Business

Business · 30 September 2026

Brookfield Cuts Hands, Not Pension Funds: 25% Workforce Gone in Less Than Six Months

Nadia Cho, Toronto desk

After a £2.4 bn acquisition by Brookfield, the retirement specialist announced a 25 % workforce reduction, sparking rumours that the new owners prefer a leaner, more efficient pension plan—perhaps even one that pa…

Business · 30 September 2026

Burnham’s Tear‑Drenched EU Pact: Labour Promises Long‑Term Love While the PM Ditches the Triple‑Lock

Iris Quay, London desk

In a surprisingly melodramatic Labour conference, Andy Burnham pledged a “long‑term” relationship with the EU, while the Prime Minister announced the end of the pensions triple‑lock to fund a national care servic…

Business · 30 September 2026

Burnham’s GB Grid: A Quango‑Infused Promise to Light Up the City

Iris Quay, London desk

Andy Burnham’s first speech as prime minister introduced the GB Grid, a government‑backed network body aimed at slashing energy costs. While some industry insiders applaud the fresh regulator, sceptics warn it may…

Business · 30 September 2026

Tax Talk: New Zealand’s Fiscal Menu Gets a New Menu Item

Moss Harlow, Auckland desk

As politicians shuffle the fiscal deck again, a quirky debate over which tax to serve up leaves citizens wondering if their money will end up in the pot or on the plate.

Business · 30 September 2026

Triple Lock: The Pension Policy that Turned the City into a High‑Stakes Poker Game

Iris Quay, London desk

When the Treasury’s ‘triple lock’ move was unveiled, it promised a tidy boost for pensions but instead set the City on a high‑stakes game that even the most seasoned bankers find hard to predict.

Business · 30 September 2026

Canadian Spirits, Butter and Other Essentials Go on Ice as US Imposes Ban

Nadia Cho, Toronto desk

The United States has enacted a prohibition on Canadian alcohol and dairy, sending ripples through the grocery aisle and the trade negotiation table. With no sign of talks resuming, Toronto businesses brace for a new era…

Business · 30 September 2026

Court to Decide Whether White House Access Ban Becomes New Asset Class

Noor Hale, World desk

A trio of U.S. news outlets has filed a petition to block the Trump-era access ban, sparking a dry commentary on how political gate‑keeping can feel like a market downturn for journalists’ ‘currency’.

Business · 30 September 2026

Volkswagen to Report £9bn Redress—The City’s ‘Friendly’ Motor Finance Scheme Finally Hits the German Giant

Iris Quay, London desk

After a legal challenge to the FCA’s £9bn motor‑finance redress scheme, Volkswagen braces for a sizeable hit to its balance sheet. The German carmaker’s latest earnings will reflect the City’s generous gift, pro…

Business · 29 September 2026

Aviva's New‑Build Fiasco: Future Homes May Be Too Wet to Insure

Iris Quay, London desk

Aviva’s chief risk officer warned that homes constructed in flood‑prone areas could become uninsurable, sparking debate over the City’s appetite for weather‑related risk.