain stocks jumped the most, in anticipation of Democrats boosting support for renewables, while shares in data centre companies and their equipment suppliers across Asia fell on expectations of tougher regulation. Democratic data-centre opponents who campaigned, in part, on moratoriums on the AI linchpin won stunning victories in Texas and Georgia in a sign public opinion is shifting on the booming sector. To be sure, most analysts think it ultimately won't dent demand for artificial intelligence, data centres or computer chips but do now expect at least a temporary slowdown. "The magnitude of the victory is what has caught markets off guard," said Chris Weston, head of research at brokerage Pepperstone in Melbourne. At US$93.50, oil was testing overnight lows in the Asia morning as traders chose to bet that US President Donald Trump, facing a Democratic Congress and hurt by high energy prices caused by the Mideast conflict, would be less likely to escalate the war with Iran. Trump acknowledged on Wednesday that the war played a role in Republicans' defeat and his vice president, JD Vance, was even more blunt on X: "The reason we lost is the war." A resolution could push oil prices lower still, alleviating inflation pressure and reducing the likelihood of future interest rate hikes. (Reuters/Xinhua) Edited by Tony Sabine

Nov 5, 2026

Stocks surge, oil tumbles after Trump's election rout

Wall Street stocks surged on Wednesday as markets greeted the resolution of US midterm elections while oil prices tumbled on expectations the Democratic sweep could hasten a resolution to the US-Iran war. Democrats seized control of both houses of Congress in a victory that gives them the power to block legislation, open investigations into Trump's administration and influence government budgets, including the Pentagon. Heading into Tuesday's vote, some investors had viewed a decisive Democratic win as representing trouble for stocks, citing the risk to the buildout of artificial intelligence data centres. But stocks bounced on Wednesday as analysts said the election outcome resolved uncertainty and pointed to relief that Trump did not contest the results. Oil prices were under pressure throughout the session, adding to losses after US Vice President JD Vance said in a social media post that the Republican defeat was due to the unpopularity of the Iran war, which has sent the prices of fuel and other staples soaring. Crude prices finished the day down more than eight percent with both major contracts under US$100 a barrel. "I think that the election might be leading the market to conclude that Trump might now be inclined to make a deal," said Andy Lipow of Lipow Oil Associates. "Also, with the Democrats in charge of the Senate and House, they may be inclined to restrict funding for the war, and that forces Trump into ending the conflict." The drop in oil prices added momentum to Wall Street stocks, which opened higher following positive sessions on leading European exchanges. All three major indices finished solidly higher, with the Dow ending up three percent, or more than 1,500 points at 53,356. Opposition to data centres fuelled campaigns in key states like Texas, Georgia and Ohio where Democrats won gubernatorial elections previously held by Republicans. But Wednesday's gains by Microsoft, Amazon and other hyperscalers suggest markets may see an upside to constraints that deter overbuilding, said Steve Sosnick of Interactive Brokers. "At some level, people are happy that the industry might be saved from its own worst instincts," said Sosnick, who noted that Nvidia and other chipmakers fell following the results. Both of Elon Musk's publicly traded companies fell after the billionaire's huge political donations failed to stop the Democratic tide. SpaceX fell 3.8 percent and Tesla dropped 3.3 percent. Lockheed Martin, which lost 6.9 percent, was among the defence companies that retreated, while First Solar jumped 4.6 as the election lifted the prospects for renewable energy. Earlier, Europe's main indices finished with gains of around two percent despite official data on Wednesday showing that eurozone inflation reached a three-year high of 4.0 percent in October. Markets across Asia also performed strongly, though Tokyo ended lower as its tech sector struggled. The S&P 500 rose 1.6 percent, to 7,689, the Dow rose 3 percent, to 53,356, while the Nasdaq rose 1.4 percent, to 25,737. (AFP) Edited by Robert Kemp

Nov 4, 2026

Stocks making the biggest moves after hours: Coherent, AppLovin, Expedia, Qualcomm and more

These are the stocks posting the largest moves after hours.

Nov 4, 2026

10-year Treasury yield slides as traders mull over Democrats' midterm victories, oil prices drop

Treasury yields were last little changed Wednesday as investors weighed big wins from Democrats in the U.S. midterm elections.

Nov 4, 2026

America’s Trade Deficit Remained Elevated in September

The gap between U.S. exports and imports, which remained at a relatively high level in September, has defied efforts by President Trump to decrease it with tariffs.

Nov 4, 2026

White House Delays Hearing on Fed Governor

The administration pushed back a hearing for Lisa D. Cook, the Federal Reserve governor that President Trump has tried to fire, after her lawyers raised scheduling issues.