News

Aston Martin Lagonda secured a fresh injection of £125 million, funded by both the sale of its stake in Lawrence Stroll’s Formula 1 team and the issuance of new shares to Yew Tree investors. This capital boost raises Yew Tree’s stake in the company and comes amid ongoing financial challenges, operational restructuring, and market pressures such as tariffs on imported vehicles.

The UK rail regulator has confirmed that the Temple Mills depot in London has sufficient capacity to accommodate additional European-style trains, paving the way for competition with Eurostar. This decision marks a significant turning point in efforts to liberalize international rail services and introduce much-needed competition for passengers.

In March, UK house prices increased by 3.9% year-on-year as buyers rushed to finish purchases before new stamp duty thresholds come into effect on April 1, with the average price remaining at £271,316. The changes, particularly impacting first-time buyers in high-value areas like London, are expected to cause a temporary market slowdown while underlying fundamentals and renewed confidence hint at steady recovery.

Food inflation in the UK reached 3.5% in March, fueled by early Easter spending on chocolate and sweets, pushing prices higher across supermarket shelves. This surge in inflation comes as supermarkets grapple with maintaining customer loyalty amidst rising cost-of-living pressures, leading to increased promotional spending and a focus on price cuts.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is challenging a Court of Appeal ruling that could lead to potential compensation claims of up to £44 billion in the UK's motor finance commission scandal. The FCA argues that the ruling goes too far by treating car dealers as fiduciaries, obligated to act in the borrower's best interest.