Business

Business · 3 October 2026

Tip Top’s Jelly Tip Jumble: Bacterial Blunder Leaves Auckland Cones on Ice

Moss Harlow, Auckland desk

Tip Top has pulled a batch of its Jelly Tip ice creams from shelves after tests hinted at a potential bacterial hitchhiker, prompting a city‑wide hunt for the missing cone.

Business · 3 October 2026

Black Unemployment Bounces Back in September, Analysts Scrabble for Answers

Helen Pell, Washington desk

September’s labour data shows a sharp rise in Black unemployment, sending economists into a frenzy and raising questions about whether the market is playing a cruel game of musical chairs.

Business · 3 October 2026

City Banks Stage Silent Protest as Treasury Unveils Tax Raid

Iris Quay, London desk

In a move that could only be described as a quiet coup, London's leading financial institutions have assembled a covert campaign to counter the Treasury's latest banking tax raid, all while preparing to meet the Chancell…

Business · 3 October 2026

Robust Revenue, Robust Rhetoric: The Fed’s Latest Briefing Leaves Investors Guessing

Helen Pell, Washington desk

In a dry, wordy briefing, the Fed’s officials used the word ‘robust’ four times while delivering a mixed message on rates, leaving market participants both bewildered and mildly entertained.

Business · 3 October 2026

G7 to Empty 100 Million Barrels, The Oil‑Capped Coffin of Trump‑Era Diesel Diplomacy

Iris Quay, London desk

In a move that would make even the most seasoned commodity traders gasp, the G7 nations agreed to release 100 million barrels of emergency oil and diesel reserves over four months to thwart a potential US export ban. T…

Business · 3 October 2026

Staff Strike Vote Sends Auckland Uni‑Poly Techs into Disarray, Banks Scramble to Re‑organise Road Cones

Moss Harlow, Auckland desk

In a first‑ever joint ballot, university and polytechnic staff voted to strike, halting classes and forcing employers to juggle the economics of dairy, the Bank of NZ’s cash rate, and a growing pile of road cones aro…

Business · 3 October 2026

US Jobs Add 29,000 in September—A Small‑Scale Pause in the Labor Market

Iris Quay, London desk

The U.S. employment report shows a sharp slowdown, with only 29,000 new positions added and the unemployment rate nudging up to 4.2%, signalling a cooling labor market as mid‑term elections loom.

Business · 3 October 2026

World Bank Launches ‘AI for Equality’ Pilot, Promises Robots Will Finally Pay the Rent

Etienne Marlow, Brussels desk

The World Bank unveils a tongue‑in‑cheek AI pilot aimed at narrowing the inequality gap, sparking debate over whether algorithms can really balance the books or just shuffle the numbers.

Business · 3 October 2026

Fuel‑Fattened SUVs Take a Tumble While Hybrids Greet a Warm Reception

Helen Pell, Washington desk

Rising fuel costs have nudged Americans away from large pickups and SUVs, boosting sales of hybrids and small cars. The shift suggests a modest but persistent pivot toward fuel efficiency, even as the big‑rig market re…