Reuters UK Business

FRANKFURT (Reuters) -Heidelberg Materials, the world’s second-largest cement maker, on Thursday posted third-quarter operating profit that came in slightly higher than expected, citing an “uncompromising focus” on cost cuts and price increases. The quarterly result from current operations (RCO) came in at 1.18 billion euros ($1.38 billion), it said, up 5% year-on-year and higher than …

Heidelberg Materials posts higher than expected Q3 profit on cost, price management Read More »

By Amanda Cooper and Dhara Ranasinghe LONDON (Reuters) -Traders are growing gloomy on the outlook for the pound, already at its lowest in months, concerned that a long-awaited budget this month will do little to boost Britain’s growth prospects. Options markets show pessimism over the pound is at its highest level since January, when UK …

UK pre-budget blues and rate cut concerns pile pressure on pound Read More »

A look at the day ahead in European and global markets from Rae Wee The Bank of England announces its interest rate decision on Thursday, where what had once seemed like a straightforward hold is now under intense scrutiny. Markets are pricing in an almost one-in-three chance of a cut to 3.75%, up from a …

Morning Bid: Spotlight on knife-edge BoE decision Read More »

By Suban Abdulla LONDON (Reuters) -British finance minister Rachel Reeves should break election pledges not to raise taxes on working people so she can build “real fiscal headroom” in her budget this month, the Confederation of British Industry said on Thursday. Reeves has warned taxes are likely to rise in her Nov. 26 budget. She …

UK’s CBI tells Reeves to break tax promises and build fiscal headroom Read More »

By William Schomberg LONDON (Reuters) -The Bank of England is set to announce a potentially knife-edge interest rate decision on Thursday with most investors expecting no change before this month’s government budget, but some analysts say inflation heat is cooling enough for a cut. What had until recently seemed likely to be a clear majority …

Bank of England set for tight rates decision as inflation softens and budget looms Read More »

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Executives of MSC, Rolex, Partners Group, Mercuria, Richemont and MKS took part in a meeting of Swiss business leaders with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Tuesday, according to a statement seen by Reuters. Switzerland is facing 39% U.S. tariffs on imports of its goods and both its government and …

Executives from Mercuria, Rolex other Swiss firms meet Trump Read More »

By Prerna Bedi (Reuters) -CoverGirl-parent Coty forecast like-for-like sales for the second quarter at the top end of its prior outlook, betting on steady demand for Calvin Klein and Hugo Boss fragrances even as customers curb spending on broader makeup and skincare items. Shares of the company, which had previously forecast second-quarter sales to fall …

Coty expects quarterly sales at top end of forecast on steady fragrance demand Read More »