Reuters UK Business

By Tom Sims FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Germany’s new construction starts fell further during the first half of the year, data showed on Wednesday, indicating stress in the property market of Europe’s largest economy. New building starts dropped 26% in the first six months, from a year earlier, based on data from Bulwiengesa, a property consulting …

German property sector cracks show as new building starts tumble Read More »

By Maria Martinez BERLIN (Reuters) -The German cabinet passed its 2025 budget on Wednesday after months of wrangling, even though a 17 billion euro ($18.6 billion) gap between projected spending and revenue has still to be covered. German Finance Minister Christian Lindner told a news conference that the government was looking at innovative ways to …

German coalition passes 2025 budget after months of wrangling Read More »

By Alvise Armellini and Alessandro Parodi ROME (Reuters) -Italy’s competition authority is investigating whether luxury brands Armani and Dior had misled consumers, it said on Wednesday, following inquiries by prosecutors into worker exploitation at suppliers of the two groups. Prosecutors in Milan uncovered workshops on the outskirts of Italy’s fashion capital this year where underpaid …

Italy antitrust targets Armani, Dior after worker exploitation probes Read More »

LONDON (Reuters) – British house prices rose for a third month in a row in May, increasing by an annual 2.2% after a 1.3% rise in April, the Office for National Statistics said on Wednesday. The ONS’s gauge of private rents increased by 8.6% in the 12 months to June, slowing slightly from May’s 8.7% …

UK house prices rose by 2.2% in 12 months to May, ONS says Read More »

MADRID – Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday announced a new plan worth 2.3 billion euros ($2.5 billion) to boost the country’s transition to clean energy, including subsidies for green energy industries and hydrogen made from renewable power. The plan will also include measures to help agriculture, infrastructure and villages transition to green energy, …

Spain to launch new $2.5 billion plan to support green hydrogen, renewable industry Read More »

By Emma Rumney LONDON (Reuters) -Pernod Ricard said on Wednesday it agreed to sell the majority of its wine portfolio to the owners of Australia’s Accolade Wines, disposing of a dragging division to focus on its core business of spirits. The world’s No.2 Western spirits maker plans to sell its wine brands from Australia, New …

Pernod Ricard offloads bulk of wine unit to focus on spirits Read More »