Business and economic news — companies, markets, trade, and corporate developments.
OnlyFans 'agents' control and threaten creators while taking half their earnings, BBC finds
OnlyFans creators face systematic exploitation through predatory management arrangements that strip away half their earnings, BBC investigations revea…
UK electric car sales target set to be weakened
The UK government plans to weaken its electric car sales mandate, backing away from the previous target that required automakers to sell a rising perc…
Millions of people can get discounts on their bills - here's how
UK authorities have expanded access to discounted utility bills for millions of people claiming benefits. The lower social tariffs cover water, broadb…
As more US business owners retire many are selling up to their staff
A generational wealth transfer is reshaping American entrepreneurship. Six million business owners will retire by 2035, and an increasing share are se…
Mike Ashley's Frasers offers £1.73bn to buy all of Hugo Boss
Mike Ashley's Frasers Group has launched a 1.73 billion pound takeover bid for Hugo Boss, seeking to acquire the remaining shares of the German fashio…
Social media on trial: Four important cases to watch
Social media companies confront a legal reckoning across multiple fronts. Four lawsuits demand immediate attention from the industry. Child safety cl…
World Cup expected to be the biggest betting event in history
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will shatter betting records. The tournament's expansion to 48 teams, up from 32, dramatically increases the volume of matches…
UK and Japan agree £18bn investment deal
Japan and the UK have sealed an £18 billion investment agreement focusing on infrastructure and offshore wind energy, Downing Street announced. Japane…
Why the US economy keeps defying the odds
The US economy has defied recession predictions for over a year, powering through inflation, rate hikes, and geopolitical turbulence that would typica…
Illegal mini-marts to shut for up to 12 months under law change prompted by BBC
England and Wales are tightening enforcement against unlicensed convenience stores. New legislation will extend shop closure periods from six months t…
Beauty Pie LED mask ad banned over misleading anti-wrinkle claim
Britain's advertising watchdog banned a Beauty Pie LED mask advertisement for making unsubstantiated anti-wrinkle claims. The company claimed the prod…
The ancient trick making food waste useful and tasty
Fermentation is turning food industry waste into marketable products, transforming discarded processing byproducts into ingredients with real commerci…
Jailed crypto founder Sam Bankman-Fried seeks Trump pardon
Sam Bankman-Fried filed a formal pardon application with the Trump administration on Monday, seeking relief from his 25-year federal sentence for his …
I'd have vetoed foreign sale of UK tech giant, says Business Secretary
Business Secretary Peter Kyle says he would have blocked the foreign acquisition of a major UK technology company, signaling the government's harder l…
Bill debt soars but many don't know help is available
British billpayers are drowning in debt while remaining oblivious to assistance programs that could ease their burden, according to new findings from …
World's largest chipmaker does not rule out price rises as costs increase
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, the world's largest chipmaker, signaled it will not absorb rising production costs without passing expense…
How to enjoy the World Cup - and keep your boss on side
World Cup matches, especially those scheduled in the Middle East's time zones, force a collision between fan passion and workplace responsibility. Foo…
UK pint prices up 36% since last World Cup – here's why
UK beer prices have surged 36 percent since the 2018 World Cup, making a night at the pub substantially more expensive for drinkers across Britain. Th…
Kalshi to make some users reveal job details to tackle insider trading
Kalshi, the federally regulated prediction betting platform, is implementing stricter know-your-customer (KYC) protocols to combat insider trading. Th…
Warner Bros $111bn sale to Paramount approved by US justice department
The US Justice Department cleared Warner Bros' $111 billion acquisition by Paramount, removing a major regulatory hurdle for a merger that consolidate…
AI giants' race to raise funds heats up as ChatGPT-owner plans stock market debut
OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, filed for a stock market listing one week after competitor Anthropic submitted its own IPO plans, intensifying the…
Is 'out of control' US tipping culture spreading overseas?
American tipping norms are creeping into service industries across Europe and beyond, creating friction between businesses and consumers accustomed to…
The rise of the fruit that tastes like custard
Custard apples are moving from niche orchards into mainstream global agriculture, driven by demand in wealthy markets and the fruit's resilience to cl…
Teen plans to leave uni 'debt free' after making £35,000 selling vintage football shirts
Eleri Williams turned her dad's closet into a five-figure income stream. The Welsh teenager has already banked £35,000 flipping vintage football shirt…
Elon Musk becomes world's first trillionaire as SpaceX soars in stock market debut
Elon Musk crossed into uncharted wealth territory this week, becoming the world's first trillionaire as his net worth hit $1.11 trillion on the Bloomb…
'I was employee number one': SpaceX co-founder reacts to firm's market debut
Tom Mueller, SpaceX's first employee and co-founder alongside Elon Musk in 2002, reflected on the rocket company's trajectory from scrappy startup to …
India's 'blue gold' starts a new drinks industry
India's agave boom is reshaping the country's spirits landscape. Local distillers are harvesting the succulent plant, which grows wild across Indian t…
UK signals it may block payout to British Steel owner
The UK government is preparing to block a substantial compensation claim from Jingye Group, the Chinese steelmaker that has owned British Steel since …
Ryanair investigated over charging parents to sit with children
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority launched a formal investigation into Ryanair's practice of charging parents to sit adjacent to their childr…
Elon Musk's stratospheric rise to trillionaire status - in charts
Elon Musk's net worth has entered uncharted territory, with the Tesla and SpaceX founder now approaching trillionaire status faster than any individua…
UK economy contracts as Iran war impact felt
Britain's economy contracted in April as geopolitical tensions with Iran started weighing on business confidence and investment decisions. The Office …
Watch: Three things to know about SpaceX's stock market debut
SpaceX is heading toward its initial public offering, marking a watershed moment for Elon Musk's space company after nearly two decades as a private e…
Elon Musk's SpaceX raises $75bn ahead of world's biggest stock market launch
SpaceX has raised $75 billion in a funding round ahead of what sources describe as the world's biggest stock market launch. The capital injection valu…
'By the grace of God': Miners dig on as lab-grown diamonds change market
Lab-grown diamonds are reshaping the mining industry, forcing traditional diamond miners to dig harder in an increasingly competitive market. The synt…
How 'confused' AI rollout hurts firms and baffles staff
Companies are rushing AI adoption without clear strategy, creating confusion among employees and undermining productivity gains. The pressure to imple…
Caribbean hot sauce producers warn of shortages and higher prices
Caribbean hot sauce manufacturers are bracing for supply shortages and price hikes due to dwindling chilli pepper stocks, according to producers based…
Why the economics make this the craziest World Cup ever
The 2026 FIFA World Cup arrives amid economic turbulence that reshapes how the tournament operates and who can afford to attend. Hosted across the Uni…
Villagers take fight against Lidl store plans to Welsh government
Residents in Llantwit Major and Llanmaes are escalating their opposition to a proposed Lidl supermarket, taking their campaign directly to Welsh gover…
Trump says 'I love the inflation' as US prices rise at fastest rate in three years
Donald Trump claimed to love inflation as U.S. prices climbed at their fastest rate in three years, sparking immediate pushback from economists and ma…
Paper plant closure fears spark community protest
A paper mill in Launceston faces closure, threatening 167 jobs and sparking community protests. Workers and families gathered to oppose the shutdown, …
The £5 coffee that tells a story of global economic turmoil
Coffee prices hit a 13-year high across UK cafes, with premium city-centre cups now fetching £5. This spike reflects a perfect storm of economic press…