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Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Britain are repaying debt at levels more than 20 times higher than before the pandemic, prompting the Department for Business and Trade to launch a review into the supply of SME debt finance. The review aims to address concerns that a lack of competition among lenders is keeping loan prices high, hindering business expansion and contributing to Britain's ongoing productivity issues.

President Trump's second inauguration was initially met with optimism by Silicon Valley, but the tech sector has since experienced a significant downturn due to recession concerns, government job cuts, and trade policies. The combined market value of the "Magnificent Seven" tech giants has plummeted by $2.7 trillion, with Tesla being hit the hardest.

Berkeley Group, a major UK housebuilder, has warned that a potential new cladding tax could jeopardize its goal of delivering 1.5 million homes by 2029, adding to the industry's concerns about rising costs associated with unsafe cladding remediation. The company also reported a slight improvement in sales reservations over winter, but emphasized that sustained confidence depends on economic stability and interest rate cuts.

PepsiCo is in talks to acquire Poppi, a functional soda brand, for over $1.5 billion, marking a significant move towards healthier beverage options. This potential acquisition aligns with PepsiCo's recent focus on health-conscious products, driven by rising health consciousness and the increasing popularity of gut-friendly products.

The Can Manufacturers Institute warns that newly enacted steel and aluminum tariffs will increase the cost of canned goods and beverages, harming the competitiveness of the U.S. can industry. They urge President Trump to provide targeted tariff relief to ensure the continued production of "Made in America" products.