Business news live – Pound climbs against the dollar, FTSE 100 hits new record high

Morning all, new financial knowledge this week continues to color a basic image of gradual, maybe grudging, development in a number of areas – however not manufacturing.

We noticed in GDP knowledge that it had been hit within the second quarter and extra numbers in the present day again that up.

The most recent knowledge on UK manufacturing PMI from S&P exhibits a September slowdown, sizzling on the heels of ONS’ knowledge displaying the sector fell within the second three months of the 12 months.

Rob Dobson, director at S&P World Market Intelligence, mentioned: “The ultimate Manufacturing PMI outcomes present additional worrying information for the well being of UK business.”

Commenting on what it’d imply going ahead, Mike Thornton, head of industrials at RSM UK, mentioned: “The most recent fall in manufacturing exercise in September was one other blow for the sector, displaying a continued downward development moderately than a seasonal dip in August.

“The output index has dropped to 45.7, the bottom degree since March, signalling a pointy slowdown in manufacturing ranges as weak demand, falling new orders and subdued export exercise proceed to weigh closely on the sector.

“This sustained contraction suggests producers are scaling again operations to mitigate deteriorating market circumstances, with little signal of a rebound within the brief time period. Companies ought to due to this fact count on a stagnant outlook for the rest of the 12 months.”

Enterprise confidence slumped to its lowest degree on file final month amid issues over hovering prices, in line with a brand new survey of firm bosses.

Knowledge from the Institute of Administrators (IoD) confirmed that companies mentioned larger labour prices has been the largest contributor to rising pessimism in regards to the economic system.

The business group’s month-to-month financial confidence index, which measures enterprise chief optimism in regards to the prospects of the UK economic system, posted a minus 74 studying for September.

It marked a major decline from minus 61 and struck the bottom degree for the reason that index was launched greater than 9 years in the past.

The US authorities is now in shutdown, with the 2 events not managing to agree a funding plan.

Whereas inventory markets have typically not reacted an excessive amount of to this consequence – futures present the S&P 500 down about 0.5 per cent – the greenback has weakened additional.

Meaning you’re proper now getting extra in your cash if you’re heading to the US.

£1 is now $1.3465, up nearly 0.2 per cent in the present day.

It was barely larger earlier and we are able to count on slightly extra motion throughout the day.

Firstly of the 12 months it was $1.2521 – it’s up greater than 7.3 per cent since then.

The Metropolis is cheering new FTSE 100 highs in the present day, because the benchmark index topped 9,400 factors for the primary time ever.

After rising 0.7 per cent this morning, it’s presently round 9,414 factors.

The best risers embody pharma trio AstraZeneca (up 6.1%), Hikma (3.6%) and GSK (2.5%).

“AstraZeneca, Hikma and GSK rallied after Donald Trump introduced plans to launch a government-run web site for customers to purchase medicine instantly from producers. It appears to be like like traders are regaining confidence within the pharma sector following current uncertainty round pricing and tariffs. Extra readability on each factors helps to regain traders’ curiosity,” defined Russ Mould, funding director at AJ Bell.

Greggs has revealed its gross sales rose in current months however blamed unusually sizzling July climate and a troublesome client backdrop for a slowdown in development.

The excessive avenue bakery chain, with 2,675 retailers within the UK, has continued to develop its sprawling property throughout the nation.

It reported a 6.1% improve in gross sales over the third quarter of 2025, in contrast with the identical interval a 12 months in the past.

On a like-for-like foundation, which strips out the affect of latest store openings, gross sales development throughout company-managed retailers slowed to 1.5% 12 months on 12 months.

One other reminder that 5 October is quick approaching – and that’s the deadline to register for self evaluation in case you have a facet hustle and your revenue from it’s past £1000.

To place that in perspective if you happen to’re on Vinted, eBay and anyplace else – that’s solely a mean of £20 per week means you surpass that threshold.

Kate Steere, cash knowledgeable at Finder, mentioned: “Facet hustles have gotten more and more in style as family budgets are squeezed by inflation, however many individuals don’t realise they might be answerable for tax even when they’re incomes a comparatively small quantity on the facet every month. All it takes is incomes greater than £80 a month, and also you’ve exceeded the £1,000 yearly restrict.

“When you’re on this boat, whilst you don’t have to submit your tax return till the tip of January, you do have to register for Self Evaluation earlier than 5 October.

“Miss this, and you possibly can face a failure-to-notify penalty. Whilst you’re at it, why not give your future self a break by opening a devoted enterprise account? Separating your private funds out of your facet hustle revenue will make the entire course of that a lot smoother with regards to submitting your tax return.”

Bank card agency Aqua have launched outcomes of a survey of 500 younger adults (18-24 12 months olds) and, whereas a small pattern measurement, the outcomes are eye opening.

The highest monetary classes they want they’d identified earlier are ‘how one can make investments’ (21%), ‘how one can funds’ (19%) and element round what credit score scores imply (18%).

Maybe extra notable is the place they’re going for this.

18-24-year-olds usually tend to flip to TikTok (22.2%) than to their college (15.8%) for monetary steerage, reads the report.

Good that they’re going out and looking for the knowledge, after all, however be cautious on social media – there’s loads of misinformed or outright incorrect stuff on there.

At all times make sure you’re utilizing respected accounts, individuals or firms if that’s the place you go for information.

Aqua’s Sharvan Selvam mentioned: “These outcomes present that many younger individuals really feel underprepared with regards to managing their cash, particularly round credit score and budgeting. It’s worrying to see such excessive ranges of stress round funds at such a formative stage in life, and it highlights the necessity for extra sensible, accessible steerage.”

Worldwide Distribution Providers (IDS), the agency which owns the postal service, has concluded a purchase order of 49 per cent of shares in parcel firm Gather+, with a part of the deal which means about 8,000 shops will now be branded Royal Mail.

It means excessive avenue shops will promote postage over-the-counter and clients pays payments in individual moderately than solely on-line.

The deal, which is price £43.9m, may also see self-service kiosks put in in some retailers subsequent 12 months, prolonged opening hours together with weekends and evenings – plus retaining the conventional operations of Gather+, which embody sending and returning parcels from different carriers.